1. Kiss Me Kate at the Barbican

It’s the young leads of this classic musical we’re most excited to see. Charlie Stemp won our Best Theatre Actor monsta last year (Crazy For You, Gillian Lynne Theatre) and we saw Georgina Onuorah in Cinderella at the same venue. Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar are the main leads here at the Barbican 4 June through 14 September 2024. Tickets Our preview review

• Read on for reasons including Slave Play, Tom Holland as Romeo, The Constituent and Alma Mater

2. Slave Play starring Kit Harington

The 12 Tony-nominated Jeremy O. Harris play looks at three interracial couples undergoing ‘Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy’ because the black partners no longer feel sexual attraction to their white partner. Stars Harington (True West, Vaudeville Theatre) and Fisayo Akinade (The Antipodes, National Theatre) and runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 29 June through 21 September 2024. Tickets

3. Tom Holland in Romeo and Juliet

Holland starred in Billy Elliot the musical at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre before a movie career in which he has played Spider-Man in 6 films. He opened in Jamie Lloyd’s re-imagining of this Shakespeare classic at the Duke Of York’s Theatre opposite Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in May and this runs until 3 August 2024. Tickets Our review

4. The Constituent at the Old Vic

Author Joe Penhall (Mood Music, Old Vic) turns his attention to a tale of a compassionate MP, an ex-serviceman with his life in freefall and a parliamentary protection officer who is having none of it. Stars James Corden and Anna Maxwell Martin. Runs at the Old Vic 13 June through 10 August 2024. Tickets Our preview review

5. Alma Mater at the Almeida

Lia Williams (The Night Of The Iguana, Noel Coward Theatre) is directed again by Polly Findlay (The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, Donmar) in a new play by Kendall Feaver about the ever-growing generational divide between feminists at the Almeida. Runs 11 June through 20 July 2024. Tickets Our preview review

6. Derry Girl Nicola Coughlan takes centre stage in Bridgerton

Dearest gentle reader, the 1st 4 episodes of season 3 of this historical romantic drama dropped on Netflix in May and the final 4 appear there this month. They very much tell the story of Penelope, played by Derry Girls’ Coughlan, who wonders whether her time to find a beau is over. Our Bridgerton cast Q&A.

7. Glastonbury Festival

There’s plenty to whet the appetite at this year’s number 1 festival with highlights featured across the BBC in the last weekend in June. We won’t be there this year but are excited to see coverage of acts including Dua Lipa, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Heaton, The Streets, Jessie Ware and Sugababes. Details

8. The House Of the Dragon season 2

This Game Of Thrones prequel returns to Sky in the UK this month for an 8-episode 2nd season starring Matt Smith (An Enemy Of The People, Duke Of York’s Theatre) and Emma D’Arcy (Bluets, Royal Court Theatre).

9. Your Lie In April arrives in the West End

Billed as the European premiere of 1 of the most popular romantic stories and greatest tearjerkers in manga history, Your Lie In April arrives at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a run 28 June through 21 September 2024. Stars include Dean John Wilson (Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre) in this story of Kōsei Arima, a young piano prodigy, and his inability to play following his mother’s death who strikes up a friendship with violinist Kaori Miyazono as she slowly encourages him to perform again. Tickets

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy Barbican Tickets
• Have you seen Kiss Me Kate before and what did you think of it? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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