1. Sean Hayes from Will And Grace in Good Night, Oscar

Emmy and Tony Award-winner Hayes makes his London debut and plays the hottest late night talk show host in 1958 in this Broadway transfer to the Barbican. Runs 100 minutes without interval 31 July through 21 September 2025. Tickets Review

• Read on for reasons including new Cian Ducrot, Samira Wiley in the West End and Culture Club

2. New Cian Ducrot album

Sha La La was a song of the week for us in June and we said: ‘We prefer his more traditional work and this underscores the feeling of community we often experience when listening to our favourite work of his exemplified by this chorus sentiment: ‘So if you heart’s been broken sing Sha La La la. And if your love’s been cheated on Sha La La la.’ Sophomore album Little Dreaming out 11 July 2025 also includes the already released title track and Who’s Making You Feel It?. Ducrot tours this year including a London date. Tickets

3. Samira Wiley in Intimate Apparel

Wiley (from TV’s Orange Is The New Black) plays Esther, who sews lingerie for women from all walks of life and dreams of opening her own beauty salon in 1905 New York. Also stars Faith Omole (author of My Father’s Fable, Bush Theatre) and Kadiff Kirwan (The Hot Wing King, National Theatre) at the Donmar through 9 August 2025. Tickets

4. Culture Club play Blackheath

Last year Madness headlined Blackheath’s Uptown Festival and this year Boy George and co do the honours following their last appearance at The 02 in December. Tickets for the 27 July 2025 show

5. Sing St at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

Danny Wilson’s Gary Clark wrote the music for this musical with a book by Enda Walsh (Once and Lazarus) about getting a band together in 1985 Dublin. Based on the 2016 film it runs from 8 July through 23 August 2025 at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. Tickets Our review

6. Bookish Mark Gatiss Q&A at the BFI

Mark Gatiss (The Motive And The Cue, National Theatre) created and stars in this TV series about a bookstore owner in London in 1946 who solves crimes with his wife played by Polly Walker as they take in Connor Finch’s Jack to assist. We join them this month for a preview screening and Q&A at London’s BFI. Tickets Q&A and preview

7. Noughts And Crosses at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Heartstopper‘s Corinna Brown and Noah Valentine star in Dominic Cooke’s adaptation of the Malorie Blackman bestseller about lifelong friends living on separate sides of a divided world. Runs at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 28 June through 26 July 2025. Tickets

8. Four Play starring Jo Foster and Daniel Bravo

Foster (Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre), Bravo (Cruel Intentions, Other Palace) and Zheng Xi Yong (Your Lie In April, Harold Pinter Theatre) star at Islington’s King’s Head Theatre in this story of a gay couple who decide to experiment. Runs 11 July through 17 August 2025. Tickets

9. Brixton Calling at Southwark Playhouse

Alex Urwin tells the story of the Brixton Academy and how a 23-year-old bought it for a £1 helping to turn it into the venue we know now. Runs 23 July through 16 August 2025. Tickets

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Good Night, Oscar Tickets
• Have you seen a Barbican show before and what do you think of this list? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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