1. Oh Mary! at Trafalgar Theatre

This winner of 2 Tony Awards is a comedy play written by American comedian Cole Escola spoofing the lives of former US President Abraham Lincoln and wife Mary in the days leading up to his assassination where she might be an alcoholic while he is deeply closeted. Stars Mason Alexander Park (The Tempest, Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Runs 3 December through 25 April at Trafalgar Theatre. Tickets Our review

• Read on for reasons including Into The Woods, Nicola Coughlan and Sheridan Smith

2. Into The Woods at the Bridge Theatre

Katie Brayben (Tammy Faye, Almeida), Jamie Parker (Next To Normal, Donmar), Kate Fleetwood (A View From The Bridge, Theatre Royal Haymarket), Jo Foster (Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre) and Chumisa Dornford-May (Here We Are, National Theatre) star in this Stephen Sondheim musical which reimagines Cinderella, Jack and The Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel as we learn actions have consequences, no one is alone and communities can work together. Directed by Jordan Fein following the Olivier-winning Fiddler On The Roof. Runs at the Bridge Theatre 2 December through 18 April 2026. Tickets

3. Nicola Coughlan and Siobhan McSweeney in The Playboy Of The Western World

Derry Girls‘ Coughlan (Bridgerton Q&A) and McSweeney (Dancing At Lughnasa, National Theatre) join Éanna Hardwicke (The Cherry Orchard, Donmar) in this story of a young man who walks into a woman’s pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Runs at the Lyttelton Theatre 4 December 2025 through 28 February 2026. Tickets Our review

4. Sheridan Smith in Woman In Mind

Smith (Opening Night, Gielgud Theatre) stars in Alan Ayckbourn’s psychological drama opposite Romesh Ranganathan at the Duke Of York’s Theatre directed by Michael Longhurst (Next To Normal, Donmar and later Boy George musical Taboo). Runs 9 December through 28 February 2026 before stopping at Sunderland Empire and Glasgow Theatre Royal. Tickets Our review

5. When We Are Married at the Donmar

J.B Priestley’s tale of 3 couples gathering to celebrate their joint silver wedding anniversaries in Yorkshire stars Samantha Spiro (Lady Windermere’s Fan, Vaudeville Theatre), Siobhan Finneran and Sophie Thompson (Present Laughter, Old Vic) at the Donmar 6 December through 7 February 2026. Tickets The much missed Patricia Routledge starred in an 80s revival at London’s then Whitehall Theatre. Our review

6. Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium

Catherine Tate (Miss Atomic Bomb, St James Theatre) joins Julian Clary (Robin Hood, London Palladium), Jon Culshaw and Rob Madge (My Son’s A Queer, But What Can You Do? Garrick Theatre) in the Palladium’s annual Christmas pantomime which has been running in its latest incarnation, Covid permitting, since 2015. Runs 6 December through 11 January 2026. Tickets Our review

7. Bengal Tiger At The Baghdad Zoo

David Threlfall (A Moon For The Misbegotten, Almeida) and Arinze Kene (Alterations, National Theatre) star at the Young Vic in this story about an atheist who suddenly finds himself walking around after death with some serious re-evaluating to do. Runs 2 December through 31 January 2026. Tickets

8. Denise Gough in High Noon

Gough (People, Places and Things, Wyndham’s Theatre) is shortlisted for a Best TV/Film Actress monsta this year for Andor. She stars opposite Billy Crudup in the stage version of the 1952 film at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Runs 17 December through 7 March 2026. Tickets

9. Mark Gatiss at the BFI

Gatiss and members of the cast of The Room In The Tower, his seasonal ghost story take part in a Q&A before a preview at this Southbank venue. Cast includes Joanna Lumley, Tobias Menzies (The Other Place, National Theatre) and Polly Walker, shortlisted for a Best TV/Film Actress monsta this year for Bookish. Tickets Q&A and preview review. We’re also excited for BBC1’s Dr Who-adjacent The War Between The Land And The Sea which stars Russell Tovey and is written by Russell T Davies.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Oh Mary! Tickets
• Have you seen a Mason Alexander Park show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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