The London Theatre Shows & Exhibitions To See This Year
EXHIBITIONS
Lucian Freud: Drawing Into Painting
The National Gallery
This exhibition traces the evolution of Freud’s practice through the works that shaped his shift from line to flesh. Early studies, intimate portraits and rarely seen preparatory drawings reveal the precision behind his later, more visceral canvases. It’s a chance to see the discipline and restraint that underpinned his most recognisable works, offering a close look at one of Britain’s most influential painters
Until 4th May
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Tracey Emin: A Second Life
Tate Modern
Tate Modern’s major Emin exhibition brings together paintings, neons, sculptures and works on paper that chart her raw, unfiltered approach to emotion and the body. The show highlights her return to painting in recent years, with large‑scale canvases that feel deeply personal. Expect a powerful, confrontational survey that captures Emin’s singular voice and the vulnerability that has made her one of the UK’s most famous contemporary artists.
Until 31st August
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Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
V&A
The V&A’s next blockbuster dives into the surreal, sculptural world of Elsa Schiaparelli, charting her collaborations with artists like Dalí and Cocteau and her influence on today’s couture. Expect dramatic silhouettes, intricate embroidery and pieces that blur the line between garment and artwork. With loans from the house’s archive and contemporary runway, it’s a rare chance to see the craftsmanship and imagination behind one of fashion’s most radical visionaries.
From 28th March
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The Music Is Black: A British Story
V&A East Museum
The V&A East Museum opens with a landmark inaugural exhibition exploring Black British music and its cultural impact. Spanning jazz, reggae, jungle, grime and beyond, it brings together archival footage, photography, fashion and sound to map the creativity that shaped Britain’s musical identity. Designed as an immersive, multi‑sensory experience, it places artists, communities and scenes at the centre of the narrative.
From 18th April
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Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait
National Portrait Gallery
The NPG turns its lens on Marilyn Monroe through photography, film stills and intimate portraits that reveal the woman behind the icon. The exhibition traces her evolution from studio ingénue to global figure, spotlighting the photographers who shaped her image and the moments that defined her career.
4th June-6th September
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Frida: The Making of an Icon
Tate Modern
This exhibition examines how Frida Kahlo became one of the most recognisable cultural figures of the 20th century, exploring the art, imagery and storytelling that built her global legacy. Through photographs, personal objects, film and early works, it unpacks the construction of her public persona and the political, personal and aesthetic forces that shaped it.
25th June-3rd January 2027
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The 90s
Tate Britain
Tate Britain revisits the decade that reshaped British culture, bringing together art, photography, design and media that defined the era. From YBAs and rave culture to Britpop, fashion and political upheaval, the show captures the energy and contradictions of a period that still shapes contemporary aesthetics.
8th October-14th February 2027
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THEATRE
Dracula
Noel Coward Theatre
Cynthia Erivo leads a bold reimagining of Dracula, playing every character in a shape‑shifting tour de force directed by the visionary behind Sarah Snook’s acclaimed Dorian Gray – one of the most celebrated productions of the past decade. Deep in the desolate wilderness stands a crumbling castle, a mysterious presence stirring within. For centuries, Count Dracula has waited in hiding; now this phantom steps out of the shadows. As the Count fixes on a new target, a different kind of terror unfolds – seductive, relentless and dangerously addictive.
Until 30th May
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Broken Glass
Young Vic
Arthur Miller’s late‑career drama returns in a new Young Vic production that leans into its psychological tension and moral ambiguity. Set in 1938 Brooklyn, the play follows a woman paralysed by news of rising antisemitism in Europe and the husband forced to confront the cracks in their marriage.
20th February-18th April
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I’m Every Woman
Peacock Theatre
Alexandra Burke steps into the role of Chaka Khan for the world‑premiere musical tracing the life of one of music’s most influential voices. Developed with Khan herself, the production follows her rise from Chicago prodigy to global icon, exploring activism, industry battles and the personal cost of fame. Burke leads a heavyweight cast, with hits including ‘Ain’t Nobody’, ‘I Feel For You’ and ‘Tell Me Something Good’ woven through the story.
5th-8th March
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Teeth ’n’ Smiles
Duke of York's Theatre
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of David Hare’s rock‑and‑riot play, singer Self Esteem stars in a new production of Teeth ’n’ Smiles. Once the roaring voice of 60s counterculture, now broke and disillusioned, a band’s youthful dreams of anarchic rebellion collapse into bitterness. Amidst the wreckage, lead singer Maggie tears through the night fueled by booze, fury and a voice that refuses to die.
13th March-6th June
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Les Liaisons Dangereuses
National Theatre
A new staging of Christopher Hampton’s adaptation brings the novel’s seductive power games to the West End. Set in pre‑Revolutionary France, it follows the Marquise de Merteuil (Lesley Manville) and the Vicomte de Valmont (Aidan Turner) as they manipulate, seduce and destroy those around them. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path.
21st March-6th June
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Old Vic
Aaron Pierre (Mufasa: The Lion King, The Morning Show) and Giles Terera (Othello, Hamilton) lead a major new staging of Kesey’s story, bringing fresh urgency to the clash between individual freedom and institutional control. Chief Bromden, long overlooked in a psychiatric ward, finds his voice when the arrival of rebellious gambler Randle P. McMurphy disrupts Nurse Ratched’s control and ignites a quiet revolt among the patients.
1st April-23rd May
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