Top ten theatre shows to see in July 2019: Arrows & Traps Theatre mark Apollo 11 moon landing and Jellyfish returns to the London stage

This July, the capital’s theatre scene boasts an array of shows that will keep us entertained, inspired and challenged. As well as two striking musical adaptations there are revivals and new plays from both debut writers and celebrated playwrights, a new collaboration between Jack Thorne and John Tiffany and a murder mystery with a twist.

Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾: The Musical at the Ambassadors Theatre

Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

One of the most entertaining and misunderstood literary teenagers, Adrian Mole is surely most deserving of a musical. Sue Townsend’s witty and wonderful characters are brought to life in style by Jake Brunger, Pippa Cleary and director Luke Sheppard, who present Britain of the 1980s through the eyes of A Mole in what promises to be a hilarious show.

Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ is at the Ambassadors Theatre from 15^th June until 12^th October 2019. Book your tickets here.

Europe at Donmar Warehouse

Photo: Marc Brenner

Michael Longhurst’s inaugural production as new artistic director of the Donmar is David Greig’s Europe, a play that questions foreignness and what Europe really means to us. Of course, it will be intriguing to see what the playwright’s 1994 work – written at the time of the Yugoslav Wars – will say about Britain’s current relationship with “the continent”.

Europe is at Donmar Warehouse from 20^th June until 10^th August 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Dark Sublime at Trafalgar Studios

Dark Sublime is the debut play by Michael Dennis about an older gay woman, once on a cult British TV show, and a visit from one of her greatest fans. Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Marina Sirtis stars as Marianne along with Kwaku Mills and Mark Gatiss in this love letter to the sci-fi shows of the 1970s that explores friendship, who we believe our idols to be and what they need from us in return.

Dark Sublime is at Trafalgar Studios from 25^th June until 3^rd August 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Noises Off at Lyric Hammersmith

This probably is the funniest play ever. Michael Frayn’s comedy masterpiece is back in London at the Lyric Hammersmith, where it premiered in 1982. Jeremy Herrin directs a cast that includes Meera Syal, Daniel Rigby, Jonathan Cullen and Debra Gillett, who are sure to do justice to Frayn’s side-splittingly brilliant comedy.

Noises Off is at Lyric Hammersmith from 27^th June until 27^th July 2019. Book your tickets here.

The End of History at the Royal Court Theatre

Lesley Sharp and David Morrissey head a fantastic cast for Jack Thorne’s new play at the Royal Court, which unites the playwright with director John Tiffany. An altogether different beast from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The End of History sees three siblings come home for a family reunion, where tensions, old frustrations and the changing ideals of youth will be served up in abundance.

The End of History is at the Royal Court Theatre from 27^th June until 10^th August 2019. Book your tickets here.

Peter Gynt at the National Theatre

Ibsen’s five-act drama is transformed into a “riotous musical adventure” by David Hare and Jonathan Kent, with a brand new score by Luther composer Paul Englishby. Starring James McArdle as the peasant who travels the world meeting creatures of myth and mystery, Peter Gynt will be another mammoth production in the Olivier this summer.

Peter Gynt is at the National Theatre from 27^th June until 8^th October 2019. Book your tickets here.

One Giant Leap at Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

There are plenty of films and shows happening to mark the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing this July, but One Giant Leap looks set to be one of the best. Off-West End nominees Arrows & Traps Theatre return to the Brockley Jack with a comedy about fakes, fiction and conspiracy as one man is tasked by the CIA with faking this most famous moon landing of all time.

One Giant Leap is at Brockley Jack Studio Theatre from 2^nd until 27^th July 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Jellyfish at the National Theatre

Photo: SR Taylor Photography

Jellyfish returns to the London stage after a sell-out run at Bush Theatre last year, with Sarah Gordy reprising her role as Kelly, a young woman with Down’s Syndrome on the brink of finding first love. Ben Weatherill’s unique and profound romantic comedy challenges our perceptions of disability and questions how far we should go to protect someone we love.

Jellyfish is at the National Theatre from 5^th until 16^th July 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Playmill Festival at King’s Head Theatre

After last year’s successful festival, Playmill returns to King’s Head Theatre to showcase brand new work from up-and-coming writers and theatre companies. The programme spans across themes, borders and decades, providing the London Fringe scene with stories from across the world. Attend a seminar on “how to be happy” in Come Hygge Yourself, witness three very different women fight against the brutal Apartheid Regime in Colour Is Too Sweet and question how much you would be willing to reveal about yourself just to live somewhere affordable in The Good Landlord. A brilliant mix of genres and ideas, Playmill Festival takes over the King’s Head Theatre for two weeks this July.

Playmill Festival is at King’s Head Theatre from 8^th until 20^th July 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] at Park Theatre

This is something of a coup for Park Theatre. A different celebrity will appear for each performance of Whodunnit completely unrehearsed. The mystery is not so much who the murderer is, but who the detective will be: famous names including Gillian Anderson, Jim Broadbent, Ronan Keating, Catherine Tate and Sandi Toksvig will each play the part of the inspector, but the audience won’t know which celebrity will walk on stage until the lights go down!

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] is at Park Theatre from 15^th until 27^th July 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Fred Gaskell