If your Secret Santa is looming and you still don’t know what to give them, don’t settle for a stocking filler that will get thrown out. Check out the Official London Theatre New Year Sale. You can get tickets to all of the shows below for £10 or £20, perfect for a Secret Santa gift, plus there’s over 50 shows taking part across the whole New Year Sale with tickets reduced to £10, £20, £30, £40, £50 or £60.
Alternatively, if you know they’d love a night at the theatre but aren’t sure what their taste is or when they’re free then consider a Theatre Token. Theatre Tokens can be used for any show on our website, along with over 300 venues across the country, they never expire and e-gifts are delivered instantly no matter when they’re ordered.
Something New
If your giftee is the adventurous sort, why not give them a new show to try?
Titaníque opened earlier this year and, with its unique style of humour, won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and Entertainment. The show is perfect for anyone looking for a fun, laugh-out-loud evening. What starts off as a retelling of the 1997 Titanic film goes awry when Celine Dion turns up and invades the story. Along with whacky pop-culture jokes and camp costumes, expect incredible singing voices and for your belly to hurt from laughing so much.
If they’ve already seen it and loved it, then they’ll probably love Dracapella. Similar to Titanique, this is a sideways look at a story we all know but with hilarious, anachronistic gags thrown in from the creators of Mock The Week. Plus all the sound effects and music are created live by UK Champion beatboxer ABH Beatbox.
If they really like having a laugh and want something new then you can’t beat Showstopper! This veteran improv team create a brand new musical each and every night based on audience suggestions from you.
If they’re more of a play than a musicals person, then Lost Atoms might be their cup of tea. This brand new play is by Succession writer Anna Jordan, from trusted company Frantic Assembly. Lost Atoms is a funny and moving portrayal of how we remember love – but can our memories be trusted?
Recently returned
If you think they’d prefer something they’re more familiar with, what about these shows that are making a glorious return to London?
With music by pop superstar Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), Kinky Boots adapts the uplifting true story of a northern industry town down on its luck, until Lola, the sparkling, larger-than-life drag queen comes to town. This summer’s big musical at the London Coliseum will feature Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radabe and is sure to be a big hit. Book early for April – July dates.
Staying with theme of modern British history, Sunny Afternoon is a jukebox musical that follows the euphoric highs and agonising lows of ‘60s rockers The Kinks. Featuring hits like You Really Got Me and Lola, this is rocking night out that won four Olivier Awards when it debuted and is the first time it’s returned to London.
A great introduction to musicals for children or a heady nostalgia night out? Whatever the reason you want to see Starlight Express, you won’t be disappointed in the new custom built Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park. With all the performers on roller skates, the unique staging puts you in the heart of the action as the actors race all around and above you.
Familiar favourites
If the person you’re buying for is someone who lives locally and keeps meaning to go to the big shows but something else always gets in the way, the New Year Sale is a great time to finally tick long-runners off your list.
It’s impossible not to be bowled over by the majesty and theatricality of Disney’s The Lion King. Enjoyed by over 20 million theatregoers, you will be dazzled by the puppetry and dance that fit in seamlessly with the familiar story and enchanting songs of the original film.
Spending its third Christmas in the West End, now is the time to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow. With the final episode due to land on Netflix this New Year’s Eve, what better present could you find for a fan of the Upside Down then to send them back in time to Hawkins and discover where the story began?
If they love a mystery but Stranger Things is a bit too scary for them, perhaps they’d prefer the stiff upper lip of the world’s longest running play – The Mousetrap. There’s a reason Agatha Christie is the most translated author in the world – no-one writes a mystery like her, so why not come and see one of her most famous ones this New Year? Can you figure out whodunnit before everyone is gathered in one room?
Keep Christmas going
Christmas doesn’t have to end on 25 December. If you want to be like Scrooge (after his transformation) and keep Christmas cheer all year round, then there’s a few festive treats you can try even in the New Year.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story is a stage adaptation of the quintessential Christmas story, but with more emphasis on the supernatural and spooky side of things. Don’t worry, it’s not too scary but the atmospheric surroundings of the recently rediscovered Alexandra Palace Theatre is the perfect space for this ghost story.
December in Britain means pantomimes everywhere you look, so how do you decide which one to pick? The answer is don’t – go to Potted Panto at Wilton’s Music Hall and you can enjoy seven classic pantomimes in 80 hilarious minutes.
Recapture your youth with The Snowman, a live dance adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ classic picture book. This is a perfect introduction to dance for young audiences, or the child inside us all.
Culture vultures
It’s not just plays and musicals in the New Year Sale. If you know someone who is a bit of a culture vulture, this might be the treat for them.
Matthew Bourne is synonymous with stunning reinventions and his take on the golden age film The Red Shoes is no different. This intoxicating drama of life imitating art captivated audiences and inspired a generation of dancers. Back in London for December and January, it’s a festive treat.
If you’re looking for something more light-hearted, perhaps you’d prefer The Opera Locos – the greatest hits of opera in one night. Combining opera classics with pop hits by Elton John and Whitney Houston, with a dose of physical comedy for good measure – it’s the perfect show for opera buffs and those who don’t know their Aida from their arias.
Keeping with the light-hearted theme, Tutu pays homage to the dance world but with an irreverent gender-defying extravaganza. From hip-hop Swan Lake to slapstick Dirty Dancing, this show will leave you dancing in the aisles.
Still not sure? Head over to our New Year Sale page to see over 50 top London shows taking part.
