Best London Musicals in 2018

Based on the story of Small Faces, one of the most acclaimed mod groups, All or Nothing - The Mod Musical comes to the Arts Theatre in 2018. Written and directed by award-winning actress Carol Harrison, it follows the rise and demise of the band, from the forming of the band to the making it big time and the joys of fame wearing off and the gradual journey to jealousy and betrayal. Harrison stars as Kay Marriott alongside Chris Simmons as the older Steve Marriott.

Pop Idol winner Will Young plays the brand new role of band leader, Wally Strand, in the West End transfer of Strictly Ballroom The Musical. Championship ballroom dancer Scott Hastings (played by Jonny Labey who makes his West End debut) defies all the rules and follows his heart with new partner Fran (Zizi Strallen) in the feelgood stage musical. It's based on the hit film by Baz Luhrmann, creator of Moulin Rouge, Romeo And Juliet and The Great Gatsby, and directed and choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie whose dazzling choreography for In the Heights earned him the 2016 Olivier Award.

Phyllida Lloyd, director of Mamma Mia!, helms a life-affirming musical based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner, written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. Featuring the iconic songs that propelled Turner to fame, the stage spectacular charts her rise from humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to the top of the global music charts. Adrienne Warren makes her West End debut in the title role opposite Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Ike Turner.

Last staged in the West End back in 2012 - when it concluded a 15-year run - hit musical Chicago returns to London for the first time in five and half years. After a UK and international tour, it will transfer to the Phoenix Theatre in March. Written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the long running show tells the saga of a chorus girl who gets away with murder thanks to her sleazy lawyer, Billy Flynn. The original show was a flop in the 1970s as audiences found the subject matter too bleak. However, recent Broadway and London revivals of Chicago have been huge successes, spawning the film version which swept the boards at the Oscars. It's an all singing and dancing affair with some show-stopping set pieces. This musical has been a real hit with audiences and features some memorable show tunes, but above all, it's the costumes and slick style that make it such an unforgettable experience. Dozens of fishnet-clad chorus girls, regular celebrity appearances in the lead roles and a chic, pared-down set create a sense of timeless cool.

It wowed audiences and won the Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and now Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell - The Musical is back, appearing at the Dominion Theatre from 2nd April 2018. Jay Scheib directs the high-octane rock'n'roll musical based on Meat Loaf's 1977 album, about a rebellious youth called Strat, who falls in love with the daughter of the despotic leader of a post-cataclysmic city. The songbook includes tracks from Bat Out Of Hell, one of the best-selling albums of all time which sold over 50 million copies worldwide. Well known songs include the massive hit I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That), You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) and the anthemic title track. "Impressive staging, clever production and a back catalogue of hits ensure the Meat Loaf musical is a smash hit" said the Manchester Evening News.

Laurence Connor directs the first West End revival since the original 1986 production, which starred Elaine Paige, of Chess. The famous eighties musical written by ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, with Tim Rice, tells a story of love and political intrigue, set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s. his new West End production, presented at the London Coliseum features English National Opera's award-winning orchestra and chorus. It's directed by Laurence Connor, whose recent credits include School of Rock and Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar. Choreography is by Stephen Mear.

Award-winning musical The Rink - originally premiered on Broadway in 1984 with Chita Rivera and Liza Minelli - is given its first London revival in nearly 30 years in 2018, being staged at the Southwark Playhouse for a strictly limited season. It tells the story of Anna, an Italian housewife who runs a roller-skating rink on the Eastern coast of American. As she's about to sell the rink to developers, her estranged daughter, Angel, returns after a long period away in the hope to save the rink and make amends with her mother. The show features a score by Tony and Olivier and Award-winning John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Kelli O'Hara reprises her Tony Award-winning performance when Bartlett Sher's multi-award winning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I transfers to the London Palladium in June 2018. She stars opposite Ken Watanabe in the London transfer of Lincoln Center Theater's acclaimed production of the romantic musical set in 1860s Bangkok. The story, made into a 1956 film, is based on Margaret Landon's novel Anna And The King Of Siam with music by Richard Rodgers and a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Fresh from his critical smash hit production of Oslo, director Bartlett Sher reunites the original creative team, directing a cast of over 50 performers.

Step into the world of an American high school this August with Bring It On The Musical, a stage adaptation of the popular noughties film. Staged at the Southwark Playhouse, it combines the talent of Tony Award-winner Jeff Whitty, Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt and Broadway lyricist Amanda Green to bring the story of friendship, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness to life. Expect plenty of sass, somersaults and singing.

Flower shop assistant, Seymour, discovers a mysterious new plant with questionable taste and a big appetite. Little Shop of Horrors brings the greenery to life as Maria Aberg (Dr Faustus, RSC, Fantastic Mr Fox) makes her Open Air Theatre directorial debut. A big musical number, the show features classic songs by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken including 'Suddenly, Seymour', 'Skid Row (Downtown)', and 'Dentist!' Find out whether our hapless hero will make the most of his newfound fame and win the attention of kind, sweet Audrey or will the mean green monster gobble them up?