In just a few short weeks the 2012 Olympic Games will explode into life. London will be flooded with global sports fans looking to sample the unique delights of England’s capital. What then, could be more typically London than its celebrated West End shows?


London’s theatres are renowned throughout the world for their ground breaking productions and popular spectaculars. The entertainment choices are endless, but that is not necessarily a good thing for a confused foreign tourist. How on Earth does an inexperienced theatre goer, visiting London for the first time, sift the wheat from the chaff? To help guide you through the dazzling, dizzying lights of the West End, here are five of the best shows running throughout the Olympic period.

1. Chariots of Fire – Any theatre loving sports fan cannot fail to be excited by this first offering. This is an inspirational true story of two British athletes’ quest for Olympic glory. A tale of passion, sacrifice and honour that will rival anything you’ll see in the stadium this summer. Catch this uplifting and classically British production at the Gielgud Theatre.

2. Posh – For anyone looking for a typically British black comedy, look no further. Posh is based around a raucous night of debauchery at an elite Oxford dining club. Cue an evening of drunken exuberance, prostitutes and social elitism. Posh is a fabulous, guilty contrast to the wholesome spirit of the games. Currently running at the Duke of York’s Theatre, Posh closes on August 4, so get in fast!

3. Sweeney Todd – This throat slitting, blood soaked classic is wonderfully lifted by Stephen Sondheim’s peerless score. The dark tale follows a murderous barber who bakes his victims in pies, before watching them greedily gobbled up by the people of London. Combining dazzling music and a satirical take on Victorian morality, this is so
much more than a gore-fest. Sweeney Todd is showing at the Adelphi Theatre throughout the Olympic period.

4. Matilda the Musical – One for the whole family, this wonderful adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel has been met with universal acclaim. Matilda is a warm and comical fantasy adventure, accompanied by Tim Minchin’s gloriously infectious score. Get down to the Cambridge theatre and get sucked into Dahl’s vision of an unappreciated prodigal schoolgirl with a magical secret.

5. Abigail’s Party – Not one for those looking for laughs and levity, but an engrossing exploration of modern relationships and materialism. Abigail’s party sees a group of ‘friends’ coming together under a cloud of thinly veiled personal issues and offers a cutting satire on what it is to be British. Playing at the Wyndham theatre, Abigail’s Party is laced with humiliation, seduction and violence as the play rips the mask off contemporary British identity.

So if you’re planning on visiting London during the 2012 Olympics – either to attend the Games or just soak in the atmosphere – be sure to visit the famous West End and catch one of the many great shows. It will be a night out to remember.

TheatrePeople.com is an independent site providing full information on all the theatres and shows in London’s West End. Read reviews, watch videos and buy theatre tickets at TheatrePeople.com.