Seeing a Play in London

If you have never seen Mousetrap on stage in London you have missed a treat - it is the longest running play on the stage - and you really get a feel for the period of time in which Agatha Christie wrote and lived. It is very "English."

If you're looking for something "more English" check out the National Theatre complex across the Thames: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ This is where a lot of long-running shows got their start....like War Horse more recently.

Can't think of anything more english than a William Shakespeare play. Don'k know when you are going but consider something at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/ Saw Much Ado About Nothing last year. Fabulous! Seems The Madness of King George is playing until the end of March. Great way to find out what you might like to see is check Timeout London online. http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/845/london-theatre-critics-choice London theatre is always such fun. Enjoy.

Perhaps we will get tickets for the Mousetrap. I was thinking of the Madness of King George, but we will be there in May, and it will be gone by then. Thanks.

You should go see The Mousetrap....they are celebrating their 60th year. Look at their website...https://www.the-mousetrap.co.uk/online/default.asp We really enjoyed it.

Another vote for The Mousetrap and one for The 39 Steps. LMAO the first time I saw it.

A couple of warnings about the Globe: In April and May they are doing a season of foreign productions of Shakespeare plays to tie in with the Olympics: interesting but none of the productions will be in English or subtitled. If you get a standing ticket for £5 you will have to stand throughout. The theatre is also open air and if it rains you will get wet. Even standing tickets nowadays sell out well in advance so you do need to prebook. But it is a great experience.

@Phillip thanks for sharing updated inside information! Very useful and appreciated.

I just got tickets for the Globe in early July (Taming of the Shrew--they're also doing Henry V). They went on sale to the general public on February 13th (last Monday), and when I looked at the website that afternoon, I was really surprised at how many seats were already gone! I was able to snag two seats on the side of the middle tier for the Thursday afternoon show, but by now, I wouldn't be surprised if availability for that show (at least) was running low.

39 steps - if it's on. It has been to the USA. It's really funny, ESP if you know your Alfred Hitchcock well. Best thing I've seen in years.
S

I mentioned the foreign productions specifically as in the past some ticket agencies have had a nasty habit of not warning people when plays there were not in English.

Sharon,
A few years ago I saw War Horse and absolutely loved it. It's still playing at the New London Theater. The puppetry is stunning. I read the book before going and it was more meaningful. As a matter of fact, we are going back to London this April and I plan to take my husband and 2 sons. Youtube it. Good luck! Jane Ann in Vermont.

I definitely would recommend the Globe. Although, as stated earlier, if it's not Shakespeare, then maybe not. We saw Love's Labour's Lost, and it was likely the best Shakespearean play we've seen. We have a Shakespeare festival in Boulder every some that we patronize, and it's very good. But the Globe? Incomparable. An excellent experience.

I second the suggestion to see War Horse. We saw it in London last fall and it was amazing!