Women-led theatre shows in the UK are more popular than ever, with audiences flocking to female-led musicals, plays and West End productions that place women’s stories centre stage. From blockbuster musicals and feminist retellings of historical events to thought-provoking dramas tackling contemporary issues, these productions showcase some of the most compelling female characters in theatre today.
The UK’s theatre scene continues to thrive, with audiences filling theatres across the country and helping to drive record attendance figures in London’s West End. According to UK Theatre and Society of London Theatre’s State of British Theatre report, London’s West End attracted 2.5 million more attendees than the Premier League last year, proving that theatre remains one of the UK’s most popular forms of entertainment as audiences continue to embrace everything from blockbuster musicals to thought-provoking new plays.
Whether you’re looking for award-winning West End musicals, powerful dramas or uplifting stories of friendship, resilience and empowerment, there is no shortage of women-led theatre shows in the UK to discover. Featuring leading performances from some of the industry’s most talented actors, writers and creatives, these productions highlight the incredible contribution women continue to make to the UK’s stage.
From Wicked and Six to The Devil Wears Prada, Inter Alia and Hadestown, The Women’s Journal reviews and rounds up the best women-led theatre shows in the UK to see right now.
The Devil Wears Prada
One of the most talked-about women-led theatre shows in the UK right now, The Devil Wears Prada is enjoying renewed attention following the release of the highly anticipated sequel to the hit film starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep.
With music by Elton John, The Devil Wears Prada theatre show is a bitingly funny look inside the cutthroat world of fashion journalism, as shown in the 2006 film that exposed the ambition, glamour and pressures of the publishing industry.
When the hard-working Andy Sachs lands a coveted job at Runway magazine in the hope of launching her writing career, she finds herself thrust into the glamorous but unforgiving world of fashion (an industry she has little interest in) and working for the terrifying yet impeccably dressed editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly.
There is no shortage of strong female characters in this show, but its real heart lies in its exploration of ambition, identity and the sacrifices women often make to get ahead in a ruthless and highly competitive world. Beneath the glamour and sharp wit, it raises thought-provoking questions about success, power and the price of pursuing your dreams.
Whether you’re a fan of the film or the book, or are discovering the story for the first time, The Devil Wears Prada is a quick-witted, impeccably dressed production packed with humour, heart and standout performances.
Wicked
Already one of the most successful women-led musicals of all time, Wicked reached a whole new generation of fans thanks to the blockbuster film adaptations starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The award-winning musical in London’s West End continues to captivate audiences with its powerful story of friendship, identity and female empowerment.
The ninth-longest-running show in West End history, go back to the original musical and experience the magic of Oz live on stage at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where there have been over 7400 performances of Wicked since it came to London in 2006.
The film was really an adaptation of an adaptation of an adaptation of an adaptation: based on the musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which is loosely based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which is, in turn, a reinterpretation of the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which is itself based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
More simply, though, Wicked is a show about complex female friendship. Following Elphaba Thropp (the green, future Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda Upland (soon to be Glinda the Good), the show explores love, family, corruption and, ultimately, the tragic downfall of Elphaba.
Beyond the fantastical setting, Wicked is grounded by its two women leads, who must navigate their own differences and positions in life, providing a touching tale of complicated, female relationships and the oppressive structures that tear them apart.
Six The Musical
One of the best female-led musicals in the UK, Six puts Henry VIII’s wives centre stage in a bold, feminist retelling of British history.
Everyone knows about Henry VIII and his six wives: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. What Six sets out to do, however, is put the lives of these six women front and centre, handing them the microphone in a modern adaptation where they compete in a singing competition to tell their stories.
Each woman is trying to prove that they had the worst experience at the hands of their shared ex-husband, but really this is a story about reclaiming and rewriting your own story.
Looking at one of history’s most notorious figures through a feminist lens, Six shifts the spotlight away from Henry VIII and onto the women at the heart of the story, reimagining his six wives as bold, witty and unforgettable protagonists.
Originally performed in 2017 by Cambridge University students at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Six has gone on to tour around the world, winning multiple awards, including two Tony Awards.
Mamma Mia!
One of the most successful women-led musicals ever staged, Mamma Mia! remains a West End favourite thanks to its uplifting celebration of motherhood, friendship and family.
Set to the always popular songs of ABBA, Mamma Mia! follows 20-year-old Sophie as she searches for her biological father ahead of her wedding, while her mother, Donna, adjusts to the reality of her little girl growing up.
The third-longest-running musical in the West End, Mamma Mia! has enthralled audiences from London and New York, to Bratislava and Johannesburg, charming the world with its uplifting messages about love and family.
With the cast decked out in sequins, flares and platform boots, and the entire theatre singing along to ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘SOS’, and, of course, ‘Mamma Mia’, this show is a guaranteed fun night out.
With a refreshing focus on positive female relationships, Mamma Mia! is one of the most-watched theatre shows for a good reason.
Inter Alia
For those looking for a powerful women-led play rather than a feel-good musical, Inter Alia is one of the most thought-provoking productions currently on the West End.
New to the West End, Inter Alia is written by Suzie Miller – the same playwright behind the groundbreaking legal drama, Prima Facie, which helped inspire real-world changes to the way victims of sexual assault are treated in the legal system.
Inter Alia explores the unravelling life of London judge Jessica Parks, after her son is accused of a horrific crime which forces her to reckon with her own belief system.
The current run stars Rosamund Pike in the lead role, a performance which has been received with critical acclaim. Certainly a heavier watch than those listed before it, Inter Alia is an excellent choice for those seeking a female-led theatre show that explores challenging but important issues.
Be sure to check out the content warnings for this show, as it doesn’t flinch away from addressing tough, sensitive topics, highlighting the power of theatre to hold a mirror up to society, spark difficult conversations and push for change.
Oh, Mary!
A darkly comic women-led play, Oh, Mary! reimagines Mary Todd Lincoln as the chaotic, complex and scene-stealing centre of her own story.
Starring one of the UK’s biggest female comedians, Catherine Tate takes to the stage in Oh, Mary! A Tony award-winning dark comedy which has received rave reviews, this one-act play follows Tate as the unhappy and suffocated Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.
Running for a succinct 80 minutes, this show offers the opportunity to imagine what Mary Lincoln, wife to one of the most famous men in American history, may have had to say for herself.
Written by Cole Escola and featuring unrequited yearning and desire with a lot of drinking, Oh, Mary! puts the former first lady into the limelight and promises to deliver an uproaring night at the theatre.
Mother Courage and Her Children
Mother Courage and Her Children brings one of theatre’s most complex female characters to Shakespeare’s Globe in a powerful women-led play about war, survival and motherhood.
In a first for the Globe, iconic playwright Bertolt Brecht’s work is being brought to the stage in a bold new production. Driven by music, humour, grit and determination, this classic anti-war protest play centres on Mother Courage, one of theatre’s most enduring and compelling female characters.
The Globe’s own Artistic Director, Michelle Terry, takes on the lead role as the titular mother in a production that imagines joy as a form of protest and promises to bring the iconic yard to life.
Following her journey through war-torn land as she struggles to survive alongside her children, the play explores ever-relevant themes of capitalism, greed and complicity, proving that Brecht’s work remains as powerful and relevant today as ever
Mean Girls
Mean Girls was a phenomenon when the 2004 film first came out, with its astute dissection of teen girl culture and high school politics resonating deeply for many. In an exciting turn of events for those who grew up quoting the cutting words of Regina George, the story has now been given a musical makeover.
The original film was largely based upon Rosalind Wiseman’s self-help book ‘Queen Bees and Wannabes’, charting the intricate hierarchies that rule the lives of young women and providing a sort of guide for out-of-the-loop parents. The musical sticks to the same ideas, keeping the beloved (and hated) characters that propelled the film adaptation to cult status.
Still decked out in pink and reigning over the halls of high school, underestimate the power of these Mean Girls at your own risk. Exploring the complicated dynamics in female ensembles, there are plenty of bold women who aren’t afraid to make their voices heard in this show.
A sharp women-led musical about teenage girlhood, popularity and power, Mean Girls continues to resonate with audiences who grew up with the cult 2004 film. Having just finished its West End run, Mean Girls is now on its U.K. tour for the rest of the year.
Matilda the Musical
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel, Matilda the Musical centres on one of theatre’s most inspiring young female protagonists, a bright and determined girl who refuses to let the adults around her define her future.
Celebrating its fifteenth year in London, the Royal Shakespeare Company production has become one of the UK’s most successful musicals. The award-winning show follows Matilda Wormwood, a book-loving child with extraordinary gifts, a vivid imagination and an unshakable sense of justice. Faced with neglectful parents and the fearsome Miss Trunchbull, she discovers that even the smallest person can create extraordinary change.
A heartwarming production that the whole family can enjoy, Matilda has captivated more than 12 million people across 100 cities worldwide. Led by an exceptional cast of young performers, the production celebrates courage, individuality and the power of finding your voice.
Now the 10th longest-running musical in West End history, Matilda the Musical has lost none of its charm or relevance. Through its themes of resilience, self-belief and standing up for what is right, the show continues to inspire young girls to dream big while showcasing the talented young actresses who represent the next generation of women leading British theatre.
Hadestown
Seen by more than five million people worldwide, streamed over half a billion times and winner of eight Tony Awards, Hadestown is one of the most acclaimed female-led musicals currently showing in London’s West End.
With music, lyrics and a book by Anaïs Mitchell, the story weaves together two ancient Greek myths to explore timeless themes of love, politics, art and hope.
At the heart of the musical is Eurydice, whose journey in search of a better life drives this haunting and emotionally powerful retelling. Whether you’re drawn in by the storytelling, the music or the mythology, Hadestown offers a fresh take on some of history’s oldest tales.
Showing at the Lyric Theatre, Hadestown is a powerful and timely exploration of resilience, sacrifice and human connection.
Cabaret
Step into Berlin’s Kit Kat Club for the 7 Olivier award-winning musical, Cabaret. Starring the iconic Sally Bowles, a cabaret performer in the final days of Berlin’s jazz age, as Germany slips further and further into the grips of fascism.
One of the most successful musicals of all time, don’t be fooled by the glitzy costumes and seedy club setting – Cabaret is more than a celebration of the hedonistic days of past. Ever-looming is the growing threat of the Nazis, an ominous presence that the Kit Kat Club tries to shut out, but we know what is truly coming.
Tickets are in high demand for this show, which is on now at London’s Kit Kat Club.
Burlesque the Musical
Executive produced by Christina Aguilera and based on the hit film, Burlesque follows the fresh-to-New York Ali as she delves into a dazzling underground scene while on the hunt for the mother she never knew.
The voices, the dance sequences, the costumes: nothing about Burlesque is understated. As Ali finds her way around the big city, she finds a new family, a new talent and a new version of herself.
With strong themes of female empowerment and sisterhood, Burlesque is on now at The Arts at Marble Arch.
Moulin Rouge
Another show starring dancers at a famous club and based on a hit film, Moulin Rouge tells the same story as Baz Luhrmann’s extravagant 2001 movie of the same name: the doomed romance between cabaret singer Satine and hopelessly devoted writer, Christian.
This jukebox musical features a mash up of hits from huge stars, including Beyoncé, Elton John and The Rolling Stones, despite being set in the seedy yet glamorous world of late 19th century Paris. The theatre production is just as lavish as – or perhaps even more than – the film, as London’s Piccadilly theatre is transformed into the spectacular and sparkling Moulin Rouge.
1536
A bold new women-led play about female friendship, power and survival, 1536 brings women’s voices to the forefront of Tudor history.
“Kings don’t kill their wives alright? It’s not – it just doesn’t happen. It doesn’t.”
Another play exploring the dynamics of female friendship but this time in Tudor England, a world where men have near total power over every aspect of a woman’s life. Written by Ava Pickett, winner of the 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and directed by Lyndsey Turner, 1536 also looks at power struggles between the ruling and working classes, centering the voices and experiences of those marginalised both at the time and in the history books.
With the tumultuous affairs of Anne Boleyn and king Henry VIII seeping into the lives of everyday normal people, 1536 examines loyalty, love and survival in a precarious world.
From award-winning West End musicals and feminist retellings of history to bold new dramas tackling contemporary issues, these productions showcase the very best of women-led theatre in the UK.
Whether you’re looking for a feel-good musical, a story of female friendship or a thought-provoking exploration of women’s experiences, there has never been a better time to support women-led productions on stage.
