By now, we’re sure you know what you’re getting when you book to see Wicked for £20, Mamma Mia! for £30, or Les Misérables for £40. But what about some of the lesser known shows in the New Year Sale?

For the adventurous among you, we’re here to highlight a few hidden gems in case that are taking part in the New Year Sale, so you can try something new for 2026.

Ballet Shoes

What’s it about? Three adopted sisters get taken into the house of an Edwardian explorer and paleontologist. Under the guidance of his niece and childhood nanny, the three girls grow and fight to pursue their differing passions in a world not built for women with ambition.

Why should I see it? The National Theatre’s adaptation of this 1930s novel was loved by children and adults alike when it premiered in November 2024 – so much so they brought it back a year later.

The three girls are full of fire and charisma; you can’t help be charmed by their never-say-die attitude. The set is like a madcap box of wonders that’s a delight to look at and the show will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £20, £30, £40, £50, £60 for Tue – Thu performances in Jan and Mon – Thu performances in Feb until 20 Feb.

Evening All Afternoon

What’s it about? Jennifer is about to become Delilah’s stepmother. She wants to connect but they couldn’t be further apart.

Why should I see it? The Donmar Warehouse is a great venue – with only three rows on each side of the stage, you’re always close to the atmosphere which is perfect for these kind of intimate two-handers. Anna Ziegler’s last play, Photograph 51, won Evening Standard and WhatsOnStage Awards, with an Olivier Award nomination for Nciole Kidman in the lead role. This could be another award winner in the making.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £40 or £50 on all performances (19 Feb – 11 Apr).

Gerry & Sewell

What’s it about? Two Geordie best friends Gerry & Sewell haven’t got a lot going from them – with no jobs, Gerry’s family falling apart and Sewell’s dad in ill-health – so they set their sights on their ultimate dream: A season ticket to Newcastle United.

Why should I see it? It’s an underdog story that celebrates the unexpected hero in all of us, as well as the importance of friendship and shared passions. Like the story, the play itself is an underdog, having started at Laurel’s – a small social club in the North East – and earned its way up to a two-week run in the West End.

What’s the offer? Top price tickets for £40, £50 or £60 all performances – must end 24 January.

High Noon

What’s it about? In the the days of the Wild West, small town marshall Will Kane prepares to leave town after marrying Amy Fowler. But word arrives that Frank Miller, a vicious outlaw, has been released from prison and will arrive by the noon train. Torn between the honour of his new wife and the duty of his old job, Will must make a choice by noon.

Why should I see it? The 1952 Gary Cooper / Grace Kelly Western film, on which the play is based, is in the conversation for greatest movie ever made. While this play stays true to the source material, the production has changed its inspiration from McCarthyism to current world events to remain as timely as ever. Plus it unites two great acting talents in Tony Award winner Billy Crudup (The Morning Show) and Olivier Award winner Denise Gough (People, Places And Things and Andor)

What’s the offer? Tickets for £30, £40, or £50 for Mon – Fri performances for weeks beginning 26 Jan and 2 & 9 Feb.

Mrs. President

What’s it about? Already having todeal with the grief of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, his widow, Mary Lincoln has to contend with social attacks from an envious elite. She engages the help of the world’s first celebrity photographer, Mathew Brady, who helped her husband win the presidency. But their partnership soon unravels in a battle for creative control.

Why should I see it? The play is written by playwright and historian (and artist) John Ransom Phillips so promises to be an accurate and thought-provoking account of power, female agency and representation. Of course, if you’re less concerned with historical accuracy and more concerned with a barrel of laughs, Mary Lincoln is also the lead character in outrageous camp comedy Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre – also taking part in the New Year Sale.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £10, £20, £30 or £40 for all performances (23 Jan – 8 Mar).

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

What’s it about? Set in the murky world of the Cold War, British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is ready to retire and ‘come in from the cold’. But following the killing of his most reliable source, Leamas is tempted into one dangerous, deceptive and personal final mission.

Why should I see it? This is the first stage adaptation of a novel by John le Carré, the master of the modern spy thriller. Performed in Sohoplace’s intimate in-the-round space with period costume, this a tense, sophisticated and provocative look at the political era that shaped the modern world. Must end 21 February.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £60 (£20 off) for performances on 21, 26, 27 & 28 Jan and 2 & 3 Feb. Last few tickets remaining.

Summerfolk

What’s it about? During the hot and beautiful Russian summer of 1905, Russia’s elite holiday in the countryside to enjoy the best things in life. But as the party continues, how long can they ignore the storm on the horizon?

Why should I see it? Maxim Gorky was one of Russia’s most successful authors of the age, with five Nobel Prize nominations, although he was also imprisoned for his work as he dared to criticise the status quo. This exciting new version by siblings Nina and Moses Raine (descended from Dr Zhivago author Boris Pasternak) promises to be a razor-sharp portrait of class, privilege and denial.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £20, £30, £40, £50 for most performances from 12 Mar – 29 Apr.

This week, we hear from Cleve September, who’s currently playing Tom Fraser in The Little Big Things.

Find out more about Cleve and his career so far below:

1. My route into theatre was…

Through drama school. I started at The Brit School (2010-2012) where I began my training, and then went to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (2012-2015) where I studied Musical Theatre.

2. My West End idol is…

I have too many. It’s hard to narrow it down to one! But if I had to choose one, I would have to say Rachel John. She has always been an idol in theatre for me, but I’m also extremely fortunate to call her one of my best friends!

3. My colleagues would describe me as…

Oh gosh…probably likes to have a laugh and a little cheeky/mischievous. Well, at least that’s one of the main sides of me that comes out once I begin to get comfortable around the people I’m working with.

4. My favourite show (that isn’t one I star in/work on) is…

This is hard because I’ve been extremely lucky to have been in some of my favourite shows. But I think I’d have to say…. Come From Away. I love everything about the show! From the music to the direction, the subtlety and beauty of the choreography.

5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…

I think my main career moment is actually a multitude of things as it’s just the incredible people I’ve been fortunate to have worked with throughout my career. But also I have to mention, receiving an Olivier nomination for my performance in Hamilton is definitely up there with the most incredible and unexpected moments.

6. The hardest part about my job/role is…

I think one of the hardest things about being an actor is definitely the resilience that is required to maintain confidence in the industry. I love my job and what I do! But it is by no means easy. I think a lot of people just think it’s getting up on stage and singing a few songs and dancing here and there. But there is a lot of work, hours, blood, sweat and many tears that go into this craft. People work so hard and sometimes for minimal payoff. And not that it’s all about that but I think people forget that this is a business too and is our work and not a hobby. So definitely the resilience that’s required to push through the really tough moments in the industry. But like I said, I love my job and will always push myself to always grow.

7. If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…

Probably playing sports, maybe basketball or rugby…or a bartender… I make a pretty mean cocktail, if I say so myself.

8. Something people don’t know about me is…

I don’t know, I’m quite an open person. Maybe not everyone knows that I’m South African.

9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…

Be a sponge! Be open to everything and always be kind.

10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…

You are enough!

You can see Cleve’s work in action in the brand new British musical, The Little Big Things.

Nica Burns’ exciting new venue is striking, with screens lighting up Tottenham Court Road, catching your eye as soon as you step out of the station.

This new theatre is stunning, with the stylish Stars bar and elegant décor in blue and gold. The auditorium is spacious yet intimate, with seats all around the stage. The play was set in the round, with the intimacy of a cabaret.

The play stars the incredible Leah Harvey as Rosalind and Alfred Enoch as Orlando. Funnily enough, the last Shakespeare play I saw also starred Enoch as Romeo at The Globe. Fans of Harry Potter will recognise him as playing Dean Thomas in the films.

Rose Ayling-Ellis (Eastenders, winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2021) stars as Celia and Martha Plimpton is captivating as Jaques. Also worth a mention is Mary Malone as Phoebe, whose comic timing is brilliant.

The show incorporates British Sign Language (BSL), with Celia and her cousin Rosalind communicating solely in BSL. Celia often looks to her cousin to translate for her when others are speaking, and at one point Oliver (Ben Wiggins) tries to learn BSL in order to communicate with her. This is a great addition to the play, and is beautifully done. The visual language lends itself so well to Shakespeare. There are surtitles all the way through, which I actually found really helpful for following the story.

A grand piano forms the centrepiece of the stage, with the actors interacting playfully with the pianist throughout – requesting songs, asking him to shush, and even playing it themselves. There’s even a request for a romantic tune from Orlando, as he improvises a song for Rosalind. There’s a lot of singing throughout, with some of the verse adapted to song, which adds a great amount of atmosphere.

Overall, it’s a fun, engaging and loveable play. Great for fans of Shakespeare or for those wanting to try something new. It was the first time I’d seen As You Like It, and I found the storyline easy to follow with this adaptation. Grab your tickets now!

The theatre is adjacent to the site of the old Astoria theatre which was demolished to build Crossrail. The auditorium sits directly above Crossrail’s new Elizabeth line and the existing Northern and Central lines at Tottenham Court Road station, a major transport hub. In addition, Crossrail’s huge ventilation fans extracting the hot air from the platform below and working full-time 365 days a year are also adjacent to the auditorium.  A challenging location to build a new modern theatre with state-of-the-art facilities!

The theatre @sohoplace is at the heart of property giant Derwent London’s visionary £300 million regeneration of a neglected corner of Soho. Totalling 285,000 square feet it is a mixed development with the theatre at its heart, offices and retail and a fantastic new piazza, an ideal meeting place for Londoners to start their day or night out in the West End.

Nica Burns, Theatre owner said:

“I wanted to create a theatre which could add a different dimension to our vibrant West End landscape.  I asked our greatest theatre creatives two questions: If we could build a new theatre in the heart of the West End, what would you like it to be?  What additional facilities would be on your wish list? They dreamt of a flexible auditorium, perfect acoustics and audience / stage intimacy.  An ability to create on-site with the dream of a rehearsal room, a Green Room and a bar all in the same building.  So that’s what we built – with a few extras including an outside terrace.”

“The incredible team of engineers pulled off the greatest of structural feats, building over a major underground transport hub – a challenging place to build a theatre – achieving perfect acoustics and no vibrations”.

The auditorium has the following key qualities:

1. Wonderful acoustics
2. Perfect sightlines from every seat with no obscured views
3. Intimate actor/audience relationship: no seat further than 6 rows from the stage
4. Curved auditorium unifying both audience and actors (theatre term ‘the hug’)
5. The flexible auditorium can be transformed into a number of different configurations

The theatre interior was inspired by Nica’s visit to Epidaurus when young.  “I was standing on the stage of this great ancient theatre at 8 o’clock – show time – as the last rays of a golden sun were coming through the trees and the stars were starting to twinkle in an indigo sky. It was magic.  Epidaurus is one of the greatest theatres in the world and the plays of ancient Greece are still part of our theatre heritage today.  The interior of @sohoplace reflects these colours and when you walk through the theatre you walk under crystal star lights, laid out in constellations. When you pass the building, look up to the terrace and you will see the constellations shine.”

“I am incredibly privileged to be working with Derwent London who hand-picked the most outstanding team – all leaders and innovators in their sectors – to deliver this challenging build:

• Architect Simon Allford, founder of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, one of London’s most significant international architectural practices.  Simon is currently President of RIBA.
• Arup, a brilliant worldwide engineering giant who make the impossible, possible.
• Laing O’Rourke, renowned global construction company, specialising in delivering the most difficult projects.

Finally, a very big thank you to all at Westminster Council.  We have had incredible support from every team member and we couldn’t have done it without you”.

Paul Williams, Chief Executive Derwent London said:

“Working alongside world-class architects and engineers, and in collaboration with Crossrail and our partner Nica Burns, we are delighted to have developed this new state-of-the-art theatre together with substantial public realm as part of a successful commercial regeneration project above the Elizabeth line.”

Simon Allford, Architect said:

“@sohoplace is undoubtedly the most complex and delightful project I have ever worked on: the highly engineered architecture and design of a Swiss watch but built on an urban scale”.