✍️ by Caitlin Devlin

Celebrate the season with the spookiest theatre in London

If you’re anything like us, then you’ve been looking forward to Halloween since the start of September. As the weather gets chillier and we wrap up against the cold, pumpkins start to appear on doorsteps and cobwebs hang from trees. It’s a great excuse to dress up as someone you’re not, rewatch your favourite scary classics, or get out of the house and enjoy some spooky Halloween entertainment.

The cosy, creepy month of October offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy fantastic theatre, whether you’re a horror fanatic or you prefer to sleep with all the lights on. There’s a show for everyone in London this spooky season. We’ve got musicals for the entire family, or spooky shows for those who don’t mind a bit of a fright. There are black comedies, West End classics and adaptations of some of your favourite scary stories – in short, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Halloween theatre in London. Explore our top picks below.

1) Heathers The Musical

Based on the 1988 film starring Winona Ryder, Heathers is a fabulous black comedy that effortlessly combines music and murder. Veronica Sawyer is just an average high school nobody, until she’s noticed by the Heathers – the glamorous, terrifying queens of Westerberg High. Her dreams of popularity are finally within reach, especially with her devoted new boyfriend, the rebellious and troubled JD, by her side. But JD isn’t all that he seems, and Veronica soon finds herself playing a dangerous game… With plenty of laughs and shudders, not to mention plenty of outrageously catchy songs, Heathers is a great pick for a good time this Halloween.

Find Heathers The Musical tickets here

2) The Woman In Black

If you’re ready for something a little spookier, try the ghost story that really gets under your skin. The Woman In Black, an adaptation of Susan Hill’s classic story, takes you into the mind of a distressed lawyer who wants nothing more than to tell you his story. His tale of an abandoned house, an old curse and a dark, vengeful presence isn’t presented for your viewing pleasure, however – it’s a warning. Just cross your fingers and hope you don’t see her… The Woman In Black will have you looking over your shoulder the whole way home.

Find The Woman In Black tickets here

3) Wicked

Everyone’s favourite green witch tells her side of the story in Wicked, one of the West Ends most lavish and loveable productions. Join Elphaba as she navigates life on the outside, longing to be recognised as something special. When her unprecedented powers are finally recognised, she’s on track to be doing good and important work in the kingdom of Oz – or so it seems. There are dark forces at work in Oz, and if Elphaba wants to stop them, she might have to become the bad guy. Book a Halloween treat for the whole family and discover why so many audiences have fallen in love with Wicked.

Find Wicked tickets here

4) The Crucible

The National Theatre presents this much-lauded revival from director Lyndsey Turner, which brings a new urgency to the story of Arthur Miller’s witches. The small town of Salem is in the grip of a terrible force, one that sends whispers through the community and sets fingers pointing. As tension mounts and suspicions grow, the residents of Salem are forced to ask each other an improbable question. Are witches real? And how will they be found out? With a fantastic cast headed by The Crown’s Erin Doherty, The Crucible is going to be an must-see this Halloween season.

Find The Crucible tickets here

5) The Phantom Of The Opera

Not only is Phantom one of the most beloved and celebrated musicals of all time, but its dark, spooky undertones make it perfect Halloween viewing. Witness the haunting story of young soprano Christine and her unlikely new tutor, a shadowy figure known only as ‘The Phantom’ who comes to meet her in the Paris Opera House. As The Phantom’s love for Christine grows, so does his jealousy, until events take a turn for the dark and dramatic. The Phantom Of The Opera features one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s very best scores, set against a backdrop of gothic glamour.

Find The Phantom Of The Opera tickets here

6) The Mousetrap

Agatha Christie’s endlessly popular murder mystery makes for a fantastic Halloween treat. A group of strangers become snowed in at a country house together, only to discover – in true Christie fashion – that one of them is a killer. As secrets are revealed and explanations scrambled for, the killer continues to stalk and strike. Witness the thrilling twists and turns for yourself and try your hand at solving the West End’s oldest mystery before the trap closes.

Find The Mousetrap tickets here

7) West End Musical Halloween

Can’t settle on just one show? Why not book the ultimate musical Halloween celebration. West End Musical Halloween brings together some of the West End’s biggest stars at the Lyric Theatre for a spooktacular night of tricks and treats. Featuring music from Little Shop Of Horrors, The Phantom Of The Opera, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sweeney Todd, Beetlejuice, Carrie and much more, this spectacular concert is a one night only affair taking place on Monday 31 October.

Find West End Musical Halloween tickets here

It's almost frightening how much there is going on in London’s theatre district this Halloween. If none of these picks take your fancy, why not try one of the many other shows to be discovered on Stagedoor? Explore our guide to the best shows in the West End.