Stage Watch brings together a curated selection of upcoming theatre, musicals, opera and live performance from London and across the broader Oxfordshire region – from returning West End favourites and bold Shakespearean reinventions to experimental theatre and major operatic productions.

This selection moves between the exuberance of musical theatre, the intimacy of a one-off theatrical experiment and the timeless drama of Shakespeare and Puccini. There are puppets and pop anthems, a forest transformed into a festival, and an opera bringing an international cast and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra to the New Theatre Oxford. Together, they offer five very different reasons to make a date with the stage this week.

1. Avenue Q

Shaftesbury Theatre, London. Booking until 3 January 2027.

Two decades after first making its mark in the West End, Avenue Q returns to the Shaftesbury Theatre with its gloriously irreverent mix of puppetry, musical comedy and distinctly adult humour.

Fresh out of college and uncertain about what comes next, Princeton arrives on New York’s rundown Avenue Q, where he encounters a colourful collection of neighbours grappling with work, relationships, money and the awkward business of becoming an adult. Beneath the jokes and infectious musical numbers is a surprisingly warm story about finding your place in the world.

The production reunites original Broadway director Jason Moore and original puppet designer Rick Lyon, bringing back the distinctive combination of human performers and puppets that helped make the show a theatrical phenomenon. With music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Avenue Q remains knowingly mischievous while retaining an affection for its flawed, lovable characters.

Best for: Fans of musical comedy, unconventional theatre and shows that are decidedly not aimed at children.

Tips: This is adult-themed musical theatre despite the puppets, with strong language and mature content. The age recommendation is 13+ and running time is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, including an interval.

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2. White Rabbit Red Rabbit

Duchess Theatre, London. Booking until 2 November 2026.

Few theatrical experiences begin with quite this much uncertainty. White Rabbit Red Rabbit, Nassim Soleimanpour’s celebrated theatrical experiment, returns to the West End for its 15th anniversary – and no performer knows exactly what awaits them.

Each performance begins with an unopened envelope containing a script the actor has never seen. There is no rehearsal and no director guiding the action. Instead, the performer encounters the work for the first time alongside the audience, creating a theatrical event that can never quite be repeated.

First performed in 2011 and subsequently translated into more than 30 languages, the play uses its unusual premise to explore obedience, choice, power and freedom of expression. Its origins in contemporary Iran give the experiment a deeper political and philosophical dimension. At the same time, its deliberately unpredictable structure makes the relationship between actor and audience part of the drama itself.

The rotating line-up adds another layer of intrigue, with performers including David Harewood, Mel Giedroyc, Adam Buxton, Christopher Eccleston, Riz Ahmed, Nish Kumar and John Bradley among those taking on the challenge.

Best for: Curious theatre-goers, lovers of experimental performance and anyone looking for something genuinely unpredictable.

Tips: Every performance is different, so the choice of performer can be part of the attraction. The production is recommended for ages 14+ and contains themes that may be unsettling. Running time is approximately 60–70 minutes, without an interval.

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3. I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London. Booking until 27 September 2026. Save up to 59%.

The extraordinary career of Chaka Khan comes to the stage in I’m Every Woman, a new musical tracing the life, music and resilience of one of popular music’s defining voices.

With 22 albums, 25 chart hits, 70 million records sold and a career spanning five decades, Khan’s story provides plenty of material for a large-scale musical. Alexandra Burke takes on the central role, bringing her own formidable vocal credentials to a production built around songs including I Feel for You, Tell Me Something Good, Ain’t Nobody, Sweet Thing and Through the Fire.

But this is intended to be more than a concert with a narrative attached. The production explores the woman behind the superstar – from her rise to international fame to the personal battles and pressures that accompanied life in the spotlight. Figures including Prince, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and Steve Winwood also feature in the story, placing Khan within the wider musical landscape she helped shape.

Directed by Racky Plews and choreographed by Ebony Clarke, the production promises a mixture of spectacle, biography and some of the most recognisable music of the past half-century.

Best for: Chaka Khan devotees, soul and R&B fans, and anyone who likes their musical biographies packed with big songs.

Tips: Alexandra Burke does not perform as Chaka Khan at Thursday evening performances, Saturday matinees or the Sunday 23 August performance, when Jordan Frazier takes the role. Running time is approximately 2 hours 40 minutes, including an interval.

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4. As You Like It

Globe Theatre, London. Booking until 25 October 2026. Tickets from £6.00. Save up to 44%.

Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden gets a distinctly contemporary makeover in this new As You Like It at the Globe, where the pastoral escape becomes something closer to a euphoric forest festival.

When Rosalind, Celia and their companions flee the restrictive world of the court, they find themselves in a place where conventional rules begin to loosen. In the Forest of Arden, identities shift, relationships flourish, and love becomes considerably less interested in social boundaries.

Co-directed by Sean Holmes and Charlie Josephine, this production promises an As You Like It driven by music, physicality and celebration. The Globe’s famously immediate relationship between actors and audience should lend particular energy to a comedy built around disguise, mistaken identity, desire and self-discovery.

The result is Shakespeare with its sense of playfulness firmly intact – a production that embraces the muddy, unruly spirit of the woods rather than treating Arden as simply a picturesque backdrop.

Best for: Shakespeare newcomers, seasoned Globe audiences and anyone drawn to lively, music-filled productions of the classics.

Tips: Expect a physical and celebratory interpretation rather than a traditional period piece. Running time is currently to be confirmed. Performances run until 25 October.

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5. Tosca

New Theatre Oxford. Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 September 2026.

Few operas arrive with a cast quite as formidable as this new production of Puccini’s Tosca, coming to Oxford for just two performances.

Presented by Oxford International Opera, the fully staged production brings together Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel as the ruthless Scarpia and award-winning soprano Carmen Giannattasio as Tosca, with lyric tenor Saimir Pirgu making his UK debut in the role of Cavaradossi.

Set against the political turmoil of Rome, Puccini’s opera combines passion, jealousy, power and betrayal in a drama that moves with almost cinematic intensity. P Burton-Morgan directs a new production designed by Anthony Lamble, bringing the classic story into a modern setting while retaining its emotional force.

The musical forces are equally significant. Marios Papadopoulos conducts the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, which becomes an integral voice in the drama alongside the Oxford Philharmonic Choir and an international cast of singers. For Oxford audiences, it represents an unusually ambitious operatic event on home ground – and Terfel’s appearance as Scarpia carries particular significance as his final staged production of Puccini’s Tosca.

Best for: Opera newcomers and devotees alike, particularly those wanting to experience a major international cast with a leading British orchestra.

Tips: With only two performances in Oxford, this is one for the diary rather than the spontaneous theatre trip. The New Theatre hosts the production on Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 September 2026.

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All the funfairs in Oxford and across Oxfordshire

Funfairs have been a fixture of Oxfordshire life for hundreds of years, bringing colour, excitement, and community spirit to our towns.

Oxford’s St Giles’ Fair is perhaps the most famous, dating back to 1625 when it began as a parish festival in honour of St Giles, Oxford’s patron saint.

Today, it still takes over St Giles’ in the city centre each September, drawing crowds for two days of rides, stalls, and celebrations on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles’ Day (01 September).

Across the county, many of our traditional fairs have even deeper roots. After the Black Death of 1348–49 created huge labour shortages, towns began hosting hiring fairs — the equivalent of today’s employment agencies and online job websites of their day.

Known as Mop Fairs, these events saw traders, farmers, craftspeople, labourers, and servants gather in search of new employment opportunities. With contracts running from October to October, the fair was a chance to secure your livelihood for the year ahead.

While the purpose has changed, the spirit of these fairs lives on. They remain places to come together, celebrate local tradition, and enjoy unforgettable days of fun.

St Giles’ Fair is one of the most prestigious and long-standing fairs in the country, dating back to 1625 as a parish festival celebrating the feast of St Giles – it is held on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles’ Day (01 September). Over the centuries, it has evolved from a toy and children’s fair to a large-scale funfair, drawing huge crowds for two days of traditional rides, games, and festivities each September.

Discover more: All the fun of the fairs

One of Witney’s oldest traditions returns this September! With origins dating back nearly 800 years, the Witney Feast was established to commemorate the rededication of St Mary’s Church. Today, it has become a cherished annual celebration in the town, bringing the community together for a lively celebration of local food, drink, entertainment and family-friendly fun in the heart of Witney.

Don’t miss the annual Thame Fun Fair that transforms Thame’s High Street into a mini theme park with rides, bumper cars and candyfloss for three days in September. Get ready for three days of rides, thrills, treats and family fun as the annual fair lands on the High Street. From dodgems and waltzers to hot dogs and candy floss, there’s something for everyone.

The Abingdon Michaelmas Fair is the longest street fair in Europe, running from Market Place, through the High Street, The Square and the entire length of Ock Street. It takes place annually on the Monday and Tuesday falling first before the 11 October from noon to 11.00pm on both days.

The Abingdon Runaway Fair is a smaller funfair that takes place on the Monday, one week after the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair in October. This hiring fair was held specifically so those hired at the earlier Michaelmas Fair and had found their conditions intolerable could quite literally “run away”, i.e. return back for another try at finding suitable paid work before the winter set in.

The Banbury Michaelmas fair has been a fixture of the life of the town for hundreds of years. The annual attraction will run as a four day event this year including rides, games, food and more, spread across Horsefair, North Bar, Market Place, and Bridge Street in the town centre. The fair will open from 3.00pm to 11.00pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from noon to 9.00pm on the Sunday

September gardening guide: what to do in your garden this September

September marks the start of autumn, and the pace in the garden begins to slow. Yet, it’s far from the end of the show – many late-flowering perennials, climbers and shrubs still put on a colourful display. While some herbaceous perennials and annuals will have finished for the year, others – such as roses and sweet peas – may continue to bloom well into the month, depending on the spring and summer weather.

Dahlias are at their peak, delivering a spectacular late show, while sedums flower reliably at this time, attracting butterflies and pollinators. Roses often bloom until the first frosts, and Rosa rugosa is particularly rewarding – its fragrant blooms give way to large, vibrant hips. Hydrangeas also take centre stage in early autumn, their fading flower heads bringing subtle colour well into winter.

Planting

Time to think about spring bulbs

Autumn is prime time for planting spring bulbs. Start with daffodils in September, leaving tulips until October or November. The key to long-lasting blooms is correct planting depth – too shallow and they may not flower in future years. A simple rule of thumb is to plant at a depth three to four times the bulb’s height.

Browse bulb catalogues for tempting combinations – it’s hard to resist planning ahead when the promise of spring is only a few months away.

Last chance to sow herbs and salad leaves

In most areas, early September offers the final opportunity to sow rocket and salad mixes. If the weather is cool, use a cloche to encourage germination and growth. Tender herbs such as basil, coriander, dill, and mint should be potted up later in the month and brought under cover before the chill sets in.

Collecting seeds for next year

Late summer into early autumn is ideal for collecting seeds from plants like nasturtiums, violas, rocket, and members of the bean family. Store seeds in labelled packets in a sealed tin somewhere cool and dry – a garage or fridge works well. Avoid moisture, which is the enemy of seed storage, and consider adding a little milk powder to absorb humidity.

Care and maintenance

Last chance to prune wisteria

Early September is your final opportunity to prune wisteria, tying in growth needed for the plant’s framework and cutting back long, whippy shoots to around six buds from the main stems. Pruning twice a year encourages better flowering, and with luck, you may even get a second flush of smaller blooms in August.

Prune lavender for shape

Once flowering finishes, lightly prune lavender into a tidy shape, avoiding cuts into old woody stems, which do not regenerate well. This helps keep plants compact for next year.

Keep deadheading for extended blooms

Continue deadheading late-flowering perennials and annuals – even sweet peas may still be going strong. Removing spent flowers encourages more blooms unless you’re saving seed.

Care for tomatoes

Tomatoes need consistent watering (daily or every other day, depending on the weather) and feeding at least twice a week. As growth slows, gradually reduce watering and feeding. Thin out excess foliage to improve airflow and ripening, and give ripening trusses extra support with soft raffia ties.

Protect tender plants before frost

By late September, frost risk increases. Pelargoniums, fuchsias, and other tender plants can be overwintered under glass in a frost-free spot. Raise pots off the floor to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of grey mould. Taking cuttings from plants like osteospermums, petunias, and marguerites ensures a supply for next year.

Harvesting

The vegetable patch is often overflowing in September, with potatoes, onions, garlic, beans, courgettes, and herbs ready to be picked, stored, or preserved.

• Potatoes – Harvest maincrops this month, dry them thoroughly and store in hessian sacks in a cool, dark place. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture.
• Beans and peas – Freeze well after blanching for 2 minutes and cooling quickly in iced water.
• Onions and garlic – Lift in dry weather, leave to cure, then store in net bags or braid into strings.
• Herbs – Refresh your supply of dried oregano, sage, mint, thyme, and rosemary.

Wildlife and pests

September is a transition month for wildlife in the garden. Begin feeding birds with fat balls and peanuts, clean and disinfect nest boxes before putting them back up, and leave some seed heads for winter foraging. A layer of leaf litter will help shelter beneficial insects over winter.

Other garden tasks for September

Raise pots on pot feet or bricks to prevent waterlogging during wetter months. If your lawn has bare patches, autumn is an ideal time to re-seed – the soil is warm and damp, giving excellent germination. Cover seeded areas with netting to deter birds.