London's newest theatre will open this summer with two huge musicals

"It was announced earlier this year that rather than just cease all activities during its current period of closure and refurbishment, the tiny, historic Arts Theatre in the West End was going to try something a little different: it was going to build a temporary theatre that at 594 seats would be almost 250 seats bigger than the parent one. It would be next to Marble Arch, in roughly the spot where beloved London folly the Mound once stood."

"Well, that all seems to have gone very smoothly, and The Arts at Marble Arch (at one point it looked like it was going to be called Marble Arts) will open this summer. And the order of the day? Big musicals, it seems! It was announced today (May 15) that the venue will open in July with a return to London for (Jul 9-Aug 22), the much loved cult musical adapted from the Winona Ryder/Christian Slater black comedy."

"It hasn't been around for a couple of years though and now it'll christen TAAMA with a limited, 52-performance only run that will predate a UK tour. Following that will be the return of (Sep 12-Jan 31 2027). The musical adaptation of the Christina Aguilera film has had a slightly peculiar journey to the West End that culminated in only a brief run last year (as it had to get out of the way for Paddington the Musical ) but it's booking a much longer stint here."

"Toss in a daytime summer run for beloved US kids' star Blippi - or more accurately another actor playing the character, in the show Be Like Blippi (Aug 5-23) - and you've got yourself a very s"

A temporary theatre with 594 seats is being built next to Marble Arch during the closure and refurbishment of the historic Arts Theatre. The venue will open in July with a return to London for Beetlejuice, running from July 9 to August 22 for 52 performances before a UK tour. After that, Mean Girls will play from September 12 to January 31, 2027, following a brief prior West End run. The production is expected to feature credible first casting with Cassidy Jansen. A daytime summer run for Be Like Blippi will run from August 5 to August 23, using another actor playing the character.

Read at Time Out London