Wilton's Music Hall announces Summer season for 2023

Wilton Music Hall have today announced a vibrant programme for their spectacular 2023 Summer season.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, an all-male production, directed by Sasha Regan will play from 7 June – 1 July. Inspired by her time performing in same-sex productions at school, The Mikado is set in the far-off land of Titipu, where flirting is banned on pain of death, and poking fun at British institutions makes this show uniquely humorous.

Opera della Luna’s Sweeney Todd – The Victorian Melodrama (25-29 April) brings a gothic allure to Fleet Street, including a 10-strong orchestra and National Opera Studio and Opera North present Cautionary Tales (2-3 May). A fresh interpretation of opera with contemporary scenes of climate change, gender identity and animal rights, from some of the most celebrated contemporary operatic composers.

Following this Opera season, you can take part in a side-splitting murder mystery spoof featuring every single Gilbert and Sullivan opera in 75 minutes in Express G&S from 15-18 August.

Completing the season is I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical (29 August-9 September). Experience the revelation of everything you ever wanted to know about musical theatre from those on both sides of the curtain, with a book, music, and lyrics by Alexander S. Bermange.

With music playing a big part in Wilton Music Hall, we see the return of Liza Pullman in Liza Pullman Sings Streisand on 4 May. The Swingles Vocal Weekender from 5-6 May offers two days of exceptional music from five-time Grammy winning group The Swingles and weekend workshops, interactive events, pop-up performances and the first outing of new show, Theatreland.

OneTrackMinds returns on 12 April with a selection of writers, thinkers and musicians presenting a thought-provoking story about a song that has changed their life, and five-piece shanty-folk band The Salts return with Songs from the Sea on 13 April. There is also The Players’ Theatre Magnificent Music Hall (16 May), and Ida Bar: Not Dead (24 May and 12 July). 

Camille O’Sullivan returns with her concert Dreaming (30 May-3 June), treating audiences to an evening of storytelling in song, from artists such as Radiohead and David Bowie. Iconic drag act Miss Hope Springs plays the piano and sings an array of acclaimed original numbers alongside scandalous stories from her ‘Ritz to the pits’ life in London, Paris and … Dungeness (19-20 May).

Traditional Indonesian dance and ritual in Kabaret Nusantara (27 July), infused with the burlesque, bringing multiple types of Indonesian dances together for the first time in London with a world class company of dancers. Fray (24-26 July) introduces a dance experience between two brothers united by their love of hip-hop and join the Jive Aces and Swing Patrol on 23 May in Swinging At Wilton’s. Be enthralled by Impermance’s VENUS (17-18 May) with a quadruple bill of new dance pieces in Feral, Cosmic Yogurt, Enemy of the Stars and Venus. Martin, Bisi and Friends cabaret concert, celebrating the life and activism of Bisi Alimi on 7 July with pop, jazz, showtunes and performances from the London Gay Men’s Chorus (proceeds going to a foundation supporting LGBT people in Nigeria). The high energy nine-piece Trinity Vogue’s All Girl Swing Band (13-14 July), will be mashing up 20’s and 80’s songs with Josephine Shaker, the tap-dancing cabaret clown making an appearance.

There is also a wealth of theatre, this year marking the 60th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood playing from 9-13 May, with Olivier award-winning Guy Masterson’s spectacular version. 18-22 April sees the highly acclaimed Yippee Ki Yay, a joyfully funny retelling of the classic film Die Hard from Fringe First winner Richard Marsh.

For children, there’s The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck (11-15 April) in a charming introduction to classical music through song, and a treat for families in a new spin on Twelfth Night directed by Martin Parr (10-11 July) with Shakespeare’s songs set to original music.

Silent movie nights at Wilton’s are the perfect place to be transported back to a bygone era, provided by Lucky Dog Picturehouse, and bringing a 100th anniversary celebration of Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last! Accompanied by a live score. The remaining line up consists of The Silent Comedies of Harold Lloyd (3-4 July) with Live Score, Speedy (1929) plus shorts (3 July), The Freshman (1925) plus shorts (4 July), The Navigator (1924) (2 August), Seven Chance (1925) plus comedy short (3 August), Battling Butler (1926) plus comedy short (4 August).  

Tickets for all performance are available to purchase now here.