London’s Newest Theatre To Open This Summer With Heathers And Burlesque

London’s newest theatre will open this summer with a major musical theatre line-up, as The Arts at Marble Archprepares to welcome audiences for the first time.

The new 594-seat, semi-permanent venue has been created by the team behind the historic Arts Theatre, which is currently closed for a major refurbishment. Rather than pausing its programming during the redevelopment, the Arts Theatre will continue its work through the new Marble Arch venue, positioned near one of London’s most recognisable landmarks.

The venue is being billed as a striking new addition to London’s Theatreland, designed to bring large-scale entertainment to the area between Oxford Street and Park Lane. The project was conceived by Louis Hartshorn and Brian Hook as a way of carrying the Arts Theatre’s creative output into its 100th year while its original West End home is transformed.

The opening production will be Heathers the Musical, which returns to London for a limited 52-performance season from July 9 to August 22, 2026, before heading out on a UK and Ireland tour.

Based on the cult 1989 black comedy starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer as she is drawn into the orbit of three powerful and cruel high school classmates, with darkly comic and devastating consequences. The musical features book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, with direction by Andy Fickman.

Following Heathers, the venue will host the return of Burlesque the Musical, running from September 12, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Adapted from the Christina Aguilera film, the stage musical follows Ali as she arrives in New York City and is drawn into a glittering underground world of music, dance and self-discovery. The production features songs by Christina Aguilera, Sia and Diane Warren, alongside new numbers by Todrick Hall and Jess Folley.

The new season will also include a daytime family offering, with Be Like Blippi playing from August 5 to 23, 2026.

The programming gives The Arts at Marble Arch a confident first chapter, pairing a cult favourite musical with a large-scale commercial return and a family title during the summer holiday period. It also signals the venue’s ambition to operate as more than a temporary stopgap during the Arts Theatre’s refurbishment.

With Heathers set to christen the space and Burlesque following for an extended run, The Arts at Marble Arch is positioning itself as a significant new player in London’s musical theatre landscape.