Best new theatre shows: London, July 2023

Dr Semmelweis, Harold Pinter Theatre

Following an applauded opening run at Bristol Old Vic last year, Dr Semmelweis, a play conceived by and starring the great Mark Rylance (Jerusalem), is coming to the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre. It celebrates the work of Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis, an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures, whose research had the potential to save thousands of mothers during childbirth, but whose methods were largely overlooked at the time.

Crazy For You, Gillian Lynn Theatre

Transferring to the West End after a critically acclaimed run at Chichester, Susan Stroman's production of Ken Ludwig's Tony and Olivier-winning musical sees Charlie Stemp step into the conflicted shoes of Bobby Child, who's torn between pursuing his dreams of a career in show business and running the family bank.

Cuckoo, Royal Court Theatre

Olivier and Bafta Award-winning playwright Michael Wynne's new show is a dark comedy exploring the safety of home and climate change through the lens of a mother, Doreen, and her grown-up daughters. Vicky Featherstone directs.

Grenfell: in the words of survivors, National Theatre

In what promises to be a raw and deeply moving account of one of the worst national disasters in British history, this new play by Gillian Slovo, directed by Phyllida Lloyd (The Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy) and Anthony Simpson-Pike (The P Word), is fuelled by the verbatim testimonies of survivors from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Mog the Forgetful Cat, The Old Vic

Bother that cat! Mog the Forgetful Cat is always getting herself into trouble, forgetting her cat flap, forgetting she can't fly, forgetting cats are supposed to eat eggs for breakfast. But one day this moggy's ditziness saves the day and makes her a hero. Judith Kerr's beloved book comes to life, with the help of puppets and songs. The 60-minute run-time is just right for shorter attention spans and ticket capacity is reduced to ensure that everyone – big and small – gets a good view of the stage.

Recommended for age 3+

Beneatha's Place, Young Vic Theatre

Young Vic boss Kwame Kwei-Armah presents his own play about power, politics and race in the theatre's main space this summer. Inspired by Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun, it follows a renowned dean searching her own past and the history of colonialism for answers about today's cultural wars.

La Cage aux Folles, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Olivier and Tony-winning musical La Cage aux Folles hasn't been seen on the London stage since 2008, yet its themes of gay representation in the face of adversity are sadly as relevant as ever. Hats off to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre boss Timothy Sheader (Carousel) for spotting the potential for the 1980s hit to enjoy another outing this summer.