I love The Mousetrap. I have seen it and I could happily see it a million times. It is also, as almost everyone knows, the longest running show in the West End by a distance. But it is a play, and when people search for the longest running West End musicals they usually want something else: the big singing, dancing shows that have run for decades, and the record breakers that closed after a decade or two and left a gap in the theatre listings.
This guide covers both. You get the full list of the longest running West End musicals with opening dates, closing dates and performance counts, a short guide to each of the record holders, and then the part I care about most as someone who performs in amateur theatre: which of these shows a UK society can actually license today, and what we can learn from shows that kept audiences coming back for 20 or 40 years.
A quick note on the numbers. Performance counts below come from Wikipedia’s list of the longest running West End shows as I read it on 7 November 2026. For shows that are still running the counts are a snapshot and keep climbing every week, so treat them as “at least” figures. Where sources disagree on a detail, I’ve said so or left it out.
The Longest Running West End Musicals at a Glance
Here are the musicals from that list, in order of total performances. I’ve left out plays (The Mousetrap, The Woman in Black and others), revues and dance shows, so the ranking below is musicals only.
| Rank (musicals) | Musical | Opened | Closed | Performances (as listed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Les Misérables | 8 Oct 1985 | Still running | 16,100 |
| 2 | The Phantom of the Opera | 9 Oct 1986 | Still running | 15,237 |
| 3 | Mamma Mia! | 6 Apr 1999 | Still running | 10,700 |
| 4 | The Lion King | 19 Oct 1999 | Still running | 10,500 |
| 5 | Blood Brothers (1988 revival) | 28 Jul 1988 | 10 Nov 2012 | 10,013 |
| 6 | Cats | 11 May 1981 | 11 May 2002 | 8,949 |
| 7 | Wicked | 27 Sep 2006 | Still running | 7,500 |
| 8 | Starlight Express | 27 Mar 1984 | 12 Jan 2002 | 7,406 |
| 9 | Chicago (1997 revival) | 1997 | 1 Sep 2012 | 6,187 |
| 10 | Matilda | 24 Nov 2011 | Still running | 5,400 |
| 11 | Buddy | 12 Oct 1989 | 3 Mar 2002 | 5,140 |
| 12 | We Will Rock You | 14 May 2002 | 31 May 2014 | 4,659 |
| 13 | Billy Elliot | 11 May 2005 | 9 Apr 2016 | 4,566 |
| 14 | The Book of Mormon | 21 Mar 2013 | Still running | 4,345 |
| 15 | Miss Saigon | 20 Sep 1989 | 30 Oct 1999 | 4,264 |
So the short answer to “what is the longest running West End musical?” is Les Misérables, with The Phantom of the Opera close behind. Mamma Mia! and The Lion King both opened in 1999 and are still going, and Blood Brothers is the longest running musical on the list that has closed.
The Record Holders, Show by Show
Long runs are not an accident. Each of these shows found something audiences wanted to come back for, or to bring their friends to. Here’s what each one is, where it played and what makes it stand out.
Les Misérables
Les Misérables opened on 8 October 1985 at the Barbican, moved to the Palace Theatre later that year, and transferred to the Queen’s Theatre (now the Sondheim Theatre) in April 2004, according to its Wikipedia page. It passed its 16,000th London performance in February 2026. It is a sung through show adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel, so if you like your musicals with very little spoken dialogue, this is the archetype.
What it teaches: a huge story told through big, singable melodies and an ensemble that carries whole scenes. That ensemble weight is part of why it lasted. Every member of the company has something to do.
The Phantom of the Opera
Phantom opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre (now His Majesty’s) on 9 October 1986 and has never left it. The original staging ended in March 2020, and a revised staging opened on 27 July 2021. The official Delfont Mackintosh page was taking bookings until 2 October 2027 when I checked. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score, the gothic romance and the famous chandelier made it an event show from day one.
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, moved to the Prince of Wales in June 2004 and then to the Novello in September 2012. It reached its 10,000th performance in July 2024. It is the jukebox musical that proved the form could run for decades: the songs of ABBA built into a new story about a wedding on a Greek island. If you want the background on how that kind of show is built, my guide to what a jukebox musical is covers it.
The Lion King
Disney’s The Lion King opened at the Lyceum Theatre on 19 October 1999 and is still there. The puppetry and design are the headline, but the score and the story are both familiar to families before they arrive, which is a huge advantage for a long run.
Blood Brothers
Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers first played the Lyric in 1983, but the run that made the record books began on 28 July 1988 at the Albery and moved to the Phoenix Theatre in November 1991, closing on 10 November 2012 after 10,013 performances (Wikipedia). It is a small, tough, working class story about twins separated at birth, and it shows that a long run doesn’t need spectacle. Russell also wrote Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, which I cover in my guide to British playwrights.
Cats
Cats opened at the New London Theatre on 11 May 1981 and played 8,949 performances before closing on its 21st anniversary, 11 May 2002 (Wikipedia). It is built on T. S. Eliot’s poems in Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and music and dance are the main focus, which makes it one of the most demanding ensemble shows a society can take on.
Wicked
Wicked opened at the Apollo Victoria on 27 September 2006 after previews from 7 September, and it is still running. It retells the story of the witches of Oz from the other side and has two of the best known female leads in modern musical theatre, which keeps a steady stream of young fans coming back.
Starlight Express
Starlight Express ran at the Apollo Victoria from 27 March 1984 to 12 January 2002. Sources differ slightly on the exact total (7,406 on the list, 7,409 on the show’s own Wikipedia page), but either way it is well over 7,000. A revival at the Troubadour Wembley Park opened in June 2024 and gave its final performance on 3 May 2026. It is the musical on roller skates, which tells you everything about why it is rarely seen in a church hall.
Chicago
The 1997 revival of Chicago played the Adelphi, then the Cambridge and then the Garrick before closing on 1 September 2012, with 6,187 performances on the list. A later revival opened at the Phoenix in 2018. Its pared back style, with the band on stage and a minimal set, is part of its appeal.
Matilda
Matilda began at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford in December 2010 and opened at the Cambridge Theatre on 24 November 2011, where it is still running. It passed 5,000 performances in April 2025. Like The Lion King, it pulls in families and school groups, and several young actresses have taken the title role in London over the years.
Buddy
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story opened at the Victoria Palace on 12 October 1989 and later transferred to the Strand Theatre (now the Novello), running for 5,140 performances in all according to its Wikipedia page. It is a biographical jukebox show performed by actor musicians, who play the music live as well as act, which is a different challenge again for a society.
We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, The Book of Mormon and Miss Saigon
The bottom of the top 15 is a mixed bunch. We Will Rock You (Queen’s songs, story and script by Ben Elton) ran from May 2002 to May 2014. Billy Elliot ran from May 2005 to April 2016. The Book of Mormon opened at the Prince of Wales in March 2013 and is still running. Miss Saigon played Drury Lane from September 1989 to October 1999 and returned to the Prince Edward from 2014 to 2016. One small warning on Miss Saigon: its own Wikipedia page gives two different performance totals, so I’ve used the list’s figure and wouldn’t quote it in a programme without checking.
The Shows That Used to Hold the Record
Long runs have got longer, but the record has changed hands. A few of the old record holders are shows societies still talk about.
Oliver!
Oliver! opened at the New Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre) on 30 June 1960 and ran for 2,618 performances, a record for a musical in London at the time (Wikipedia). A revival opened at the Gielgud in January 2025.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar opened at the Palace Theatre in 1972 and ran until 1980, with 3,357 performances on the list. It held the record for the longest running West End musical until 1989. I’ve written a full guide to Jesus Christ Superstar if you’re considering it.
Me and My Girl
The 1985 London production of Me and My Girl, using the book revised by Stephen Fry (as Concord credits it), ran from February 1985 to January 1993 (3,303 performances). This one is close to my heart: I was in the ensemble of Me and My Girl in my first stint in am dram, before I took my break in 2000.
Evita
Evita ran from June 1978 to February 1986 (3,182 performances). I’ve been in the ensemble of Evita too, with Erewash Musical Society. I’ll be honest, Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals are not really my bag, but there is no arguing with how many people love this one.
What About the Longest Running Show of All?
If your question is the longest running show in the West End of any kind, the answer is The Mousetrap. Agatha Christie’s murder mystery opened on 25 November 1952 and transferred to St Martin’s Theatre in March 1974, where it is still playing. The list puts it at around 30,000 performances, nearly double Les Misérables.
Societies often ask if they can do it. Right now, no. Concord Theatricals’ page for The Mousetrap says performance rights are currently withdrawn in the UK, and that in the UK and Ireland the title is unavailable for licensing while the original production continues to play in the West End. If you love a Christie, Concord licenses others, and I loved playing Vera Claythorne in And Then There Were None with Arcade Players.
Which Long Running Musicals Can Your Society Actually Perform?
This is where the list gets interesting for am dram. A show running in the West End is often not available to amateur societies, because the rights holders protect the professional run and tours. Here’s what each licensor’s page said when I checked on 7 November 2026. Rights change, so always check the licensor’s own page before you announce a show.
| Musical | UK licensor | What the page said (7 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Les Misérables | MTI Europe | Currently only available for the US and Canada |
| The Phantom of the Opera | ALW Show Licensing | Listed for UK and Eire amateur societies, with a draft licence for adult amateur groups |
| Mamma Mia! | MTI Europe | Available to schools and universities in the UK and Ireland only, on their own premises |
| The Lion King (JR. and KIDS) | MTI Europe | Schools only, on their own premises, performers 13 or under. No full version listed |
| Blood Brothers | Concord Theatricals | Not released for performance rights in the UK and Ireland |
| Cats | ALW Show Licensing | Listed for UK and Eire amateur societies, request a licence |
| Wicked | Not found | I couldn’t find a UK amateur licensing page |
| Starlight Express | ALW Show Licensing | Show page says currently unavailable for licensing |
| Chicago | Concord Theatricals | Performance rights currently withdrawn in the UK and Ireland |
| Matilda | MTI Europe | Amateur rights available in Scandinavia only, unavailable elsewhere in the UK and Europe |
| Buddy | Buddy Worldwide | Licence requests taken on the show’s site; no UK amateur wording shown |
| We Will Rock You | Theatrical Rights Worldwide | Apply for a licence; no restriction wording shown |
| Billy Elliot | MTI Europe | Only schools following the national curriculum, on their own premises; not amateur societies |
| The Book of Mormon | Not found | I couldn’t find a UK amateur licensing page |
| Miss Saigon | MTI Europe | Currently unavailable in the UK and Ireland |
| Oliver! | MTI Europe | Schools only, on their own premises; not amateur societies at this time |
| Jesus Christ Superstar | ALW Show Licensing | Listed for UK and Eire amateur societies, request a licence |
| Me and My Girl | Concord Theatricals | Submit a licence request to determine availability |
| Evita | ALW Show Licensing | Listed for UK and Eire amateur societies, request a licence |
The surprise: Phantom
The biggest surprise for me was The Phantom of the Opera. It has often been described as youth and academic only, but ALW Show Licensing’s amateur societies page now lists it among the shows available to amateur societies in the UK and Eire, and its fees page offers a draft licence for adult amateur groups. The fee is the greater of 16% of box office takings or £200 plus VAT per performance, so it is not a cheap night. The same page also says availability depends on your organisation type, your dates and where you are based, so a listing is not a guarantee. Apply and see.
Listed is not the same as available
None of these pages says “yes, this is available for your dates”. A request licence button only means you can apply. Concord’s Me and My Girl page says to submit a request to determine availability, and Concord’s Mousetrap page shows a request button right next to a withdrawal notice. Treat every listing as “apply and find out” until you have a licence in writing. My Choosing a Show hub has a checklist for committees that covers this.
What that leaves for a typical society
Of the top 15 long runners, the realistic options for an adult amateur society right now are Phantom and Cats (both through ALW, subject to application), We Will Rock You (through Theatrical Rights Worldwide), and possibly Buddy if you have a cast who can play. From the older record holders, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Me and My Girl are all listed. Everything else on the list is school only, withdrawn or not listed at all for UK amateurs.
What Am Dram Can Learn From the Long Runners
You will not run for 40 years in a church hall. You probably run for four or five nights. But the things that kept these shows alive are the same things that sell tickets for a society.
Familiar titles sell themselves
Every one of these shows had an audience who knew the title, the songs or the story before they bought a ticket. For a society, that matters even more, because you are competing with the telly and the pub for one Saturday night. If you’re choosing between a brilliant unknown and a title your audience already loves, the known title is the easier sell. It is one reason jukebox musicals do so well in am dram.
Big ensembles keep societies healthy
Les Misérables, Cats and Me and My Girl all give the ensemble real work. That is the kind of show that keeps a society’s membership happy, because more people get a proper chance on stage. It is also a way to avoid casting fatigue, where the same few people get the leads every time.
I have done a lot of ensemble over the years, and I think ensemble builds confidence and community. It’s a great way to learn to work with others and be part of a great production. A show with a strong ensemble gives newer members that.
Spectacle is not what makes a show last
Phantom has the chandelier and Starlight Express has the skates, but Blood Brothers ran almost as long as The Lion King with none of that, and Chicago’s revival ran for 15 years with the band on stage and a minimal set. The story and the songs carried them. Your stage manager will thank you for remembering this when you plan the set budget.
Keep it fresh every night
Long runs depend on performances staying sharp. Over a week of am dram, the risk is the opposite: a brilliant first night and a tired Friday. Good notes from the director, proper warm ups (your musical director is usually in charge of the vocal ones) and a company that looks after each other keep the last show as good as the first. My guide to what a director and producer each do covers who looks after what.
Know what your society can afford
Big West End titles often come with big royalties and big orchestrations. Before you fall in love with a long runner, cost it. My guide to the hardest musicals to perform is a good reality check on the shows that look easy from the stalls and aren’t.
Why Do Some Musicals Run for Decades?
Looking across the list, a few patterns stand out.
- They pull in new audiences, not just repeat ones. The Lion King, Matilda and Wicked bring in families and school groups, so every few years there is a new generation buying tickets.
- They are recognisable from the outside. A logo, a song everyone knows or a story people grew up with makes a show easy to sell to tourists.
- They can recast. None of the long runners depends on a single star. The role matters more than the person in it.
- They move when they need to. Les Misérables, Mamma Mia! and Chicago all changed theatres. A long run is often a run across several venues.
- They refresh themselves. Phantom’s revised staging in 2021 is a good example of a show updating itself to keep going.
If you’re interested in how different types of musical are built, my guide to the five types of musical and my explainer on book musicals go deeper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the longest running West End musical?
Les Misérables. It opened in October 1985 and is still running, with 16,100 performances on the list I checked on 7 November 2026. The Phantom of the Opera is second.
What is the longest running show in the West End?
The Mousetrap, which opened in 1952. It is a play, not a musical, and it is listed at around 30,000 performances.
Is The Phantom of the Opera still running in London?
Yes. It is at His Majesty’s Theatre, where it opened in 1986, and the official page was taking bookings until 2 October 2027 when I checked.
Can amateur societies perform Les Misérables?
Not at the moment for the full show. MTI Europe’s page says it is currently only available for the US and Canada.
Which long running West End musicals can am dram societies license?
Of the top 15, Phantom and Cats (ALW Show Licensing) and We Will Rock You (Theatrical Rights Worldwide) are listed for amateur licensing, and Buddy takes requests through its own site. Older record holders Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Me and My Girl are also listed. Availability is only confirmed when you apply.
Which long running musical closed most recently?
Of the top 15 musicals on the list, Billy Elliot was the most recent to close, in April 2016. The Starlight Express revival at the Troubadour Wembley Park closed in May 2026, but it isn’t counted with the original run.
Final Thoughts
The longest running West End musicals are a mix of spectacle and simplicity, but the thing they share is an audience who wanted to come back. That is exactly what a society wants too. If you’re on a committee looking for your next show, check the licensing table above, then head to my Choosing a Show hub or browse the Musicals A to Z for full guides. And if you’re new to all this, my Am Dram Guide is the place to start.
Which long runner would you love your society to do? I’d love to know.