10 Ways To Turn Your Musical Theatre Fans Into Fanatics.
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London Theatre Direct
(Updated on Sep 16, 2025)
Are we as devoted to our favourite shows as football fans are to their teams?
I often liken my love of musical theatre to someone who is a die-hard footy supporter. Most people understand the passion of following a football team, but is it really any different from being loyal to Team Wicked or Team Les Misérables?
In 2025, London’s West End is alive with devoted fanbases - whether it’s Hamilton fans quoting their favourite lines or SIX the Musical audiences dressing like queens or knowing everyword to the MegaSIX. Just like football supporters, theatre fans show their loyalty in countless creative ways.
Here are 10 reasons why the biggest shows build the biggest fanatics:
1. Quotes only fans will understand
“24601.”
“Defying gravity.”
“Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.”
It’s like a football chant - only true fans know exactly what you’re talking about. If you know, you know.
2. Team colours and costumes
Every fandom has its kit: green for Wicked, glittering crowns for SIX, the half-mask for Phantom of the Opera, or even ABBA-inspired sequins for Mamma Mia! night. Dressing the part is half the fun.
3. Star players in the lead roles
Like a football team, shows need their star strikers. Big names can draw in new fans—like Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club starring Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney!
4. Keeping in touch with fans
Social media keeps the magic alive between performances. Cast takeovers on Instagram and TikTok give fans a behind-the-scenes glismpse of the magic. Some even answer fan questions directly, making the connection personal.
5. Big events and milestones
Nothing unites fans like a special occasion. Anniversaries of Les Misérables, charity galas for The Lion King, or themed nights at SIX bring fan communities together in stadium-like energy.
6. The cast album
Every fanatic has the soundtrack on repeat. From the classic Phantom score to Hamilton’s genre-bending brilliance, fans learn every lyric—and sometimes every alternate lyric from different productions.
7. Make a film (or streaming version)
Not everyone can make it to London, so films and pro-shots help expand the fandom. Mamma Mia! brought ABBA to the masses, Les Misérables had its cinematic epic, and fans are still hoping Hamilton’s London cast gets a filmed version like Broadway.
8. All the merchandise
Scarves, mugs, tote bags, enamel pins—you name it, theatre fans will buy it. Some of the quirkiest? SIX crowns, Back to the Future hoverboard keyrings, and Phantom opera glasses. The more unusual, the more prized.
9. The tour
If you can’t make it to the West End, the show comes to you. Tours of The Lion King, Les Misérables, and Moulin Rouge bring the West End to local theatres, helping fans stay devoted no matter where they live.
10. The musical itself
Ultimately, it has to be a great show. The reason these shows continue to thrive is simple - they deliver unforgettable performances that keep audiences coming back again and again.
In the end, whether you’re waving a scarf at a football pitch or humming showtunes in the theatre queue, devotion is devotion. And for musical theatre fans, London in 2025 is the ultimate home ground.