1. MAMMA MIA!
🎭 Now playing at the Novello Theatre
Few musicals celebrate female friendship and independence like MAMMA MIA!, the feel-good ABBA spectacular that’s been dazzling the West End since 1999. Set on a sun-drenched Greek island, the story follows single mother Donna and her daughter Sophie, whose wedding plans trigger a journey into the past, complete with disco boots, sequins, and some of the most beloved pop songs of all time.
The show is a joyous tribute to motherhood, female solidarity, and living life on your own terms. With unforgettable hits like “Dancing Queen” and “The Winner Takes It All”, it’s a must for fans of uplifting West End musicals.
2. Moulin Rouge! The Musical
🎭 Now playing at the Piccadilly Theatre
Set in the vibrant world of Paris’s most famous cabaret, Moulin Rouge! The Musical puts its heroine Satine at the heart of a spectacular love story filled with passion, ambition, and resilience. With its jaw-dropping costumes, innovative staging, and a pop soundtrack packed with over 70 hit songs, the show is an electrifying celebration of artistic freedom and individuality.
Satine’s strength, independence, and refusal to be defined by her circumstances make her one of the most compelling female leads in today’s London theatre scene.
3. The Devil Wears Prada the Musical
🎭 Now playing at the Dominion Theatre
Fashionistas rejoice, the stage adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada has arrived in the West End, bringing with it the iconic Miranda Priestly and her formidable world of high fashion. Packed with glamour, sharp wit, and Elton John’s brand-new score, this musical adaptation of the bestselling book and hit film is a witty exploration of ambition, mentorship, and the challenges faced by women in competitive industries.
It’s a must-see for anyone who loves female-led West End musicals with a razor-sharp edge.
4. SIX the Musical
🎭 Now playing at the Vaudeville Theatre
The six wives of Henry VIII step out of the history books and onto the concert stage in this empowering, pop-fuelled phenomenon. SIX the Musical reclaims the stories of these Tudor queens, from Catherine of Aragon to Catherine Parr, as they belt out their own truths in chart-worthy anthems.
Funny, fierce, and unapologetically modern, SIX is a masterclass in female empowerment in theatre and has become a global sensation.
5. Les Misérables
🎭 Now playing at the Sondheim Theatre
While Les Misérables is famous for its sweeping historical drama, it’s the women of the story, Fantine, Éponine, and Cosette, whose resilience and sacrifice give the show its emotional heart. Fantine’s journey in particular, from devoted mother to tragic heroine, remains one of the most moving portrayals of female strength in any West End musical.
With a score that includes “I Dreamed a Dream” and “On My Own”, this record-breaking production is as powerful today as it was when it opened in London in 1985.
Book Your London Theatre Tickets for These Female-Led West End Shows
From the glittering Greek isles of MAMMA MIA! to the rebellious Tudor queens of SIX, these shows prove that the West End is home to some of the most inspiring female characters in theatre. Support women in the arts and secure your tickets now, the stage is brighter when women’s voices take centre stage.