London Listings: Musical celebrations in the city this autumn

American Idiot

The San Fran punks who became multi-million rock gods bring their American Idiot album-as-a-musical to the UK for a nationwide tour and short London run at the Apollo.

The duo have an ambitious three-piece record coming out this month, November and January, but it is back to their 2004 chart-topper for this tale of punk singalongs and socio-political observations. Rock on!

Hammersmith Apollo, £22.50
Dec 4-16. 7pm
W6 9QH 
Tube | Hammersmith 
hammersmithapopllo.net

Africa Express

Damon Albarn – musical chameleon, Gallagher baiter, occasional Blur frontman – dons his experimental hat for this evening’s show.

Birthed as a reaction to Live 8’s sleb-spotted posturing, Africa Express brings together artists from the continent that fascinates Geldof for an evening of jamming and spontaneous musical output. 

The line–up’s to die for – Amadou and Mariam, Kano, Noisettes, Jack Steadman – and intent on broadening your musical boundaries. 

Sept 8. 5pm, £20
Granary Square, N1C 4AA
Tube | King’s Cross
africaexpress.co.uk

Cabaret

The unsettling musical from Rufus Norris, based on Kander and Ebb’s classic, itself based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood, stars Will Young as the impressionable emcee at a cabaret club in Berlin at the end of Weimar German Republic.

The tale of sex, love and the rise of fascism makes for a thrillingly perverse melting pot, and is sure to see Young shake off his boy band days.

Oct 3-Jan 19. Times vary, £35+
Savoy Theatre, WC2R 0ET
Tube | Charing Cross 
ambassadortickets.com

Soul Sister

After a run in Hackney, this Tina Turner musical, chronicling her life and shaky times with Ike Turner, made its move to the
West End. Chock-full of the belter’s hits, it’s a rock’n’ roll musical spectacle.

Until Sept 29. Times vary, £32
Savoy Theatre, WC2R 0ET
Tube | Temple 
savoytheatre.org

Kiss Me Kate

This Tony Award-winning Broadway classic comes to town with its post modern play-within-a-play tale that pits warring gangsters and beleaguered actors amidst the troubled production of Taming Of The Shrew.

Nov 20-Mar 2. Times vary, £11+
Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 8NB
Tube | Waterloo
oldvictheatre.com

Read more: New Fab Four production Let It Be shows Beatlemania is here again