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West End's longest running musicals

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The London Marathon has become an annual, inspiring and colourful fixture in the world's sporting calendar since the inaugural race in 1981, and the event continues to grow, with more than 50,000 runners taking to the capital today to complete the iconic, and gruelling, 26.2 mile run.

Not to brag, but we’ve completed a fair number of marathons in our day (binging TV series and going to a matinee AND evening show in one day count as marathons, right?) To celebrate todays long run, we’ve compiled a list of the West Ends longest running musicals. How many PBs (performances beheld) have you earned?​

 

  1. Les Misérables (running since 1985) – over 15,000 performances
  2. Phantom of the Opera (running since 1986) – over 14,717 performances
  3. Blood Brothers (1988 production, now closed) – 10,013 performances
  4. Mamma Mia! (running since 1999) – over 9,667 performances
  5. Cats (1981 production, now closed) – 8,949 performances
  6. Disney’s The Lion King (running since 1999) – over 8,897 performances
  7. Starlight Express (1984 production) – 7,406 performances
  8. Wicked (running since 2006) – over 6,513 performances
  9. Chicago (1997 revival, now closed) – 6,187 performances
  10. Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (1989 production, now closed) – 5,140 performances
  11. We Will Rock You (2002 production, now closed) – 4,659 performances
  12. Thriller Live (running since 2009, now closed) – over 4,613 performances
  13. Billy Elliot The Musical (2005 production, now closed) – 4,566 performances
  14. Matilda The Musical (running since 2011) – over 4,354 performances
  15. Miss Saigon (1989 production, now closed) – 4,264 performances
  16. Jersey Boys (2008 production, now closed) – 3,787 performances
  17. Jesus Christ Superstar (1972 production, now closed) – 3,357 performances
  18. Me and My Girl (1985 revival, now closed) – 3,303 performances
  19. The Book Of Mormon (running since 2013) – over 3,202 performances
  20. Evita (1978 production, now closed) – 2,900 performances

Information supplied and verified by the Society of London Theatre and correct as of September 2023.

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By Sian McBride