If you are a lover of the theatre stationed here in Europe, you are in for a real showstopper. Not only can you see these famous plays set across the continent, but you can also visit the locations that inspired these fantastic shows.

“All you Wanna do” is hire a babysitter and see this musical that has swept London and Broadway by storm. It is all about Henry VIII’s six wives who take control of their narrative, replacing their one line in a silly poem as they are “Divorced, beheaded and LIVE!”

Show locations in 2025: U.K., Ireland and Spain. Go to sixthemusical.com to learn more.

In real life: Visit the Tower of London where Anne Boylen, and many others, were beheaded. Make your way to Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, which was the castle of Catherine Parr. Hever Castle was home to Anne Boleyn and a divorce gift from Henry VIII to Anne of Cleves.

Over the course of three days, Romeo is heartbroken over Rosaline, falls in love with Juliet, marries Juliet and both lovers are (spoiler) dead by the end of the story due to a generations-long family feud between the Capulets and Montagues.

Show locations in 2025: The musical, opera and ballet will show in cities across Europe including Munich, Venice, Warszawa, Prague and Berlin, plus numerous venues across the U.K.

In real life: Shakespeare based this tragedy off of Luigi da Porta’s “A Recently Re-Discovered Story of Two Noble Lovers with Their Pitiful Death Occurred at the Time of Bartolomeo Della Scala” and there are several places in Verona you can visit based off these tales: See Juliet’s tomb, statue and balcony before visiting Romeo’s house and stepping inside the Verona Cathedral where Romeo learned of Juliet’s death.

 “Mamma Mia, here we go again” as Sophie tries to figure out the identity of her biological father in time for her upcoming wedding. Abba fans around the world will enjoy this musical.

Show locations in 2025: Occurring in the U.K plus an international tour so you can catch the show in cities such as Porto, Paris, Milan and Oxford. For the full list, go to mamma-mia.com/uk-and-international-tour.

In real life: While the musical takes place on a fictional Greek island, Kalokairi, you can visit some of the filming locations of the 2008 film adaptation. Skopelos is the real island Kalokairi is based on. Other locations include Damouchari in Pelion and Skiathos.

Bring your angel of music to dance your way to this rock opera, which is the second-longest-running musical in the world. Backstabbing, romance, ballet and murder occur as Christine Daae is thrust into stardom, guided by the tragic figure, the Phantom of the Opera.

Show locations in 2025: See the show in cities across Europe including London, Antwerp, Prague and Madrid. Go to thephantomoftheopera.com to find a venue near you.

In real life: You can visit Palais Garnier in Paris where most of the musical takes place and snap a picture of Box 5, the Phantom’s reserved area, while you are there.

 “Maybe this Time” you’ll luck out and get to catch this show live. The story revolves around nightclub singer, Sally Bowles, and the nightlife scene of 1929-1930 Berlin amidst the rise of the Nazi regime. Doomed romances, catchy showtunes and political drama set the stage for this Tony award-winning musical.

Show locations in 2025: Catch it at the Playhouse Theater in London and at the Tipi Am Kanzleramt in Berlin (note the Berlin show is in German).

In real life: The musical is based on the actual experiences of British writer Christopher Isherwood, who lived in the Schöneberg district of Berlin from 1929-1933. There is an English-language tour of the neighborhood on Saturdays where you can learn all about the decadent nightlife of the era. Go to www.isherwoods-neighbourhood.com to learn more.

Stripes Europe magazine

related stories

• Finding fairies in Ireland and the U.K.
• The Badger that became a Groundhog: The European Origins of Groundhog Day
• Kicking it at a Kerwe