One of the most popular cabaret spectaculars on the UK touring scene is coming to central London. Full Moon is the Lady Boys Of Bangkok’s brand-new show, and it will be playing at Shepherd’s Bush Green from 27 June until 12 July 2026. Press night is on 30 June.
The troupe’s whole Sabai Pavilion experience is on display in central London for the first time. The show did go to the West End back in 1998 at the Queen’s Theatre, but that was a stripped-down run. Now the proper touring rig — tent and everything else — is in zone one.
The Headline Facts
If you’re thinking of a night out, here are the essentials:
- Where. Sabai Pavilion, Shepherd’s Bush Green, London.
- When. 27 June to 12 July 2026.
- Press night. 30 June 2026.
- What it is. A Thai cabaret spectacular with nine ladyboy performers, four male dancers and a drag host.
- The format. Pop hits, comedy, choreographed routines, about 400 costume changes per show.
- The venue. A custom-built, heated pink cabaret tent with table seating, plush carpeting, two bars and food service.
Why This London Run Matters
The Lady Boys Of Bangkok has been on the UK touring circuit for a long time. The show first premiered in 1998, at the height of Thai-mania in the wake of The Beach. Since then it has entertained more than a million people across the UK and internationally, returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe almost every year and touring Australia, South Africa, Adelaide and Perth.
What it hasn’t done is come to the heart of London with its full production. That’s the news here. According to Time Out, it has been roughly a decade since the show was last seen in London at all. This run gives the capital its first proper look at the touring production in its purpose-built Sabai Pavilion.
The pavilion is part of the experience. No ordinary theatre, no ordinary pop-up. The Sabai is a fully licensed tented cabaret with table seating where parties can be seated together, bars on either end of the room, and food packages built into the ticket structure for guests who want a full evening rather than just a show.
Who Is Behind It
Hayley Gandey, who has run the production for years, handles the creative direction. In the official press release she explained the London return like this:
“There’s something very special about bringing Ladyboys of Bangkok back to London. The show has entertained over a million people since it began, and audiences come for the glamour, the comedy and the joy of the experience. It’s a celebration of performance, and we’re excited to invite London audiences to join the party.”
Thai company manager and performer Oak (Taweesak Samdangrit) added that for many of the cast, performing in the show is a way of sharing Thai cabaret culture with audiences from around the world.
The cast breaks down as follows:
- Nine ladyboy performers carrying the central choreography and quick-change numbers.
- Four male dancers supporting the routines.
- One drag host anchoring the comedy and audience interaction.
- A live wardrobe operation managing around 400 costume changes per night.
What Audiences Can Actually Expect
This is a high-camp, high-energy cabaret. Not a play. Not a musical in the conventional West End sense. The show runs as a fast-paced revue of pop hits, ballads, group numbers, comedy interludes and quick changes, with the staging built around colour, sparkle and showmanship rather than narrative.
The Time Out reviewer found it to be “a riot of colour, camp and chaos.” The Theatre Weekly write-up called it “a fast-paced celebration of identity, glamour and escapism.” Awards at the Perth and Adelaide Festival fringes are a fair barometer of where the production sits on the international cabaret circuit.
A few things that may help expectations:
- Seating is allocated on arrival. Tables may be shared with other parties depending on group size, so anyone wanting privacy needs to factor that in.
- The pavilion is heated. Don’t assume the tent will be cold inside just because of the setting.
- Food and drink are part of the ticket structure. Meal-and-show packages are offered alongside show-only tickets.
- Running time and content are aimed at adult audiences. Not strictly age-restricted, but the humour and material reflect that.
Ticket Pricing
Tickets are sold through Ents24, the venue and several agency partners. The structure from current listings looks like this:
- Show-only tickets. Top price £56, second £44, third £30.
- Meal-and-show tickets. Top price £71, second £59, third £45.
- Sunday to Thursday discounts. Reductions of around 20% on most price bands through agency offers.
Group bookings and meal-package upgrades are also available for parties wanting the full sit-down evening.
The Wider Tour
Shepherd’s Bush is the central London leg of a much bigger national tour. After the London run wraps on 12 July, the production moves to other UK cities through the autumn:
- Newcastle. Sabai Pavilion at Times Square, late September 2026.
- Lytham Saint Annes. Lowther Pavilion, 28 September 2026.
- Bradford. Alhambra Theatre, 29 September 2026.
- Retford. Majestic Theatre, 30 September 2026.
The full 2026 tour also takes in Trentham, Bromley, Bury St Edmunds, Brighton, Fareham, Weymouth, Taunton, Barnstaple, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, High Wycombe, Yeovil, Lichfield, Lanark, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Arbroath, Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh, Middleton, Lancaster, Middlesbrough, Carlisle, Rotherham, Bridlington Spa, Stockport and Belfast. So most of the country gets a date at some point.