Strictly's Max George and Maisie Smith cast in The War of the Worlds

❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more)

"The moment I met Max and Maisie I knew they were the perfect fit for the role of Nathaniel and Beth,” said composer and creator of the show, Jeff Wayne.

"Maisie has such a melodic but powerful voice, which compliments Max's dramatic vocals wonderfully. Plus, being a couple in real life will add to their on-stage charisma and chemistry, and I'm delighted they've joined the 2025 The Spirit of Man Tour as husband and wife."

Wayne’s musical will be coming to 17 major UK arenas next March, and not-so coincidentally celebrating 130 years since the release of the original HG Wells novel.

Alongside George and Smith, the play will include the pre-recorded voice of Liam Neeson as the journalist recounting his terrifying encounter with the Martians, not to mention a tonne of special effects, lighting and spectacular designs.

In the past, the title roles have been played by musical theatre icons like Jason Donovan, Joss Stone and Carrie Hope Fletcher, which George was keen to reflect on: “Playing the part of Parson Nathaniel is gonna be really special. I've got big shoes to fill with the likes of Phil Lynott and Jason Donovan playing the roles in the past, but I'm looking forward to making this role my own.”

Meanwhile, Smith added: “This is a particularly special role for me because I grew up listening to the soundtrack on my dad's vinyl. My family are HUGE fans of the show so telling them I was going to be playing Beth was a very memorable moment.”

So, whether you’re a Strictly superfan or a lover of Victorian sci-fi (who isn’t?), here’s how to get tickets now.

Buy The War of the Worlds tickets at Ticketmaster

Check out more of the best musicals on tour UK and the best open air theatre shows.

Where can I watch The War of the Worlds musical?

Max, Maisie and the rest of the cast will be landing at 17 venues across the UK and Ireland. Some of the dates have more availability than others so make sure you get yourself tickets for your nearest venue quick.

Here’s the full list of dates and venues:

28th Mar 2025 – Hull, Connexin Live
30th Mar 2025 – Dublin, 3Arena
1st Apr 2025 – Aberdeen, P&J Live
2nd Apr 2025 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
3rd Apr 2025 – Leeds, First Direct Arena
5th Apr 2025 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
6th Apr 2025 – Manchester, Co-op Live
8th Apr 2025 – Sheffield, Utilita Arena
9th Apr 2025 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
10th Apr 2025 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
12th Apr 2025 – Brighton, Brighton Centre
13th Apr 2025 – Bournemouth, International Centre
14th Apr 2025 – Bournemouth, International Centre
16th Apr 2025 – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
17th Apr 2025 – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
18th Apr 2025 – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena
20th Apr 2025 – London, The O2

How much do The War of the Worlds musical tickets cost?

Ticket prices will vary depending on the venue and how much availability is left. For instance in Cardiff, tickets start at £58 per person, whereas in Birmingham, you’ll now have to pay at least £71. The cheapest we’ve managed to find is £47.50 for Aberdeen’s P&J Arena.