The Karate Kid is officially coming to the stage in the UK.
The beloved 80s movie is now a brand-new musical, kicking off a major UK tour in April 2026.
It all starts at New Wimbledon Theatre before heading to cities like Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham and more. See all tour dates here.
The show is set to hit the West End and Broadway after its UK run.
Based on the original 1984 film that became a worldwide hit, The Karate Kid – The Musical brings Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi back to life with fresh music, powerful movement, and a story that still hits just as hard today.
It’s written by Robert Mark Kamen, the screenwriter of the original movie, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. The show first premiered in the U.S. in 2022.
The original movie made a huge impact when it came out, turning into a global franchise that included sequels, a remake with Jackie Chan, and the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai.
Writer and creator Robert Mark Kamen said: “William Goldman said about Hollywood “No one knows anything.” He was right. Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for The Karate Kid, we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”
The UK tour will be directed by Amon Miyamoto, with choreography by Keone and Mari Madrid, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Ayako Maeda, lighting design by Bradley King, sound design by Kai Harada, projection design by Peter Nigrini, orchestrations by John Clancy, music supervisor and arrangements by Andrew Resnick, wigs and hair design by Tommy Kurzman. Produced by Naoya Kinoshita, Kumiko Yoshii, John Gore and Kenny Wax.
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