Heated Rivalry musical parody opens in London this week

A musical parody inspired by queer hockey romance Heated Rivalry arrives in London on Wednesday 7 October 2026, opening at Underbelly Boulevard in Soho for a limited run until 1 November. The 75-minute show has already played Off-Broadway and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before reaching the West End.

The production follows fictional hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, whose secret relationship became the heart of the television series. Rather than retelling the story seriously, the parody turns its romance, fandom and dramatic time jumps into a deliberately camp musical comedy.

Who plays Shane and Ilya in London?

Zheng Xi Yong takes the role of Shane, while Joseph Dann plays Ilya in his professional stage debut. The five-person company also includes Andrew Berlin, Sylvie Stenson and May Tether, who take on multiple supporting characters around the central couple.

Dylan MarcAurele wrote the book, music and lyrics, with Alan Kliffer directing. The production originated in New York and has developed a following by combining affectionate parody with the queer romance that made the original story popular.

The London version begins performances at 7pm on 7 October, with dates currently scheduled through Sunday 1 November. Tickets vary by performance, with some dates already showing sold-out or limited sections.

Where is it playing?

Underbelly Boulevard is at 6 Walker's Court in Soho, close to Tottenham Court Road and Piccadilly Circus. The venue has step-free access between floors by lift and a hearing loop at the box office.

The show contains adult humour and is aimed at audiences familiar with the deliberately explicit tone surrounding the original romance. Its London arrival also demonstrates how quickly Heated Rivalry has expanded beyond television and books into fan-driven live entertainment.

For LGBTQ+ audiences looking for a new West End-adjacent night out, the run begins on 7 October 2026 and continues for just under four weeks.