Show comparison
The Book Of Mormon vs Hamilton
Comparing The Book Of Mormon and Hamilton — price, ratings, duration, venue, and which one to book. An honest side-by-side comparison.
The Book of Mormon and Hamilton are both products of the same golden era of American musical theatre, and both arrived in the West End to enormous acclaim. But they could not be more different in tone. Hamilton is an earnest, intellectually ambitious retelling of American history through hip-hop. The Book of Mormon is a gloriously irreverent comedy from the creators of South Park that sends up organised religion with savage wit and surprising heart. Both are brilliantly written, both have won every award going, and both represent the very best of what modern musical theatre can do.
The Book Of Mormon
Hamilton
Quick Verdict
Best value
The Book Of Mormon
Highest rated
The Book Of Mormon
Shorter show
The Book Of Mormon
Who Should See The Book Of Mormon?
The Book of Mormon is perfect for anyone who loves comedy and is not easily offended. It is one of the funniest shows ever written — the jokes are sharp, surprising, and often outrageous, but they always serve the story. Underneath the shock humour, there is a surprisingly warm tale about two mismatched missionaries finding their purpose in Uganda. Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) bring their signature irreverence, and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, Frozen) delivers a score that is simultaneously a love letter to and a parody of the musical theatre form.
Who Should See Hamilton?
Hamilton is for the theatregoer who wants their mind blown. Lin-Manuel Miranda created something genuinely unprecedented — a hip-hop musical about the American founding fathers that is simultaneously a history lesson, a meditation on legacy, and a celebration of the immigrant experience. The score is dizzyingly complex, the performances are electric, and the show has a serious, urgent point to make about who gets to tell history and why. It is one of the most important musicals of the 21st century.
How The Book Of Mormon and Hamilton Compare
The contrast is almost comic in itself. Hamilton takes its subject matter with complete seriousness — it treats the founding of America as an epic, tragic, deeply human story. The Book of Mormon takes its subject matter and gleefully subverts it — nothing is sacred, and that is precisely the point. Hamilton's humour is subtle and character-driven. Mormon's humour is broad, bold, and sometimes gloriously tasteless. Hamilton leaves you thinking. Mormon leaves you laughing. Both leave you astonished at the craft involved.
The Verdict
If you want the best comedy in the West End, The Book of Mormon is unbeatable. If you want the most innovative and ambitious musical of our time, Hamilton is essential. Both shows demonstrate that musical theatre is alive, vital, and capable of extraordinary things.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Book of Mormon offensive?
The Book of Mormon deals with religion, poverty, and cultural difference with very adult humour. It is deliberately provocative and includes strong language and sexual references. That said, it is also surprisingly warm-hearted and its satire is aimed at ignorance rather than faith itself. It is not suitable for children.
Which should I see first, Book of Mormon or Hamilton?
If you want to laugh harder than you have ever laughed in a theatre, start with Mormon. If you want to experience something that genuinely changes how you think about musical theatre, start with Hamilton. Both are outstanding first choices.
Are Book of Mormon and Hamilton suitable for teenagers?
Hamilton is suitable for ages about ten and up. The Book of Mormon is strictly for older teenagers (sixteen and up) due to strong language, sexual content, and adult themes. Both are huge hits with the teenage audience that is old enough to see them.