Tay Bridge
Dundee Rep, Dundee
A superbly directed play with a brilliant ensemble cast. One of the best evenings in the theatre for many years. Acting, directing, writing and set design all outstanding. Barrie
The Butterfly Lion
Minerva, Chichester
Not a dry eye in the packed house. New adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel added a Proust-like dive into real or half-real memories. Action-packed, happy/sad, full of pathos, with superb puppetry, and amazing lighting and sound, we were whisked from boarding school in England to the African veldt and back to school via a first world war battlefield. Fabulous performances across the whole cast, including the lion. Andrew Finnegan
Pavilion
Theatr Clwyd, Mold
I was so impressed by the staging, writing and performances that I ( and several of my friends) saw it twice! The play examined the struggles of a small Welsh town to deal with deprivation and decline and a desperate need to find a renewed identity for the 21st century. It centred around the last night of the local club which was closing its doors and joining all the other victims of austerity and globalisation.
A variety of well defined characters arrive to drink, reminisce, commiserate, dance, fight, sing and eat chips from the mobile chip van, served by the effervescent Myfanwy. It’s a rollercoaster ride that had you belly laughing one minute and weeping the next; emotionally drained by the beautiful singing and then uplifted by the messages of hope; shamed by the injustice and proud of the people, their resilience and their past.
This is a play that deserves to be seen by a wider audience as it spoke for not just the small Welsh towns but all the forgotten towns and villages that have been left behind and that are desperate to be heard. Paul
Present Laughter
Old Vic, London
I was only able to see the NT Encore film screening at my local theatre, living out in the sticks, but it was utterly spellbinding, with Andrew Scott dominating proceedings. It made me want to see as much live theatre as I can in the time I have left on Earth. Fun and moving experience; emotions turning on a sixpence. Steve Morgan
My Beautiful Laundrette
Belgrade, Coventry
Original stage version of a classic film. Brilliant from the beginning, entering the auditorium stage already lit with the Laundrette soundtrack, and actors appeared on stage one at a time before the house lights go out. The cast play two parts throughout – fun, frightening and touchy. Still brilliant. Simon Doughty
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Sadler’s Wells, London
Amazing dancers and the whole thing had such life, joy and a wonderful spirit that really seeped into me. In fact months later I keep thinking about it and passages of the show return to my mind, a sign of an awesome creation. Hamish Macdougall
Life of Pi
Sheffield Crucible
The most amazing theatre I have seen in decades. The staging, the script, the – everything. The whole audience stood instantly in response to the end. It had to be seen to be believed. I count myself fortunate to have been there. I understand it is moving to the West End … go! Pat Walker
Jerry Springer the Opera
Hope Mill, Manchester
A bold, fresh take on a controversial piece. Having seen the 2003 original I was curious to see how it would translate for our ‘woke’ culture – very well as it turned out. It still felt relevant and it still had a message. What I thought this version did so well was to give it a real heart. I found myself comparing its central themes with those of Come from Away ... That humans can do terrible things but that love always beats hate.
It was clearly an ensemble piece where nobody was ‘the star’ and each cast member was given their moment to shine. From the central performance of Jerry by Michael Howe through to the two very funny ensemble girls, who appeared to be channelling The Shining Twins, all were equal and all were excellent. This production proved that high quality theatre CAN and DOES happen outside of London. Jacqueline
Islander
Southwark Playhouse, London
A truly enchanting theatre piece, which did so much with so little. Two fantastic actresses conjure up a tiny Scottish island, fighting to stay inhabited, and the eerie world of whales and wonder. Using just a loop pedal, a flight case, two mics and a sound desk, the audience was transported. Relevant politically, and culturally, this fable is beautifully written and deserves a bigger audience. Rowan Whiteside
It’s True, It’s True, It’s True
The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford
A fiercely evocative verbatim performance of 17th-century court transcripts telling of the rape trial of Agostino Tassi accused by Artemisia Gentileschi. I’ve seen it at least six or more times now and am still captivated by each performance, the actors’ portrayals and the play’s directing. Fantastic theatre-making. Ash
Little Baby Jesus
Orange Tree, London
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I booked tickets but from the cast chatting away to audience members pre-show to a rogue mobile going off becoming the butt of a gag, this was amazing. Three great actors telling an epic story with great skill and laughs. Funny, sad and nostalgic – it deserves a bigger audience. Paul Townley
Are We Not Drawn Onward to New ErA
Zoo Southside, Edinburgh
A performance that highlights the issues of climate emergency through an astonishing feat of performance – touching, funny but ultimately compelling and thought provoking. Proof that you can get your message over not by pounding it through text, but through a gentler, physical and ultimately very clever and precise piece of theatre. Colin George
As You Like it
Maltings Arts, St Albans
It was thoroughly joyful and uplifting, the immersive promenade style brought the audience right into the action, from the city scenes in the theatre bar, to the rooftop car park wrestling match, to the Forest of Arden in the auditorium itself, complete with psychedelic campervan, where the audience became part of the commune. The best of the 1960s hits were woven seamlessly into the text, with outstanding acting and singing bringing the audience to their feet at the end. Fabulous! Claire
Kiss Me, Kate
The Watermill, Newbury
Full of energy, fun and warmth performed by a brilliantly multi-talented young cast. Fiona Sawyet
The Adventures of Curious Ganz
The Boo, Waterfoot
It’s a revival of a puppet show created by the Little Angel Theatre and the company Silent-Tide. The subject matter is historical (scientific discoveries in the time of Elizabeth I) but the show plays fast, loose and imaginatively with the facts.
The three puppeteers (Sarah Wright, Liz Walker and Nix Wood) are on the ball, the show is beautifully staged and the music by Adam Pleeth adds to the action rather than distracts. The theatre fitted the show like a glove.
It had everything that makes for a good night out for me. Unconventional but not obscure; well-made but not slick; performed with confidence and skill all presented on a Wednesday night in a small Lancastrian town. Edward Taylor
Sh!t Theatre Drink Rum With Expats
Soho theatre, London
I couldn’t stop thinking about this show after I saw it. So I went back. These two are never boring. They never preach. Because they’re so charming and properly funny, and their shows are so well knitted together, they get their audience to a place where we really engage with things we wouldn’t otherwise. The show saw me donate to an asylum charity, take part in a crowd surf, drink a shot of rum and laugh my head off. Go figure. I recommended this show to everyone I know. Fiona Simpson
Amélie the Musical
King’s, Edinburgh
A wonderful in-spirit reinterpretation of the film and a quite different stage production to the original (unsuccessful) US version. The orchestra became players within the on-stage drama: cellos, violas, instruments of all manner being played while their musicians were flying around in a fabulously physical production that deserves more credit that it received. Gary Cummins
Tao of Glass
Royal Exchange, Manchester
A meditation on life, loss and the source of true inspiration. A tour de force combining puppetry, live music, storytelling and topped off (on occasion) by Philip Glass himself playing piano on stage. When the composer didn’t take to the stage, it was as if his spirit inhabited the space despite his absence. Billy Partridge
The Duchess of Malfi
Tramway, Glasgow
Fresh, frightening, and brilliantly acted across the board. A most thrilling and exhilarating evening of passion, politics, and sex. Ms Harris not straying far from Webster’s theory that, ‘If you treat woman as badly as this – this is a picture of the world you will end up with ...’ Julia North
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Bridge, London
Joyous and exuberant – it was energetic, acrobatic, inventive and, if you were in the pit, pretty immersive. The whole cast were fantastic with Puck and Bottom particularly so, and Oliver Chris never lets you down. It was genuinely laugh out loud funny. I saw some pretty good theatre this year, but this was the production I raved about all summer to everyone – encouraging people who’d never been to see a Shakespeare play to go. Helen
Ubu
Asylum, Cornwall
A crazy mix of fantastic live music that everyone knows (and sings along to) with slapstick comedy and satire that work on every level – children (my 10-year-old loved it) to seniors. Accessible to all, friendly, totally unpretentious, and great value for money. Will be going to see it again when it tours in the new year. Melanie Steed
All My Sons
Old Vic, London
Anything with Colin Morgan is automatically a favourite. His range of emotion in this play was amazing. Hard to imagine going through his character’s trauma every night. Rosemary
Crocodile Fever
Traverse, Edinburgh
It was the most exciting, bold and daring piece of theatre I saw all year. It was a beautiful feminist examination of trauma, both personal and political. Now, more than ever, we need to remember the Troubles and the continued impact they had on communities today. Crocodile Fever did what all theatre should strive to do – demonstrate the political through personal narratives with fully-fledged characters. Catherine Wilson
Rotterdam
Oxford Playhouse
All the elements were tight – the acting, the staging, the music, and the costumes. It was a good story well told, and it’s a kind of queer story that’s rarely given voice. The casting was spot on, too, it was amazing to me to see trans people on stage. Robbie
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