Best of 2016

Let's be honest, 2016 in general hasn't been a great year in some aspects but in terms of theatre it's been wonderful. I've seen so many fantastic shows that trying to narrow them down to a few favourites for this post has been  difficult. I've broken them down into a few categories including best plays, touring productions, musicals and amateur shows. I'm very pleased with all that I have achieved with my blog this year and I for one can't wait for all that 2017 has to bring!


Best Plays

Unreachable at the Royal Court really blew me away. It was original, funny and moving with an absolutely stellar cast and the tickets were  reasonably priced. In contrast to that was The Maids at Trafalgar Studios. Again, it had an incredible cast but it was very emotionally draining and intense. I was upgraded to the front row which meant that I could see every single detail and it was truly fantastic.

Best Touring Shows

Chicago is up there as one of the best musicals I've ever seen. The staging and choreography was so captivating, as was the band and music. It's one I would happily see over and over again. Similarly The Rocky Horror Show is another I'd love to see again. It's a cult show that I only saw for the first time last month but I was really impressed by the whole production.

Best Musicals

I've seen more musicals than anything else this year and I've got quite a few favourites! Firstly, In The Heights was stunning. I came out of the theatre having cried my eyes out but feeling  full of joy and I really regret leaving it so long before getting myself a ticket. I also finally got see The Book of Mormon in April and it was just as funny as I thought it'd be. It also had both my parents laughing aloud so it gets a big thumbs up from all of us! I also must give a shout out to The Phantom of the Opera which, despite being in its 30th year, is as fresh and beautiful as ever. This is another I can't wait to go back to as I'd love to see the principal cast members, having seen amazing understudies in the lead roles.

Most Memorable Performances

My most memorable performance of the year has to go to Rebel Wilson in the role of Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. She had me in stitches in every scene and she owned the stage with such confidence that she absolutely stole the show. The other memorable performance I saw this year has to go to the cast of Miss Saigon for the closing night of the London production. Every single cast member gave their all and it was incredibly powerful. Truly a night I'll never forget.

Best Amateur Show

Trinity Musical Theatre Company's production of The Witches of Eastwick was a testament to how great amateur theatre can be. It was such a lively show, full of laughs and upbeat songs, and the audience reaction showed me that everyone else loved it too. I can't wait to see what this company do next!