Across 2023, I have seen almost 30 shows, from musicals to plays to Shakespeare. All reviews for these shows are featured elsewhere on this blog. Now, it’s time for me to revisit my favourites – and what a lot of good stuff there was to choose from!
Honourable mentions:
As I’m only featuring the top 5 in this list, there will unfortunately be some very good theatre that is missed off. “Groundhog Day” was an excellent musical – but a delayed start time due to technical faults meant that it didn’t make it to my list this year. In a similar vein, “The Pillowman” was a fab piece of theatre but a small technical glitch meant that other shows inched ahead. And “Hamnet” told an incredibly moving, emotional story, but what can I say? I just thought these other shows were a little bit better.
5. Heathers (The Other Palace)
A musical that I enjoyed so much, I’ve seen it twice! The West End production that I saw back in January was better than the touring production, in my opinion. Full of memorable, upbeat songs that cannot fail to put a smile on your face, this production begins as your typical teenage drama, and quickly turns into a harrowing tale of murder, depression and suicide. All the heavy issues are handled with the utmost sensitivity. I love the whole fan culture surrounding Heathers – seeing it in both the West End and in Nottingham attracted fans that dressed in the colours of their favourite Heather, and instead of throwing flowers onto the stage at the end of the production, everyone throws their scrunchies. The West End production has finished, but the recording (featuring Maddison Firth and Vivian Panka, who were performing when I saw the show in January) is available on Amazon Prime.
4. Dr Semmelweis (Harold Pinter Theatre)
This play came out of nowhere for me. I’d not heard anything about it, and only got tickets through the National Theatre Rush scheme on a spur-of-the-moment purchase. I didn’t know what the expect, and the whole production completely blew me away. The main reason for that is Mark Rylance, whose understated performance felt so truthful and honest it was impossible not to be completely absorbed by his story. Shining a light on a historical figure that I knew relatively little about (Semmelweis was ridiculed for his proposed hygiene reforms in medical settings in the 1840s), this play expertly blended music, ballet and some extremely high quality acting to make for a thoroughly entertaining evening.
3. The Fair Maid of the West (RSC)
The RSC’s revival of Heywood’s Elizabethan romp can be summed up with one word: “Fun”. This play is a riot from start to finish, featuring reimagined pop songs and set in a world that is an odd amalgamation of the 1500s and the present day. Amber James is a delight as barmaid Liz, who sets up a pub in Devon and finds herself entangled in murder accusations and unwanted romantic pursuits. The play earned a standing ovation on press night, and rightly so. If anyone fancies a laugh, I would heavily recommend this show.
2. Operation Mincemeat (Fortune Theatre)
Re-telling the story of the infamous World War II mission to distract German troops from taking over Sicily, SplitLip’s “Operation Mincemeat” is a laugh-out-loud comedy, featuring some incredible character performances from the small cast of five actors. Whilst the characters do tend to venture into caricature territory, this simply enhances the comedy – don’t question it too much and just let the play tell its wild story. And yet, whilst being over the top and feeling completely absurd, the play is remarkably historically accurate. And when the show slows down and takes a breath amidst the crazy, there are some beautiful, heartfelt moments. “Dear Bill”, performed wonderfully by Jak Malone, is a song that will never be far from my mind. Go and listen to the Spotify soundtrack now! Or better yet, just book tickets for the West End, as it looks like Operation Mincemeat is here to stay.
1. Cymbeline (RSC)
The RSC’s production of “Cymbeline” is simple, stripped back and straight-forward. They don’t update the text with pointless stand-up comic routines. They don’t cover their protagonists in black paint for no reason. And they don’t insert pink wheelie bins for comic effect. They just tell the story.
And what a story it is. Even after 400 years, Shakespeare’s writing cannot fail to surprise and amaze. The story is long and complicated – the play is over 3 hours, and the final scene features about 50 different reveals that will leave you breathless – but the fact that the RSC, under the direction of Gregory Doran, managed to tell this story with such ease, making the story accessible and the play effortlessly whizz by, shows the sheer level of accomplishment. This is the RSC at their finest and most confident. The actors – including Amber James (again!) as Imogen and Peter de Jersey as the titular King – are comfortable with their roles, and command every line of dialogue. I could watch this again and again. Mind-blowing. A worthy winner of my favourite 2023 production.
Already I have several shows booked for 2024 – and am looking forward to seeing varied theatre such as “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” at Sheffield Lyceum, “My Beautiful Launderette” at Leicester Curve and “Hadestown” in the West End. Also, finally, after years of waiting… “Hamilton”! (But not until July).
Happy new year and see you in 2024!
Tom Morley, December 2023
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