AIBU to ask what is the best theatre show you have seen?

[IVantToBeAlonee]

It’s National Theatre Day today.

For me, I think Nye, staring Michael Sheen is the best I’ve seen, thus far. Though, my answer is subject to change since I have a few shows coming up soon.

What is the best theatre show you’ve ever seen?

Last summer we saw a touring production of The Tempest at Rutland Water: 7 performers and a raised platform with a small backdrop. The set was so basic that we had to concentrate on the words to visualise the scenes. Oh my goodness, it brought Shakespeare back to life and I can finally appreciate his mastery of language. It outclassed The Globe productions that I’ve seen. Elaborate sets take away from the finery of Shakespeare’s words.

Carmen Jones. It's pure brilliance.

I thought nothing would ever beat the staging of the cursed child but just saw the hunger games and loved it! Staging was incredible.

Me too.

We were blown away by War Horse and Hamilton. Also Wicked.

I’ve got tickets for The Shawshank Redemption, To Kill a Mockingbird, Barnum and Mamma Mia booked for this year. We really like live theatre!

RSC in the Swan Theatre at Stratford - Queen Anne staring Natascha McElhone. It was honestly spell binding to watch and a really magical experience.

I'd say that seeing the Sound of Music in the West End was magical too, my then teenage DD was mesmerised. I think it was Connie Fisher after winning the BBC show??

Iphigenia in Splott at the Lyric Hammersmith

A modern reworking of the Greek tragedy, it was effectively a one woman show and was just so moving. I’m a hard cow and shed a tear after it, had to take some time before heading home

Back to the future was amazing, the special effects were fascinating. Always said I'd go again but it ends in a couple of weeks and never did manage to 😭

Jerusalem with Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook. Mark Rylance was utterly brilliant.

Blood Brothers! Seen numerous times. Also kite runner.

Matilda and Hamilton.

Inter Alia with Rosamund Pike

Caberet the one showing in London now

Lehman Brothers Trilogy with the original cast.

Yonks ago when I was a student but the RSC's Les Liaisons Dangereuses was fabulous.
Also saw Me and My Girl with Gary Wilmot in and laughed so much at the library scene I almost peed myself. The whole theatre was in hysterics for a solid 10 minutes, honestly one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Oooh, good shout, that was amazing too. Very dark

I go to the theatre to watch plays regularly, about once a month to watch anything and everything and most of the time come out saying “that was amazing, best thing I’ve seen in a long time”, but often forget them a few months later.

The only that was truly memorable though for all the right reasons was The Night of The Iguana many years ago with Woody Harrelson.

Starlight express. Gutted it’s leaving again

Six and Moulin Rouge are ok as a spectacle but there is zero emotional depth.

We saw a play called Bad Jews that was amazing. The Lily Allen Hedda Gabbler was good too.

Rat in the Skull with a very young Rufus Sewell many years ago. I still think about it. Also The Ferryman

Robert Icke’s production of Oedipus with Mark Strong and Lesley Manville

And? Sometimes you want a spectacle and not emotional depth.

Mine was Dear Evan Hansen. I haven’t seen the movie so didn’t know what to expect but it was a fantastic performance, very intense at points and very moving as I heard lots of sniffles around me. Standing ovation (although most of the shows I’ve seen recently have had one so not sure that means much anymore)

Medea with Sophie Okenodo at SohoPlace.

The play itself was fab - i was transfixed. It was amazing to be in a brand new theatre. Also the cast included a disabled actor and that is something I always personally value.

Even the cloakroom was nice. It just all felt really fun and beautiful.

I want to walk out affected. Six was ok quite shouty.

Caberet blew us away that had both. Was dark and adult though.

Another vote for Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth with Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook. I was lucky enough to see it twice. Incredible stuff.

A close recent second was Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre