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?

Whole theatre experience - Cabaret when it was Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley. The whole immersive experience was incredible and the production is first class. Those two were unbelievably good.
Straight drama - To Kill A Mockinbird. I’ve seen it twice - in London with Matthew Modine and on tour in Cardiff. Made me cry both times.
I also saw the new musical Ballad Lines at Southwark Playhouse. Incredible and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Sunny Afternoon, the Kinks musical, which is currently touring.

Problem is you see something like Caberet the bar is raised Moulin Rouge was ok but not even in the same league as Caberet.

Friend and I left Inter Alia in shock. That is excellent especially if you are a parent of teens.

I saw a student production of Rat in the Skull years and years ago and had to buy the script shortly after. It really sticks with you, that one.

We've booked to see Jesus Christ Superstar with him playing Herod and this makes me even more excited!

So many.....
Hamilton
Guys and Dolls at Bridge Theatre
Operation Mincemeat
Numerous Shakespeare productions, including Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, The Tempest, Macbeth....
Cabaret (Redmayne and Buckley)
Oedipus and All My Sons, both at Wyndham's
Pretty much anything with Mark Rylance

Local to me, Richard, My Richard and The Book of Will at Shakespeare North Playhouse.

And these are just the recent ones!!

It’s currently a tie between Phantom of the Opera, Titus Andonicus and Come From Away x

Andronicus !

ooh! That reminds me. A few years back we saw an outdoor production of Macbeth. It was in the grouds of Salisbury cathedral.

It was by a tourisng company that had about 7 actors, with men playing women's parts and they said they were faithful to the original Elizabethan touring players version. It was incredible. We literally were just walking past and someone asked if we were there to buy a ticket. We were not, and walked on and then thought 'Hang on! ' and went back. It was such an amazing experience. I'd forgotten until now!

'Dance Bear Dance' by Shunt was one of the best theatre experiences I've had. It pulled off a twist half way through that really astonished everyone.

I’m terminally indecisive about this. The more I think about it the more shows and plays I have seen that affected me and hung around in my memory after. To add to my earlier picks - Come From Away is definitely one. Standing At the Sky’s Edge was very clever and deserves to be brought back.
I can’t do ranking.

Quadrophenia. Long ago now but it was amazing, I wish it had been around longer. The Japanese production of Macbeth. Also very fond of Avenue Q.

Cabaret at the KitKat Club

Dead Dog In A Suitcase by Knee High Theatre

Six was an appalling waste of money.

Evita with Rachel Zegler absolutely blew me away. Still get goosebumps thinking about i

Pretty much every National Theatre play Ive seen has been outstanding. That includes Nye, Dear England, Life of Pi, Ernest, Streetcar, Inspector Calls etc.
Ive also seen an unforgettable Merchant of Venice with Tracy Oberon and a wonderful touring Death of a Salesman.
This is my favourite subject. I could go on for hours...

I second that. Except that I saw it in Stratford, billed as The Glorious Moment. Memorable. Thrilling. All 8 plays in 4 days, with 2 trilogy days; a brunch; Q&A session with Michael Boyd and a meet the cast reception.
(Have you read Exit, Pursued by a Badger by Nick Asbury? He wrote a blog while in rehearsals and performances.)

Close runners up:

• Peter Brook’s Dream for the RSC in 1970
• Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

Honourable mentions:

• Pretty much anything with Sir Ian McKellen (first saw him in the 1970s)
• RSC: Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado about Nothing (billed as Love’s Labour’s Won and done as companion pieces)
• Steven Pimlott’s Hamlet for the RSC with Sam West in the title role (saw it three times)

Loved Cabaret and Hamilton.

Then very different but I saw Pete Postlethwaite as Lear, that was amazing.

Actually Black Watch in a small theatre was pretty mind blowing.

Masque of the Red Death - the immersive one in a big warehouse. Was when interactive theatre was quite new and I found it incredible.

Hamilton, Come From Away, Kimberly Akimbo, Girl from the North Country, Liberation, John Proctor is the Villain

That must have been something to see! I did see him in The Tempest in Stratford in Doran's 2016 production, but he was Prospero. Where did he play Ariel?

Oh and Jerusalem with Mark Rylance as the lead was really great.

Fame - early 00’s in London. Have also loved Evita and Phantom

Jerusalem!
I almost didn't go because of the train strikes - so glad I did. Mark Rylance was amazing.

RSC - Stratford. I think it would have been 30 odd years ago.

I have a vague idea that it was about the time he played Richard III (a masterclass in malevolence).

I’ve just checked up - it was 1993.