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?

My Godson’s drama school final year play, Vernon God Little. I hadn’t been completely looking forward to it as I’d tried and failed to read the book, but from the first five mins I was utterly gripped and the time passed far too quickly.
It was quite a few years ago but I can still remember so much.

Oh - another fan of LLD. I was spellbound and I don't say that often about theatre.

Yes this was brilliant.

I also really enjoyed Kenrex a couple of months ago.

And, he definitely wasn’t middle-aged then (he would have been 32). Still, not who you’d expect to play Ariel.

I'm really struggling to narrow it down.

Ben Whishaw's Hamlet
The three parts of the Ring Cycle (Pappano/Kosky) that I've seen so far- can't wait for Gotterdammerung next year
Tom Hollander in Travesties
A bit random but Paul Ready (wet dad from Motherland) played Macbeth at the Sam Wanamaker and I thought he was absolutely tremendous. Don't think it got all that much attention or loads of reviews but for me it was one of my best theatrical experiences ever
Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre. I also saw an excellent, liberty-taking Midsummer Night's Dream there.

Too many to mention but The Curious Incident of the dog in the nighttime was fantastic as was An Inspector Calls.

Oh also for sheer funniness, The Play That Goes Wrong- the only play I've ever seen where audience members were literally falling off their seats from laughing so much.

So many
My Fair Lady when I was about 8
Twelfth Night RSC Stratford Desmond Barret as Malvolio
Cats - twice
Taming of the Shrew RSC - Josie Lawrence as Kate
As you Like It RSC Emma Thompson
Macbeth many times but most memorable was Ludlow Festival at night with the stage stormed with flaming arrows
We Will Rock You
Richard III - Ludlow Festival - Edward Woodward as Richard
Peter Pan Northern Ballet
Christmas Carol Northern Ballet and Ballet Theatre UK

Return to the Forbidden Planet - probably not the best cast but such a fun show

Fiona Shaw in Electra in the late 80s was pretty awesome!

Nice thread!

For me more recently - Hamlet with Andrew Scott and Juliet Stevenson (Almeida).

But also, in the 80s, seeing Rupert Everett, then Daniel Day Lewis, then Colin Firth (with Kenneth Branagh in the mix also), in Another Country. My teenage self loved that play so much and who knew (well, it was obvious when you watched them) that all these young unknowns were going to be big hitters.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Mackenzie Crook and Christian Slater stands out in my mind. An amazing production which would’ve stayed with me, but was added to by an impromptu stand up show afterwards to raise money for charity. It felt like the theatre equivalent of a lock in.

i’m not a big musicals fan, but the start to The Lion King was a joy to behold.

Was super late to the Hamilton party as I waited until it came to Scotland and I was not disappointed at all. Loved the energy and the stage design and the dancing.

Years and years ago I saw a budget production of midsummer night’s dream at the edinburgh fringe and it’s stuck with me all this time. Was up on Carlton hill in a circus tent and they’d done the inside with velvet hangings and trees and we sat on the ground on pillows. Tatiana only spoke Japanese. It was such a fun setting and felt like you’d genuinely stepped into another world.

I like the sparkly spectacles end of theatre. Have never gotten that into plays but give me a musical any day!

Went to see this really small intimate one in Oxford last summer called Poe, based on Poe losing his mind. It was completely insane but I was fully immersed. The guy was screaming in a dark room, strobe lights were flashing, it was honestly totally nuts and I left feeling like I was on a different planet.

Many years ago, Jerusalem with Mark Rylance, and more recently Coven, with an all female cast, about the witch trials.

Last years Evita with Rachel Zeigler was spectacular. I didn’t think it was perfect but wow was it incredible. I went to see the balcony scene a week later. That was an experience in itself.

I saw Desmond Barritt in Twelth Night. He was hilarious. It was a matinee, so full of school children. They were screaming with laughter, and standing up just to try and see more of him.

And yet his final line (“I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you.”), was both heart-breaking and frightening.

He was also a scene-stealing Porter in Macbeth.

Love the theatre. A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic (mesmerising; real snow). Seen Phantom three times; amazing. Les Mis (going for the second time in May). Always loved Joseph (seen that three times also). Thought I’d seen the best and then we saw Oliver! at Christmas. Was incredible. Two shows I didn’t like were Cats and We Will Rock You. Abysmal.

1999 Peter O’Toole in “Jeffrey Bernard is unwell.” At the old vic. What an actor.
I think it was the last thing he did on stage. Standing ovation at the end.
I think it’s on you tube,

I'm a musicals fan. Ones I could watch over and over, Dear Evan Hansen and Les Miserables.

Unusual one which might be the best thing I've seen, Two Strangers carry a cake across New York. Two actors, great unpredictable story, great songs.

Edited to add Christmas Carol at the Old Vic which is amazing, we've seen it 6 Christmases in a row.

I’d have loved to have seen this!

Street of Crocodiles by theatre complicite or their version of the Caucasian Chalk Circle with Juliet Stevenson.

I’ve been googling to try and find out who the company was, but have drawn a blank, so if anyone can help…?

When I was in school, back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I lived in the North Cotswolds. A travelling theatre company (yes, it was professional) toured the village halls, with plays about rural life in the twenties. Kind of ‘Cider with Rosie’ feel, only not.

In one scene, a small-holder has gone bankrupt, and all his property was put up for auction. He tries to bid to buy it back.

I have never cried so much at any play/TV/theatre.

So many to choose from!

Les Mis
Six
Evita with Rachel Zeigler. Incredible. Didn't think the balcony scene would work but my God did it ever. My husband cried.
Othello at the National Theatre - Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear. I don't think anyone in the theatre took a breath for the last 30 mins of the play.
Moulin Rouge
Farinelli and the King with Mark Rylance. What a spellbinding evening that was.

I had tears streaming down my face at Desmond Barritt.

I also saw a production of Macbeth at RSC not sure if he was the porter. I have kept a lot of my programs, I shall have to have a search

Since leaving the Midlands I have not seen so much Shakespeare, I have not tried the Globe yet but should probably try it out

RSC as well, but back in the 90s.

I went to watch a play called Punch this week at the Nottingham Playhouse about a man who was killed by one punch and the impact on the man who committed the crime and the victim's family. It was absolutely amazing, so moving, I don't think I've ever been so emotional in the theatre