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?

"Medea" with Sophie Okonedo at the Soho Place theatre, lovely new venue, utterly wonderful performance, it was certainly up there for me.

Loved it.
I have seen it twice and was blown away bith times.

Dont get to the theatre as much nowadays, but went to see back to the future in London last oct and was pleasantly surprised by it. And great atmosphere in the theatre.
Warhorse was great, and think best I've seen was priscilla queen of the desert when Jason Donovan was doing it. Again, the atmosphere was great as well and think the encore went on for about 3 songs!
Did see national theatre via tv of the frankenstein with benedict cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller. That was pretty good. Only saw it with benedict as the monster - would have been good to see it with them playing the other roles to see the difference.

Oh, how did I forget -- Punchdrunk's Masque of the Red Death at the BAC! I went with DH and some friends, and when we met again at the end, we'd all had mesmerising, but completely different experiences. DH got hauled off to a little room none of the rest of us had seen by an old woman with plague sores who washed him, and I watched a very athletic orgy from inside a creepy wardrobe with a spyhole, and one of our friends spent a while petting a cat in an opium den. The other fell over a bit of the set in the pharmacy and decided to spend the rest of the night in the bar (which was part of the show, with Victorian vaudevile performers.)

Phedre at the National theatre in 2009 starring Helen Mirren, she was so amazing, i can't even remember who else was in it, she just outshone everyone, unforgettable. Back when good theatre was much more affordable than it is now unfortunately.

The Lady in the Van with Nichola McAuliffe about 15 years ago on tour in Cambridge. I have seen hundreds of shows and that one popped into my mind first.

The Mousetrap was impressive

but Les Miserables is the best

What was the impact on the perpetrator?

The one that sticks in my mind is The Ferryman. We saw it with the original London cast in New York. It was absolutely spellbinding. A very lucky last minute purchase at the half price ticket booth.
I also saw an amazing production of Hamlet at the Edinburgh festival by an American company who interspersed live action with film of Richard Burton playing Hamlet, it was thrilling.
There is nothing like live theatre.

ooh great thread

Leopoldstat- absolutely stupendous
Maggie Smith in The Importance of being Ernest
Girl from the North Country-with Shirley Henderson-spine tingling
Richard the Third Regents Park Open Air Theatre a million years ago
Hedda Gabler with Sheridan Smith
Patrick Stewart in Macbeth
Crucible-very relevant re social contagion
Othello at the National
Midsummer Nights Dream-again Regents Park
Death of a Salesman with Wendall Pierce
Three Tall Women with Maggie Smith and Frances de la Tour

On the lighter side-
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Regent Park an absolute romp
Very very early Les Mis
Hamilton-again early days before it got so over exposed although DD did know it by heart
Six

Need to stop but there are so many more-and now want to go to the theatre!!!

Omg. Maggie Smith in the Importance of Being Earnest? That sounds incredible.

Hedda Gabler has been on the top of my to-watch list for a while. Sadly, I missed Cate Blanchett in that role a number of years ago…

Honestly I have never seen anyone with so much stage presence in my life.
Even when she was off to the side and the action was centre stage you couldn’t help but look at her. Mesmerising. I have never seen anything like it.

Love Cabaret at KitKat.
Also love Chicago.
Enjoyed 1984.
The Rivals with Patricia Routledge. She was incredibly talented.
Liked a lot the recent Producers, though the shrieking audience spoiled it.
Les Mis is in a league of its own for me.

Meh:
Hamilton
Wicked
Op Mincemeat
Hadestown
Lion King
Tempest with Sigourney Weaver

You would have to pay me £1m to watch again and even then I wouldn’t be sure:
The Play that went wrong shudder
Cats
Kinky Boots
Titanique: the worst thing I have ever endured at the theatre.

I have six musicals and two plays booked so far this summer. Love live performances! looking forward to the Misanthrope.

When I win the lottery, I will come with you to watch Les Mis every day ;-) Moves me every time.

Without a doubt, Jesus Christ Superstar. I’ve seen it 4 times. Burlesque was great too.

a town close to me has an international Shakespeare festival (not in UK) and we usually go to see at least one in English (usually the Handlebards) and one (with friends) in the local language.

One time we saw a 3 hander (in English) by a Portuguese troop. McBeth the comedy. They played all the parts using a length of tartan draped differently according to man, woman or whatever, and microphone stands used as swords, horses, whatever. They swapped and changed their characters according to need, and so each of them played just about everyone at least once. It was utterly stunningly brilliant.

Recent kiss me kate at the barbican and the spy who came in from the.cold at soho

I loved les mis too but the theatre seating was so uncomfortable.

Le Miserables and Blood Brothers. The story lines, the issues explored, the lyrics express so much. Have seen both several times and would go to either any time.
I love Musicals. Also like Fiddler on the Roof and several others almost as much but the first two stand out for me.

The one I really couldn't get away with was Phantom of the Opera. Didn't seem to have a story line I could follow and couldn't really engage with the Phantom randomly (as a phantom would 😁) keep appearing and disappearing on stage 🤔

I loved Moulin Rouge, saw it twice. Though I didn’t like either of the leads, overall it was brilliant.

Phantom I loved too, Lion King was pretty good but I wouldn’t probably rush back. Wicked I really enjoyed too and We Will Rock You.

But overall my favourite was come from away. Absolutely outstanding.

Mousetrap is a classic.
Jesus Christ Superstar
The Woman in Black
Les Mis
And tonight (coincidentally) I’m going to see Fame locally.

I saw Fiona Shaw in Medea and she was mesmerizing. Minimal staging,simple costume, absolutely electric. When she went to kill the children, a single slash of red was squirted on the other side of the frosted glass at the back of the stage and the entire audience gasped. Its not like people did not know what was going to happen, so it was a real testament to the power of the performance that it got that reaction.

Musicals = the opening of the Lion King made me tearful and gave me goosebumps, it was so beautiful.

He was in the news yesterday - on the BBC website I think.

Love all theatre especially musicals. Regent’s Park magical one of my favourites was Billy Elliot the musical.

Thanks. I missed that. Checking back, it seems I didn't get to Stratford much that year and now I am wondering why!