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?

I was going to say both Guys and Dolls and Midsummer at the Bridge as honourable mentions. Both so joyous

This is too hard to just say one!

Les Mis is the musical I’ve seen the most, and will always come back to.
Come From Away
Death of a Salesman with Brian Dennehy
Yerma with Billie Piper
Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Fun Home
Ocean At the End of the Lane
Let the Right One In
The Producers with Nathan Lane

I also had the immense joy of being at the opening night of a close old friends first musical on the West End, and I don’t think I will ever have another theatre experience as special as that. It was like watching someone you love win the Olympics! And they later won an Olivier for it, so cherry on top.

Frankenstein at the Royal Exchange in Manchester or recently a good Macbeth at the Bolton Octagon. Or The Producers at Royal Exchange for musicals.

For me the smaller theatres are the best, I feel much more immersed in the show and I love to see the set design / how the actors play when the stage is surrounded.

I generally find West End stuff overpriced and underwhelming, but Lehman Brothers and To Kill a Mockingbird were exceptions.

The Ring cycle at the RBO is right up there with the best, and also Dead Man Walking (ENO).

But some of the stuff I have enjoyed most in the last year or so has been away from the West End - highlights include:
Indian Ink (Hampstead Theatre)
Demetrius Wakes (Old Red Lion Theatre)
Here There Are Blueberries (Theatre Royal Stratford East)
The Holy Rosenbergs (Menier Chocolate Factory)
The Code (Southwark Playhouse)
The Glass Menagerie (The Yard Theatre)

Desmond Barrit - referred to upthread - this sad news has just been released by the RSC:

We are very saddened to hear of the death of RSC Associate Artist, Desmond Barrit.
A distinguished presence on the British stage, Desmond was a longstanding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he became renowned for his memorable - and often hilarious - performances. Over many seasons, he brought levity and gravitas to a wide range of roles, including a puritanical, Welsh Malvolio in Twelfth Night, a roguish Sir John Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor and a near-definitive Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Des’ work was marked by his generosity and warmth, with a deep connection to audiences. A valued colleague and consummate professional, his contribution to the Company was immense and enduring.

I saw that Macbeth - thought it was brilliant. He was great! I’ve seen it numerous times and this was the second best (the recent Tennant version just topped it, but I do think he is one of the best Shakespearean actors so…)
I go to the theatre a lot. I agree with a lot of the ones people have already mentioned as being outstanding (Icke Oedipus, Hamilton, various Hamlets but actually Paapa Essiedu hasn’t been mentioned yet and he was prob my favourite) but the best performance I’ve ever seen was Rylance in Jerusalem. Out-of-body experience.

Iphigenia in Splott Sounds so interesting. I hope it has another run!

Oh no, he was just so amazing. I'm very sad now

Gyspy with Imelda Staunton

Madame butterfly in my local theatre in the 80's...... I couldn't stop crying

Operation Mincemeat is absolutely brilliant - funny, moving and a great true story.

I loved Hades World and the Book of Mormon has me dying of laughter. But I have seen some brilliant Shakespeare including a sort of Vegas style Merchant of Venice at the Almeida in Islington (hilarious, captivating) and then recently a very dark version of a Midsummer's Night Dream at the Sam Wanamaker with the most dastardly Puck. It really surprised me

Hm... the best or my favourite?

One of the most memorable ones that I can still see and hear if I close my eyes, was i think 1991, a play called Tango at the End of Winter, and especially a scene where Alan Rickman dances a very sad tango with very young Beatie Edney to Pachelbel's canon with cherry blossom falling round them. It was just magical.

I've not seen loads of theatre but London Road and Up Down Man really stuck with me. Oh and also Company! Amazing.

Billy Elliot was surprisingly great. I also really enjoyed War Horse. Can't beat The Woman in Black though I don't think.

Guy Masterson's solo Under Milk Wood.

Agree. Definitely the best. There aren't many I would actively seek to go and see multiple times, but I've seen it 3 times as well. I'm going to see Miss Saigon next week.

I’ve had a few that I couldn’t choose which I liked most.
When I lived in London I saw the Lion King three times as I loved it. I also went to see Chicago multiple times for the same reason.
Recently saw a spin off Pride and Prejudice play, peri brain fart for its official title but I think it was called “Pride and Prejudice (Or is it?!)” which was brilliant. There were only three female cast member but they play all the roles and the set continually moved and evolved along with their costumes. It was very cleverly done and I really enjoyed that.

Always wanted to see Warhorse. God I love going to the theatre but I never have the funds to do it more than once a year at best now 😭

The Merchant of Venice with Henry Goodman as Shylock. It was at the National Theatre theatre circa 2000. His performance left a lasting impression on teenage me.

More recently ‘my neighbour totoro’ it was lovely to escape the world for a couple of hours.

Oh my goodness, totally forgot Jane Eyre at the National Theatre - saw it 3 times - absolutely breathtaking! ❤️
Edited to say it was a Bristol Old Vic production.

Helen McCrory as Medea. Just mesmerising.

Mark Rylance in Twelfth Night, with Stephen Fry as Malvolio. Very funny.

I don’t know how she did that every night.

I agree, it was emotionally draining enough being in the audience and knowing the play very well. I can't even imagine how she did it more than once.

This was just absolutely mind blowing, seen it three times now and every time Im just totally mesmerised . How she bought so many people to that stage is beyond me

Good - David Tennant . OMG absolutely terrifying. Sharon Small would have won the award for best actress only she was up against Jodie Comer

Two very powerful plays

Musicals are my favourite. Les Mis - every day if I could but the best has to have been Tina

I saw that Pride and Prejudice at my local theatre-was brilliant!!!

Edited to say I saw Warhorse-also in a local theatre production with DS as he was studying it as school-think he was around 13.
Very very underwhelmed.
Not a big puppet fan anyway and the film nearly destroyed me but the play left me pretty cold.