Every so often, a theatre year comes along that reminds me exactly why I fell in love with live performance in the first place. This has been one of those years. From intimate two-handers to jaw-dropping spectacle, I’ve laughed, held my breath, and been completely floored more times than I can count. Narrowing it down to five was no easy task, but these were the shows that truly stayed with me long after the final bow.
BORN WITH TEETH – Wyndham’s Theatre
I absolutely loved Born With Teeth. Written by Liz Duffy Adams, this sharp, clever black comedy about Shakespeare and Marlowe was an absolute joy to watch. Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education) and Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve, My Lady Jane) were magnetic together their chemistry was off the charts. It’s rare to see two performers so perfectly in sync while also sparking off each other like flint and steel. Under the direction of Daniel Evans, SC Co-Artistic Director and two-time Olivier Award winner, every beat was controlled yet full of life. I found myself completely swept up in their battle of words and egos it was funny, fierce, and unexpectedly moving.
WHITE ROSE – Marylebone Theatre
White Rose was one of those shows that quietly steals your breath. Watching Collette Guitart as Sophie Scholl and Tobias Turley as Hans Scholl was incredibly moving both gave performances of such quiet strength and humanity that I could feel the audience collectively holding its breath. The direction allowed the story’s bravery to shine without ever resorting to sentimentality. By the end, I had tears in my eyes. It’s a piece that doesn’t rely on spectacle; it’s about truth, courage, and conscience and it hit me right in the heart.
RETROGRADE – Apollo Theatre
When I saw Retrograde, we had the understudy Brett Curtis performing, and honestly, he was phenomenal. Sometimes you get those magical theatre moments where everything just clicks, and this was one of them. Written by Ryan Calais Cameron, the play dives into race, integrity, and the price of fame and it does so with razor-sharp writing and blistering honesty. Curtis brought so much weight and nuance to the role that I completely forgot he was an understudy. The tension in the room was electric. I left the theatre buzzing challenged, impressed, and deeply moved.
SECOND BEST – Riverside Studios, Hammersmith
Second Best was something truly special. It marked Asa Butterfield’s stage debut, and watching him carry a one-man show was nothing short of breathtaking. I honestly couldn’t take my eyes off him. Directed by Harry Burton, the production was stripped back to its essentials no gimmicks, just pure storytelling. Butterfield shifted so effortlessly between humour and heartbreak that the whole audience was completely hooked. It’s not easy to command a stage alone, but he did it with wit, vulnerability, and total control. It was one of those performances that made me remember why I love theatre brave, intimate, and utterly human.
STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW – Phoenix Theatre
Yes, I went back for a second time and it was just as good as the first. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is an absolute spectacle in the best possible way. Directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, it combines incredible stagecraft with a genuinely heartfelt story. The young cast were outstanding full of energy, precision, and heart. I sat there grinning, completely in awe of how they brought that world to life. It’s a show that proves that blockbuster theatre can still have soul. Even on my second viewing, I found myself just as captivated maybe even more so.
Looking back, what ties all these productions together isn’t just great writing or clever direction it’s the people. The actors who bare their souls night after night, and the directors who shape those moments into magic. Born With Teeth dazzled me with its wit and chemistry, White Rose moved me to tears with its quiet power, Retrograde challenged and inspired me, Second Best reminded me how thrilling raw performance can be, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow reminded me that spectacle can still have heart.
It’s been a year of extraordinary performances and as ever, I’m just grateful to have been in the audience. Here’s to more nights when the lights go down, the stage comes alive, and for a few hours, the world outside disappears.