Happy New Year! I meant to post this before 2021 ended but here we are in 2022 and I’m still living in the past. When I sat down to make this list I thought it would be a struggle. I didn’t realise I managed to see as much theatre as I did in a year where theatre has struggled.

Putting this list together was therefore difficult. So I tried to keep it to new productions, as well as shows I hadn’t seen before. But I just want to take this moment to give a shoutout to Come From Away which I love with all my heart, and also to experiencing the re-opening night of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child which was really special (and not a musical, but I want to mention it anyway).

10. Prince of Egypt

So this may not have been my favourite show of the year, but I really enjoyed seeing the superior choreography that everyone was raving about. I’m happy to have been able to see it before it closes in a few days.

9. Hairspray

It was a joy to see this one with my mam on our first mother and daughter theatre trip since the shutdown. The production was crazily energetic with an absolute stellar cast. This musical led the way in being one of the first shows to re-open after the shutdown and this show is always a fun time out at the theatre.

8. Amelie

After seeing this on Broadway, I can confirm that the UK production was far superior. They made some great changes, including the addition of folk-inspired orchestrations and a company of actor-musicians helped to elevate this version to previously unseen heights.

7. Phantom of the Opera

It may be an oldie, but I only saw the show on stage for the first time this year. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. There are a few reasons why it took me so long to see it that I explain in my review, but it felt good to finally see this long-running show in person.

6. Heathers

After last seeing Heathers at The Other Palace with the original London cast, it was a really great change to see it at the Haymarket with a brand new cast. Heathers always has an excitable audience that is fun to be in the middle of. I also managed to catch the understudy, Giles Surridge, on as JD and we love and support understudies on this blog.

5. John & Jen

An updated version of a really wonderful little emotional rollercoaster of a musical exploring family dynamics, grief, and healing. I am a huge Andrew Lippa fan and it’s always exciting when opportunities to see his work live pops up. It’s also just nice sometimes to see a show in a more intimate setting.

4. Les Miserables Concert

So stereotypical to include this show, I know. But this was my first time back in a West End theatre after the shutdown. Nothing will ever beat that feeling of being back in a theatre watching a concert version of a musical I have loved so dearly for many years. I probably would have bumped it higher if it was the stage show and not the concert version though (but a huge shoutout to Jon Robyns who is an excellent Valjean).

3. Anything Goes

Bursting with energy and charm, this production of Anything Goes at the Barbican was wonderful to see in person. If you missed out on it, thankfully there is a proshot which was filmed beautifully. It has been a real golden year for musical proshots, that’s for sure!

2. Frozen

So I managed to see this show a bazillion times working front of house at the Drury Lane, but the movie has a special place in my heart, and so does the theatre and the team who work there. Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon are an absolute dream team, and the show has had some beautiful improvements since opening on Broadway. I never reviewed this one due to working there… but now I’m no longer there I definitely want to write a little something on it.

1. Back to the Future

This was honestly the surprise of the year for me. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would and I already can’t wait to go back in 2022. It has some of the best effects you will see in a West End theatre, and I left with a huge smile on my face. I have not officially reviewed this one yet, but am looking forward to doing it soon!

↓ Some of my theatre photos from this year ↓

If you’re wondering why I have a Moulin Rouge programme in the photo but did not include it in this list… well I originally saw it last minute this year due to some comp tickets. But I have tickets booked for next year in the can-can seats which I think will be a much more enjoyable time. So I thought I’d save it for next year’s post.

What were you favourite shows and theatre trips of 2021? Let me know in the comments!