Ahead of rounding up various publications #theatre2016 highlights, I’m taking a moment to reflect on my own theatregoing year and my favourite plays, musicals, performances and other events.
My lists are not in the least bit definitive: they represent only my personal opinions on the shows I’ve managed to see. There are two shows not included here that definitely would be had I not already included them on my #theatre2015 round-up – Jon Brittain’s Rotterdam, which transferred from Theatre503 to Trafalgar Studios, and Ray Rackham’s Through the Mill, which transferred from the London Theatre Workshop to Southwark Playhouse.
Please note, too, that my choices are listed in alphabetic order not ranking!
My top 10 new plays of 2016
1. Deny Deny Deny by Jonathan Maitland – Park Theatre
2. Elegy by Nick Payne – Donmar Warehouse
2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 & 2 by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne & John Tiffany – Palace Theatre
3. Jane Wenham: Witch of Walkern by Rebecca Lenkiewicz – Out of Joint at the Arcola Theatre
4. Nell Gwynn by Jessica Swale – Apollo Theatre
5. One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers – Donmar Warehouse
6. People, Places and Things by Duncan Macmillan – Headlong at the National & Wyndham’s Theatres
8. Pink Mist by Owen Sheers – St James Theatre
9. The Spoils by Jesse Eisenberg – Trafalgar Studios
10. Tonight with Donny Stixx by Philip Ridley – The Bunker
My top 15 musicals of 2016
1. Funny Girl – Menier Chocolate Factory & Savoy Theatre
2. Grey Gardens – Southwark Playhouse
3. Groundhog Day – Old Vic Theatre
4. Guys & Dolls – Savoy & Phoenix Theatres
5. Half a Sixpence – Noel Coward Theatre
6. Her Aching Heart – Hope Theatre
7. Jesus Christ Superstar – Open Air Theatre
8. Mrs Henderson Presents – Noel Coward Theatre
9. Murder Ballad – Arts Theatre
10. School of Rock – New London Theatre
11. She Loves Me – Menier Chocolate Factory
12. Show Boat – New London Theatre
13. The Buskers Opera – Park Theatre
14. The Go-Between – Apollo Theatre
15. Vanities – Trafalgar Studios
My top 15 performances of 2016
1. Amanda Muggleton – The Book Club, King’s Head Theatre
2. Charlotte Hope – Buried Child, Trafalgar Studios
3. Charlie Stemp – Half a Sixpence, Noel Coward Theatre
4. Daniel Mays – The Caretaker, Old Vic Theatre
5. Denise Gough – People, Places and Things, Wyndham’s Theatre
6. Gemma Arterton – Nell Gwynn, Apollo Theatre
7. Katherine Kingsley – Welcome Home, Captain Fox!, Donmar Warehouse (followed closely by her scene-stealing cameo in She Loves Me at the Menier Chocolate Factory)
8. Lucy Williamson – The Fix, Union Theatre
9. Luke Wright – What I learned from Johnny Bevan, Soho Theatre
10. Ruby Wax – Sane New World, Arts Theatre
11. Samantha Barks – The Last Five Years, St James Theatre
12. Sheridan Smith – Funny Girl, Savoy Theatre
13. Tom Hollander – Travesties, Menier Chocolate Factory
14. Tracie Bennett – Mrs Henderson Presents, Noel Coward
15. Tyrone Huntley – Jesus Christ Superstar, Open Air
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
