Favourite performances

My top 5 favourite performances of 2018

Zizi Strallen (Fran in Strictly Ballroom)
Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jamie Muscato (Veronica and JD in Heathers)
Patsy Ferran (Alma in Summer and Smoke)
The cast of Spring Awakening
Eva Noblezada (Eurydice in Hadestown)

Honorable mentions
This year, Abiona Omonua's solo I Hate The Bus stunned me when she played Emmie in Caroline, Or Change, and Jonathan Carlton made a huge impact as the second understudy for Charlie in Kinky Boots, bringing naivety, endearment, and a previously untapped emotional depth to the role. I was lucky enough to see Jason Robert Brown and guests play an unforgettable Friday Night Is Music Night concert at the Palladium, and towards the end of the year Fat Rascal Theatre reduced me to tears of laughter with their rude and raunchy Beauty and the Beast: A Musical Parody, with Allie Munroe playing the standout role of love interest protagonist Beau's bohemian, beturbaned mother 'crazy old' Maureen.


My top 5 favourite performances of 2017

Kate O'Flynn and Brian J. Smith (Laura Wingfield and Jim O'Connor in The Glass Menagerie)
Rachel John, Rachelle Ann Go and Christine Allado (The Schuyler Sisters in Hamilton)
Tyrone Huntley (Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar)
The cast of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour
Danny Mac (Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard)

Honorable mentions
This year I was wowed by Sooha Kim as Kim in the Miss Saigon UK and Ireland Tour. Jon Robyns impressed me as Robbie Hart in The Wedding Singer, proving yet again that he is one of the UK's most talented leading men. It was also a pleasure to see Paddy Considine's stage debut in The Ferryman. Additionally, I was very impressed with the duo of Stuart Neal and Clare Halse in 42nd Street, and hopefully when the Olivier Awards come round they will be recognised for their impossibly energetic performances.

Read about my favourite shows of 2017

My top 5 favourite performances of 2016

Andy Karl (Phil Connors in Groundhog Day)
Amber Riley (Effie in Dreamgirls)
Rebecca Trehearn (Julie in Showboat)
Sophia Anne Caruso (Girl in Lazarus)
Charlie Stemp (Arthur Kipps in Half a Sixpence)

Honorable mentions
In my eyes the most underrated show of this year was Hand To God, the hilarious and irreverent play about a boy and his demonically possessed sock puppet. Actor Harry Melling played both the boy and the puppet masterfully, and in my eyes he deserved much more praise. I also loved Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey in The Last 5 Years. While the production itself didn't make it onto my Top 5 Shows of 2016 list, the couple were really first rate.

Read about my favourite shows of 2016


My top 5 favourite performances of 2015

Sheridan Smith (Fanny Brice in Funny Girl)
Imelda Staunton (Mamma Rose in Gypsy)
The Cast of Assassins
Katie Brayben (Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
Matt Corner (Alt. Frankie Valli in the Jersey Boys UK tour)

Honorable mentions
I talk about Memphis the Musical a lot, and it was without doubt my favourite show of 2015 (although as I saw it and included it on my list in 2014) so it is probably unsurprising that I'd like to mention Rachel John, who was alternate Felicia in Memphis' original London cast, and then took over as lead for the final 2 weeks of the show's run, following Beverley Knight's early departure. I was also fortunate enough to see Matt Cardle (1st replacement cast Huey), Jon Robyns (alternate Huey) and Tim Newman (understudy Huey), all of whom were absolutely fantastic. This show was so, so important and I was devastated at its closing. Hopefully it'll tour in 2016/17 as rumored.

Read about my favourite shows of 2015

My top 5 favourite performances of 2014 


Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba in Wicked) literally making my year while belting out the most incredible Defying Gravity I've ever heard.
Sophia Ragavelas (Grizabella in the Cats tour) bringing down the house with her rendition of the iconic song Memory.
Killian Donnelly (Huey Calhoun in Memphis) reducing me to tears with his heartbreakingly powerful Memphis Lives In Me.
Hadley Fraser (Stein in City of Angels) holding the final note of the song Funny for what seemed like an eternity! I could barely breath!
David Hunter, Jill Winternitz and the cast of Once breaking my heart during the reprise of Falling Slowly.

Honorable mentions
Ashley Day (Understudy Elder Price in The Book of Mormon) singing Spooky Mormon Hell Dream and Beverley Knight (Felicia Farrell in Memphis) singing Coloured Woman.

Read about my favourite shows of 2014