This year has been wonderful – it has marked the start of my blogging adventure and so far I am loving it. Having the opportunity to see so many shows has been a complete joy and privilege and my fingers are crossed that 2018 can live up to such high expectations!! I have truly discovered the magic of regional theatre this year and I have learnt that it most definitely is not a step down from the west-end. Its been so wonderful to see some of my all time favourite shows touring. Having said that, I will always love a trip to the West-End.
Here are my top 10 shows of 2017 (in no definite order as that was just too tricky).
10. Cinderella @ Belgrade Theatre, Coventry – This one just had to make the list as it was such a fun-filled belly-laugh-inducing evening. (Full Review)
9. RENT @ UK Tour (Belgrade) – I’d only ever seen the film of RENT prior to biting the bullet and booking myself a ticket for the tour. Having hated the film I was very surprised to be completely won over by this production. (Full Review)
8. The Addams Family @ UK Tour (MK Theatre) – Having been a bit of a skeptical Negative Nancy about this tour I was yet again very pleasantly surprised!! The modern choreography and talented ensemble in this production really stood out and I was completely won over. (Full Review)
7. School of Rock @ New London Theatre, London – I’ve seen this 4 times in 2017 so I think that sums up my feelings towards it! I’ve always loved the film and the musical most definitely lives up to expectations. Its catchy, its funny and I felt like I was in a real rock concert – what more could you want?! (Full Review)
6. Jersey Boys @ Piccadilly Theatre, London – I had to catch this before it left the West-End. I absolutely love this show. In terms of jukebox musicals, you can’t beat it. I’ll definitely be buying tickets for the UK Tour next year! (Full Review)
5. Billy Elliot @ UK Tour (B’ham Hippodrome) – Another classic and all time favourite of mine. This show is so gritty and heartwarming and will forever remain as one of my favourite musicals. (Full Review)
4. Miss Saigon @ UK Tour (Curve Leicester) – Again, an all time favourite. The production team have done an absolutely spectacular job bringing this production to life on regional stages. Nothing has been watered down which is a joy to see. A musical theatre masterpiece. (Full Review)
3. The Girls @ Phoenix Theatre, London – My biggest regret when it comes to this musical is that I only saw it once. I’ve never cried more at the theatre than I did here but I left with a heart full of pride and happiness. I can’t wait to see this show again. (Full Review)
2. Waitress @ Brookes Atkinson Theatre, Broadway – I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in the theatre in all my life as I did here. Its heartwarming, hilarious and empowering. Spotify must think I have some kind of crazy ridiculous obsession and they’d be right. Here’s hoping for a London transfer ASAP. (Full Review)
- Half a Sixpence @ Noel Coward Theatre, London – This musical is the definition of joy. It was just so wonderful in so many ways with a stellar cast, gorgeous set and stunning choreography. It deserved so much more recognition than it got and it is a complete travesty that it had such a short run. I’m praying for a UK tour. (Full Review)
Special mentions go to: Sunset Boulevard (UK Tour), Scrooge (Curve Leicester), Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales), Shirley Valentine (UK Tour), Curious Incident (Gielgud Theatre), Our Ladies (Duke of York’s Theatre), Top Hat (Kilworth House Theatre). There are so many more that I LOVED but this list is just getting ridiculously long.
Thank you 2017 and here’s to 2018!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Much Love,
Charlotte
THEATRESS 
I am curious what my theatre year of 2018 is going to be. 2017 was a six show year, but only three of them mainly come to mind and those are the musicals.
Little Shop of Horrors was a wonderful production, but not an amazing show. It is still a good show and I can see why.
US tour of Rent, prior I had fallen in love with the songs through Pandora in Fall 2012 and have waited since to see it live. My family eventually came across the final Broadway cast DVD and that was the closest I got to seeing the stage show. So that 5 year wait since 2012 was worth it. I sat towards the center in the Mezzanine and those were perfect seat and I was more emotional than I thought I would be and I was an emotional wreck watching it. The message of this sad musical is what makes it meaningful.
US tour of Les Mis, prior, I had seen Les Mis 3x at community college and 1x in the West End. So this was my 1st time seeing it on tour and it was the 25th anniversary production and it was well-cast. They were epic, passionate and emotional. Like Rent, was an emotional wreck. I am still not tried of seeing live even though I had seen it 5x already. The projections were wonderful and it flowed smoothly from scene to scene
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Sounds like you saw some amazing productions last year!! Hopefully you see some great ones this year! Sounds like we’re quite similar in that we both love musicals!! I saw a few plays and loved them but my heart will always belong to musicals!! So glad you also enjoyed RENT, what an amazing show and you’re right it really does pull at the heartstrings!!
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I find it much more easy to become attached to musicals. There is something about song, dance, and spectacle that makes seeing a musical special and that helps you easily become emotionally connected. They all help shape a story. I know why I love musicals, but even that is hard to explain. I love being a musical fan. My blog goes more in detail about my love for musicals
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I completely agree!!! There is something magical about musicals! Ill definitely check out your blog!
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They have this incredible joy and spirit and they have changed a lot since I first saw them in elementary school and at that age only enjoyed them, in middle school my love for them was sparked due to seeing a show on Broadway and than in my first year of college, my love of musicals became a passion
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