Hot on the heels of sharing my 2024 favourites, I thought I’d now look ahead into my diary for 2025 and share with you some of my most anticipated theatre for the upcoming year, as well as some of my theatrical “hopes” to fill in those gaps where I haven’t already booked things.
As with my 2024 selections, these aren’t in any particular order – I’m too indecisive in that sense!
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Ambassadors Theatre)
I didn’t make it to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in either of its previous iterations (it premiered originally in 2019 at the Southwark Playhouse, and returned there in 2023 – as I understand it, refreshed and renewed) but the show has been on my radar because of the love many of my theatrical circle have for it – I have heard nothing but enthusiasm and joy for this piece and I can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about!
Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story of the same name but relocated to a Cornish fishing village, we follow the life of Benjamin Button who is determined to “live a little life” and make every moment count as he ages in reverse.
I’m an absolute sucker for an actor – muso production and adore folk music, so already I think it’ll have my heart without a word being uttered. Also, I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing John Dagleish on stage yet or the wonderful Clare Foster since Travesties at the Menier… too long!
Production Photography: Marc Brenner
Hamlet (The RSC)
As my readers will know, I’m a massive Shakespeare enthusiast and Hamlet is one of my favourites, so in March I’m ticking off something else on the theatrical bucket list and heading to Stratford upon Avon to see it at the RSC! I’m a little anxious about the journey (two trains AND a 1pm show start) but with a cast that includes Jared Harris, Luke Thallon and Wheelie Stagey favourite Elliot Levey, I’m confident it’ll be more than worthwhile.
Promotional Photo of Luke Thallon (Hamlet) by Seamus Ryan
Hadestown (Lyric Theatre)
I know, it’s maybe something of a “cheat” given it was already on my 2024 favourites, but 2025 is going to be really epic for Hadestown. Not only am squeezing in one last trip to see the current cast, including my original Eurydice Madeline Charlemagne and the force of nature that is Melanie La Barrie as Hermes, which will be bittersweet, but afterwards I am seeing the original National Theatre/Broadway principal cast – Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, André De Shields, Patrick Page and Amber Grey reunite for their run in the West End.
For me, seeing Patrick in particular is going to be an immense experience – a Disney musical brought him into my world, Hadestown made sure he’ll stay there; I’ve always been amazed by his presence and charisma just by watching clips of him performing or being interviewed on Youtube and listening to cast recordings, so to have the opportunity to experience that in person and see the cast who paved the way for Zachary, Melanie, Lauren, Madeline, Bella, Dónal, Dylan, Trevor, Rachel and everyone who has made the show I know and love is going to be incredible.
Production Photography: Matthew Murphy
Disney’s Hercules (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)
Now, full disclosure… Hercules doesn’t rank amongst my favourite Disney films; but it does have some amazing music and the characters are fun, so I’m excited to see how this one translates to the stage! Luke Brady, who I saw (and loved) as Anthony in Sweeney Todd then Moses in the musical adaptation of The Prince of Egypt is playing Hercules, I’m excited to watch him grow and see who gets cast alongside – I’ve already got my dream muses….
I haven’t booked this one yet, but it’s on my list for a London summer outing… fingers crossed!
Kinky Boots UK Tour
I remember back in 2022, the Curve theatre in Leicester mounted a new “Made at Curve” production of Billy Elliot for the summer. Having seen the musical in London and on tour, I was intrigued to see the production shots for this new version – it looked grittier and edgier, and I was so sorry to not make a trip work as a fan of the director, and the Mrs Wilkinson casting.
The team then announced a UK tour of Kinky Boots, the musical by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, based on the film of the same name about a struggling shoe factory who might just turn their fortunes around by taking a gamble… on boots for drag queens!
I saw the original London cast, and though I enjoyed it – didn’t return purely because I hate the view in the wheelchair access seats at the Adelphi with an absolute passion. I was reminded over the pandemic how much fun the show is when the recording of the London Cast was made available to watch online for a limited time, so much so I subsequently booked to see the previous tour which starred Yeukayi Ushe as Lola & Joel Harper Jackson as Charlie.
So, all that in mind – I’m really intrigued and excited to see how this team reimagine this show, hopefully with the added bonus of one of my Strictly favourites Johannes Radebe bringing Lola to life! Friends are visiting me in Bristol for that outing and I’m thinking, if you’ll pardon the pun, that it has potential to be fab-u-lous!
My Hopes for 2025 Theatre
That’s my most anticipated rattled off – so now I thought I’d share some theatrical hopes and things I’ll be doing my absolute best to pull off next year…
See Billy Porter in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club
I have seen this production of Cabaret a number of times already with lots of different cast combinations and to add Billy Porter to my Emcee ranks would be amazing… the wheelchair access seats here are incredible! He’ll be joined by Marisha Wallace as Sally, whose casting intrigues me so much as how I’ve come to know her voice and style is so far away from this score and character. To top it all, my original Fraulein Schneider Vivien Parry whose interpretation of her character and songs I adore with every fibre of my being is also returning for a limited time, so yes, I want to get back to the place where “Life is Beautiful”, please!
More Shakespeare
I say a lot that I’m a Shakespeare lover, so it amuses me endlessly that I have only seen productions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Coriolanus, As You Like It and Twelfth Night. I’d like to see if I can bolster my collection this year after Jamie Lloyd’s Much Ado About Nothing in February!
More Time Spent at My Favourite Off West End Venues and my local theatres
I want to endeavour to make my trips to the Almeida, the Donmar and the Menier Chocolate Factory more of a regular routine rather than a once-in-a-blue-moon flit! This same thinking also applies to my local theatres – I need to try and apply my “I’m okay with going solo to theatre” that I’ve embraced more with London throughout this past year to my home turf. That’s going to be harder as I find life in Bristol quite isolating anyway as a disabled person for lots of reasons, and I feel like going solo will just reinforce that mindset, but we won’t know until we try…
A West End Press Night
To have my humble blog invited to press nights on my home turf will never, ever stop filling me with pride and joy. However, I would love, even just once, to do a West End Gala Night – fancy outfits, red carpet, the whole kit and caboodle! I know that that is going to take a heck of a lot of work to build my following to the point that I even entertain that being a possibility, and that’s before we even think about all the logistical elements I have to factor in, but it’s good to dream… right?
So that’s a look into how my theatre for 2025 is shaping up… what are you most excited for?
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