As the end of 2022 looms, we thought we’d take a look back over some of our theatre highlights for the year. It’s been a challenging year across the industry, with the ongoing recovery from the pandemic – as well as the emerging cost of living crisis – all conspiring to create a challenging landscape for performers, producers and audiences into 2023 and beyond.
Nevertheless, it’s been a bumper year – at Overstudies, between us we’ve seen 46 different productions, 68 individual shows and, of course, hosted 29 radio shows and thirteen podcasts.
But, of those shows, some have stood out more than others, creating some hugely memorable experiences that are going to remain with us. Here’s our top ten for 2022:
LIFT – Southwark Playhouse
Rarely does a show grip me so firmly and continue to live in my head long after it’s final curtain. LIFT is a show I’ve been familiar with for many years, but had filed firmly in the box of ‘unlikely’. Thankfully, 2022 changed all that: Dean Johnson’s (he/him) revival at Southwark allowed us to see a beautifully staged piece, with a stellar cast thrusting the stages of grief (for this is, ultimately, what the narrative is about) into the spotlight in what is, at times, a raw and moving glimpse into how traumatic events can manifest themselves. The simple yet effective staging placed the focus directly on the cast, with a number of set pieces being, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen on the stage. Mention must of course also be made of Kayleigh McKnight’s (she/her) gripping portrayal of the lesbian French teacher and hopeless romantic, rounded off – of course – with an incredible rendition of Lost in Translations. The mid-show standing ovation on the closing night couldn’t have been more deserved.
Read our full review here. -Charley
Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Leeds Playhouse
Hedwig and the Angry Inch has been a show that has been on my radar for many years, but one I’d never been able to get to see on stage. It’s one of those gems of theatre that can easily pass people by (particularly if you don’t find yourselves in queer spaces) but when you know it, you know. So, when I saw that the show was opening at Leeds Playhouse in April I knew it was one that I could not miss, and I was absolutely right. Hedwig is a one act, two person rock musical following Hedwig, a genderqueer East German singer of a fictional rock and roll band. Divina de Campo (they/she/he) (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Chicago UK Tour) embodied the titular role in such a way that the audience was in the palm of their hands throughout the entire 90 minute run, with equally brilliant support from Elijah Ferreira (he/him) as Yitzhak, Hedwig’s husband. I adored this show not only for its uniqueness and wonderful sound design (it’s not easy to make you feel like you’re in the middle of a concert whilst you’re sat in a 350-seat theatre) but also for the sheer celebration of queer voices both on stage and behind the scenes. It’s been far too long since Hedwig graced the theatres of the West End (18 years to be exact) and I would love to see this production return on a much bigger scale in a continued celebration of queer lives.
Listen back to Overstudies: On Air! episode 11 to hear our full thoughts on this amazing show. -Bekki
Hamilton – Victoria Palace Theatre
This is a show that divided the Overstudies like never before. Hamilton has been a show on my theatre bucket list for the last few years, and was something that up until 2020 I had managed to avoid for fear of spoiling the music and staging for myself too much. The pandemic changed that, and I eventually caved and watched the Disney+ pro-shot of the show which quickly solidified Hamilton as one of my favourite musical theatre soundtracks of all time. This year I finally got the chance to see the production on stage and for me it was everything that I could have wanted it to be. There were some nerves heading into the Victoria Palace theatre, but those were quickly washed away upon hearing Alex Sawyer and Simon Anthony-Rhoden as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr respectively take to the stage. Two other particularly stand out cast members were Shan Ako (Eliza Hamilton) and Roshani Abbey (she/her) (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds) who both brought such power and raw emotion to their characters throughout their journeys in the show. Seeing Hamilton in ‘real life’ did really highlight some of the pacing issues in the first half of the show, but also solidified my love for the musical composition, choreography and staging that I have grown to adore from the pro-shot. Personally, I think if you’re a fan of clever choreography and movement, this is the show for you.
Listen to our full review on Overstudies: the Podcast episode two. -Bekki
42 Balloons – Vaudeville Theatre
This is it: the next big thing. We’re so collectively convinced about this, we’d probably put money on it. Written by Jack Godfrey (he/him), this staged concert follows the real-life story of Larry Walters, a man who wanted to fly – whatever the cost. With a strong, anthemic 1980s vibe throughout the show it could have been written exclusively for us, whilst an all-star cast topped off the production creating a truly unmissable experience. Charlie McCullagh’s (he/him) portrayal of Larry was flawless, supported by Evelyn Hoskins (she/her) as girlfriend Carol and Gary Lee (he/him) as friend Ron. We can’t wait too see where this show goes next, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see it get a full West End production some time soon…
Listen to our podcast all about 42 Balloons here, as well as our bonus interview with writer Jack Godfrey here. -Charley
Legally Blonde – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Omigod you guys! This summer we really did win the prize with the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Legally Blonde, directed by none other than Lucy Moss (she/her) of Six: The Musical fame. This was a much anticipated revival of the production, last seen in the UK in 2018, which catapulted the plot of the 2001 film of the same name right into the 21st century in a way that had never been done before. This was representation done right in the sense that we truly saw the best people for the job cast in the show. Not only did we have the stunningly talented Courtney Bowman (she/her; Six, Pretty Woman) take on the role as Elle Woods, injecting the right amount of clever humour into the character, we also saw not one but two primary roles traditionally portrayed by cis women that instead were played by trans and non-binary performers. Issac Hesketh (they/she) was the first trans non-binary person to play Margot and Alžbeta Matyšáková (they/them) was the first trans non-binary person to play Enid in a professional production of the show, with the character of Enid having been changed to match Matyšáková’a non-binary identity. Seeing the amount of time and dedication that was taken to make this production a show for everyone and that represents everyone will be seen as a turning point in musical theatre history, and I only hope that other shows follow suit in the same way.
Listen back to episode eighteen of Overstudies: On Air! to hear exactly what we thought of the show. -Bekki
Ordinary Days – Cockpit Theatre
Just because a show isn’t ‘big ticket’, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be a fantastic experience. Ordinary Days is another of those shows I’ve known about for a long time and always wanted to see, with the opportunity coming at the Cockpit Theatre earlier on this year. Set during the days after 9/11, this moving production explores friendship, loss and life in a busy urban city. Written by Adam Gwon, a notable stand-out was Laura Dawn Pyatt (she/her) in the role of Claire. Simplistic staging focussed the audience on the action, but the evolving nature of the set also added to the narrative and provided a visualisation of the jigsaw that is life. We’d love to see this show get another outing in 2023… -Charley
The Great Gatsby Immersive Experience – Gatsby’s Mansion
Oh, to be a socialite! Well, for one night only, we were, as we joined the entourage of a certain Jordan Baker at the Great Gatsby Immersive Experience. This innovative production follows the events of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, with the audience not only seeing them but being a firm part of them. It’s one of the best immersive experiences I’ve ever been to, and more than did justice to the source material (incidentally, one of my favourite novels of all time). The beauty of the production is that every audience member will get a different experience every time they go, with individuals split off into small (or large…) groups and following one or more characters through their own narrative in detail. For us, this was the famous golfer Jordan Baker, giving us a unique insight into the events and learning more about love interest Nick Carraway and friend Daisy Buchanan. Whether you love the book or the film, or are brand new to the world of Jay Gatsby, this is an unmissable night out.
The Great Gatsby Immersive Experience runs at Gatsby’s Mansion until 7 January 2023. Check out our podcast about our experience here, or listen to our interview with Jessica Hern (playing Jordan Baker) and Euan Wilson (playing Tom Buchanan) here. -Charley
& Juliet – Shaftesbury Theatre
It’s no secret just how much we love & Juliet here at Overstudies, and how it’s one of the shows we’ve seen the most in 2022. It therefore shouldn’t be a surprise that it has made it on to this list. We want to talk about one night at & Juliet in particular though: the final performance of the original West End cast in March 2022. I’ve never experienced a theatre crowd quite like it, and I am absolutely convinced that if we’d have refused to sit down after the sixth standing ovation of the night we’d still be there today. As someone who has followed the show closely from its original Manchester run to its opening in the West End, getting to see the original cast members doing their thing for a final time was an opportunity that I wasn’t going to pass up on. For those who are not aware, & Juliet is a coming of age musical set to all the best pop songs from the last 30 years that share one common theme – they were all written or produced by Max Martin. This uplifting tale is a retelling of the Romeo and Juliet tale that we all know and love, asking what would happen if Juliet didn’t die? This story of discovery and self-love is an absolute must for all theatre and non-theatre fans alike. Sadly, we do have to say goodbye to the show in March 2023, but that gives you a few more months to catch this infectiously brilliant jukebox musical while it still has a home in the West End.
Read our full thoughts on & Juliet here. -Bekki
My Son’s a Queer (but What Can You Do?) – Norwich Playhouse and Garrick Theatre
We’ve all staged a living room parade or a Christmas show for the family, but for Rob Madge (they/them) it became a hugely formative part of their life. Transformed into a gripping, one-person stage show and featuring clips of home video from Rob’s childhood, My Son’s a Queer is a must-see for any parent or person who struggled with their sexuality or gender identity as a child. The end result is a powerful, affirming parade of queerness, guaranteed to see you shed a tear or two but leaving you happy and hopeful for the future. The show enjoyed three runs throughout 2022, at the Edinburgh Festival, Norwich Playhouse and Garrick Theatre, with a further revival for 2023 now announced at the Ambassadors Theatre.
My Son’s a Queer (but What Can You Do) plays at the Ambassadors Theatre from 25 January to 18 March 2023. You can listen to our podcast about the show here. -Charley
Come From Away – Phoenix Theatre
Come From Away was an unexpected gem that we saw for the first time in 2022. It’s a little embarrassing how long it took for both of us to head over to the Phoenix Theatre to see this show, but we have not been able to stop thinking about it ever since. Come From Away tells the true tale of the events in the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes – carrying approximately 7,000 passengers – were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. This show took my breath away on so many occasions that I lost count, jumping from the heart wrenching experiences of passengers on those 38 planes to the sheer comedic optimism of the native Newfoundlanders trying their best to help in any way that they can. This is another show that is a masterclass in movement, using chairs as an extension of the cast to represent all manner of locations from the planes to the local Gander buses. It is a perfect example of ‘less is more’ when it comes to props and staging, and really centres the human stories and experiences over the tragedy that brought them all together.
Sadly, Come From Away is closing at the Phoenix Theatre on 8 January 2023. However, plans for a 2024 UK and Ireland tour have been announced, so watch this space for the news as soon as we hear it! -Bekki
What have your theatre highlights of 2022 been? Let us know in the comments.
