2023 Bucket List

2023. It's going to be a difficult year for us all, let's be honest. 

As soon as we managed to fight against Covid, we entered a cost of living crisis. So it's going to be more difficult years for arts support.

In all honesty, I intend in a way to see less - but make it more memorable, whether it be with friends, the Tribe, tie it in more with celebrations. And of course, to take any advantage of any schemes theatres  helping make tickets more affordable for fans. 

I have been having a little nosey around, and actually, the best thing I can recommend is by a couple of people who have already done the work for me - Mickey Jo Theatre and Aaron James did a video not long ago outlining 30 schemes both in London and across the country! From Day Seats, Lotteries, and Pay What You Can schemes. 

To add a couple of personal notes, I have used the ATG £13 Price Promise for years, especially as the Palace Theatre and Opera House in Manchester and the Liverpool Empire are all ran by ATG. They also do a Blue Light offer for emergency workers on certain shows. Also on their notes concerning the Royal Exchange, they do £7-10 tickets (show dependant) for Under 30s. 

Another way is to ask friends and family to gift you vouchers for birthdays, Christmas etc. ATG do these, as well as Official London Theatre and Ticketmaster, which you can pick up in many large supermarkets. It's how I was able to see a lot of stuff in 2022 - many of which ended up in the Review of the Year!

Now with that out of the way....

Let's get started

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London: 

1. Next to Normal, at the Donmar Warehouse. Just to say, that this is one I already have got a ticket for. Unlikely for me to say I know, but the hype for the UK premiere of this much-loved work is on. I would recommend booking ASAP! NEXT TO NORMAL | Donmar Warehouse
2. Once on this Island AND La Cage Aux Folles, Regents Park Open Air Theatre. Two excellent revival choices at Regents Park this year. Here's hoping the success from Legally Blonde will continue into 2023. What’s on | Open Air Theatre 
3. The Great British Bake Off Musical at the Noel Coward. One of those insane ideas you think would never work, but has received praise upon praise from audiences at its premiere last year. We shall see.... The Great British Bake Off Musical (bakeoffthemusical.com)
4. Crazy For You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. This revival of the Gershwin classic was a splash in Chichester last year, so it only makes sense to bring it to London, with its star Charlie Stemp (Half A Sixpence). Crazy For You | Gillian Lynne Theatre (lwtheatres.co.uk)
5. Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre. Starring Line of Duty's Daniel Mays as Nathan Detroit, Marisha Wallace (Oklahoma!) as Miss Adelaide and Celinde Schoenmaker (The Light in the Piazza) as Sarah Brown, this is one I am personally very excited for! Guys & Dolls (bridgetheatre.co.uk) 

Also look out for: 

• Sylvia, which previously mounted a preview run during the development stage back in 2017. Now, it's ready for its official world premiere starring Beverley Knight and Sharon Rose (Jingle Jangle)
• Star Trek star George Takei's Allegiance will be making its UK premiere at the Charing Cross, with Telly Leung reprising his Broadway performance
• Lenny Henry's new play is set to play the Bush Theatre in Shepherd's Bush. August in England is said to be a response to the injustice of the Windrush Scandal 

Tour: 

1. Death Drop, Back in the Habit - currently giving London a camp laugh or two, this follow up to the original Death Drop (which I loved) stars Cheryl Hole, Victoria Scone, Kitty Scott Claus and more, in this parody inspired by Sister Act, The Sound of Music, and the Scream franchise...! Death Drop: Back In The Habit (deathdropplay.com)
2. Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation is set to tour after its run in London's Riverside Studios. The bear with very little brain and his friends have caused a storm over New York, and all of theatre-Twitter cried buckets (well I did) when this was announced to come to the UK. Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation (winniethepoohshow.co.uk)
3. Runner-Up of my Surprise of the Year 2022 The Drifters Girl, is starting a tour in 2023 UK & Ireland Tour | The Drifters Girl
4. 42nd Street is to be Leicester Curve's big new musical revival, before going to Sadler's Wells and touring across the country 42nd Street 2023 UK Tour | Initial Dates Announced! (musicalsontour.co.uk)
5. A brand new tour of Shrek the Musical is set to bring audiences back to the merry old swamp and the Kingdom of Duloc in 2023 Home - Shrek The Musical (shrekuktour.com)

Also look out for: 

• The King and I, set to star Call the Midwife's Helen George
• Fans of the 2019 novel The Beekeeper of Aleppo are excited to see an adaptation at Nottingham Playhouse before touring
• Let them eat Cake! Much loved choreographer Drew Mc'Onie's new project is part concert gig, ballet and musical in one, telling the story of French Queen Marie Antoinette

Regional: 

1. The Sheffield Crucible is staging a revival of the much loved (and much criticised) musical Miss Saigon. With the casting of former Kim, Joanna Ampil (South Pacific) as The Engineer, we can only be intrigued to see what else the Sheffield team have up its sleeve. Miss Saigon | Sheffield Theatres
2. Oddly enough, the Royal Exchange in Manchester are issuing a piece this summer which is very aptly named Untitled F*ck M*ss S**gon Play, hitting the controversy head on. Certainly interesting. Spring Summer 2023 Season Announced | News | Royal Exchange Theatre 
3. Speaking of Manchester, the Hope Mill Theatre in January will be staging Head Over Heels, based off the music of band The Go-Go's. This will be the UK premiere of the show, something the Hope Mill are making a habit off, following Cinderella last year. Head Over Heels – Hope Mill Theatre
4. Once, as well as the big concert production reuniting Heathers stars Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jamie Muscato, will also be staged at the cosy Barn Theatre in Cirencester. Set in Dublin, the story follows an Irish busker and a Czech woman who bond over their shared love of music. Once - Barn Theatre
5. Fans of the Cole Porter classic film Roman Holiday can rejoice in that a new stage adaptation is playing at the Theatre Royal in Bath in Summer 2023. Expect a bunch of Porter classics from "Easy To Love" and "You Do Something To Me" to "Just One Of Those Things" and "Night and Day" Roman Holiday — Theatre Royal Bath
6. Hamnet, based off the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, puts you in Anne Hathaway's shoes - that being Shakespeare's wife. Olivier winner Lolita Chakrabati will pen the adaptation for the RSC, fresh off her HUGE success with Life of Pi

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What are you looking forward to in 2023?