Happy 10th Birthday to Me!

This very day, 7th Janunary, 10 years ago, I published my first ever piece on this channel... 

What the Hell?!

January as it is, is a time of reflection and looking back (as well as ahead). Particularly for me the past couple of years as I have had annual leave in January after working a busy festive period. So it seems only fitting to be looking back at the last 10 years I have been putting my opinion out into the universe. 

I have been fortunate to have some incredible highlights over the last decade, and I am going to try and pick one highlight (or at least narrow them down) for each year I have been writing. 

Let's get started 

2015

When I started writing, we were in for a year featuring the return of Star Wars, the end of the Hunger Games films, Adele's Hello hitting the airwaves, and a certain rapping revolutionary becoming the hottest ticket on Broadway (there may be more on that later). 

In terms of theatre however, the hottest ticket on this side of the pond had to be Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End, headed by Imelda Staunton. I was extremely fortunate to capture her tour de force performance that Summer with my parents. It remains one of the best performances I have ever seen. I was sadly not able to see her turn as Dolly Levi last year, but I am thankful that I have her Momma Rose to cling to. 

2016

2016 was a difficult year for me personally, and that was not only because of the political climate at the time going down the toilet. But one show I did get to see more than once that year was the Rocky Horror Show, once in Manchester, the second time in Leicester. 

It is such a fun show to watch. Plus the first time had me catch the ushers dancing the Time Warp along with the audience. I also got to relive those amazing memories recently, as I caught the current tour in Liverpool to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. 

2017

This one, when looking back, was difficult, and I could not pick between two. So you get two. One was Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill starring the one and only Audra McDonald. Similarly to Imelda in Gypsy (oddly enough the very same part Audra is now playing on Broadway), you got swept in Audra's performance. And hearing all that Billie Holliday music, chef's kiss. 

Now the other is a bit more on the silly side, but it was only a few weeks later. Me and a few friends got to see Annie with Miranda Hart starring as Miss Hannigan. We were huge Miranda fans at the time so that was a big highlight for us. 

2018

This one was easy. If you thought it was going to be anything other than the original West End cast of Hamilton, you had another thing coming. I may have seen it once more since then, and the hype may have come down a little, but it still remains one of the most amazing experiences. 

A highlight, while missing out on Rachel John's take, was getting to see future & Juliet star and Olivier winner Miriam Teak-Lee take on Angelica Schuyler. I still hope she plays the role full time one day. 

2019

Tricky. 2019 was tricky. Do I go with Emilia in its run at the Vaudeville Theatre, the play which made me awestruck and angry in equal measure? Do I go with the Bridge's highly imaginative version of A Midsummer Night's Dream which I caught through NT Live in the cinema? Or perhaps seeing Jeremy Jordan in concert? I'm not sure I can pick this one...

Source: Excited A Midsummer Nights Dream GIF by National Theatre - Find & Share on GIPHY

2020

The year the world ended... How the hell do you talk about a theatrical experience when you can't leave the house? Well a lot of amazing shows were streamed through our favourite platforms throughout the lockdown to keep us enraptured. 

However, in terms of live experiences, before everything blew up, my last show takes the spot. It was & Juliet, as perhaps it will never be again. Due to illness, the show went on with a concert version. My friend and I managed to get day seats for the front row. And we're pretty certain Oliver Tompsett's Shakespeare looked our way *cue swooning*. 

2021

2021 was the comeback year. It kicked off with Radio 2 dedicating a whole weekend's programme to musical theatre, for which I wrote probably my most personal piece to date. Bloody Elle at the Royal Exchange was special for being my first piece of actual theatre since the lockdown. The Hunchback of Notre Dame performed by the National Youth Music Theatre was an amazing experience, particularly to hear that score in a place as perfect as Manchester Cathedral. 

However, while the filmed version of this was special in its own way, seeing RENT at the Hope Mill was special in a personal way for me. It was for RENT that I got to meet Emmie, Mark, Clare, Sarah and Alison in person for the first time: 5 out of the group of friends made during lockdown, and who helped me through the darker times. It's hard to believe that it will soon be 5 years since we all became friends! 

2022

Leading on from RENT, the big meet up we had as a group in 2022, was for Regents Park's production of Legally Blonde. Of course, we all chose to wear pink. I remember buying a pink Fleetwood Mac t-shirt because I didn't own anything pink. It remains the only pink item of clothing I have... The show was amazing, it was a boiling hot day, and a good time was had by all. 

But 2022 was another corker of a year, because another visit to London included trips to Moulin Rouge, Cabaret, the terrific My Son's A Queer But What Can You Do?, and ended with My Neighbour Totoro. I mean, talk about a buff mix!

2023

The company for 2023 included the UK Tour of The Lion King, Guys and Dolls at the Bridge (which has just closed last weekend), the Donmar Warehouse's Next To Normal, and Jamie Lloyd's version of Sunset Boulevard, in which I got to see Rachel Tucker play Norma Desmond. 

All pretty amazing shows and could be my pick. However, I have decided to pick a highlight from the Lowry. Not long before I got the opportunity to start volunteering, I saw Mother Goose starring Ian McKellen and John Bishop with my family. Pure joy from start to finish. 

2024

This is another one which I am finding very hard to pick, and so throwing choices up to the universe. There was 42 Balloons, with all the buzz of the Lowry hosting a brand new musical, and it being an amazing story with a lot of potential. There was Little Shop of Horrors, one of my absolute favourites playing at my local theatre on my birthday. As someone with Sheffield heritage, Standing at the Sky's Edge was special, as was Spirited Away, which I saw with a group of friends who are as big a fans of anime as me. They were all my highlights in one way or another. 

***

I am so proud to get to where I have, and to have shared my experiences with you all along the way. And I'd like to thank you (few but) faithful who have read along. Let's see where the next 10 years takes me shall we.