SEASON ROUNDUP 2025: April - June

Spring into summer this year saw plays and fringe theatre dominate the scene, and a healthy mix of west end, off-west end and regional theatre feature in part 2 of this 4 part annual roundup. This is the 10 best shows I saw during the second quarter of the year.

-----

10. TICK, TICK...BOOM!

Theatr Clwyd, Mold

After a major refurbishment funded in part by the Welsh government and the Arts Council of Wales, Theatr Clwyd finally reopened its doors in June this year after over 4 years of work. The very first production to perform at the revitalised centrepiece of northern Welsh theatre was the Jonathan Larson musical "Tick, Tick...Boom!", a three-person show that tells the story of the writer's early career struggles to get his very first musical Superbia off the ground. It is obvious that Clwyd have come out with a clear message, that they're back and better than ever, as Ryan Owen, Christina Modestou and Tarik Frimpong filled that entire stage and more, in a rip roaring performance that returned this remote but renowned Welsh theatre to the scene with a bang.

(PR/Gifted tickets)

9. RETROGRADE

Apollo Theatre

There has been no shortage of biographical theatre, but perhaps few with as much depth and genuine narrative intrigue as this homage to Sidney Poitier the famous Bahamian-American actor and director who first rose to international prominence in the late 50s and early 60s. Led by Ivanno Jeremiah, this new play by Ryan Calais Cameron just oozed sophistication, with its compelling character work, sensational depiction of the man himself, and devastatingly raw, real deep dive into themes of racial contentions and systemic oppression that were so prevalent during Poitier's career.

(£25 rush ticket through TodayTix)

8. MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

Bridge Theatre

It turns out that the huge in-the-round space of the Bridge Theatre was the perfect setting for this magical, immersive, wonderfully witty revival of this most beloved of Shakespeare's comedies. With whimsical staging, flowers everywhere, and hanging curtain dancers, this was a production that really leant into the magic and fantasy of the story. The work of the bard is always a considerable challenge for any director, and Nicholas Hytner has hit the brief with bells on, not to mention the likes of Susannah Fielding, Emmanuel Akwafo and David Moorst leading the cast with aplomb and panache. In a sea of Shakespeare that always undoubtedly rears its head during any theatrical calendar, this was a major standout.

(standing tickets through TodayTix)

7. THE MAD ONES

The Other Palace (Studio)

This is a musical whose impact has extended far beyond the performance space, as it also provided me with my first opportunities to interview any cast and creatives for a production. Following a press junket in early May, which also comprised several preview performances, I attended the final product a few weeks later. This is a beautiful, tragic yet heartwarming story about self discovery and love in its various guises, from platonic to romantic to familial, and how things are seldom simple when it comes to any sort of relationship. With a rousing score by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk, and a cast led by Dora Gee and Courtney Stapleton, "The Mad Ones" is a show that will hold a special place in 2025.

(PR/Gifted tickets)

6. MARY POPPINS

Palace Theatre, Manchester

You can't go wrong with a little bit of Disney magic, especially when it comes to the classics that have spanned the generations. Now in its 21st year since it first premiered at Bristol Hippodrome (prior to a 4 year run at the Prince Edward Theatre), "Mary Poppins" has now been performed all over the world in multiple languages, and for good reason. Everyone's favourite practically perfect nanny is a true enigma, and Stefanie Jones embodied this most iconic of roles masterfully, making it entirely her own whilst also honouring those who came before her. Supported by a supreme ensemble cast, including Michael Xavier and Jack Chambers, this was a touring production that absolutely kept the magic alive.

5. STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW

Phoenix Theatre

I saw this technological marvel twice in 2024, and simply had to return in order to catch the new cast led by Lois Healy as Henry Creel, and Jessica Rhodes as Joyce Maldonado. Even upon third viewing, this was just as thrilling, intense, and mind blowing as the first and second times, with video and illusion designers Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher proving time and agin why they're some of the best in the business. Say what you will about the overriding plot, this is a piece of theatre that will always have your eyes wide open and your jaw on the floor, it truly is a theatrical thrill ride like no other.

(£25 rush ticket through TodayTix)

4. DEAR ENGLAND

The Lowry, Salford

On the surface this may present as a frenzied football-fest for England fans, but dig deeper and we see just how much emotional and narrative depth contained within James Graham's multi award-winning play. Originally produced by the National Theatre, this was the first time the work had been performed outside of London, and though I entered with a degree of trepidation, director Rupert Goold, his masterful creative team, and stellar cast led by Gwilym Lee, all very much put to bed any lingering skepticism I may have been nursing going in. A play about the England football team under Gareth Southgate ended up being far more about national identity, vulnerability, community, and men's mental health, all handled with remarkable sensitivity, balancing style and substance to absolute perfection.

(PR/Gifted tickets)

3. THE COMEDY ABOUT SPIES

Noël Coward Theatre

Clearly one uproariously funny west end show about British intelligence agents wasn't enough, so Mischief Comedy thought "let's give them another", and my goodness did they deliver. The latest show from the team behind "The Play That Goes Wrong" and "Mind Mangler" sees respective groups of CIA and KGB spies in the 1960s, as they attempt to recover stolen plans for a mysterious weapon named Project Midnight, and from then, as is typical with Mischief, hilarity ensues. Led by many of the Mischief mainstays, including Henry Lewis, Chris Leask and Henry Shields, this was an absolute masterclass in comedy, combining wit and wordplay with some terrific slapstick, for a right thigh slapping good time.

(£20 standing ticket via Delfont MacKintosh)

2. ORDINARY DAYS

Old Joint Stock, Birmingham

Over the past 19 years, the Old Joint Stock Theatre has steadily been building a reputation as one of Birmingham's most exciting independent new venues, and artistic director James Edge has brought us an eclectic mix of shows during this year's calendar. My first visit to the theatre was for a musical that had been on my personal wish list for a while, and it brought me a terrific amount of joy that it exceeded my expectation so considerably. Written by Adam Gwon, this ode to looking at the menial and finding something extraordinary was an emotional rollercoaster, with laughs and tears elicited boundlessly and in equal measure, from Aidan Cutler's adorkable awkwardness to Melisa Camba's heartbreaking rendition of "I'll Be Here", this was by far the strongest show produced by the Old Joint Stock this year.

(PR/Gifted tickets)

1. STEREOPHONIC

Duke of York's Theatre

A little rock 'n' roll descended onto the west end back in June, but not perhaps in the manner you'd expect. Unlike other shows like "School of Rock' and "Bat Out Of Hell", this new play by David Adjmi instead presents us with a semi-biographical deep dive into the lives of recording rockstars on the cusp of global superstardom, with the good, bad and ugly of life in the studio laid bare for all to see. Though the original music by Will Butler is highly reminiscent of mid 70s soft rock, feeling somehow modern, whilst also dripping with authenticity, it's the complex character work and innate sense of realism that is Stereophonic's biggest selling point. The time and space afforded by director Daniel Aukin in terms of the delivery of Adjmi's dialogue makes it so compellingly un-dramatic that it brilliantly enhances the many layers he's built up, and the musical interludes keep things fresh and authentic. This is gripping, sophisticated storytelling that challenges what can be done with modern theatre, and it was the obvious pick to come out on top.

(PR/Gifted tickets)

-----

What were your favourite shows from the second quarter of the year? Let me know below, or on my instagram page.