SEASON ROUNDUP 2025: October - December
- James Tradgett
- Jan 20
- 6 min read
A terrific year of theatre finished strongly with some of my favourite productions I’d seen during 2025, including 4 of my top 5 musicals for the year, and a flurry of broadway and off-broadway shows to finish off strong...
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10. WYLD WOMAN: THE LEGEND OF SHY GIRL
Southwark Playhouse Borough
As someone who is a pretty major introvert at the best of times, this new play by Isabel Renner struck a pretty major chord with me. "Wyld Woman" is one severely socially anxious New York woman's story of trying to navigate human connection in one of the biggest cities on the planet, and Renner invited us into her world, giving us all of her personality and wit on a platter, unabridged, warts and all. This was a tea party like none other, marvellous characterisations, fully engaging, and enormously humorous to boot, needless to say I'm excited to see what else Renner comes out with.
(PR/Gifted ticket)
9. THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE
The Lowry, Salford
I reviewed this play in Leeds back in 2024, and just had to make a return journey during the final leg of its UK and Ireland tour. Directed by Mike Fentimann, and employing a mix of an actor-muso cast, phenomenal puppetry, and stunning scenic design courtesy of Tom Paris, the magic of C. S. Lewis was well and truly alive. It isn't just a feast for the eyes though, as we are also gripped by the story itself, and the music incorporated (written by Barnaby Race and Benji Bower), though not strictly used to convey the narrative, the folksy, whimsical soundscape certainly adds considerably to the atmosphere, especially given that it is performed live on stage by the cast. This was a beautiful, magical family show like none other.
8. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Palace Theatre, Manchester
With "Fiddler on the Roof" having not too long ago celebrated its 60th anniversary, I had somehow never seen this ode to Jewish tradition on stage before 2025, but this Jordan Fein-directed touring revival, a direct transfer of the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production, took the story and iconic score by the scruff of the neck, and reimagined it like never before. The scale of it, the quality of the ensemble, the lead performances (especially from Matthew Woodyatt and Beverly Klein), and the overall direction by Fein, not to mention the iconic scenes involving the fiddler, and the iconic "bottle dance", this could not have been a better introduction to this story of Tevye, his four daughters, and his internal battle with tradition vs. progression.
7. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
After a wait of Around 6 years to see another Mel Brooks production, like the proverbial buses, two came along within a month of each other. Following the brilliant west end revival of "The Producers", only four weeks later I was attending Hope Mill Theatre's regional revival of "Young Frankenstein", Brooks' lesser known but equally riotous and hysterical second musical theatre outing. Ore Oduba was a pleasant surprise as Frederick, backing up his famously fleet feet with a wonderful singing voice and a gift for comic acting. And though the entire cast absolutely sizzled, it was Julie Yammanee's performance as Inga that shone the brightest, charming, bubbly, and utterly hilarious. It seems Manchester's premier fringe theatre has done it again, staging a first rate, brilliantly cast, designed, and directed revival, celebrating their 10th anniversary with style.
(PR/Gifted ticket)
6. LES MISÉRABLES (40TH ANNIVERSARY)
Sondheim Theatre
First opening in London in 1985, here is a reason why this mammoth musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil has stood the test of time, and it was a treat to revisit the Sondheim Theatre in order to celebrate 40 years since the musical first opened in the west end. With a cast led by the likes of Killian Donnelly, Bradley Jaden, Adam Gillen, Katie Hall and Beatrice Penny-Toure, this was a true who's who of the best of the barricade from recent years. Whoever you see in this special, special musical though, it will always be an unmatched experience, with some of the most impressive sets, costumes and lighting, and the most iconic of scores, long may Les Mis continue.
5. TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)
Longacre Theatre, NY
Another export from the UK to make it to broadway, this Jim Barne and Kit Buchan musical, having begun its development in Ipswich, Northampton, London and Massachusetts, finally made it to its namesake city, and it is clear, following in the footsteps of "Operation Mincemeat", that broadway audiences have taken the show into their hearts. I had seen the musical at both the Kiln Theatre and the Criterion in the west end, and although minor tweaks have been made, it is still a gorgeous, charming musical packed with warmth and wit. And Sam Tutty, along with new partner in crime Christiani Pitts, absolutely charmed the socks off us, do I hear the Tony awards calling...?
(purchased at the box office for $49 on the day)
4. BAT BOY
New York City Center
My first visit to New York's esteemed performing arts centre in 2024, for their pre-broadway production of "Ragtime", was a truly stunning experience, so I simply had to return on my most recent visit to the big apple, this time for a musical that couldn't be more different to the last. Before his huge success of "Legally Blonde", Laurence O'Keefe wrote a musical based on a 1990s urban legend from Weekly World News, an American fictional tabloid, about a strange half bat, half boy being who grew up in a cave, but is adopted by an American family and taught speech, posture and etiquette. Though the entire production, directed by Alex Timbers, proved perfectly weird and wonderful, it was Taylor Trensch's lead performance as the titular being that stole the show, he was simply phenomenal.
(PR/Gifted ticket)
3. HAMILTON (10TH ANNIVERSARY)
Richard Rodgers Theatre, NY
On my most recent trip to the self-proclaimed "greatest city in the world", I simply had to make a return to the Richard Rodgers, after all, when else would I get the chance to see the original Aaron Burr in one of my favourite shows? As ever, the entire cast of the broadway production of "Hamilton" were all exceptional, however there was something genuinely special about seeing Leslie Odom Jr. back in the role that won him a Tony award almost 10 years ago, and having seen him on the professionally recorded film of the show, he has definitely grown as a performer. I have now witnessed "Hamilton" live in the theatre 17 times, including in London, on tour and on broadway, but this ranks as one of the finest performances of the show I have ever seen.
(ticket purchased via TodayTix)
2. RIDE THE CYCLONE
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
It's just a ride, but my goodness is it a wild one, as this modern cult classic Canadian carnival ride made it to Europe after over 15 years of waiting. The subject matter alone was plenty to pique my considerable interest, with the action centring around six teenagers who have tragically died in a rollercoaster accident in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, and the mystical robotic fortune teller Karnak, who offers one of them the chance to return to life. Helmed by director-choreographer Lizzi Gee, and featuring a score and book by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, this was a near perfect production of a masterfully macabre concept, performed with vim and verve by one of the most talented casts I saw all year.
(PR/Gifted ticket)
1. 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
New World Stages
The ten best shows of the final stretch of 2025 was topped, comfortably, by musical that had been on my wish list for quite a while, ever since I performed in the pit for it at Hope Mill Theatre back in 2017. "Spelling Bee" (as it's colloquially known) ticks all the boxes for a sensational comedic musical with immersion, depth, terrific humour, and a quirky, characterful score by William Finn to boot. In addition to its profusion of wit and intelligence, it is one that will never be performed the same twice, which stems from its audience participation, with a handful of audience members being invited to partake in the bee. Jason Kravitz and Lilli Cooper's ability to riff on the information about each candidate, given to them at a moment's notice, is hugely impressive. Fun, madcap, totally unpredictable, the folks in Putnam County are still putting countless smiles on faces 20 years later.
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What were your favourite shows from the final quarter, and indeed from the year? Let me know in the coments, or via my Instagram page.
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