27 December 2024 (released)
28 December 2024
Top Show of 2024: Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre
The crown jewel of 2024 theatre, Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre, masterfully reimagines the classic Greek tragedy. With a riveting lead performance and visually striking staging, it delivers a gripping exploration of fate and identity. Its raw emotional intensity and innovative direction have captivated audiences and earned it the top spot this year.
Revived Classics and Timeless Tales
The Old Vic triumphs with two standout productions: Machinal, a sharp and haunting exploration of societal pressures, and A Christmas Carol, a heartwarming seasonal staple filled with inventive staging and emotional resonance. Waiting for Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket breathes new life into Beckett’s absurdist masterpiece, while The Cherry Orchard at Donmar Warehouse poignantly captures Chekhov’s exploration of change and loss.
Modern Drama and Bold Adaptations
The Harold Pinter Theatre’s The Years delivers a multigenerational epic, weaving personal stories with larger historical shifts. Dr Strangelove at Noel Coward Theatre reimagines the dark satire for the stage, delivering biting humor and timely commentary. At Barbican Theatre, The Buddha of Suburbia captivates with its vibrant adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s novel, exploring identity and belonging with wit and heart.
Opera and Theatrical Innovation
The Royal Opera House dazzles with Ruination, a bold new opera blending myth with cutting-edge visuals, and Cosi fan tutte, a strikingly modern take on Mozart’s classic. Sadler's Wells wows with Acrobatic Swan Lake, combining breathtaking physicality with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, while the ENO delights with Pirates of Penzance and The Marriage of Figaro, showcasing opera’s timeless charm.
Immersive Experiences and Unique Works
Sophie's Surprise 29th at Underbelly Boulevard blends humor and heart in a modern celebration of friendship and growing up. The high-energy spectacle Fuertza Bruta: Aven at Roundhouse immerses audiences with jaw-dropping acrobatics, and Shifters at Bush Theatre offers a poignant exploration of societal transformation.
Experimental and Fringe Highlights
From Manikins: A Work In Progress at Crypt to the genre-defying cabaret of La Clique at Leicester Spiegeltent, 2024 celebrates the bold and unconventional. These productions push boundaries and highlight the diverse possibilities of theatre today.
1. Oedipus - Wyndham’s Theatre
2. Machinal - The Old Vic
3. A Christmas Carol - The Old Vic
4. Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Phoenix Theatre
5. The Years - Harold Pinter Theatre
6. Waiting for Godot - Theatre Royal Haymarket
7. The Forsyte Saga - Park Theatre
8. Happiest Man On Earth - Southwark Playhouse
9. Ruination - Royal Opera House
10. Pirates Of Penzance ENO
11. Club Life - Omnibus Theatre
12. Maddadam - Royal Opera House
13. Stories - Peacock Theatre
14. Dr Strangelove - Noel Coward Theatre
15. The Buddha Of Suburbia - Barbican Theatre
16. The Cherry Orchard - Donmar Warehouse
17. The Lightest Element - Hampstead Theatre
18. The Marriage Of Figaro - ENO
19. Death Of England: Closing Time - @sohoplace
20. Sophie's Surprise 29th - Underbelly Boulevard
21. Fuertza Bruta: Aven - Roundhouse
22. Cosi fan tutte - Royal Opera House
23. La Clique - Leicester Spiegeltent
24. Manikins: A Work In Progress - Crypt
25. Acrobatic Swan Lake - Sadler's Wells
26. Barber of Seville - Opera Holland Park
27. Strategic Love Play - Soho Theatre
28. Shifters - Bush Theatre
