Before moving to London, I had been to a few theatres to watch plays and really appreciated and enjoyed the thrill, emotions and the excitement that is trademark of live drama. However, I did not know or even imagine the scale and grandeur of a West End production.
London is known to be a cultural centre of the world. There are things to do for everyone here. Whatever your interest, be it music, food, theatre, movies, dance, sports or 100s of other things you might be into, there is an avenue to enjoy your inclinations and interests.
I had heard people talk about Broadway musicals and plays (which are in New York) and rave about the how amazing and magical their experience has been. And having watched a few plays and musicals at the West End (the Broadway equivalent in London), it is suffice to say that all that I heard was true.
My memory does not serve me very well, so here I attempt to document all the plays that I have watched. If you are reading this, you can make of it what you will.
There are several plays on my to-watch list: Phantom of the Opera, Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton, Life of Pi among the other limited edition ones that the theatre calendar is full of.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Part 1 and 2) - September 30, 2022
This play has been on my watchlist since a really long time. I was hoping to get cheap tickets at some point, but then realised this play never has any cheap tickets. My girlfriend bought the tickets as my birthday gift, and we saw both the parts on the same day. I recommend watching both the parts on the same day, as the first part is slow to pick up, and it gets going towards the end. The first part, expectedly, ends at a cliffhanger, so I think watching the two parts on the same day is a great continuous and fulfilling experience. The play is indeed magical, as some of the things truly leave your astounded with some absolutely jaw-dropping moments in the play. Having read the play, I did not find the story to be very compelling or interesting, but the stage production more than makes up for the flimsy plot. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, this would be a great experience.
Kinky Boots - August 9, 2022
Based on the true story of Steve Pateman, a man who was struggling to save his family owned shoe business, pivoted to making fetish footwear under the name of Divine Footwear. This is a really uplifting musical with really intense, evocative and foot-tapping music weaved within a story that is a tale of triumph, love, identity, and above all that we can change the world if we learn to change our mind. The West End production was grand, with great performances by each of the actors, making it worth every penny spent on the ticket.
2:22 A Ghost Story - August 7, 2022
Starring Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), this is a neat thriller / spooky play with just the right balance of jump scares and carefully enacted tension. All the characters are unique and quirky, and the the story builds up really well, both with tension and anticipation. The actors do a really good job of holding attention and creating an atmosphere of palpable anxiety. It is not a horror story that will keep you awake at night, but a psychological thriller with a plot twist that will make you think “Oh yeah, should have guessed that”.
To Kill A Mocking Bird - July 15, 2022
The play is a masterful adaptation of the classic book by Harper Lee. Written by Aaron Sorkin, the play departs from the book, by having Atticus Finch as the main character and not his daughter, Scout. Extremely engaging and still as relevant as ever, you can’t help but be moved to tears at the powerful performances that bring each character to life. It is one of the best books I have read, and this is one of the best plays I have watched.
Come from Away - July 5, 2022
9/11 and the days after are mostly remembered as the day when the world stood still, as the terrorist attacks changed forever life as we knew it. Something not well known is the fact that 38 flights, carrying over 7,000 passengers were diverted to small town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada unexpectedly. This small town was going to see its population almost double in a single day. This play is about how everyone in the town comes together, makes arrangements and handles the ordeal for these passengers who are scared, confused, stuck in a place where they are not supposed to be and do not know when they will be back home. It is a heart warming story of kindness, team work, surmounting odds with limited resources and in the process showing a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. Absolutely loved the play.
Anything Goes - June 27, 2022
Based on P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton’s book, the play has been a Broadway and West End classic. It was recently revived for West End in 2021, and has been playing for a limited time at the Barbican. With a plethora of quirky characters embroiled in comical situation in their journey from New York to London. From a love triangle to criminals on the loose, with the most unexpected and hilarious plot twists this was a play that did not stop entertaining.
Legally Blonde - May 31, 2022
This was a limited edition screening (like many other plays at the West End) of the play which is based on the book by Amanda Brown and the movie starring Reese Witherspoon. While the movie has the leading protagonist in a stereotypical “blonde” woman role, the play has person of color leading the cast. I was blown away by the inclusion and diversity of the cast, and how they portrayed each of the classic characters in a refreshingly original way. Loved the music and the production of the play, and seeing it in the open air theatre at Regent Park, was just the cherry on the cake.
Frozen - May 20, 2022
I booked this play as I wanted to show my parents a Disney musical, and having watched Lion King, I was not particularly impressed with it. But oh what a treat Frozen was. The production quality, music, and the special effects were just absolutely enthralling. There were so many amazing moments through the play and I think it is an absolute must watch. Little children dressed up as Disney princesses singing along to “Let It Go” was an additional performance that we did not have to pay for!
The Play That Goes Wrong - May 10, 2022
We booked this play knowing it to be a comedy, but we really did not expect what it actually was. Incredibly funny and filled with outrageous antics with cast missing lines, breaking character and with things being broken or not working as they are intended to, this is a play that keeps you on the edge of the seat with laughter and with unexpected jokes. Very entertaining and this is probably the most unique comedy I have seen. Highly recommend!
Ocean At The End Of The Lane - April 6, 2022
Based on the book by Neil Gaiman, this play was a surreal experience. I did not know anything about the play before going to watch, and I was wowed and how. With incredible music, intriguing plot and phenomenal production, this play is one of the best I have seen.
Mousetrap - March 1, 2022
I’d always wanted to see the longest running play of all, ever since I heard about it. I have grown up reading Agatha Christie’s novels, enjoying her signature unpredictable and thrilling writing style. Mousetrap is a great play, capturing the essence of her storytelling with great acting making it a fantastic whodunnit. The plot keeps you guessing, and in the end you probably had made a few wrong guesses! Great experience.
The Lion King - February 4, 2022
The Lion King is and remains one of the best Disney movies ever made. A timeless classic and words would fail me if I try and describe its cultural significance or the countless subtle nuanced themes that it encompasses. I was expecting the musical to be that. I was expecting grandeur, amazing music and a theatrical experience like no other, much like everyone who has seen the play on Broadway said. But it was underwhelming for me. Maybe it was the day, or I dont know what, I was not blown away and it remains the only play that I have seen here in London where I felt I could leave the theatre and not miss out on anything. Underwhelming to say the least. Missable to say a lot.
The Book Of Mormon - January 25, 2022
This was the first play I watched in London, and it was a great way to begin my theatre sojourn in London. Written by the makers of South Park, the play is an outrageous satire on the practices on Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints. It is an off-shoot of Christianity, and the play examines the beliefs and the functions of the church through a variety of hilarious situations. One of the funniest plays I have been to, and not for nothing it is one of the longest running plays at the West End.
