What a year this has been! Boris started the year by telling theatre-goers “no lockdown but stay at home” thereby ruining Box Office.
Putin invaded the Ukraine while other nations watched and did nothing.
It’s been a difficult year also for me. I had a heart attack, a stent added, and further procedures will be required at some point. My flat was damaged by a water leak requiring £20k of repairs. One of my productions, which I had poured my heart and soul into, had further offers to continue but the writer has other plans outside of LAMBCO.
On the plus side, while continuing to work alongside fantastic colleagues, I also worked with a great new director for the 1st time (Matt Strachan), managed to bring 4 live productions to the stage, have plans for many more 2023 productions, and worked with an amazing newcomer who is just the nicest performer ever (Owen Dennis).
We’ve had a cost of living crisis, the energy crisis and now strike action disrupting our lives.
No wonder we need distractions to get through all this!
So, here are the best and worst of theatrereviews.design’s 2022 experiences:
BEST MUSICAL THEATRICAL REVIVAL – Beauty and the Best
MOST DISAPPOINTING MUSICAL THEATRICAL REVIVAL – HEX
BEST POSTER DESIGN – am I allowed to say SOHO BOY for one of my own productions?
WORST POSTER DESIGN – the one for DANCE ME
BEST SET BUILD QUALITY – The Sex Party at the Menier Chocolate Party
MOST TECHNICALLY INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION – Cages at the Riverside Studios
BEST DAY OUT – Top Hat at the Mill at Sonning – it was brilliant!
MOST “LARGE-SCALE LOOKING” PRODUCTION IN A MID-SCALE THEATRE – Dmitry at the Marylebone Theatre
GREATEST IMPORTANT ISSUES RAISED – The Sex Party at the Menier Chocolate Party
MOST POORLY CONCEIVED PRODUCTION – Horseplay at the Riverside Studios
MOST EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGING PRODUCTION – The Wonderful World of Dissocia at the Theatre Royal Stratford East
BIGGEST TRAIN CRASH – The Milk Train doesn’t stop here any more at the Charing Cross Theatre
MOST ENJOYABLE PRODUCTION – Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show at the Camden Roundhouse
MOST UPSETTING ANNOUNCEMENT – Stephen Vowles had passed away