Shows you would recommend

So many good ones. Recently saw American in Paris. Not so much music but the dancing is good.
Kinky Boots was much enjoyed.

I took DGD(8) to see 'Wicked' this afternoon. She really enjoyed it but not my cup of tea

It's a big production, great special effects, colourful costumes, changing sets - all very enthusiastic and vibrant but totally forgettable songs.

It's a huge theatre with every seat filled, often by repeat visitors so I've been told.

I saw Wicked a few years ago River - I didn't like it either, thought it was rather odd. As you say, forgettable songs.
Sunny Afternoon was brilliant.

I'm looking forward to seeing Young Frankenstein by the incomparable Mel Brooks next week - The Producers was genius, both the film and musical

Thanks BB looking forward to it

Gypsy. Old show but good songs and Imelda Staunton was superb.

On Mick's recommendation, 'Cilla the Musical'. Very good, and very nostalgic.

We have a very good local theatre here in Colchester. I finally got around to seeing The Mousetrap last year, everyone should see that once!
OneMan Two Guvnors is my favourite comic play.
I think Sweeney Todd is the best musical I've seen locally.I too wasn't over enamoured with Wicked.

I've been to see Red Shoes and Beautiful (The Carol King Story) fairly recently - loved both of them. We are so lucky to have such a choice both locally and London not so far away.

Les mis is amazingly poignant. Have seen it 5 times.blood brothers I've seen 8 times and still cry like a baby!! A good new one is ' the bodyguard' fantastic performance by Alexandra Burke I loved it. I too found cats boring with no storyline

I love going to the theatre and have enjoyed lots this year, the musical plays Follies at the National and The Girl from the North Country were marvellous. GftNC is going to the West End soon, really wonderful. Also loved The Ferryman which is still on and a great production by the Hull truck company at the RSC in Stratford, The Hypocrite, if it tours go and see it, so funny. Some very good productions at The Park theatre in North London and The Almeida, Mary Stuart was fab

War Horse. It’s simply superb. I’m not really a fan of musicals although I’ve seen quite a few and they’re always good. I prefer a good play but WH is something else. I’ve always loved Michael Morpurgo novels, he’s poignant but never overly sentimental. The play is a most wonderful adaptation of the book and MUCH better than the film which was less than average. The music is entirely appropriate and provides a kind of narrative and nobody bursts into a stupid song at a crucial moment. It’s merely a backdrop to the action. I’ve seen it more than once and I’m looking for another family member who hasn’t seen it so I have an excuse to go again. If you haven’t read the book, it’s teenage fiction really but hey, it’s well worth the read.

Now that the grandchildren are older I like to do day trips to London with sightseeing, a Theatre show and a meal ... instead of Xmas gifts that are soon forgotten. They get little photo albums as a reminder of our day too. The 3 boys, I took to see “ The Snowman” and they were totally rapt, eyes out on stalks when the snowman flew across the stage ! The 2 girls, we went to see “Mamma Mia” and they so loved it. I saw “ 42nd Street” yesterday, wonderful 1930’s Hollywood glamour with amazing dancing and costumes. Then in Dec am back to London for the “ Rat Pack Christmas Show” which is always brilliant.

Depends if you like the music from that era but Motown story was brilliant.

42nd Street is absolutely wonderful. It’s the best production yet. The dancing is amazing. Follies at the National is also great. If you want a serious play then Oslo just transferring to the West End. Matilda is going on tour and my DS highly recommends it. They took the children twice. I think Wicked is like Marmite. I wasn’t that excited by it but my DD has seen it six times.

Les Mis, 1st 2nd & 3rd......do t know why anyone would not love it.
Also Warhorse , both very powerful, but it depends if you want light entertainment or thought provoking

Blood Brothers is fantastic,seen it twice, my neighbour seen it 9 times!I didn't like cats(but I do love them)Didn't like wicked took granddaughter she loved it.Husband fell asleep.But we where up in the gods.

We are just back from our annual trip to London. We always book the Saturday night show in advance. This year we were in the 2nd row for 42nd Street- it was phenomenal! We like a bargain, so we got matinee tickets for American In Paris for only £20 each from the Today Tix app. Then on Sunday night we went to see Comedy About A Bank Robbery- we got cheap tickets from Leicester Square TKTS office - it's from the folk who did The Play That Goes Wrong & Peter Pan Goes Wrong, which was on tv last year. Very funny! I also saw Blood Brothers in Dunfermline on Tuesday, plus we are going to Million Dollar Quartet in Edinburgh tonight. I hardly ever pay full price - keep an eye on Itison & Groupon for offers. I will then be staying in for a few weeks!

War Horse was brilliant - the stage show, I haven't seen the film. Yet we only went because a friend from Devon* badly wanted to see it.
Went with same friend to see The Lion King - again his choice. I found it very disappointing and unmemorable - maybe more suited to children. Friend enjoyed it, though, thank goodness, since the tickets were our birthday present to him.

*Funnily enough, while reading the War Horse programme at the time, I learned that Michael Morpurgo had got the idea while talking to a very old man - WW1 veteran - in the same Devon pub where we'd often been for a meal with the same friend!

Which musical depends on taste but I have enjoyed 4 this year so far.
Mamma Mia was in Norwich earlier this year and I went for my birthday; it was funny and fun and a great sing a long, feel good evening.
Bat Out of Hell the Musical we saw in London; if you love Jim Steinman and Meatloaf you will love this again a fantastic sing a long evening.
In August I went to New York for the first time with my daughter and we saw The Lion King and Phantom. The Lion King is recommended for all of the family. Great music and fab costumes. I had never seen Phantom and always wanted to so enjoyed the music in this so much though my daughter lost the story line and asked me afterwards to explain!
December 30th I am going to Les Mis in London for the first time with my son and can't wait.

Saw Beautiful last month (Carol King story) which we really enjoyed. The Play That Went Wrong is brilliant, and I loved We Will Rock You which made me into a Queen fan!

I love Les Mis and know the words to most of the songs as I have sang them in amateur shows.
Chicago is also one of my favourites
The last show I saw was Crazy For You with Tom Chambers and Caroline Flack. I really enjoyed the show and it was nice because the Dad one of the cast members was staying in our guest house and she joined him for breakfast.
We have some of the orchestra from the Birmingham Ballet staying with us this week as they are at my local theatre here in Plymouth.

Met uni DD for day out in Birminghan (from London) as we both adore Gershwin musicals and managed to organise to catch Tom Chambers touring in Crazy for You. Fantastic dancing with Gershwin classic and 2 perfect stalls seats for the price of 1 in the gods in town. Advanced booked train trip for £12 (haven't qualified yet for other discounts!!). Going to look out of town more often and booked with own mother to catch Cabaret at Churchill in Bromley next......next London gig is the new Oscar Wilde season at the Vaudeville.

Oo yes you're all reminding me now. Billy Elliot was fantastic as was Sunny Afternoon. We are real Kinks fans and still go to see Ray Davies when he tours.

Went to see 'The Play that Went Wrong' recently with some friends. Haven't laughed as much in a theatre EVER (& I saw 'One Man Two Guvnors' twice)..! We came out weak and with aching sides because we'd laughed so much. I'd thoroughly recommend it