I saw 68 plays (plus a ballet) in 2025 and it’s been tough whittling it down, but here are my favourites. Followed by a much shorter list, thankfully, of those plays which underwhelmed and were memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Top 10 plays 2025
Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Loved this playful, cheeky, party-themed production of Shakespeare’s play and its vibrant, acid pink design and tone.
Actor and writer Jack Holden follows up his hit Cruise with a gripping crime thriller based on true events with live music accompaniment.
It’s transferred, and you can see Kenrex at The Other Palace until 1 February. Info and tickets here.
Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Set on a ship, this was a Hamlet losing his mind, a crazy and crazed prince in a way I hadn’t seen before. It was moving and gripping.
A play about the impact the arrest and beheading of Anne Boleyn has on a group of ordinary women and the perception of women in general.
It was at times funny and jolly, but fundamentally a really interesting and thought-provoking play.
1536 is transferring to the West End from 2 May to 1 Aug 2026. For more information and how to buy tickets visit the Almeida website.
Caught the West End transfer of this superb 1950s set play about integrity, morals and beliefs. It was tense and gripping with contemporary parallels – and raised a lot of interesting questions.
Vanya is Alive, Omnibus Theatre
This was a powerful play about a mother clinging to the idea that her son is alive. After all that’s what she has been told.
The play managed to upend and reverse ideas while still being familiar. It was a powerful piece about propaganda, pain and loss, and it had its quiet hooks in me.
Brixton Calling, Southwark Playhouse
Second entry for Southwark Playhouse and a similar style of play, but a very different topic. Based on the true story of how Simon Parkes set up the iconic Brixton Academy music venue in the 1980s.
Cheeky, humorous and occasionally tense, this was also toe-tapping gig theatre.
Funny and moving, a lot resonated in this play about a couple dealing with terminal illness and what they learn about each other when confronting mortality. Superb performances, I might have got a bit weepy.
The Unbelievers, Royal Court Theatre
Another play that made me emotional, this was the story of a family dealing with a teenage son who has gone missing as time passes. A standout performance from Nicola Walker – I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
Incredible cast giving such naturalistic performances it felt like watching real life. A pitch-perfect production.
Catch it before it finishes on 7 March.
So those are my top play choices. What are yours?
Some video stats
As well as written reviews for plays I’ve been invited to, I also make video reviews for most of what I’ve seen. Among my video reviews, the ones that proved the most popular were:
YouTube: Inter Alia, National Theatre (2.7k views)
Instagram: The Seagull, Barbican Theatre (2k views)
And now for my least favourite plays of 2025
The Lady From The Sea, Bridge Theatre
An example of just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Random and clunky script, little chemistry, an awkward love scene and a ridiculous number of conversations stood in the pouring rain.
The inexplicable rain served to drown out what the actors were saying, leaving them very bedraggled and had me feeling sorry for them that they have to do that night after night.
A play about Ruth Madoff that should have been fascinating, but in the end was chaotic and didn’t leave me any the wiser about the central character.
The Brightening Air, Old Vic Theatre
Confusing, random and muddled is how I’d sum this up.
The Playboy of the Western World, National Theatre
Challenging dialogue and a plodding pace had me zoning out. In the end, the draw of an early night was stronger than the desire to stay for the second half of this play, so I ducked out at the interval.
Did you see anything that disappointed?
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