My 2013

I take New Year - as I'm sure many people do - as a time of both reflection and anticipation. For me personally 2013 has been a year of great changes both personally and professionally. Sean asked me what the highlights to my year had been and aside from a few personal successes, each of my highlights have been theatrical ventures. With The Stage 100 List being published this week and The Offies hot on their tail celebrating theatre work Off-West End, I thought it might be an idea to fashion my own, purely personal list of theatre highlights this year.

I have seen a fair few new musicals this year but little compared to the ground-breaking Streets, which opened at the Cockpit in April. Like most musicals on the fringe Streetswas not perfect but writers Finn Anderson, Tori Allen-Martin, Sarah Henley and James Eyres-Kenward have created a fascinating amalgam of song, dance and touching drama that throws up a challenge to conventional musical theatre. Look out for further productions this year.

For my best musical theatre performance of 2013, nothing will beat John Barr’s turn as Ed Kleban in A Class Act at the Landor. Barr’s portrayal of the tortured, insecure, depressive lyricist, famous for his work on A Chorus Line, was a tour de force, the like of which is rarely seen on the Fringe and the show certainly deserved as further life.

When it comes to a best new play, then Gutted is an easy winner. Opening in May at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, Rikki Beadle-Blair’s play may have divided the critics but nobody could doubt the power of the performances or the passion of Beadle-Blair’s writing.

Broadway chansonnier KarenMason was a notable cabaret highlight, along with Stefan Bednarczyk reinventing Noel Coward and the indomitable Miss Hope Springs all of whom appeared at my favourite cabaret venue, the Crazy Coqs.

When it comes to revivals, Merrily We Roll Along has – thankfully – been preserved digitally and I consider myself very fortunate to have seen Maria Friedman’s revival on stage and on screen. I had never heard of Bare but the transfer from the Union to the Greenwich was a notable piece of rock musical theatre with a stunningly good set design.