Top London Shows - January 2015
by Kate Goldstone on Friday 2 January 2015, 5:11 pm in Top London Shows
Happy New Year from the team! Here's wishing you an exceptional 2015 packed with fun and adventure. We hope you enjoy another entertaining twelve months experiencing some of the planet's finest musical theatre, hilarious comedy, high drama, classics, new plays and more, all on stage in London's glittering West End. Here's what our customers enjoyed most in December 2014, our top 12 theatre hits for the month.
1. Sunny Afternoon
Last month's number two, the story of The Kinks, has fulfilled our expectations and become the most popular show of the month. How did The Kinks end up invading America while being banned from touring there at the height of their fame? This excellent jukebox musical is told through the music and lyrics of Ray Davies. Exploring the band's rise to stardom in the riotous 1960s it's euphoric and irresistible, a must for fans of great music.
Sunny Afternoon Tickets
Last month's number two, the story of The Kinks, has fulfilled our expectations and become the most popular show of the month. How did The Kinks end up invading America while being banned from touring there at the height of their fame? This excellent jukebox musical is told through the music and lyrics of Ray Davies. Exploring the band's rise to stardom in the riotous 1960s it's euphoric and irresistible, a must for fans of great music.
Sunny Afternoon Tickets
2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Number three in last month's chart, this delightfully eccentric play is based on Mark Haddon's best selling novel of the same name. Marianne Elliott’s highly acclaimed stage production tells the tale of 15 year old Christopher Boone, a boy with autistic tendencies who harnesses facts, forensics and carefully-collected data to find out who killed his next door neighbour's dog. Fun, quirky and unusual, theatregoers absolutely love it.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Tickets
Number three in last month's chart, this delightfully eccentric play is based on Mark Haddon's best selling novel of the same name. Marianne Elliott’s highly acclaimed stage production tells the tale of 15 year old Christopher Boone, a boy with autistic tendencies who harnesses facts, forensics and carefully-collected data to find out who killed his next door neighbour's dog. Fun, quirky and unusual, theatregoers absolutely love it.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Tickets
3. The Play That Goes Wrong
Last time it hit number seven in our chart, this time it has leaped to number two, no surprise when everyone loves a giggle at Christmas. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, who are completely disorganised and disastrously accident prone, are unexpectedly left a lot of money. So they decide to put on a 1920s murder mystery. But the results are hilarious - everything that can go wrong for the inept company goes utterly pear-shaped.
The Play That Goes Wrong Tickets
Last time it hit number seven in our chart, this time it has leaped to number two, no surprise when everyone loves a giggle at Christmas. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, who are completely disorganised and disastrously accident prone, are unexpectedly left a lot of money. So they decide to put on a 1920s murder mystery. But the results are hilarious - everything that can go wrong for the inept company goes utterly pear-shaped.
The Play That Goes Wrong Tickets
4. Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, inspired by the famous Puccini opera Madame Butterfly. The story is much the same as Puccini's legendary piece but recast in the 1970s, focusing on the tragic tale of a doomed romance between an Asian woman and her American GI lover. The setting is Saigon, torn apart by the Vietnam War, and if you love nothing better than a tragic romance, this one's for you.
Miss Saigon Tickets
Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, inspired by the famous Puccini opera Madame Butterfly. The story is much the same as Puccini's legendary piece but recast in the 1970s, focusing on the tragic tale of a doomed romance between an Asian woman and her American GI lover. The setting is Saigon, torn apart by the Vietnam War, and if you love nothing better than a tragic romance, this one's for you.
Miss Saigon Tickets
5. The Lion King
Sticking at number four, this children's classic seems to hit the high notes in our chart for every school holiday. Kids adore the plot, the music, the costumes and the remarkable, inspirational stage sets, all guaranteed to delight. The story takes place in an African kingdom of lions, with show tunes penned by the pop star and composer Elton John together with words by the brilliant lyricist Tim Rice. Quite simply amazing!
The Lion King Tickets
Sticking at number four, this children's classic seems to hit the high notes in our chart for every school holiday. Kids adore the plot, the music, the costumes and the remarkable, inspirational stage sets, all guaranteed to delight. The story takes place in an African kingdom of lions, with show tunes penned by the pop star and composer Elton John together with words by the brilliant lyricist Tim Rice. Quite simply amazing!
The Lion King Tickets
6. Cats
This fabulous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is back in our chart at number five, always popular during the festive season and the fourth longest-running West End musical. The story is inspired by Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot and tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles. It has won numerous awards including Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards and it has been translated into more than 20 languages. Wow!
Cats Tickets
This fabulous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is back in our chart at number five, always popular during the festive season and the fourth longest-running West End musical. The story is inspired by Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot and tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles. It has won numerous awards including Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards and it has been translated into more than 20 languages. Wow!
Cats Tickets
7. Jersey Boys
Fancy a singalong? Last month's number two, Jersey Boys is still causing a stir in the West End. It explores the fascinating tale of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, a soul act that was no stranger to the charts in Britain and the USA. But, like many bands, behind the scenes the band members had problems. This brilliant jukebox musical takes an intimate look at their life and times and contains zillions of well-loved chart hits.
Jersey Boys Tickets
Fancy a singalong? Last month's number two, Jersey Boys is still causing a stir in the West End. It explores the fascinating tale of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, a soul act that was no stranger to the charts in Britain and the USA. But, like many bands, behind the scenes the band members had problems. This brilliant jukebox musical takes an intimate look at their life and times and contains zillions of well-loved chart hits.
Jersey Boys Tickets
8. Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot the Musical is inspired by the smash hit year 2000 film of the same name. The music is by the remarkably talented Elton John, with a book and song lyrics by Lee Hall, who also wrote the movie screenplay. The plot follows motherless Billy, who doesn't want to box but adores ballet. His personal struggle in a macho world is set against the backdrop of the British miners' strike, in turn inspired by A. J. Cronin's 1935 novel about a miners' strike, The Stars Look Down. Fabulous.
Billy Elliot Tickets
Billy Elliot the Musical is inspired by the smash hit year 2000 film of the same name. The music is by the remarkably talented Elton John, with a book and song lyrics by Lee Hall, who also wrote the movie screenplay. The plot follows motherless Billy, who doesn't want to box but adores ballet. His personal struggle in a macho world is set against the backdrop of the British miners' strike, in turn inspired by A. J. Cronin's 1935 novel about a miners' strike, The Stars Look Down. Fabulous.
Billy Elliot Tickets
9. Wicked
Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and a plot referencing the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, this is an alternative to the famous 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. In a plot combined with L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the action takes place from the perspective of Oz's infamous witches, Elphaba the bad witch and Glinda the Good. The result is brilliant, particularly popular with teens.
Wicked Tickets
Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and a plot referencing the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, this is an alternative to the famous 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. In a plot combined with L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the action takes place from the perspective of Oz's infamous witches, Elphaba the bad witch and Glinda the Good. The result is brilliant, particularly popular with teens.
Wicked Tickets
10. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
This super production closes on 7th March, so get your skates on! New to our chart, it's a 2004 comedy musical with show tunes and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane, inspired by the smash hit 1988 film of the same name. The West End production opened in 2014 and has thrilled audiences for months. The scene is the French Riviera, where con men make a living tricking vulnerable rich women. If you love a great plot and great tunes, it's great fun.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Tickets
This super production closes on 7th March, so get your skates on! New to our chart, it's a 2004 comedy musical with show tunes and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane, inspired by the smash hit 1988 film of the same name. The West End production opened in 2014 and has thrilled audiences for months. The scene is the French Riviera, where con men make a living tricking vulnerable rich women. If you love a great plot and great tunes, it's great fun.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Tickets
11. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Everybody seems to fall in love with this gorgeous musical, with the legendary Academy Award winner Sam Mendes at the wheel. Even if you know the story off by heart you really can't beat seeing it on stage complete with all those amazing characters. Based on the 1964 children's book by Roald Dahl, the show explores the story of young Charlie Bucket and his adventures at Willy Wonka's magical chocolate factory. Wonderful stuff.
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Tickets
Everybody seems to fall in love with this gorgeous musical, with the legendary Academy Award winner Sam Mendes at the wheel. Even if you know the story off by heart you really can't beat seeing it on stage complete with all those amazing characters. Based on the 1964 children's book by Roald Dahl, the show explores the story of young Charlie Bucket and his adventures at Willy Wonka's magical chocolate factory. Wonderful stuff.
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Tickets
12. Les Misérables
Good old Les Mis took a number seven place last time around, now it's at number twelve in our chart after a hugely successful Christmas. It's based on the splendid novel of the same name by the French poet and novelist Victor Hugo. The music comes courtesy of Claude-Michel Schönberg and it's a Cameron Mackintosh production. So far it has been seen by a whopping70 million or so people in 43 countries and 22 languages. Enough said!
Les Misérables Tickets
Good old Les Mis took a number seven place last time around, now it's at number twelve in our chart after a hugely successful Christmas. It's based on the splendid novel of the same name by the French poet and novelist Victor Hugo. The music comes courtesy of Claude-Michel Schönberg and it's a Cameron Mackintosh production. So far it has been seen by a whopping70 million or so people in 43 countries and 22 languages. Enough said!
Les Misérables Tickets
What's on the cards for 2015 and 2016 in the West End? Rumour has it Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart might star in No Man’s Land, the Harold Pinter classic, perhaps this year but more likely in 2016. If we're lucky the gossip about Disney Theatrical bringing us the smash hit stage musical Aladdin might be true... another one for 2016. And the Young Vic production of Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge may well transfer to Wyndham’s Theatre in February 2015. Watch this space...