Best of 2019 Theatre.

With another year down here I reflect on the best theatre I saw in 2019. It's been an incredible year for theatre and I've been very lucky to see some truly remarkable productions and performances. It's all for a bit of fun and my personal choice but I hope you enjoy. I'd love to know who your own picks would be if you were to do the same - let me know in the comments or tweet me.

Set Design

• Beowulf Borritt - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Joanna Scotcher - Emilia (Vaudeville Theatre)
• Basia Binkowska - Crooked Dances (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Madeleine Girling - Amelie (UK Tour)
• Rae Smith - War Horse (UK Tour)

The UK Tour company of Amelie. Photo by Pamela Raith.

Lighting Design

• Tim Deiling - Six (Arts Theatre)
• Zoe Spurr - Emilia (Vaudeville Theatre)
• Kenneth Posner - On Your Feet (West End/UK Tour)
• Ben Cracknell - Rock of Ages (UK Tour)
• Elliott Griggs - Amelie (UK Tour/The Other Palace)
• Ben Cracknell - Priscilla: Queen of The Desert (UK Tour)
• Mark Henderson - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)

The West End cast of Emilia. Photo by Helen Murray.

Costume Design

• Gabriella Slade - Six (Arts Theatre)
• Hannah Clark - The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Joanna Scotcher - Emilia (Vaudeville Theatre)
• Mark Bailey - The Provoked Wife (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Charlie Cridlan - The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare's Globe)
• Phil R Daniels and Charles Cusick Smith - Priscilla: Queen of The Desert (UK Tour)
• Robert Jones - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)

The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare's Globe. Photo by Helen Murray.

Choreography/Movement

• Kelly Devine - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Sergio Trujillo - On Your Feet (West End/UK Tour)
• Andrew Wright - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Kilworth House Theatre)
• Arlene Phillips - Grease (UK Tour)
• Tom Jackson-Greaves - Priscilla: Queen of The Desert (UK Tour)
• Aletta Collins - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Ellen Kane - West Side Story (Curve)

The UK Tour Cast of Grease. Photo by Manuel Harlan.

Direction

• Christopher Ashley - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Justin Audibert - The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Elle White - The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare's Globe)
• Andrew Wright - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Kilworth House Theatre)
• Michael Fentiman - Amelie (UK Tour/The Other Palace)
• Debbie Isitt - Nativity The Musical (UK Tour)
• Nikolai Foster - West Side Story (Curve)

Joseph at Kilworth House Theatre. 

Orchestra/Musical Direction

• George Francis - Amelie (UK Tour/The Other Palace)
• Alfonso Casado - Les Miserables: The Staged Concert (Gielgud Theatre)
• Dan Glover - Nativity The Musical (UK Tour)
• Stu Barker - Pippi Longstocking (Royal and Derngate)
• George Dyer - West Side Story (Curve)
• Alan Berry - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)

The cast of West Side Story at Curve. Photo by Ellie Kurttz.

Supporting Actress In A Play

• Sophie Stanton (Gremia) - The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Laura Elsworthy (Trania) - The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Charity Wakefield (William Shakespeare) - Emilia (Vaudeville Theatre)
• Sarah Seggari (Lady Cordelia/Flora) - Emilia (Vaudeville Theatre)
• Caroline Quentin (Lady Fancyfull) - The Provoked Wife (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Boadicea Ricketts (Anne Page/John Rugby) - The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare's Globe)
• Nicole Jebeli (Tania) - My Beautiful Laundrette (UK Tour)
• Evlyne Oyedokun (Zoe) - One Under (UK Tour)

Evlyne Oyedokun and Stanley J Browne in One Under. Photo by Patrick Baldwin.

Supporting Actor In A Play

• James Cooney (Bianco) - The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• John Hodgkinson (Heartfree) - The Provoked Wife (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Jude Owusu (Frank Ford) - The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare's Globe)
• Stephen Fewell (Pierre) - Venice Preserved (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• John Hodgkinson (Antonio) - Venice Preserved (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Joseph Arkley (Lucio) - Measure For Measure (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Alan Magor (Detective Sergeant Trotter) - The Mousetrap (St Martin's Theatre)
• Reece Pantry (Sonny) - One Under (UK Tour)

John Hodgkinson in Venice Preserved. Photo by Helen Maybanks.

Leading Actress In A Play

• Lucy Phelps (Rosalind) - As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Claire Price (Petruchia) - The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Clare Perkins (Emilia 3)  - Emilia (Vaudeville Theatre)
• Alexandra Gilbreath (Lady Brute) - The Provoked Wife (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Jodie McNee (Belvidera) - Venice Preserved (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Lucy Phelps (Isabella) - Measure For Measure (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Jodie Prenger (Helen) - A Taste of Honey (UK Tour)
• Gemma Dobson (Jo) - A Taste of Honey (UK Tour)

Lucy Phelps as Isabella in Measure for Measure. Photo by Helen Maybanks.

Leading Actor In A Play

• Joseph Arkley (Katherine) - The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Jonathan Slinger (Sir John Brute) - The Provoked Wife (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Rufus Hound (Constant) - The Provoked Wife (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Pearce Quigley (Falstaff) - The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare's Globe)
• Rav Moore (Dini) - Bollywood Jane (Curve)
• Shane Richie (Archie Rice) - The Entertainer (Curve)
• Omar Malik (Omar) - My Beautiful Laundrette (UK Tour)
• Jonny Fines (Johnny) - My Beautiful Laundrette (UK Tour)
• Scott Miller (Albert Narracott) - War Horse (UK Tour)

Chloe Wilson and Rav Moore in Bollywood Jane. Photo by Pamela Raith.

Understudy/Alternative Performance In A Play

• Laura Elsworthy (Rosalind) - As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Aaron Thiara (Orlando) - As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Amelia Donkor (Celia) - As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Rosalind Steele (Aquilina) - Venice Preserved (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Aaron Thiara as Orlando in As You Like It. Photo from Instagram.

Male Understudy/Alternative Performance In A Musical

• Stuart Hickey (Bill Austin) - Mamma Mia (Novello Theatre)
• Jake Sharp (Dewey Finn) - School of Rock (Gillian Lynne Theatre)
• Christopher McGuigan (Joe) - Waitress (Adelphi Theatre)
• Alexander McMorran (Claude and others) - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Marcus Harman (Evan Hansen) - Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre)
• Mark Dugdale (Kevin T/Garth) - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)

Jake Sharp as Dewey Finn in School of Rock. Photo by Twitter User @AspiringSeymour

Female Understudy/Alternative Performance In A Musical

• Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Zahara) - Bat Out Of Hell (Dominion Theatre)
• Courtney Stapleton (Catherine Parr) - Six (Arts Theatre)
• Tania Mathurin (Hannah and others) - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Jennifer Tierney (Bonnie and others) - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Charlotte Riby (Becky) - Waitress (Adelphi Theatre)
• Lisa-Anne Wood (Glinda) - Wicked (Apollo Victoria)
• Emma Jane Morton (Suzanne) - Amelie (UK Tour)
• Vicki Manser (Anna of Cleves) - Six The Musical (Arts Theatre)
• Serina Mathews (Carmen) - Fame (UK Tour)

Lisa-Anne Wood as Glinda in Wicked. Photo by Matt Crockett

Supporting Actress In A Musical

• Kate Robson-Stuart (Suzanne) - Amelie (UK Tour)
• Faoileann Cunningham (Georgette/Sylvie) - Amelie (UK Tour)
• Carrie Hope Fletcher (Fantine) - Les Miserables: The Staged Concert (Gielgud Theatre)
• Ashleigh Gray (Jennifer Lore) - Nativity The Musical (UK Tour)
• Charlotte Wakefield (Miss Windsor/Mum) - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Tabitha Knowles (Lisa James) - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anita) - West Side Story (Curve)
• Hanora Kamen (Ebba/Mr Nilsson/PC Nyeberg) - Pippi Longstocking (Royal and Derngate)

Tabitha Knowles and Toby Mocrei in The Boy in the Dress. Photo by Manuel Harlan.

Supporting Actor In A Musical

• Lucas Rush (Lonnie) - Rock of Ages (UK Tour)
• Hywel Dowswell (Simeon/Baker) - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Kilworth House Theatre)
• Jez Unwin (Raphael/Bretodeau) - Amelie (UK Tour)
• Matt Lucas (Thenardier) - Les Miserables: The Staged Concert (Gielgud Theatre)
• Jamie Chapman (Patrick Burns and others)  - Nativity The Musical (UK Tour)
• Rufus Hound (Dad) - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Forbes Masson (Mr Hawtrey) - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Jack Loxton (Jared Kleinman)  - Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre)
• Isaac Gryn (Action) - West Side Story (Curve)

Lucas Rush in Rock of Ages. Photo by The Other Richard.

Leading Actress In A Musical

• Rachel Tucker (Beverley/Annette and others) - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Emma Salvo (Janice and others) - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• The Queens of Six The Musical: Jarniea Richard-Noel (Catherine of Aragon), Millie O'Connell (Anne Boleyn), Natalie Paris (Jane Seymour), Alexia McIntosh (Anna of Cleves), Aimie Atkinson (Katherine Howard) and Maiya Quansah-Breed (Catherine Parr) -  Six (Arts Theatre)
• Cecily Redman (Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut) - Avenue Q (UK Tour)
• Christie Prades (Gloria Estefan) - On Your Feet (West End/UK Tour)
• Lucie Jones (Jenna) - Waitress (Adelphi Theatre)
• Audrey Brisson (Amelie) - Amelie (UK Tour)
• Tori Allen-Martin (Robin) - The Season (Royal and Derngate/New Wolsey Theatre)
• Adriana Ivelisse (Maria) - West Side Story (Curve)
• Emily-Mae (Pippi Longstocking) - Pippi Longstocking (Royal and Derngate)

Audrey Brisson as Amelie. Photo by Pamela Raith.

Leading Actor In A Musical

• Jonathan Hume (Kevin J/Ali and others) - Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Jake Sharp (u/s Dewey Finn) - School of Rock (Gillian Lynne Theatre)
• Danny Mac (Nino) - Amelie (UK Tour)
• Christopher Weeks (Buddy Holly) - Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (UK Tour)
• Scott Paige (Mr Poppy) - Nativity The Musical (UK Tour)
• John Partridge (Emcee) - Cabaret (UK Tour)
• Toby Mocrei (Dennis) - The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Alex Cardall (Dougal) - The Season (Royal and Derngate/New Wolsey Theatre)
• Marcus Harman (Evan Hansen) - Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre)
• Jamie Muscato (Tony) - West Side Story (Curve)
• Chris Jared (Nino) - Amelie (The Other Palace)

Alex Cardall and Tori Allen-Martin in The Season. Photo by Pamela Raith. 

Best Plays

• The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)
• Emilia (Vaudeville Theatre)
• War Horse (UK Tour)
• Crooked Dances (The Other Place Studio)
• The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare's Globe)
• Measure For Measure (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)
• My Beautiful Laundrette (UK Tour)
• One Under (UK Tour)

War Horse. Photo by Brinkhoff and Mogenburg

Best Musicals

• Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)
• Amelie (UK Tour)
• The Boy In The Dress (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)
• The Season (Royal and Derngate/New Wolsey Theatre)
• West Side Story (Curve)
• Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre)
• Six (Arts Theatre)
• Pippi Longstocking (Royal and Derngate)

The Original London Cast of Come From Away.