The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel Stephen Joseph theatre, Scarborough Told By an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth’s co-production was fast-paced, physical, beautifully choreographed and performed. Based on a true story (that is not widely known) it provided an amazing evening of jaw-dropping entertainment and great music. The last live show that we saw at the amazing Stephen Joesph theatre before lockdown No 1 hit us all in March. David Warner The Emperor’s New Clothes Online Kitchen Zoo always deliver outstanding children’s theatre. This year, they have gone above and beyond in exceptional circumstances. It was the right balance of songs and comedy alongside a message for young audiences. They switch effortlessly between singing and dancing to slapstick and incredibly talented puppetry. They brought the theatre to my classroom when we missed our annual trip and I am so grateful. Suzanne Hart Unknown Online Dougie Blaxland’s play brought into sharp focus the plight of homelessness and the struggle rough sleepers have trying to get into the system, how easy it is to get lost in that system, and how faceless our society has become. RoughHouse Theatre’s production was meant to be on stage but worked beautifully as an audio performance. Intimate, extremely moving and wonderful performances. Rose-Marie Tarr The Incident Room New Diorama, London Having grown up in Leeds around the time of the Yorkshire Ripper murders, I was amazed at how they captured the exact mood and atmosphere of the time. We went down to London especially to see it and then went a second time. The respect they gave to the victims and the final scene where they imagine their other lives has really stuck with me, and I’ve thought about it a lot since the news of the death of Peter Sutcliffe (who didn’t feature in the play). Helen Gould Stay Safe Online Halloween is my favourite time of year and New Perspectives’ play, which took place over WhatsApp, scared the hell out of me in all the good ways. Once you have bought your ticket (only £1!) you join a WhatsApp group and the play begins. I love being in a theatre with other people, but there is nothing like sitting as this story arrives on your phone and having no one around to hear you scream. Written by Jack McNamara and designed by Joe Strickland, it was a totally brilliant, simple and incredibly effective use of technology to tell stories. Rebecca Brewer The Last Five Years Online This was the first show I saw after UK theatres closed in March. It was a joy to be able to buy a ticket and watch a digitally streamed production from the Other Palace, especially knowing there were other people watching at the same time making it an event. Danny Becker and Lauren Samuels were fabulous in a warm, funny and at times poignant performance. It was the first time I realised that theatre can work online for audiences at home, opening up a new world of accessibility and inclusion. Jen Smith Flowers for Mrs Harris Online A genuinely heartwarming show. In ordinary times, I would never have had the opportunity to see a Chichester Festival theatre performance, so it was a real treat. I was totally absorbed by the world of Mrs Harris and her wonderfully whimsical dream of owning a Dior dress. Clare Burt was the heart and soul of this production and you went with her on every step of her journey. Never once did you pity her but you shared all her highs and lows. The rest of the cast were fantastic, with some clever dual roles, and the smart set was perfectly designed. It was exactly the show we needed in 2020, and my dream is to see it live one day. Hayley Thorpe Faith Healer Online After months in lockdown it felt very special to see a live performance streamed from a theatre. The Old Vic’s staging was intimate, with extreme closeups on the actors at times, performing with the empty auditorium in the background as a striking visualisation of the impact that Covid-19 has had on theatres. The play’s structure of three separate narratives telling different versions of the same events was perfect for this format and the performances were outstanding, raw and emotional, Michael Sheen’s portrayal of the faith healer, a deeply flawed and troubled character, was mesmerising. Sue Benson The Last Quiz Night on Earth UK tour by Box of Tricks theatre This was the last live performance of a play I saw before lockdown. It was about a pub quiz night at the end of the world, which was fitting. We were treated like pub regulars, we really played the quiz and the whole thing was so much fun. The acting, the writing, how they interacted with the audience, everything worked. It was funny and surprisingly moving. Sofia Lee Treasure Island Northcott theatre, Exeter Le Navet Bete always deliver outstanding comedy shows built around a version of a familiar tale. Witty scripts, laugh out loud physical comedy and a smattering of audience participation put them at the top of our list to see every year. This year, despite Covid restrictions, they delivered Treasure Island managing to juggle all their usual elements in a safe way. It was a much-needed tonic to join them in their storytelling. Standout hilarity included a “Play Your Cards Right” skit and an unscripted fall styled out superbly in true pantomime fashion. Such talented comedic actors deserve our support. Emma Richardson Death Drop Garrick theatre, London After a pretty glum year, it felt incredible to don a festive mask and laugh along with an array of drag kings and queens in a feelgood atmosphere of queer silliness. For a couple of hours, I forgot my woes and was absorbed with this “Dragatha Christie Murder Mystery”, cheese jokes and the antics of Rich Whiteman MP. Excellent writing from Holly Stars. Tim Mortimer Troy Story Online A powerhouse of brilliance from the RSC. No sets, no costumes, just tons of brilliant acting and powerful storytelling. Greg Musson Tweedy’s Reduced Pantomime Everyman theatre, Cheltenham The cast of seven made this such an outstanding performance. Unable to put on Jack and the Beanstalk due to the pandemic, Tweedy and co decided to do 13 pantos in one. I’m a massive fan of Tweedy, he really is a world class act. It was hysterically funny and I my partner and son at times were crying with laughter. It was the first time I’ve laughed like that all year. Jenn McNeany Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran Online The online version hosted by the Battersea Arts Centre in June was amazing. Using Instagram to tell a tragic true story set in and particular to modern Iran. The production felt participatory and really drew me into the story. The way the audience was led between the stream and the Instagram account was really immersive. Beautifully done. Ashleigh Loeb