The North East Theatre Guide: Best Of 2025 Awards
As the curtain falls on another spectacular year of theatre in the North East, we look back at the productions that dazzled, delighted, and occasionally dismayed us over the last twelve months. From the grandeur of the Sunderland Empire to the intimacy of the Alphabetti, 2025 has been a year of bold reboots, stunning new writing, and unforgettable performances.
Here are our picks for the Best of 2025.
The Best Reboot Musicals of 2025
Revivals were all the rage this year, but one production stood head and shoulders above the rest, finding new emotional depth in a classic score.
Winner: Fiddler on the Roof Taking the top spot is the "exuberant" and "truly magical" production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Sunderland Empire. Our review praised the sheer scale of the achievement, noting that "the level of talent on stage is incredible," with "stunning musicianship, beautiful dancing, and powerful performances" that breathed new life into Anatevka. Above all, it was described as a "beautiful, powerful, and truly magical show" that moved audiences to tears and laughter alike.
2. Mary Poppins (Sunderland Empire) – Read Review – A "practically perfect" evening described as a "dazzling delight" with "breathtaking staging" and "technical wizardry."
3. Hairspray (Sunderland Empire) – Read Review – A "joyous celebration of individuality" that had the audience "dancing in their seats."
The Most Entertaining Pantomime of 2025
The battle of the pantos is always fierce in the North East, but this year one show claimed the crown by mastering the most elusive of panto ingredients: pace.
Winner: Sunderland Empire – Sleeping Beauty In a tight battle, the Empire finally picked up our gong for the most entertaining panto of the year. We hailed Sleeping Beauty as a "charming and entertaining traditional pantomime that has the best pace in the North East." The "on-stage chemistry" between the cast—particularly the comic pairing of Miss Rory and Tom Whalley—made the humour feel "genuine" and "much less forced than some other pantos." It was a show "not afraid to make the audience a part of the action," delivering a "great evening's entertainment" without a dull moment.
We must also give special mention to Whitley Bay Playhouse's Beauty and the Beast, which proved to be a "pantomime that is not afraid to be both traditional and entertaining." Marking Steve Walls' 15th year at the venue, the show was praised for keeping beloved traditions alive—including the legendary "Bench" scene and proper audience involvement—while delivering a production that "packs in the gags and jokes throughout." With Dani Harmer bringing charm to the role of Bella and a "troupe of committed dancers," it was a wonderful show that left us all with smiles on our faces.
2. Whitley Bay Playhouse (Beauty and the Beast) – Read Review – A show "not afraid to be both traditional and entertaining." / Tyne Theatre & Opera House (Cinderella) – Read Review – Hailed as the "Godmother of all Pantomimes" and a "real crowd pleaser."
The Best Dance of 2025
Winner: The Midnight Bell Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company captivated us once again with The Midnight Bell at Newcastle Theatre Royal. We called it an "atmospheric, involving, touching and beautifully performed" production that bore "all the hallmarks of Bourne's iconic works." The "fluid, imaginative and unpredictable" choreography created a "memorable and absorbing evening" that explored the seamier side of 1930s London with "dramatic depth."
2. Swan Lake (Newcastle Theatre Royal) – Read Review – Bourne’s "fresh and vibrant" classic continued to thrill with its "genre-defying dance.
The Best AmDram Musical of 2025
Winner: Urinetown The Jubilee Theatre played host to a surprise hit with Urinetown. Our reviewer called it a "joyous celebration of life, in its own cavalier way," performed by an "enthusiastic group who don't settle for the usual pot boilers." With a live band providing the energy and a cast that nailed the satire, it was a "successful reminder of what a great musical it is."
2. Jesus Christ Superstar (Tyne Theatre) – Read Review – An "ambitious modern interpretation" with the feel of a "tight rock opera."
Laugh Out Loud Comedy of 2025
Winner: Rapunzel - The Adult Boulevard Panto When it comes to unadulterated, near-the-knuckle hilarity, nothing quite matched the raucous energy of the Boulevard's adult panto. Rapunzel took the fairytale, ripped up the rulebook, and delivered an evening of filthy, side-splitting fun that left the audience gasping for air.
2. The Last Laugh (Newcastle Theatre Royal) – Read Review – A "funny show" that harked back to a golden age, with the three leads successfully filling the "huge shoes" of Cooper, Monkhouse, and Morecambe.
The Most Bat Sh*t Crazy Production of 2025
Sometimes theatre needs to be weird, and 2025 delivered some truly bizarre gems.
Winner: The Skriker Caryl Churchill’s shapeshifting drama at the Theatre Royal Studio took this award easily. We described it as a "chilling, poetic fever dream" and a "mesmerizing tour de force." The production was "strange, stunning, entirely unique and partly bat-shit crazy," operating as both a "haunting fairy tale" and a "psychological drama."
2. Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story (Live Theatre) – Read Review – A "silly fun" evening of drag and puppetry that was "as hilarious as it is tasteless."
3. Bat Out of Hell (Sunderland Empire) – Read Review – A "relentless juggernaut of entertainment" described by one viewer as "ADHD fuel" thanks to its non-stop visual chaos.
The Best Original Drama of 2025
Winner: Grimm Alphabetti Theatre continued its streak of excellence with Grimm, a production that offered a dark, twisted, and compelling exploration of folklore that perfectly suited the intimate venue's commitment to bold storytelling.
2. The Shark is Broken (Newcastle Theatre Royal) – Read Review – An "enjoyable and entertaining night" of "classic drama with comedic overtones."
3. Champion (Live Theatre) – Read Review – A "punchy new writing" piece that served as an "emotive drama that reflects the region."
The Best New Writing of 2025
Winner: When We Were Young This poignant new work at Live Theatre captured the hearts of audiences with its tender and honest exploration of youth, memory, and the passage of time in the North East, marking it as a standout piece of local storytelling.
2. Bad Lads (Newcastle Live Theatre) – Read Review – A "gripping and harrowing" piece of "powerful theatre" that didn't need to exaggerate its message to leave a lasting impact.
3. Dolly Peel (Customs House) – Read Review – An "intriguing evening of contrasts" celebrating a local legend. / Dogs on the Metro (Live Theatre) – Read Review – Praised as "timely, challenging and engaging."
The Best Musicals of 2025
Winner: Hamilton The phenomenon finally arrived in Sunderland and lived up to the hype. We called it a "sublime performance that breathes fresh energy into this already iconic musical." From the "magnetic presence" of Marley Fenton to the "razor-sharp precision" of the choreography, the production remained "thrillingly intact" and proved exactly why it is a "theatrical phenomenon."
2. Miss Saigon (Newcastle Theatre Royal) – Read Review – A "spectacular production" that was "gripping and emotional," featuring a major reworking that gave the audience a "real treat."
3. Kinky Boots (Sunderland Empire) – Read Review - "Is a feel-good show that gives us a little bit of what we all need during the cold, dark winter. To paraphrase the great Nancy Sinatra, these boots are very much made for watchin’."
The Best Jukebox Musical of 2025
Winner: & Juliet Mixing the pop anthems of Max Martin with a Shakespearean remix, & Juliet at the Theatre Royal was a riot of colour and energy. It brought a fresh, joyous vibe to the jukebox genre, proving that pop music and period drama are a match made in heaven.
2. Sunny Afternoon (Sunderland Empire) – Read Review – A production with "authentic" chemistry that felt like a "joyous celebration" of The Kinks' strong music.
3. Tina (Sunderland Empire) – Read Review – A "powerful, emotional rollercoaster" and a "dazzling, exhilarating celebration" of the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll.
The Best Adaptation of 2025
Winner: Mother Courage and Her Children Brecht’s masterpiece was given a "searing" new production at Live Theatre. We highlighted Paulina Malefane’s "memorable performance" in the titular role and noted that the show managed to be "both entertaining and inspiringly provocative," making the 100 minutes fly by.
2. Boys From the Blackstuff (Newcastle Theatre Royal) – Read Review – A "hard hitting and gritty drama" that remained "powerful" and relevant.
3. War Horse (Newcastle Theatre Royal) – Read Review – An "epic production" and a "poignant reminder of sacrifices," anchored by "masterful storytelling" and puppetry.
The Biggest Waste of an Evening of the Year
Winner: Friends! The Musical Parody Sadly, not every show can be a winner. This parody at the Sunderland Empire was, in our view, a "missed opportunity." We described it as a "tangle of incoherent vignettes wrapped around forgettable songs" that struggled to find a story amidst the parody elements. Ultimately, it left us feeling that the material simply "wasn't up to it."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.