My West End Musical Bucket List for 2019

This is a collaborative post.

I’ve always been a theatre lover, probably from early childhood.  I looked forward to theatre visits with my class as a pupil. The world of the theatres always attracted me and this fascination is keep going strong. Not that I ever wanted to be an actress or a singer, I just love being sucked into a good piece and loose sense of time whilst watching a brilliant show. A little bit like with books I guess. We try to book something for every month – luckily my husband equally a theatre lover. Not only dramas but musical theatre as well. We watched a few musical pieces this year, which convinced my husband that musicals are really for everyone.

So, I decided to put a West End Musical Bucket List together for 2019 with the shows I really want to watch – we’ll have to check back at the end of next year how many of these have I managed to see!

Company

I actually already booked this one as my husband’s Christmas present. (I like giving experiences as a gift, rather than actual, physical possessions.) I’m really looking forward to it in mid-January – I think winter month are made for going to the theatre. Company has won 6 Tony Awards back in 1970 when it was first put on stage on the Broadway. It’s a musical comedy and as music and lyrics writer Stephen Sondheim puts it, it’s about As Sondheim puts it: “Broadway theatre has been for many years supported by upper-middle-class people with upper-middle-class problems. And that’s what Company is about: Bobby a single man, who is unable to commit fully to a steady relationship or marriage. The show begins on his 35th birthday where we see his interactions with his best friends, five married couples and three girlfriends.

Image credit: Encore Tickets

Hamilton

Even if you haven’t seen it before, a lot of people and all musical lovers remember when The US vice-president Mike Pence was booed by a theatre audience when he attended the musical Hamilton in New York. Featuring hip hop, R&B, pop, soul, traditional-style show tunes Hamilton achieved both critical acclaim and box office success since its off-Broadway Debut in early 2015. The musical received won inning 11 Tony awards, a Grammy award and even a Pulizer prize for drama – no wonder it’s on every musical lover’s bucket list and been sold out pretty much 6 month ahead in London – but we just need to book early then. 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

This one I have actually watched, precisely 6 times – so safe to say this is one of my favourite musicals. I am a really big Andrew Lloyd Webber fan and been always torn about between this and the Cats. This time it’s a limited run at the London Palladium of the famous musical as it unbelievably turns 50 years old! So it’s definitely can’t be missed. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat tells the biblical story of Jacob and his twelve sons. After his favourite Joseph is sold into slavery and ends up in Egypt, he discovers his ability to interpret dreams and finds himself in the employ of some very influential people.

Chicago

Another musical favourite of mines – although I have never seen this on stage yet! Now is the time, as we can see Cuba Gooding Jr. starring as Billy Flynn, the lead role. Set in Jazz Age Chicago, it’s a satiric musical. It’s about corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the “celebrity criminal”. It holds a few records: like the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. It has opened in 1975 on the Broadway and debuted at the West end in 1979.

Image credit: Encore Tickets

Motown the Musical

This is a real sing along hit to anyone who loves Motown hits – like me! It’s about Berry Gordy’s record label company back in the 60’s and his relationship to famous Motown artists like Diana Ross, Marvin Gay and Stevie Wonder (based on his autobiography). The musical therefore is full with the greatest Motown hits like Please Mr. Postman, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Dancing in the Street, I’ll Be There, I Want You Back –  a staggering number of 66 Motown songs a night! It must be a blast.

What’s on your bucket list for 2019?