What are the best shows in town?
It is something we get asked all the time.
Of course we have our favourites, but this year we decided to turn the tables and ask you what you thought were the best shows that you have seen already and what shows you think you might like to see.
This is what we found
Les Misérables is officially the best show ever [tweet this] according to over 3200 UK theatregoers polled during November 2014 by Theatrebreaks.com and Theatrebreaks.co.uk
Respondents from all over the UK took part in a survey to find out what shows people have most enjoyed and what shows people think they would enjoy seeing next.
The really great news for anyone who has not come to town yet to see a show is that all but one of the top ten shows are still on in London.
Top of the pile is stage and screen spectacular Les Misérables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg – who appear twice in the top ten with Miss Saigon coming in at 7.
Home grown tune-smith Andrew Lloyd Webber manages to do the same with The Phantom of the Opera (3) and Cats (10) but his one time pal and writing partner, Tim Rice, pips him at the post claiming second place thanks to his involvement with Disney’s The Lion King.
Broadway productions Wicked (4) and Jersey Boys (5) shade out the other British offerings in the top 10: We Will Rock You (6), Mamma Mia!(8) And Billy Elliot (9).
Wicked Wins
The most aspirational show to see is Wicked. In fact the top three are all from Broadway, with Disney’s The Lion King and Jersey Boys completing the medal line-up.
The return of Miss Saigon into London’s Prince Edward Theatre helps that to fourth and even after all this time Les Misérables still commands 5th spot, helped in part by the hugely successful film adaptation starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe.
Three relative new-comers follow: Roald Dahl’s family-friendly Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda followed by the far-from-family-friendly The Book of Mormon!
Disappointingly but maybe not surprisingly no plays feature in the top 10 of favourite shows – probably more a comment on the size of audience they can command, appearing, as they often do in smaller theatres and for shorter runs. But maybe it is of no surprise that when it comes to listing shows that UK theatregoers would like to see next, Michael Morpogo’s War Horse comes in at number 9.
New opening at the London Palladium, Cats completes the table.
Family Friendly Musicals
Family friendly musicals enjoy a strong showing in the list, with all West End family favourite regulars appearing in the top 10 showing that “going to the theatre” is considered very strongly a “family” thing to do.
Comment
The list taken as a whole underlines the breadth of UK theatre with 245 different shows being cited amongst the nations favourites – this is especially encouraging when respondents, whilst all having been to the theatre, are not necessarily regular theatregoers.
That being said, throughout the responses regional theatrical productions is woefully under-represented as is our nation’s favourite son: William Shakespeare. But with the appearance of Queen epic We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia! based on the hits of ABBA it is clear people are voting with their hearts and I firmly believe theatre connects with our hearts before it connects with our minds!
What is the best show you have ever seen?
245 different shows were cited
The top 10 shows were
- Les Miserables
- The Lion King
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Wicked
- Jersey Boys
- We Will Rock You
- Miss Saigon
- Mamma Mia!
- Billy Elliot
- Cats
Top Play in the list – War Horse at 12
What show would you most like to see next?
145 different shows were cited
The top 10 shows were
- Wicked
- The Lion King
- Jersey Boys
- Miss Saigon
- Les Miserables
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Matilda
- The Book of Mormon
- War Horse
- Cats
Top play in the list – War Horse at 9
Who do you go to the theatre with?
Respondents were allowed to chose as many options as they liked.
Partner – 1984
Family – 907
Friends – 710
Drilling down into the information, when it came to taking family members other than partners, female relations were 6 times more likely to accompany theatre-goers than male relations.
Theatre-goers website, theatrebreaks.co.uk discover UK’s favourite shows
Figures
What is the best show you have ever seen?
Show/Votes
- Les Miserables 443
- The Lion King 312
- The Phantom of the opera 301
- Wicked 233
- Jersey Boys 134
- We Will Rock You 131
- Miss Saigon 117
- Mamma Mia 106
- Billy Elliot 94
- Cats 93
What show would you most like to see next?
Show/Votes
- Wicked 313
- The Lion King 272
- Jersey Boys 265
- Miss Saigon 213
- Les Miserables 202
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 154
- Matilda 152
- The Book of Mormon 151
- War Horse 135
- Cats 114
* 70 people didn’t mind what they saw next!
2016 update: This year’s data is out so see how the list has changed: http://www.theatrebreaks.co.uk/theatre-survey-stars-shows-ticket-prices/
