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Best plays of 2018: London theatre highlights

By Lucy Brooks on 4/12/2018

From mind-altering immersive theatre and stars on stage to searing new writing and resplendent revivals, we look back at the 10 best plays of 2018 (four of which are still on, so hurry up and book).

The Wild Duck, Almeida Theatre ★★★★★

Robert Icke made Ibsen's 1884 tragicomedy feel bracingly fresh in a production that blurred the boundaries of performance to examine the inherent conceit of storytelling. Over a pacy three hours he fleshed out Ibsen’s imagery, showing lies and secrets buried in cosy domesticy, while undercutting our understanding of truth and redemption.

WHEN

15 Oct 2018 – 01 Dec 2018, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

WHERE

Almeida Theatre
Almeida Street, Islington, London, N1 1TA

Summer and Smoke, Almeida Theatre, photo by Marc Brenner

Summer and Smoke, Almeida and Duke of York's Theatre ★★★★★

Tennessee Williams's lesser known story of anxiety, desire and desperation earned its place in the canon with the Almeida's immensely moving revival. Pasty Ferran brought intensity to the role of preacher's daughter Alma. And after the glowing reviews it was no surprise when the show transferred to the West End.

WHEN

10 Nov 2018 – 19 Jan 2019, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

WHERE

Duke of York's Theatre
St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4BG

Rosalie Craig, Bobbi: Company, London 2018. Photo by Dan Kennedy

Company, Gielgud Theatre ★★★★★

With its gender switch up, tweaked lyrics and shift to the present day, Marianne Elliott's production of Stephen Sondheim's 1970 musical comedy Company was a timely watch in 2018. The story follows 35-year-old singleton Bobbie (a relatable and hugely likeable Rosalie Craig), whose friends cannot understand why she hasn't settled down with a husband yet. But are they truly any better off for being married?

WHEN

26 Sep 2018 – 22 Dec 2018, Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

WHERE

Gielgud Theatre
35 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6AR

Aidan Turner The Lieutenant Of Inishmore

The Lieutenant Of Inishmore, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★

Poldark’s Aidan Turner brought a new spin on the cliche of crazy cat lover in his crackling, wickedly funny West End debut. He prowled around the stage with a gun in each hand in this uproarious revival of Martin McDonagh's 2001 satire The Lieutenant Of Inishmore.

WHEN

23 Jun 2018 – 08 Sep 2018, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

WHERE

Noel Coward Theatre
St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4AU

The Inheritance, Young Vic and Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★

Like 2018's answer to Angels in America, this two-part epic explored legacy in the life of a group of gay men. The Inheritance was a touching, funny, often painful story of loss, grief and the ways in which we learn from the past. The impressive Young Vic premiere prompted a West End transfer.

WHEN

21 Sep 2018 – 05 Jan 2019, Monday to Saturday at 7.15pm. Wednesday & Saturday matinee performances at 1.15pm

WHERE

Noel Coward Theatre
St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4AU

David Morrissey and Ben Whishaw star in a new production of Julius Ceasar at London's Bridge Theatre

Julius Caesar, The Bridge Theatre review ★★★★★

Bass lines soared, feet stamped and campaign posters flurried through the crowd in Nick Hytner’s promenade production of Julius Caesar. The combination of gig, political rally and rich rhetoric felt especially timely and made Shakespeare's history into an immersive vision of fake news culture.

WHEN

20 Jan 2018 – 15 Apr 2018, 7:45 PM – 9:45 PM

WHERE

Bridge Theatre
3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG

Somnai: immersive experience London 2018

Somnai immersive experience, London review ★★★★★

Over 90 minutes – across a 20,000 sq. ft. Clerkenwell warehouse – live performance, multi-sensory elements and immersive technologies merged in Sonmai. The result is a cryptic augmented reality experience, that took audiences on a lucid dreaming journey.

WHEN

01 Mar 2018 – 03 Jul 2018, 90 minute time slots, starting from 5:30pm

Nine Night, National Theatre ★★★★★

Nine Night was a bombastic debut from actor turned writer Natasha Gordon. Starting off with the death of matriarch Gloria, it charted three generations of grieving in a Jamaican family.

We were charmed, amused and moved in equal measure at the National Theatre premiere in May. Happily for those that missed it at the Dorfman, Nine Night's transferring to the West End.

WHEN

01 Dec 2018 – 23 Feb 2019, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

WHERE

National Theatre, then West End transfer atTrafalgar Studios
14 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DY

Kelli O'Hare and Ken Watanbe: The King and I, London Palladium review. Photo by Matthew Murphy

The King and I, Palladium Theatre ★★★★★

This resplendent revival of The King and I made getting to know Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic 1951 musical a pure pleasure. The glossy production captured the charm and escapist glamour of a story that can feel all too problematic to contemporary audiences.

WHEN

21 Jun 2018 – 29 Sep 2018, Performance times at 2pm and 7pm

WHERE

London Palladium
Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF

Girls and Boys, Royal Court Theatre ★★★★★

In just 70 minutes, all alone on an aqua-coloured stage, Carey Mulligan took us from ribald laughter to icy devastation. Dennis Kelly's monologue melded mischievous comedy and gut-wrenching darkness to scrutinise a marriage, from first encounter to final blow.

WHEN

08 Feb 2018 – 17 Mar 2018, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

WHERE

Royal Court Theatre
Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS