10 of the shows on my 2020 theatre bucket list.

Every year I love finding out what productions are heading into the theatres across the East and West Midlands for the year ahead. I wrote managed to see 5 of the shows on my 2019 theatre bucket list and this new decade has definitely motivated me to nail it with the shows this year. I did as much research as I could to find the shows I am buzzing to see during the year and I'm sure there will be more announcements during the year that will add more shows to my bucket list.

Until then here's just 10 of the shows I'm really excited for that are heading into theatres around the region this year!

Identical

Nottingham Playhouse 31 July - 22 August

A new musical based on the novel The Parent Trap by Erich Kastner is heading to Nottingham Playhouse in the summer. It's the world stage musical premiere of the classic story of twin girls separated at birth but reunited at a summer camp ten years later. I'm excited to see what this production has to offer with Sir Trevor Nunn directing it and George Stiles and Anthony Drewe creating the new score. I mean I love the Lindsay Lohan movie from 1998 so I wonder what this production has to offer!

Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

Nottingham Playhouse 23 Oct

For one night only at the Nottingham Playhouse as part of it's UK tour, the internationally acclaimed, multi sell-out fringe phenomenon with one of Shakespeare's most loved plays: Romeo and Juliet. This hilarious combination involves one cast remember being selected at random and given four hours to drink before every show! I mean I have no idea what to expect but the concept sounds hilarious and what a way to bring classical theatre to life. 

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Royal & Derngate, Northampton 10-14 March

The Alexandra, Birmingham 16 - 21 March

Theatre Royal, Nottingham 20-25 April

Curve, Leicester 29 June- 4 July 

Layton Williams will be bringing his charisma and love to the role of Jamie when it embarks on a UK Tour in 2020, giving the chance for hundreds of people to see the smash-hit musical from London that's on everybody's lips! Although I haven't seen the musical before, I love the soundtrack and saw the BBC3 documentary based on Jamie's story when it was first aired too. Based on a true story, it follows a 16-year-old teenager as he overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness to become a drag queen. 

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

The Alexandra, Birmingham 18-22 Feb

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 25-29 Feb

Having had award-winning success with The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery as well as a new TV series on the BBC right now!, my favourite comedy company, Mischief Theatre are returning with their spin on J.M Barrie's timeless classic, Peter Pan. The members of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are back on stage, battling with technical hitches, flying mishaps and cast disputes with his hilarious take on a classic story like no other. 

Read more: The Play That Goes Wrong Review

Once
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 10-14 Mar
Theatre Royal, Nottingham 6-11 Apr
The Alexandra, Birmingham 1-6 Jun
Curve, Leicester 15-20 Jun

Based on the critically acclaimed short indie film, Once, tells the uplifting yet yearning story of a Dublin street busker and a Czech musician - who unexpectedly fall in love. We follow their relationship across five short days, big changes happen to both of them in little ways. It's also known for its original score, Falling Slowly is one of the songs I know well from this show. It's very much a love story and definitely has the potential to be just like Amelie for me from last year.

Six

Theatre Royal, Nottingham 24 - 29 Mar

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 02-07 Jun

Curve, Leicester 09-14 Jun

This stellar of a show that seems to come with quite the fanbase and loyal following is embarking on a UK tour in 2020. The critically acclaimed show has a soundtrack that stormed the UK pop charts, I mean it's an album I often listen to myself. Six introduces us to the six wives of Henry VIII, they tell their tales and remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power. I can't wait to see these fierce girls take the stage in 2020!

Bat Out Of Hell

The Alexandra, Birmingham  29 Sept - 10 Oct

I am thrilled that Bat Out Of Hell is embarking on a UK Tour this year - I saw snippets during West End Live in 2018 and was gutted that I never got to see it. It's quite similar to We Will Rock You in my own opinion and contains the legendary anthems of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf. We join Strat, the forever young leader of rebellious gang 'The Lost' as he falls in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler of Obsidian. 

Dreamgirls

The Alexandra, Birmingham 8 Dec - 2 Jan 

I noted Dreamgirls as one of the best musical productions I had ever seen back in 2017 and thought it would be ages before I saw it again. The audiences in and around Birmingham are super lucky that the Dreamgirls will be touring and heading to The Alexandra over Christmas. The musical comes with an extraordinary story that puts a spotlight on the revolutionary American music history as well as spine-tingling vocals. You'd be a fool not to book tickets for this one!

Read more: 10 Thoughts Whilst Watching Dreamgirls. 

Mamma Mia

Theatre Royal, Nottingham 24 Mar - 4 Apr

We all need a fix of sunshine and joy, Mamma Mia is just the ticket and it's heading to the Theatre Royal in Nottingham this Spring. It's the ultimate feel-good show set on a Greek island paradise - it's a story of love, friendships and identity that is cleverly crafted around the songs from iconic band, ABBA. Sophie's quest to discover the identity of her father she's never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they'll never forget. I saw this show in London a few years ago and loved every moment of it, I can't wait to see it again in the Spring! 

A Monster Calls 

Curve, Leicester 26 - 30 May

Patrick Ness' piercing novel A Monster Calls is brought vividly to life in the Olivier award-winning production by visionary director Sally Cookson. We follow thirteen-year-old Conor and his mum who have managed to get by since his dad moved away. But now his mum is unwell, his grandmother won't stop interfering and the kids at school won't look him in the eye. Then, one night, Conor is woken by something at his window. A monster has come walking and to tell Conor tales from when it walked before. When he is finished, Conor must tell his own story and face his deepest fears. This production looks spectacular and I can't wait to see visually what they've done to bring this story to life.

Tell me what shows you'd like to see in 2020 in the comments below!