100 shows a year

Earlier in 2024 I used to say I see about 100 shows a year. Then I realized I've seen just over 50 at Barons Court Theatre only. Plus about 20 in Edinburgh, that's 70 already. So I thought the number might actually be closer to 200. So this year I decided to start counting them, and hopefully I'll stick to a monthly round-up of what I've seen.

In previous years I'd also attempt a review, but there's no way I can do that without strong biases anymore, so this will be purely a round-up, and how I got to see the respective shows. And January is a slow start, with only 4 titles to add.

The first of the year was mine. Lobster Pot, by Nicky Osborn, at Barons Court Theatre. Saw 4 out of 5 performances, but I would do that, wouldn't I?

The second was an invitation from Anette at the Norwegian Embassy, Moby Dick at the Barbican. I really enjoyed this one. Not a perfect show, but intensely spectacular. The things it did well, it did very well. A solid 4/5, even for a harsh reviewer.

I then saw the opening night of Second Best at Riverside Studios. Opening night of Asa Butterfield's stage debut, a full house in Riverside's main space and a good, solid play, without anything particularly outstanding. A lukewarm 3/5 from me, Asa Butterfield is very good, but the script is a bit banal, and the direction fell in love with a lavish set design which I'm not sure served the story best.

That's it, but then I realized I also see a lot of readings, works in progress, and half-made or partially made stuff. So I decided to give myself a 0.5 for anything that could be a fully formed show, but it's not in the form I witnessed. The first one, a reading at the Italian Cultural Institute in London, a feminist Anglo-pleaser from CambiaScena. In The Pink by Irene Petra Zani, and I got there because I wanted to see Cambiascena's work, I wanted to see the Italian Institute and I wanted to see Francesca Fatichetti who I know from Psychonaut Theatre/WIG of Life.

The second one was a reading of Mihail Sebastian's Star Without a Name which I organized with the pupils of Richmond College. It won't go anywhere, but it was a good refresher to hear the play out loud.

And finally, a night of shorts at Barons Court Theatre, brought together by an environmental thread.

So really, 3 plays + 1.5. But let's stick to 4. I'll probably overtake this in February, already saw one and have a few more scheduled.