Natalie O'Donoghue's Most Anticipated Theatre of 2019

We're not even out of 2018 year and already I have 53 shows in my diary for 2019. I'm looking forward to everything I've booked (otherwise, why would I have booked it?) but there are some that I am especially excited about.

I am by no means an expert on ballet but I definitely like what I've seen and am keen to fit more into my schedule in 2019. I'm off to a great start in January with the 5-star rated Cinderella from Scottish Ballet. Cinderella is at Glasgow's Theatre Royal from 4th January- 12th January.

I saw Glasgow Girls at the Citizens Theatre in 2014 and completely fell in love with it. Cora Bissett's musical is based on the true story of seven Glaswegian teenagers who fought to stop their friend being deported. The show has done the rounds several times (including a sold out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe) but this is its first time at the beautiful King's Theatre in Glasgow. January is normally a quiet month for me show wise so I'm delighted to be kicking my theatre-going year off in such style! Glasgow Girls is at the King's Theatre from 15th January- 19th January and then touring around Scotland.

It's the first UK tour of Les Miserables in nearly ten years and it stops off in Edinburgh in January. I'm a huge fan of Killian Donnelly and was desperate to see him during his London run as Jean Valjean but unfortunately he wasn't performing the evening I went. I was delighted that he has joined the touring production and I'll finally get the chance to see him in the role. The Edinburgh run is completely sold out from 22nd January- 16th February but you can check the box office at Capital Theatres for returns.

If you had told me this time last year that the live tour of Benidorm would be in my most anticipated shows of 2019 I probably wouldn't have believed you. A friend asked me if I knew much about the live show and suggested that I watch a few episodes of the tv series to see if I liked it. After watching six seasons in two days I was firmly committed to a trip to the Solana in February! Benidorm runs at the King's Theatre, Glasgow from 4th February- 9th February.

I have a non reviewing trip down to London in February for one heck of a double show day. I booked both Come From Away and Waitress based on reviews I had seen for their Broadway counterparts. Both shows have since announced spectacular casting and I couldn't be more excited for my day trip! Come From Away begins previews from 30th January at The Phoenix Theatre, London and Waitress begins previews from 8th February at the Adelphi Theatre, London.

The 2019 programme from the Citizen's Theatre is really something quite special. One that I am particularly keen to see is Nora: A Doll's House which caused outrage when it was first staged in 1879. Writer Stef Smith has reframed the drama in three different time frames to examine how far we've really come in the last 100 years. Nora: A Doll's House is at the Citizen's Theatre @ Tramway from 15th March- 6th April.

A Hundred Different Words For Love is the one part of James Rowland's Team Viking trilogy that I have yet to see. While each play stands alone, I'm really keen to see all three parts. The other two plays moved me to tears so I expect nothing less from this one! A Hundred Different Words For Love is at the Tron Theatre on the 19th and 20th of April.

There are a couple of shows touring to ATG theatres this summer that I'm greatly excited for. Little Miss Sunshine and Amelie are musicals that I would have expected to see in London's West End long before they made it to regional theatres. I have high hopes for both productions and I'm keen to see more support for new shows coming to the regions! Little Miss Sunshine is at the King's Theatre, Glasgow from 1st July- 6th July and Amelie is at the King's Theatre, Glasgow from 19th August- 24th August.

Getting excited for December 2019 at the end of December 2018 seems a little premature but I really, really love We Will Rock You. It's a show I've seen many times and I am aware that it is utter nonsense but it just makes me happy. I'm thrilled that it will be the Christmas show at the Theatre Royal next year from 9th December- 28th December.

Honourable mentions also go to my Edfringe favourites What Girls Are Made Of and My Left Right Foot which are returning in 2019. The Glasgow Comedy Festival kicks off in March and already has an incredible line-up with more to be added. There are also a bunch of performers and companies that I have a sneaky suspicion are returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August and I'm already exhausted thinking about how I'm going to fit them all in!

Photo credit: Andy Ross

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