1. A Streetcar Named Desire
Almeida, London; January
Rebecca Frecknall’s transporting production, with a tinderbox Paul Mescal, fascinating Anjana Vasan and marvellous Patsy Ferran, parachuted into the lead role at a few days’ notice.
2. Phaedra
Lyttelton, London; February
Simon Stone’s galvanic reimagining of a classic drama. Among a magnificent cast – including Janet McTeer and Paul Chahidi – teenager Archie Barnes highlighted one of the year’s most cheering aspects: the surge in gifted young actors. The RSC’s Hamnet featured exceptional performances from Ajani Cabey, Alex Jarrett and Harmony Rose-Bremner as Shakespeare’s children. In The Effect, Taylor Russell made a strong stage debut alongside an incandescent Paapa Essiedu.
