Live performance has always been more than just a night out for me. It’s comfort, escapism, nostalgia, and occasionally full of surprise, sometimes all at once. There’s something special about being in a theatre or standing in a crowd at a gig that you simply don’t get from watching at home. Yes, it may be warmer on the sofa, and you could argue the view of Glastonbury might even be better on TV, but what about the atmosphere?
Looking back at 2025, I realise just how lucky I’ve been in the number of shows and concerts I’ve attended. Some were planned, others were last-minute, and there have been more than a few that I never quite got around to writing full blog posts about.
In total, I saw eight theatre productions and nine live bands during the year, so here’s a look back at some of my favourite moments.
🎭 My Top Theatre Shows of 2025
My Top 5 (…ish)
- Mary Poppins
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow
- Starlight Express
- Guitar Heroes / An Evening with Tim Rice
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Ok, so that’s technically six shows, but narrowing it down was harder than expected, especially given how varied they all were.
With the exception of the two shows at number four, the main reason these productions made my top five comes down to sheer spectacle.
I’ve written a full blog about Mary Poppins, but it deserves another mention here. Beyond my love of the story, I was completely blown away by the scale of the production, the constantly shifting set pieces and, of course, the unforgettable moment where Mary flies out over the audience.
As a huge Stranger Things fan, I was fascinated to see how it would translate to the stage, and it absolutely didn’t disappoint. From the opening ship sequence to some impressively gory effects, I was hooked throughout. At nearly three hours long, it’s a substantial watch, and once you’ve accepted the small, not-particularly-comfortable seats, the runtime flies by.
Starlight Express reminded me just how much a show’s success can depend on its production choices. After seeing a touring version where the races were largely shown on screens, I had little desire to revisit it. However, the reimagined London production completely changed my mind. Seeing a “proper” version performed on skates was thrilling, and rediscovering the music again was a real joy.
Number four was impossible to separate. Guitar Heroes took the audience on a loose journey through the history of guitar-based rock, with an excellent band performing iconic songs along the way. The highlight was undoubtedly the moment when all four musicians played Pinball Wizard on a single guitar which was genuinely impressive stuff.
In contrast, listening to Sir Tim Rice talk through the origins of some of the most famous musical theatre songs (many of which are personal favourites) was utterly captivating. You could happily listen to him talk all night.
Rounding out the list is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I’ve always loved the Narnia stories, and this cleverly staged production captured their magic beautifully. I’ve written more detailed thoughts about it elsewhere on this blog, but it fully deserved its place here.
😐 Most Disappointing Theatre Moments
Ghost Stories and Bat Out of Hell
I’d never seen Ghost Stories on stage before, but I had seen, and really enjoyed, the film. The stage version runs straight through without an interval, which is unusual, but unfortunately it’s almost beat-for-beat identical to the film. I was hoping for new moments or surprises, but knowing every twist in advance meant none of the scares really landed. It all felt rather flat.
Bat Out of Hell was disappointing this time mainly because it’s lost so much of its original spectacle. I first saw it in London, and later on a previous tour where some cuts had already been made. This version strips things back even further, leaving the show feeling disjointed and unsure whether it wants to be a musical or a tribute concert.
The iconic bike explosion at the end of Act One, for example which was one of the most jaw-dropping moments I’ve ever seen on stage, had been reduced to a couple of confetti cannons. Other memorable moments, like the pool scene and the car crashing into the orchestra pit, were also gone. Add in the cast using handheld microphones, and quieter moments start to feel awkward rather than intimate. I wouldn’t rush to see it again in its current form, although a reimagined, more spectacular version might tempt me back.
🤔 Weirdest Theatre Moment
The Great Fire of Northampton
This was billed as a celebration of the town’s resilience, community spirit, and the Great Fire of 1675. Beyond some linking narration from the host, the hour-long show had very little connection to the event itself.
Instead, it featured community dance groups dressed in American cheerleader-style outfits performing to an eclectic, and baffling, playlist that included Listen by Beyoncé, We Like to Party by the Vengaboys, and Tomorrow from Annie. A father-and-daughter duet of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now was followed by a finale featuring From Now On from The Greatest Showman.
It would have been far more engaging to see the story of the fire told through characters from the period. As it was, the whole thing felt like a random mish-mash, closer to an end-of-term school concert than a historical commemoration.
🎶 My Top Concerts of 2025
- Roger Daltrey
- McFly
- Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Each of these I loved all for very different reasons, from legendary status to pure crowd-pleasing joy.
1. Roger Daltrey
Seeing Roger Daltrey live surrounded by the beautiful Audley End estate felt genuinely special. Even though I’d seen him before with bandmate Pete Townshend as The Who, there’s something wonderful about watching an artist with such a long and influential career still command a stage with confidence and authority. I also loved the mix of songs from Who classics, his solo career, and some of his personal favourites from other artists with the anecdotes along the way.
2. McFly
I knew seeing McFly at Bedford Summer Sessions would be good, from seeing them but they were even better than that, delivering exactly what you’d hope for – energy, warmth, and a crowd that was fully invested from the opening song to the encore. There were plenty of big singalong moments and a real sense of joy reminding everyone just how many well-loved songs they have. It was one of those gigs where you leave smiling, slightly hoarse, and in a genuinely good mood.
3. Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Jeff Lynne’s ELO felt like a masterclass in how to present a back catalogue properly. Whilst it was a shame Jeff had an injury so couldn’t play the guitar as usual, the rest of the production was slick and the songs sounded as rich and polished live as you’d hope. ELO had been on my bucket list of acts I wanted to see live, so this was another tick with a performance that didn’t disappoint.
Elsewhere, I also got to see Supergrass supported by The Coral, Cast and Ocean Colour Scene supporting Roger Daltrey, and Stereophonics supported by Blossoms.
Most disappointing concert moment
Stereophonics and Blossoms at Sandringham
While the setting promised something memorable, the overall experience was a disappointment and its not the fault of the bands. Both Stereophonics and Blossoms put on a great performance as you’d come to expect from them. This was purely down to the organisers mis-management of overcrowding and layout of the space.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, 2025 was a year where I was very lucky in seeing lots of big names performing live. From big touring productions to intimate live music moments, each night was memorable and special. Roll on 2026.
