Pocket Picks: Best Shows of 2021

Here at Pocket Size Theatre, we are lucky enough to see some wonderful shows; some entertaining, some mindblowing, some beautiful and even some life-changing. We've accumulated a list of our top-rated shows from 2021, what a year it's been! Take a look at our list and start thinking of your theatrical highlights and share them with us on Twitter! @PocketSizeBlog

A quick note, even though these are our top shows of the year, we applaud and would like to congratulate every single person involved in putting on ANY show this year. It's been another tough year for our industry and anyone who provides entertainment and live theatre is a hero. You're amazing! 

SIX at the Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★

"Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s choreography is slick and on and there are no words for how marvellous Gabriella Slade’s out of this world costumes are. The musical is aimed at a younger audience; with bright lights, confetti, glittery outfits and modern references- which makes you feel like you’re seeing a girl band live rather than sat in a history lesson. The best of both worlds! The Queens are sarcastic and feisty in their comic delivery, and SIX has that kind of self-awareness that holds onto the element of intimacy that I would imagine wowed the very first audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe 4 years ago."

Click here to read the full review

Magic Goes Wrong at the Apollo Theatre ★★★★★

"They have the perfect recipe to appeal to and entertain any member of the public. I think you would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t smile at least once throughout a Mischief Comedy production. If you are looking to escape the challenges of reality for a few hours, then rush to buy a ticket for this show. Treat yourself to an evening of truly joyous tomfoolery and talent; I can assure you; you won’t regret this magical treat!"

Click here to read the full review 

REVIEW: Doctor Who: Time Fracture at UNIT HQ

It's hard to describe how wonderful this immersive adventure is without a few spoilers (so you are warned) but as this is an experience that benefits from multiple visits a little explanation may even make first-time visitors get more out of the trip through time. To start with you don’t have to be a Dr Who nut to enjoy this although they will get extra kicks from the Easter eggs and references. To get the full deep dive into the adventure you do need to be someone who has enjoyed Secret Cinema or is prepared to get involved in the narrative. Having said that with all immersive shows you can still enjoy a visit as a bystander at the bar or observing others in a gentle dance with the cast while you admire the sheer scale and complexity of the production.

In the Prologue, we meet Dr Harry Sullivan (Paul Croft in a wild white wig) who sets the scene and explains we have been selected by the Doctor to assist in saving the Universe from the consequences of a Time Fracture traced to 1942 and warned about levels of Chronon and Arton energy, forms of radiation in Quantum Physics before being introduced to the UNIT scientists in Lab coats and torches in HQ. They ramp up the energy as they explain the nature of the Time Fracture and uncertainty about when in time the explosion that caused it occurred. The set for this scene is extraordinary with many screens with different videos running, sudden light changes and several very good surprises. Are we brave enough to follow the missing Sergeant Robert Dudley (and if the name rings a bell, you are already on the right track!) through the Time Fracture? Since our first visit, this scene setter has been tightened up into a very good dramatic explanation of the journey ahead of us. First-time visitors listen carefully, although they do say things more than once.

REVIEW: Doctor Who: Time Fracture at ImmersiveLdn / UNIT HQ

Immersive Everywhere have created the world of Doctor Who under the pavements of the West End. Located near Bond Street, Time Fracture is the latest project from a cultural institution; the most famous time-traveller in history! 

Before I delve into this review, I feel the need to make a few disclaimers: 

Firstly, I am a massive nerd and very proud of the fact. I have been a Doctor Who (and Torchwood… and Sarah Jane Adventures… and Class) fan since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. So I make absolutely no apologies for being utterly awe-struck by this production. Secondly, I will follow in River’s footsteps (you were warned in the first disclaimer!) and avoid spoilers. With that in mind, I may end up talking in riddles slightly! 

The immersive experience begins from the moment you’ve had your temperature taken outside UNIT HQ. UNIT (Unified Intelligence Taskforce) soldiers are there to ‘greet’ us before we are ushered inside and given a briefing by their boss. We are told that we are volunteers, recommended by The Doctor, who have come to save all of time and space. A bomb was dropped during the blitz and it has created fractures in time which we are here to investigate and, hopefully, fix. As we stepped out of the briefing room and into the beating, beeping, whirring heart of UNIT, I was blown away by the production values. The huge room is kitted out like a mission control centre at NASA. We are passed around various lab-coated doctors and given more information about the time fracture. Eventually, we plucky scientists are thrust through the fracture and end up in some remarkable worlds.