Theatre Trips I Enjoyed in 2023

Theatre Trips I Enjoyed in 2023

By Kate O’Brien 

Live theatre, is anything more special? If you have been following me for a while then you already know that a night out at the theatre is my perfect night out! It is definitely a pricier treat, but I think it is absolutely worth the splurge. I’ve never regretted a night at the theatre. 

Last year I was incredibly lucky as I got to see so many shows, and I happily gave myself some extra treats because I missed being able to go to live shows when everything was closed. 2023 was not quite so busy, however I have still been incredibly fortunate because I’ve been able to see some fabulous shows this year. 

It is that time of year where I’m starting to reflect and round up before publishing my 2023 Literature Lover Inspired Gift Guide … so without further ado, here are the Theatre Trips that I Enjoyed in 2023! 

I have been to five live shows this year, soon to be six as I am counting down the days until I go to The Gaiety Panto! I am dying to see Cinderella. I know it will be so festive and lots of fun. It is the start of my festive season and our night out at the panto will kick off my Christmas tidings. Keep an eye out because I’ll be publishing a review asap … I’m really looking forward to embracing the magic and wonder. 

Let’s rewind to February of this year. I had the pleasure of seeing Blood Brothers in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. I adore Blood Brothers. It is my absolute favourite show. It is simply a masterpiece. It is so striking. The music, the story, the phenomenal cast, who I have had the pleasure of seeing twice now during this run … I cannot say enough good things about Blood Brothers. Funny, witty, poignant, and heartbreaking. It is a must see show. This show gets a special mention because I have been lucky enough to have seen the amazing Sean Jones as Mickey four times now. He is an incredible actor, and I just want to take a moment to give him a special mention. He has been playing the role of Mickey for twenty-three years, and I’ve heard and read different things about this being his last tour. So if I got to see him during his last run of this role, that is amazing, and I feel very lucky that I got to see him play this part more than once. 

This show means a lot to me. I studied it thoroughly during my final year in drama classes, and in many ways I credit Blood Brothers for helping me develop a deep appreciation for the arts, an appreciation that has led to so much of my current studies and work … What Sean Jones does in act two of this show, the way he has the audience in the palm of his hands, the way he has everybody paying attention in utter silence, it was stunning to witness. Blood Brothers is a show that I will never miss. If you have the opportunity to go and see it, don’t walk, run. 

In March we went on a lovely trip to London where we saw The Phantom of the Opera. 

We had a ball in London. We explored Soho, went to see one of the homes of Charles Dickens, and we went to see the notorious opera ghost at Her Majesty’s Theatre. This show is beautiful. It is a true spectacle from the lavish costumes to the sweeping score, and of course there is the matter of a falling chandelier. The staging of this show is simply beautiful, and the attention to detail is something to behold. We had a ball. I’d highly recommend this show if you’re looking for a treat in the West End. 

The third and final musical we went to see in 2023 was Dirty Dancing The Musical! This show dazzled at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. It was sexy, steamy, electric, and so much fun! Ideal for those who love the movie, but want a fabulous night out. The stage was exploding with talent as the wonderful dancers lit up the stage. We all know the story, we all know the love affair, we all know the unforgettable score, and of course the famous lines. Am I going to say it? You bet! We had the time of our lives. Dirty Dancing is a must see onstage! I’m so thrilled that we went to see it. 

This year we also got to attend two live concerts. The Rock Orchestra performed in the Helix and we went to a Candlelight Concert in St. Andrew’s Parish Church. The very talented Avoca String Quartet performed a tribute to The Beatles. 

Both evenings were absolutely fantastic. There is nothing like the sound of a live orchestra/live instruments echoing through the halls. Personally I am a big fan of the strings. It was brilliant to hear songs we know and love played by an incredibly talented group of musicians. The Rock Orchestra was a mix of instrumental and vocal performances, whereas the Candlelight Concert was strictly instrumental, but we thoroughly enjoyed both evenings out. 

I would highly recommend concerts like this if you’re trying to decide on the perfect date night activity, or if you’re looking for a fun, musical night out with friends or family. The tickets were reasonably priced and we enjoyed every second. The Candlelight Concert in particular was visually stunning too. The name may give it away, but the entire venue was filled with flameless candles. So the atmosphere was just gorgeous. It made for a perfect night. 

Tickets to shows like this would also make a great gift for music lovers… but I’ll be talking more about ideal gifts in my Literature Lover Inspired Gift Guide very soon. 

Make sure you’re following me on Instagram @katelovesliterature for all updates about what is #comingupnext 

I am ready for the festivities to begin. Roll on December!