Over the last few days Civilian Theatre has been counting down their Top 10 plays of 2013. The decision making process to find a top 10 was difficult enough to begin with, and there were at least five or six plays that were edged out in the end. It was a surprise to discover that Coriolanus – thoroughly enjoyable – did not get close and even David Tennant in Richard II was edged out; a particularly hard call given it sees one of my favourite verse-speakers meet one of my favourite plays by Shakespeare. A mention should also go to Harriet Walter – superb in a brave all-female production of Julius Caesar and the best Brutus that I have seen on stage, but with enough overall flaws to edge it out of contention.
But a reminder of what we have seen already
10) The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui – Chichester Festival and Duchess Theatre
09) Ubu Roi – Cheek By Jowl at the Barbican’s Silk Street Theatre
08) Macbeth – Trafalgar Transformed at the Trafalgar Studios
07) Mydidae – Trafalgar Studios
06) Othello – Olivier Stage at the National Theatre