Olivia Davey's Dress Circle
Olivia Davey has seen 29 shows and has 29 shows on their FollowSpot
Hello! I'm Olivia, and everyone knows me as a huge Les Mis and Dean Chisnall fan. I'm also currently training to become a professional stage manager :)
1
Les Misรฉrables
Now Playing
Les Misรฉrables
Now PlayingAbsolute perfection! My favourite show. Everything about it is incredible, from the music and story to the set and costumes. I've seen it 32 times now - it never gets old.
I miss the original production! While the new production is brilliant, and some aspects are definitely improved, a few moments like Enjolras' death have less impact and the lack of a revolve means that scene changes aren't as smooth now.
2

It's Les Mis again, what's not to like! I loved the focus on the music, especially moments when the orchestra got highlighted more than usual so they could be really appreciated.
Some weak casting, like Michael Ball who didn't suit Javert at all, and just the fact it isn't the complete show - a few unusual cuts of iconic moments, like Gavroche's individual death, were made.
3
The Phantom of the Opera
Now Playing
The Phantom of the Opera
Now PlayingAn absolutely phenomenal show. The set and costume designs are incredible, with moments like Masquerade and the rising and falling of the chandelier being obvious highlights. I adore the music, and the story and character development are so brilliant that they keep you invested the whole time. A classic that deserves its place in the West End.
I couldn't understand what was being sung sometimes, especially when multiple characters were singing at the same time (like in the Notes songs), making it difficult to keep up with certain elements of the story.
4

Just phenomenal, there's a reason this show has stayed so popular for so long. The story is engaging and so well thought out, it makes you laugh one minute then cry the next. You feel like you get to know the characters so well across the length of the show.
Most of the songs are great, but others are more forgettable. I love Shoes Upon The Table, but it appears so often throughout the show that it can start to feel a bit boring and repetitive by the end.
5

I love this show so much! There isn't one bad or forgettable song, it's just amazing song after amazing song. The current production at the Gielgud Theatre is one of the best shows to hit London in years, it's unbelievably high quality with a fantastic production design and outstanding cast. The story is a great mix of fun and emotional, with hilarious characters like Fagin balanced with more serious moments (especially in Act 2).
Genuinely can't think of anything - it's a classic for a reason!
6
Matilda the Musical
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Matilda the Musical
Now PlayingI adore this show! Some incredibly catchy songs, clever lyrics, and a beautiful story. It's also very funny (Telly is such a highlight) and the casts, both kids and adults, are always outstanding.
A few strobe lights that are a bit too intense, especially since they point directly at the audience.
7
Hamilton
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Hamilton
Now PlayingSo cleverly written, some brilliant songs, and an impressive show to watch - especially when it comes to the choreography of all the dancing segments and the lighting design. An amazing experience on the front row, it's so full on in a great way!
A confusing plot at times, especially in Act 2 when the focus shifts more to politics. A few pacing issues, some sections are boring and seem to drag on while others move way too fast.
8

This show absolutely blew me away! The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production has one of my favourite production designs of any show, as well as fantastic choreography. I adore the songs, and it has so much constant energy that makes it so exciting to watch. The actors always have insane vocals!
The story is very difficult to follow, plot points aren't made that clear.
9

So much fun! An absolute joy to watch with fantastic music and energetic choreography.
A bit cheesy (but that's probably why it's so fun), and I thought the story moved too fast so I quickly got confused the first time I saw it.
10

One of the most joyous, upbeat shows I've ever seen! I came out of the theatre with the biggest smile on my face. The songs are incredibly catchy, the dialogue is funny, and it has everything that makes the original cartoon so fun.
A few of the songs are forgettable, and there are some references to the original cartoon that those who have never watched it won't get - but as a big fan of SpongeBob I loved these!
11
Back to the Future: The Musical
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Back to the Future: The Musical
Now PlayingThis show is fantastic - so much fun, likeable characters, and hilarious from start to finish. It's one of the most visually and technically impressive shows I've seen, all the moments with the DeLorean are amazing to watch. I really appreciate how faithful it is to the classic original film.
Some songs are a bit generic and forgettable.
12

Such an incredible show! The stagecraft is some of the most impressive I've ever seen - the set, lighting, props, costumes, and choreography are all amazing. The story is predictable at times, but it's still fun and heart-warming nonetheless. Plus, there are plenty of fantastic songs like 'Step In Time'.
It was quite obvious how some of the illusions were done when sat on the front row, but this would be less of an issue if sat further back and it is a kids show so you can't complain too much.
13

A beautiful show! It made me cry multiple times, and the story is incredibly heartwarming. I love the simplicity of its production design (especially Howell Binkley's incredible lighting), and how you get to know the characters so well across the show despite there being so many of them and it being less than 2 hours in length.
It's so short! Although I respect the fact that this means it doesn't drag on, they tell the story they want to without any waffle or irrelevant detours.
14
Jersey Boys
Now Playing
Jersey Boys
Now PlayingThe execution of this show is perfect, in the way they tell what is a really interesting story and respect each band member's legacy. The set and lighting design are phenomenal (some of the best in theatre history in my opinion), and of course the music is amazing, especially with such talented casts performing it.
Except for getting lost with the story a couple of times, I can't think of anything!
15

I enjoyed this show for the most part. Obviously the songs were a highlight, but other elements like the choreography and lighting design were brilliant too. The fact that there's only 6 actors in the entire show is so impressive, they all do so much!
The insane amount of multi-rolling did get a bit confusing at times, and some elements of the story could have been explained in more detail so things made more sense. I also didn't appreciate how they encouraged the audience to sing along mid-show, as this made them more rowdy.
16

A great show from start to finish. Some really catchy songs, enjoyable choreography, and an insanely talented London cast. The story was fascinating, I learnt so much about a band I didn't know anything about before going in!
I feel like they could've done so much more in regards to the set design. The stage often felt empty and bland, without backgrounds or set pieces to make it more visually interesting. It would've been nice to have the musicians on stage for more of the show, since they are so important for the whole feel and the music.
17

A tight, polished show with some fantastic songs and brilliant choreography. The recent UK touring production feels fresh and up-to-date. I loved the fact that the orchestra were on stage the whole time and included so much in the show!
Act 1 felt a lot like a concert, I didn't like how much characters addressed the audience and how little interaction there was between them on stage. However, Act 2 did improve upon this a lot.
18
Guys and Dolls
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Guys and Dolls
Now PlayingA fun, enjoyable show with some fantastic songs and entertaining characters. The recent production at the Bridge Theatre felt fresh, upbeat, and up-to-date.
The story isn't the best, just a bit generic, but it's obviously not what this show really wants to focus on. It's quite a long show, and felt like it dragged on at times. I wasn't a fan of being in the immersive standing pit at the Bridge production - my view was obscured by other audience members, and I was constantly distracted by theatre staff moving the audience around that I ended up feeling like I missed a lot of the show.
19

Another hit for Mischief Theatre! Even funnier than The Play That Goes Wrong, and it has all the charm of that show but with added musical moments that just make it a joy to watch.
It closed way too soon! It's heartbreaking that it never got to properly finish its West End run.
20
The Play That Goes Wrong
Now Playing
The Play That Goes Wrong
Now PlayingAbsolutely hilarious! It's so fast-paced and full of energy. I love how it's different every time you see it thanks to all the improvised moments!
The story got lost on me a bit because there's so much other stuff going on, so I was confused at times, but it really doesn't matter nor affect your overall enjoyment of the show.
21

I love this show, so funny from start to finish with not only the scripted elements but all the improvisation and audience interaction too. The magic is genuinely impressive, and you just sit there with a smile on your face the whole time excited to see what will come next.
It didn't bother me personally, but if you don't like audience participation don't go and see this show (and definitely don't sit in the stalls or write down a 'secret' before the show) because there is a lot of it.
22

Mischief just can't make a bad show! This one is hilarious (I cried laughing at one point), fast-paced, and has a really cleverly used set. A lot of moments took me by surprise but were amazing, like the underwater sequence. I appreciated how they developed the characters more compared to The Play That Goes Wrong and made them feel more real (especially Max).
I don't think there's a great balance in terms of who the jokes are aimed at - one minute there were jokes aimed at adults with swearing and the next they were very kid-friendly, which just didn't feel right.
23

One of the most unique concepts for a show out there, making for one of the most entertaining! The idea of having unrehearsed audience members onstage made for some hilarious moments, but the core script for the show itself was funny as well. It was chaotic in the best way!
I found the director to be quite an unlikeable character, with some of the things he directed to the audience being a bit mean - this is obviously how the character is meant to be, but for me it spoilt the fun a bit. Also, I really didn't want to be taken up on stage so was sat there stressing the whole time that I would be chosen. If you don't like audience interaction, this really isn't the show for you!
24

A fascinating story that kept me hooked the entire time, told by an impeccable cast all round. The lighting and sound design were incredible, and it has a great balance of funny and emotional moments.
It got quite confusing at times, with the constant jumping back and forth between present day and flashbacks. The founding of the NHS (one of the most interesting parts of the story) was only really delved into at the end, which meant it felt rushed and had less impact.
25
Starlight Express
Now Playing
Starlight Express
Now PlayingA fun, high energy show with some good songs and a really diverse range of characters - the new Hydrogen train, Hydra, and his song were definitely my favourite part! The production design of the current Wembley production is incredible, and highly immersive no matter where you are sat.
It is heavily geared towards kids, so the plot is bland and predictable - a lot of the show felt like it dragged on for me. Additionally, some of the songs are boring and don't have the best lyrics.
26

A really interesting, well crafted piece of theatre! So nice to have a totally original British musical for once because you don't get many of those now. A beautiful, emotional story and the minimal set was cleverly used. Also a fantastic cast - seeing the director Julie Atherton as Alex was amazing!
The songs, while good, were forgettable and all sounded similar. There were constant time shifts back and forth, which did mean I got lost at times, but it was generally done in a way that wasn't confusing.
27

A pretty good show. I was in awe of the stagecraft - how they managed to create so much tension and suspense with such simple lighting and sound design was impressive. I love how they've kept the original production design for so long!
At times I thought the story was a bit difficult to follow, especially with all the multi-rolling. I'm also not the biggest fan of plays, and it wasn't that scary in my opinion, so I found it a bit boring.
28
Standing at the Skyโs Edge
Now Playing
Standing at the Skyโs Edge
Now PlayingStarted as a good show, with more upbeat songs like Time Is and Standing At The Sky's Edge being the highlights. The set and lighting designs are brilliant. There is some good character development, and an interesting mix of characters.
It felt very repetitive - the structure for the entire show is pretty much dialogue, one character starts singing a song, other characters join in to finish singing that song, then back to dialogue over and over again. Act 2 was incredibly slow, and most of the plot points were predictable. This, combined with a lot of slow songs, meant I found most of the show boring. Act 1 was definitely much better and faster-paced.
29

The recent Leicester Curve production is brilliantly designed, and the cast were very talented.
I really didn't like this show, and found it incredibly boring. There isn't much of a plot, it's just different actors singing about their lives so it felt like hardly anything happened in almost two hours. A few of the songs are more upbeat, but in general they're tired, generic, and outdated. Pretty much none of the jokes landed for me.
What is this?
This is Olivia Davey's Dress Circle, A list of shows they've seen in order of preference, use this as a guide for what you should see or why not get involved?




