Back to what we do best, this year has been a highlight reel to remember. Read on to see our top 10 moments of 2022.

It wasn’t built in a day

After a momentous year launching the refurbished all-day destination, Theatre Royal Drury Lane won The Stage award for Theatre Building of the Year. And what a theatre; it took over 75,000 construction days, 10 acres of paint, several kilos of gold leaf, 265 tons of steelwork, 1 acre of carpet, 750km of cabling, £60million, and a global pandemic, to get it open.

Now this is heavy!

Awards season came and our shows received a plethora of noms. And GREAT SCOTT, it was April of this year when the Olivier Awards returned and our very own Back to the Future: The Musical won the award for Best New Musical.

Whilst we have you, LW Theatres shows have 9 nominations in the WhatsOnStage awards. Vote for us here.

Three, that’s the magic number

Critically-acclaimed, award-winning and all the superlatives were used to describe The Lehman Trilogy, the play that was announced to return to the West End in its new home, the GIllian Lynne Theatre, from January 2023. Directed by Sam Mendes, the show is set to star Michael Balogun, Hadley Fraser and Nigel Lindsay.

Dance Fever

The ever-ethereal return of Florence and the Machine was long overdue and her comeback was kicked off with a live show at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. A packed out auditorium swooned and swayed as Florence Welch bellowed classics including Kiss with a Fist, Cosmic Love and Dog Days Are Over.

Photo credit: Parri Thomas for NME

A rip-roaring production

It may have been the summer, but that didn’t stop us opening the doors to the magical, wintery land of Narnia with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We said hello to Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they switched wartime Britain for a talking Faun, an unforgettable Lion and the coldest, cruellest White Witch.

Don’t think twice, it’s all right

Adorned with a golden curtain and an illuminated stage, The London Palladium played host to four nights with the legendary Bob Dylan. The crowd were treated to reworked versions of songs and Dylan was on top form on the keys and harmonica.

Follow the yellow brick road

The news flew and landed smack dab in the West End: the Curve’s brand-new production of The Wizard of Oz was going to make its way to The London Palladium. From the same producer of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, there will be no place like home, come summer 2023.

Who could ask for anything more?

Hot off the heels of their smash-hit, sold-out Chichester Festival Theatre production, Crazy For You was revealed to be transferring to the Gillian Lynne Theatre. It’s set to be overflowing with glorious Gershwin melodies and is what The Guardian promises to leave you “giddy”.

A beautiful day

It was the middle of November when Bono was “forsaking the stadium for The London Palladium” with a show that he’s never quite done before. A departure from live gigs with his U2 bandmates, Stories of Surrender was part memoir, part pared-down performance. But it was all fascinating to witness.

Photo credit: Ross Andrew Stewart

A partnership that’s not just for Christmas

In December, we launched an official charity partnership with War Child, to support children in conflict zones. Rooted in a joint heritage of world class music and theatre, the connection to the charity will raise awareness and funds for a good cause.

Take a trip down memory lane and read top 10 LW Theatres moments of 2021 here.