FOR the London theatre scene, 2023 began with trepidation. The Arts Council had recently withdrawn funding from some of its most iconic theatres, and ticket prices — already prohibitively high for a population still recovering from the pandemic and facing a deepening cost-of-living crisis — looked set to soar.

It is not for nothing, though, that London is feted as the theatre capital of the world, having this year played to packed houses across a staggering range of venues large and small.  

One big hit of the year has been James Graham’s Dear England, first at the Olivier, now at the Prince Edward. Starring Joseph Fiennes as England football manager Gareth Southgate and directed by Rupert Goold, the play captures the full beating heart of a country struggling to re-establish its identity and prowess. It’s a joy and pulls in whole new audiences.