Feature: Faye Elder looks back on 2025 and writing for ET
We all know this time of year is about looking back at the past twelve months, and for reveiwers, well, it’s a chance to remind ourselves what was so great about the year, and maybe pat ourselves on the back for all our efforts.
Starting today we will be publishing the thoughts of some of our team about the last year and (hopefully) why they have loved writing for us – although you never know, there might be a resignation letter included somewhere, you’ll have to come back each day to check.
We start today with Fayer Elder, who has just completed her first full year with us after joining the team in August 2024.
I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing twenty-one theatre shows this year. Whilst I always wish I could see more, it’s been a year of theatre where I’ve tried to explore a wider range of genres. I usually opt for plays concerning political or experimental subjects but I’ve also thrown some dance, stand up comedy and Shakespeare into the mix.
This has largely been a great year for fringe theatre and I’ve been able to see some absolutely fabulous shows. A production that I’ve been unable to get out of my head since seeing it back in April is Dick at Drayton Arms Theatre. I tend to avoid emotionally upsetting plays but I’m so glad I took the chance on this one. Maybe because I related to the characters, given I’m at a similar point in life, or that the writing was so good I wanted to switch my literature brain on and analyse it, Dick. is my favourite production of the year. I’m too thrilled to see it went on to have a much deserved run at Riverside Studio.
Coming in at a very close second is Hot Mess at Lion and Unicorn as part of Camden Fringe. Georgia Polly-Taylor is fabulous in this one woman show. Both disgustingly glamorous and hilariously funny, her persona of Hot Mess shows a great ability to fuse a variety of genres. Being its first run, it should be a hit when it lands (hopefully) at Edinburgh Fringe next year. Though I know it won’t appeal to all, for those of us able to shed the seriousness of theatre and indulge in off the wall shenanigans, it’s a show with a very bright future.
Another shift in genre brings me to my final pick. Visiting The Other Place for the first time allowed me to have the pleasure of seeing Florence. Another one woman show (the women are killing it in theatre this year) it again displays brilliant acting and writing. Another relatable one for those of us struggling to survive working in the art world, Florence evokes a contemporary spin on a Shakespearean like tragi-comedy.
For some special mentions, political plays that I thoroughly enjoyed include Lessons on Revolution and Londongrad. Lessons on Revolution combined documentary and theatre in a fascinating way at another new venue for me, Jermyn Street Theatre. Londongrad, a political comedy that satirised the current geopolitical climate, was laugh out loud funny. And finally, Crocodile Fever at the Arcola left my jaw wide open in shock for actually going there in its final twist (shout out to the props department).
The London theatre scene has outdone itself this year and yet again shows the diversity of plays on offer.
