8. SEE A SPELLBINDING SHOW

The season of the spectacle is upon us. Here are our top theatre picks

The skyline of theatreland in London’s West End has changed: the Grade-ii listed Shaftesbury Theatre (above), built in 1911, now has a dramatic weathered steel fly tower (the structure above the stage from which scenery, lights and props are dropped onto set) atop its original red-brick façade, by Bennetts Associates. Now showing? The all-singing, all-dancing Motown: The Musical, which charts the careers of Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross (until October 2017; shaftesburytheatre.com). Also in London, Hans Christian Anderson’s famous tales are showcased in two strikingly different ways. Choreographer supremo Matthew Bourne’s brand new adaptation of Red Shoes at Sadler’s Wells promises to astound with costume and set design by the awardwinning Lez Brotherston (6 December–29 January 2017; sadlerswells.com). At the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, The Little Matchgirl will be a fairytale match for its atmospheric candlelit stage (24 November–22 January 2017; shakespearesglobe.com).