Waiting in the wings #LoveTheatreDay

Posted on Nov 18, 2020 | By Sarah Gengenbach (Updated on Oct 1, 2025)

When I first stepped on stage in school and local community theatre, I never imagined how much it would shape my life. The lessons I learned under the spotlight stayed with me - helping me through university debates, awkward poetry readings, and even a year-long stint in the scene shop. Later, when I found myself teaching in a foreign country, I realised just how invaluable those theatre skills were: confidence, quick thinking, and the ability to tell a story.

But more than what theatre taught me, it has always been a constant source of joy. This past year away from it reminded me just how much I’ve missed sitting in a darkened auditorium, waiting for the lights to dim and the overture to begin. Streaming services like Netflix and YouTube have been a blessing, but they can’t replace the magic of live theatre.

I’ve been lucky to see shows across New York, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Cologne, and Prague. I’ve queued in the rain, taken a seat alone at the interval, and even sat through a play in a foreign language when the surtitles broke. Those small frustrations now feel like treasures—because they’re part of the theatre experience I long for.

Now, as the West End shines brightly once again, I’m planning my return with a “theatre tasting tour.” I’ll be revisiting classics like Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre and Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre, while finally catching the newer productions I’ve promised myself for too long - like Six at the Vaudeville Theatre and Disney’s Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Of course, I’ll also be heading back to long-running favourites like The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, because some shows are simply unmissable no matter how many times you’ve seen them.

This year outside the theatre has reminded me of everything I’ve missed and everything I still want to see. Once I’m back in my seat, programme in hand, you’ll know exactly where to find me - waiting for the curtain to rise.