1. Evita (London Palladium)

Rachel Zegler performs Don’t Cry For Me Argentina from the balcony outside the London Palladium during Evita

Rachel Zegler lit up the West End and turbo-charged her reputation with her UK stage debut in Jamie Lloyd’s pulsate revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s beloved bio-musical about Eva Perón. The whole show, with its full-on choreography and stripped-back aesthetic, was a knock-out but Zegler’s nightly mid-show rendition of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina from the Palladium’s outdoor balcony, captured live and projected inside, was Lloyd’s masterstroke – giving us real-time evidence of Evita’s artful capacity to manipulate the masses. Exuding self-possession, and incredible vocal heft, Zegler danced through the infectious numbers while remaining the most transfixing doing the least. An all-time great revival; and a star turn like no other.

2. Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)

Another brave night from Jamie Lloyd. Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston proved a hoot as stand-offish rivals Beatrice and Benedick in an exposed, self-aware stage world that felt as if Shakespeare had been crossed with a carnival. Lloyd’s boldest stroke was a sustained shower of pink confetti, chiming with the play’s tragicomic mix of giddiness and autumnal sadness. Hiddleston’s game contribution included cringe disco moves and even a cardboard Loki cutout. The gulling sequence was as funny as any, with Hiddleston rolling upstage before getting submerged beneath a giant inflatable love-heart. Atwell insinuated deep wounds and real pain, attesting to top-tier talent.