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123 twitter accounts every theatregoer should be following

Struggling to find stagey twitter accounts to bolster your timeline? This guide is just what you need

Just joined twitter and looking for some stagey folks to follow? Or maybe you've been on the site since that little blue bird first cracked out of it's egg? Either way, if you're a theatre lover you really should be following the 'tweeps' below.


Actors

All these accounts and more can be found on our twitter 'Actors' list here.

— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) October 31, 2014

1. @WVerkaik – Willemijn Verkaik has recently hung up her broom after playing Elphaba in three different languages. She's soon to appear in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at the Playhouse Theatre.
2. @killiandonnelly – Currently wowing audiences as Huey in Memphis, Killian is partial to the odd selfie.
3. @Beverleyknight – Playing opposite Killian is the wonderful Beverley Knight, who has a suprising interest in Mixed Martial Arts.
4. @gorachelleann – With a blue tick and 1.8 million followers, saying Miss Saigon star Rachelle Ann Go is popular is a bit of an understatement.
5. @SamanthaBarks – Eponine on stage and screen and soon to be seen in City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse.
6. @racheltucker1 – Former Elphaba, currently starring in Sting's The Last Ship in NYC and co-artistic director of new Penge venue, the Bridge House Theatre along with husband Guy Retallack.
7. @CynthiaEriVo – Arguably one of the most sought after performers on the West End, Cynthia has recently been seen in The Color Purple, I Can't Sing and Dessa Rose and is currently treading the Donmar boards in Henry IV.
8. @KevinSpacey – He may be on his way out of the Old Vic, but I think it's safe to say that we can expect to see at least one more production featuring this geunine acting legend.
9. @Musicalmissy – Miss Prenger won our hearts on I'd Do Anything and is winning hearts around the nation all over again in the UK tour of Calamity Jane.
10. @CarrieHFletcher – Chances are if you are under the age of 20 you already follow Miss Fletcher and her brother Tom from McFly. Carrie's currently taking a break from playing Eponine to appear in the UK arena tour of War of the Worlds.
11. @stephenashfield – WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award-winning Ashfield continues to impress in the role of Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon.
12. @colmandomingo – The delectable Domingo can currently be seen as a multitude of crazy characters in The Scottsboro Boys at the Garrick Theatre.
13 & 14. @Rosiemae and @hadleyfraser – We just had to include this couple together as they will be on stage in the Donmar's City of Angels.
15. @RobertLindsay – This Scoundrel doesn't mince his words on twitter and caused a stir when he replied to Mark Shenton's review of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Definitely worth a click of the follow button.
16. @michaelxavierUK – Not only is he very handsome, but he's a bloody nice chap and a great actor to boot. Recently seen in the Open Air Theatre's Sound of Music and The Pajama Game. We love his joke of the day too… They're awful, but we love 'em.
17. @trixiepig – We're thinking that Katie Brayben's (currently appearing in King Charles III) followers will increase dramatically when she opens as Carole King in Beautiful next year. Get in there early and follow her whilst it's still a nice intimate group :).
18. @RuthieHenshall – A true theatrical legend who tweets regularly considering how busy she must be playing Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot, although some tweets are from her 'web team'.
19. @NicoleScherzy – The former Pussycat Doll's career comes full circle as she is soon to grace the stage of the London Palladium as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats.
20. @GemmaArterton – Proving that she can do Musical Theatre as well as straight drama, Arterton has received great reviews for Made in Dagenham following similarly high praise for her performance in The Duchess of Malfi at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
21. @thedavidhunter – He may only have a couple of days left in Once before Boyzone star Ronan Keating takes over, but we guarantee he'll be back on stage in no time. Follow David for some really cool backstage cover videos.
22. @theamzi – You may know Nathan from his appearance on The Voice, or if you're stagey like us you'll probably have seen him in Rock of Ages, In the Heights and Urinetown.
23. @SavannahSt – One of the loveliest actors on the West End, Stevenson is currently playing Glinda in Wicked and made headlines when she played the iconic role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, with no rehearsal.
24. @CHIMPSINSOCKS – Amanda Abbington has just opened in God Bless the Child at the Royal Court and has a large fan base following her appearance in Sherlock. Oh, and she's Martin Freeman's partner.
25. @IanMcKellen & Patrick Stewart – Considering their adorable bromance it's only right that we include these legends as one. Most recently seen on the London stage in Waiting for Godot which then transferred to New York. Maybe if enough of us follow them they'll come back to London?
26. @RCArmitageThe Hobbit star received glowing reviews for his performance in The Crucible at the Old Vic recently. It's closed now, but don't worry, encore screenings coming soon!
27. @jennarusselluk – Currently playing Miss Pennywise in Urinetown before moving across town to the Vaudeville for Di and Viv and Rose.
28. @mouthwaite – Recently seen on stage at the St James Theatre in Breeders, also joining Ms Russell in Di and Viv and Rose.
29. @CaptainPooper – Most recently seen in Blythe Spirit with Angela Lansbury and Breeders at the St James. We hope it's not too long before she's back on stage!

Creatives and Industry Pros

All these accounts and more can be found on our twitter 'Creatives and Industry Pros' list here.

— Drew McOnie (@DrewMcOnie) November 6, 2014

1. @lloydjamie – Director Jamie Lloyd is man of the moment following two successful Trafalgar Transformed seasons starring Martin Freeman, James McAvoy and Hayley Atwell. He also has two major productions in the West End, The Commitments and Urinetown.
2. @DrewMcOnie – Another person very much in the spotlight at the moment is choreographer Drew McOnie. Bursting onto the scenes with his original production Drunk at the Bridewell Theatre, he has since choreographed the incredible In The Heights and Chicago and is due to work on Bugsy Malone at the Lyric Hammersmith and a UK tour of Hairspray. Oh, and he's also been nominated for a National Dance Award.
3. @josierourke – Donmar Warehouse artistic director Rourke is responsible for some of the finest work on the West End since her appointment in 2011. Including The Weir, Coriolanus and The Recruiting Officer.
4. @MichaelGrandage – Michael was talk of the West End last year with his season of work at the Noel Coward Theatre featuring the likes of Judi Dench, Ben Whishaw and Jude Law. Follow to keep an eye on what the Grandage Company will do next because it's sure to be starry!
5. @danielletarento – Former founder of the Menier Chocolate Factory, Tarento has been making waves in the producing world with productions of Titanic, Three Sisters and Dogfight at the Southwark Playhouse to name but a few of her recent successes.
6. @EricaWhyman – Formally chief executive of Northern Stage now deputy artistic director at the RSC, we're very much looking forward to her production of The Christmas Truce at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
7. @JamesQuaife – With credits including the recent Next Fall starring Charlie Condon at the Southwark Playhouse and Barking in Essex with Lee Evans, Sheila Hancock and Keeley Hawes, producer Quaife has recently joined the English Touring Theatre, so expect some tweets about that.
8. @mrJamesGraham – Playwright whose recent plays have included Privacy at the Donmar Warehouse, a UK tour of The Angry Brigade and the smash hit This House at the National Theatre.
9. @rupertgoold – The artistic director at Almeida is having a smashing year with recent West End transfers for King Charles III, 1984 and Ghosts and his production of new musical Made in Dagenham opening earlier this month.
10. @darren_bell – Photographer with a penchant for everything stagey. Currently working with WhatsOnStage on our 'Leading Ladies' feature.
11. @alexparker91 – Musical director and producer. Alex will be MD'ing the 2015 WhatsOnStage Awards and is also producing a one-off concert production of A Little Night Music starring Janie Dee and Laura Pitt-Pulford.
12. @OfficialALW – Like the Queen, I'm not sure how many of these tweets are sent by Lloyd Webber himself, but why would you not follow the Lord of the West End?
13. @jammyprod – The Tony Award-winning director/choreographer extraordinaire Jerry Mitchell has one production in the West End, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre. Everyone should follow him and convince him to bring Kinky Boots to London.
14. @danwooller – Our very own Dan Wooller. Have you seen a picture of a celeb at an opening night recently? Chances are Dan took that photo.
15. @JerHerrin – Artistic director of Headlong Theatre whose recent credits include The Nether at the Royal Court, Wolf Hall & Bring up the Bodies for the RSC and Another Country at Chichester Festival Theatre and Trafalgar Studios.
16. @GurinderC – Director/producer/writer whose film Bend it Like Beckham receives its stage premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in 2015.
17. @StephensSimon – Playwright Stephens' recent project includes adaptations of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time at the Apollo and Gielgud, The Cherry Orchard and A Doll's House at the Young Vic and new plays including Birdland for the Royal Court starring Sherlock's Andrew Scott.
18. @PaulTaylorMills – Up and coming producer who has recently helmed productions of Altar Boyz at Greenwich Theatre and In The Heights at the Southwark Playhouse.
19. @NikolaiFoster – Soon to be the new artistic director at the Leicester Curve when he takes over from Paul Kerryson next year.
20. @DanCrucibleAD – Artistic director of Sheffield Theatres, recently directed the UK tour of The Full Monty.
21. @timminchin – Musician/Comedian whose musical Matilda is considered one of the best British musicals of recent times. Currently working on a musical adaptation of Groundhog Day.
22. @BenOckrent – Playwright whose plays include Breeders which just premiered at the St James Theatre starring Angela Griffin, Tamzin Outhwaite, Nicholas Burns and Ben's partner Jemima Rooper.

Musicals

All these accounts and more can be found on our twitter 'Musicals' list here.

— Wicked UK (@WickedUK) November 1, 2014

1. @BeautifulInLDN – The Carole King Musical coming to the Aldwych Theatre in February 2015.
2. @BendItMusical – Musical adaptation of the 2002 film opening at the Phoenix Theatre in May 2015.
3. @BillyElliotUK – Lee Hall and Elton Johns stage adaptation of the film playing at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
4. @bookofmormonldn – Musical from the makers of South Park playing at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
5. @CatsMusical – Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical at the Palladium starring Nicole Scherzinger and Zizi Strallen.
6. @CharlieChoc_UK – Roald Dahl's classic story adapted for the stage in Sam Mendes' production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
7. @Thecommitments – Roddy Doyle’s best-selling novel now live on stage at the Palace Theatre.
8. @ScoundrelsUK – Robert Lindsay, Katherine Kingsley, Bonnie Langford and Gary Wilmot starring in this musical at the Savoy Theatre.
9. @JerseyBoysUK – Musical based on the life of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons at the Piccadilly Theatre.
10. @lesmisofficial – The world's longest running musical by Boublil and Schönberg at the Queen's Theatre.
11. @TheLionKing – Stunning stage adaptation of Disney's classic animation at the Lyceum Theatre.
12. @MadeinDagenham – Brand new musical by Richard One Man, Two Guvnors Bean at the Adelphi Theatre.
13. @MatildaMusical – Tim Minchin and the RSC's stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic. Playing at the Cambridge Theatre.
14. @MemphisMusical – Tony Award-winning Broadway transfer starring Beverley Knight and Killian Donnelly at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
15. @MissSaigonUK – West End revival of another Boublil and Schönberg classic at the Prince Edward Theatre.
16. @OnceMusicalLDN – Stage adaptation of Oscar-winning film directed by John Tiffany at the Phoenix Theatre.
17. @PhantomOpera – Lloyd Webber's long running classic at Her Majesty's Theatre.
18. @ScottsboroLDN – West End transfer of the Young Vic production of Kander and Ebb's Off-Broadway hit at the Garrick Theatre.
19. @KinksMusical – West End transfer of the Hampstead Theatre production telling the story of the life of The Kinks at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
20. @UrinetownUK – West End transfer of Jamie Lloyd's production from St James Theatre, now at the Apollo Theatre.
21. @WickedUK – The untold story of the Witches of Oz, Glinda and Elphaba at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
22. @WomenVergeUK – Broadway hit transfering to the Playhouse Theatre next month starring Tamsin Greig and Willemijn Verkaik

Plays

All these accounts and more can be found on our twitter 'Plays' list here.

— War Horse (@WarHorseOnStage) November 10, 2014

1. @39StepsPlay – Long running play at the Criterion Theatre.
2. @NevillesIsland – Comedy starring Ade Edmondson, Neil Morrissey, Robert Webb and Miles Jupp at the Duke of York's Theatre.
3. @playgoeswrong – Madcap comedy by Mischief Theatre at the Duchess Theatre.
4. @curiousonstage – Mark Haddon's award winning novel adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens, at the Gielgud Theatre.
5. @GreatBritainNT – Richard Bean's new play about the phone hacking scandal at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
6. @MousetrapLondon – The longest running play in the world playing at the St Martin's Theatre.
7. @SILonstage – Lee Hall's stage adaptation of Tom Stoppard's Oscar-winning film at the Noel Coward Theatre.
8. @WarHorseOnStage – The National Theatre production of Michael Morpurgo's novel starring Joey the horse at the New London Theatre.
9. @Womaninblack_UK – Horror play now celebrating 25 years in the West End at the Fortune Theatre.

Theatre Companies

All these accounts and more can be found on our twitter 'Theatre Companies' list here.

— The RSC (@TheRSC) November 12, 2014

1. @HeadlongTheatre – Recent productions include The Nether at the Royal Court and American Psycho, 1984 and Chimerica all for the Almeida Theatre.
2. @mischiefcomedy – Comedy theatre company responsible for The Play That Goes Wrong and Lights, Camera, Improvise.
3. @sell_a_door – Theatre producers with projects including UK tours of Avenue Q, Jekyll and Hyde and The History Boys.
4. @NYTofGB – Youth arts organisation presenting an annual season of productions at Ambassadors Theatre.
5. @trestletheatre – Mask & physical theatre company based in St Albans.
6. @Out_of_Joint – Touring theatre company under the direction of Max Stafford-Clark.
7. @CbyJ – International theatre company currently presenting work in three languages.
8. @WeAreKneehigh – Internationally renowned touring theatre company based in Cornwall.
9. @TheRSC – The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) based in Stratford-upon-Avon and performing worldwide.
10. @PunchdrunkUK – Immersive theatre company responsible for the recent The Drowned Man.

London Venues

All these accounts and more can be found on our twitter 'Venues' list here.

— National Theatre (@NationalTheatre) November 8, 2014

1. @NationalTheatre – South Bank venue under the direction of Nick Hytner.
2. @royalcourt – Sloane Square venue with @vicfeatherstone at the helm.
3. @BarbicanCentre – Europe's largest multi-arts centre.
4. @MenChocFactory – Award-winning theatre and restaurant housed in an old chocolate factory in SE1.
5. @oldvictheatre – Kevin Spacey leads this leading venue on The Cut.
6. @ParkTheatre – One of London's newest theatres, based in Finsbury Park.
7. @OpenAirTheatre – Delightful open air theatre, led by Timothy Sheader, in Regent's Park
8. @St_JamesTheatre – Relatively new venue close to Buckingham Palace.
9. @AlmeidaTheatre – Leading fringe theatre in Islington.
10. @TricycleTheatre – Kilburn based theatre under the direction of artistic director @IRubasingham.
11. @DonmarWarehouse – One of London's leading producing theatres, a 250-seat subsidised theatre in Covent Garden.
12. @TrafStudios – Two-space theatre on Whitehall, home to Jamie Lloyd's annual @TrafTransformed season.
13. @bushtheatre – Internationally-renowned champion of playwrights in Shepherd Bush.
14. @finborough – New writing venue located above a pub in Earls Court.
15. @The_Globe – World famous venue founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker.
16. @HackneyEmpire – Hackney based venue under the direction of @McKennaSusie. Producers of one of the best Pantomimes in the world.
17. @OrangeTreeThtr – London's only permanent theatre-in-the round, based in Richmond.
18. @swkplay – One of London's leading Off-West End theatres, based in Elephant and Castle.
19. @youngvictheatre – David Lan leads this diverse theatre on The Cut.
20. @theatre503 – New writing venue in Battersea.

Regional Venues

All these accounts and more can be found on our twitter 'Regional Venues' list here.

— Curve (@CurveLeicester) November 12, 2014

1. @CurveLeicester – State-of-the-art theatre based in the heart of the Leicester’s vibrant Cultural Quarter.
2. @TheatreRBath – Built in 1805, one of the oldest working theatres in Britain.
3. @BristolOldVic – The longest continuously-running theatre in the UK.
4. @ChichesterFT – Recently restored venue producing theatre for over 50 years.
5. @LivEveryPlay – Two different award-winning venues a mile apart in Liverpool.
6. @rxtheatre – One of the North West's leading theatres since 1976.
7 & 8. @crucibletheatre & @SheffieldLyceum – World famous theatres based in Sheffield and led by Daniel Evans.
9. @nuffieldtheatre – Southampton's only producing theatre based on the Highfield campus at the University of Southampton.

And finally…

@WhatsOnStage – Your leading source of Theatre news, reviews, features and more.

and me – @benhewis