We look back over some of the best pictures from theatreland over the years
Clockwise from left: Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen Dallimore, Idina Menzel, Mike Bailey, Daniel Kaluuya, Hannah Murray, Nicholas Hoult (Barry), Larissa Wilson and Kaya Scodelario With hundreds of shows opening on an annual basis, a year can seem to last a lifetime in theatreland. But we thought we'd go hunting through the photo archives to find our favourite classic pictures, ranging from the outright hilarious through to modern-day stars back when they were a bit more fresh-faced.
1. Spider-Man himself was top of the bill
Tom Holland (Billy Elliot) during the curtain call in Billy Elliot The Musical 2. Wicked 's West End opening
Helen Dallimore (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba) at the curtain call of Wicked 3. When Star Wars was still in a galaxy far, far away…
Aml Ameen (Lavelle), Karl Collins (Howard Jones) and John Boyega (Sam) attend the after show party of Seize the Day , part of the Not Black and White season at the Tricycle Theatre, London 4. The original cast of Skins has some pretty recognisable faces
Mike Bailey, Daniel Kaluuya, Hannah Murray, Nicholas Hoult (Barry), Larissa Wilson and Kaya Scodelario attend the after party for New Boy in 2009 5. Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart were still a timeless double act
Ian McKellen (Estragon) and Patrick Stewart (Vladimir) during the curtain call for Waiting for Godot 6. James Earl Jones and Adrian Lester hug it out on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Sanaa Lathan (Maggie), James Earl Jones (Big Daddy) and Adrian Lester (Brick) during the curtain call for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as the cast celebrate James Earl Jones' 79th birthday 7. (Another) Spider-Man, Newt Scamander and Christian Grey at press night
Clemency Burton-Hill, Jamie Dornan, Andrew Garfield, Pamela Nomvete and Eddie Redmayne 8. Benedict Cumberbatch tried an interesting look
Benedict Cumberbatch attends a fundraising gala in aid of the Royal Court's Young Writers in 2008 9. Nicole Kidman bagging her WhatsOnStage Award
Nicole Kidman accepts the award for Best Actress in a Play sponsored by The Umbrella Rooms for Photograph 51 10. Ben Whishaw, Rupert Grint, Colin Morgan, Danny Mays all got their Mojo on
Daniel Mays (Potts), Rupert Grint (Sweets), Colin Morgan (Skinny), Ian Rickson (Director), Tom Rhys Harries (Silver Johnny), Ben Whishaw (Baby) and Brendan Coyle (Mickey) attend the after party for Mojo at the Cafe de Paris, London 11. Kwame and Diane (a decade before he was artistic director at the Young Vic)
Kwame Kwei-Armah (Author/Director) and Diane Abbott attend the after show party for Let There Be Love at the Tricycle Theatre 12. When Geri met Harold
London Geri Halliwell and Harold Pinter (Playwright) attend the after party for The Dumb Waiter 13. Daniel Radcliffe and James Corden have a smooch
Daniel Radcliffe is kissed by James Corden on stage at the inaugural WhatsOnStage.com Awards 14. Mark Rylance, Michelle Gomez, Roger Allam, Tamzin Outhwaite and Daisy Beaumont did a curtain-call dance
Michelle Gomez (Gretchen), Mark Rylance (Robert), Tamzin Outhwaite (Gloria), Roger Allam (Bernard) and Daisy Beaumont (Gabriella) at the curtain call of Boeing-Boeing 15. Indira Varma had a close shave
Indira Varma and Dominic North (Edward Scissorhands) attend the gala for Edward Scissorhands 16. Ralph Fiennes giving some expert side-eye during Richard III
Ralph Fiennes (Richard III) during the curtain call at the Almeida
