The 2017 Christmas gift guide for theatre lovers

With less than two weeks to go until the big day, its time to finish off the last bits of your Christmas shopping. Below we list our top ten gifts for the theatre lover in your life.

1. London Theatres, Amazon, £20.40

Written by former WhatsOnStage critic Michael Coveney, this book contains beautiful photography by Peter Dazeley and takes you to places in theatres across the capital that you have never been.. And it has a foreword by Mark Rylance, so win, win, win.

2. Tickets to the 18th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, Delfont Mackintosh, from £47.25

Be there in person to find out the winners of this year's WhatsOnStage Awards before anyone else. The concert at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 25 February 2018 is shaping up to be a fantastic night out with perfomers including Dreamgirls star Tyrone Huntley, current Wicked Elphaba Alice Fearne and the company of Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

3. Girl From The North Country (Original London Cast Recording), Amazon, £9.99

One of the shows of 2017, Conor McPherson's critically-acclaimed play with the songs of Bob Dylan opened at the Old Vic earlier this and soon transfers into the West End. Cast on the album includes Harry Potter star Shirley Henderson, Debbie Kurup, Sheila Atim and Arinze Kene.

4. 'I'm With Sondheim' Tote Bag, National Theatre, £10

If your loved one is a real theatre lover then they've been to, or have tickets to see, the National Theatre's brilliant production of Follies starring Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee and Tracey Bennett. This cheeky little tote bag will help them remember the production forever and show everyone just how stagey they are.

5. Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording), Amazon, £7.60

You'll be hard-pushed to get tickets to see Lin-Manuel Miranda's hip-hop musical this Christmas – it's the hottest ticket around and completely sold out. But give them a taste of what to expect when more tickets go on sale with this OBCR featuring the main man himself alongside the likes of Leslie Odom Jr, Daveed Diggs and Renee Elise Goldsberry.

6. Brutalist London Theatre Prints, Notonthehighstreet, £20

Eye For London's prints offer a unique look at two of London's brutalist theatres – the National and the Barbican. Perfect for that culture vulture in your life with a bit of blank wall that needs filling up.

7. Together Again – Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Amazon, £10.99

For the more mature theatregoer in your life, you can't go wrong with this album stuffed to the brim with musical classics. A follow up from their 2016 chart-topper, highlights include West Side Story and Les Miserables medleys, and even a bit of Rickrolling from the cheeky pair.

8. WhatsOnStage Theatre Club Membership, theatreclub.co.uk, from £3.50 per month.

If your loved one is a regular theatregoer then membership of our Theatre Club is an ideal Christmas presents. Members can save lots of money on theatre tickets and have access to special money-can't-buy events including meet and greets with cast members and post-show Q&As.

9. Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at the National Theatre, Amazon, £13.77

Former NT boss Nicholas Hytner shares the inside story of twelve years at the helm of Britain’s greatest theatre. From The History Boys to War Horse and One Man, Two Guvnors, fostering new talent and directing some of the most celebrated actors of our times including Alan Bennett, Maggie Smith, Mike Leigh, Daniel Day-Lewis, Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren.

10. Shakespeare Rubber Ducky, Shakespeare's Globe, £6

To bath or not to bath will not even be a question in your household if you put one of these on the Christmas gift list. How else to soak away your troubles than spending it in the company of the great Bard in duck form?