A Musically Strong West End

I agree. There hasn't been any locally-grown shows that have been good, for quite some time.

There were a few surprises: Dreamgirls, ENO Sunset Boulevard and Bat Out Hell to name a few.

I do have faith in Southwark Playhouse and Menier Chocolate Factory (although the 2018 program for Southwark Playhouse is so far vey disappointing).

I agree. I think this year especially has been surprisingly strong for me. I went into it not really excited about any shows. But now, we have had some brilliant Off-West End work with the likes of Big Fish, Yank and The Toxic Avenger. Scaled down productions that have really caught me emotionally and with the material itself. Alongisde some brilliant work in musicals with 42nd Street as the prime example in my case and for alot of people, Hamilton, which I have yet to see and Everybody's Talking About Jamie. It's been a surprisingly strong year in my opinion and it gives me hope next year as there is not too kuch as of yet that I am like "HOLY CRAP" about yet in terms of announcements (bar Patti LuPone obvs!).

To clarify my thoughts further, I’m not really differentiating between American imports and UK originals. For me a number of the imports have been new, not having the disposable income to visit Broadway regularly.
Dreamgirls and Young Frankenstein two ‘new’ shows I’ve enjoyed thoroughly and would definitely revisit.
It’s the UKs obsession with Jukebox musicals where production values and artistic integrity can suffer that really caused the stagnation in my opinion.

I do think that right now is a very good time for musicals in the West End after some stagnation. Perhaps producers have learned from the mistakes of opening shows "cold" in London - there was this string of movie adaptations that all flopped - Made in Dagenham, Bend it like Beckham, Mrs Henderson Presents to name a few - and none of them found their audiences in the West End.

The new shows like Grinning Man and Jamie are now coming in from regional theatres and already have some buzz. They also have far "fresher" backgrounds - a BBC4 documentary and a little-know Victor Hugo novel - which makes them feel more original and exciting. And while Romantics Anonymous IS based on a movie, it's safe to say that it's not a well-known title in the UK.

Plus the imports from the US - Hamilton, Big Fish, Young Frankenstein now, soon Fun Home opening and The King and I appearing, plus some bigger (Follies) and smaller (Barnum) revivals.

I don't think the obsession with jukebox musicals is fading - Bat out of Hell is coming back, there's Tina in the pipeline and Broadway is brewing on new jukebox musicals too. But perhaps the obsession with slapping mediocre movies onto the stage with a mediocre soundtrack has come to an end and producers and creators are looking for fresher subjects again.

I don't want to get too optimistic though - Broadway had an incredible season last year with tons of new great shows, many of them unusual (Hamilton, Comet...) and followed it with a very lame season that gives us stuff like SpongeBob and Margaritaville.