Continuing with my build up to the top 10 of the year here are my favourite Shakespeares and favourite off-West End* plays of 2013.

First the Shakespeares. It's been a really, really good year for the Bard's plays but there are only 10 spaces in my best of list so here are my top five that didn't quite make it:

• Macbeth, Trafalgar Studios
• Titus Andronicus, Swan Theatre, Stratford upon Avon
• A Midsummer Night's Dream, Noel Coward Theatre
• Twelfth Night, Apollo Theatre
• Othello, National Theatre

And now the best of off-West End list, again lots that nearly made it into my top ten:

• Before the Party, Almeida Theatre
• Season in the Congo, Young Vic
• The Pride, Trafalgar Studios
• Our Country's Good, St James Theatre
• The Hothouse, Trafalgar Studios

* Off-West End to me are the medium sized theatres most of which aren't in the core West End

My overall top 10 will be published tomorrow, my top five fringe list can be found here