Whether it's a major production or your local pantomime, there's something about a great villain that has us waiting in anticipation for their grand entrance. The moment they step into the spotlight, you know you're in for a show.

So, we've decided to celebrate some of theater's most unforgettable villains - the ones who makes us gasp, laugh and of course cheer when they finally get what's coming to them. 

Kitty's favorite is...

JAVERT

Do not forget his name!

The villain that doesn't know he's the villain, Javert is just doing his job, he's got quotas and let's be real, Val Jean is an escaped convict! He also (in my opinion) gets some of the best songs in the show. I first saw Norm Lewis in the role and I've had a soft spot for him ever since. 

Kevin's favorite is... 

Miss Trunchball

She's the champion of shot put and the queen of one-liners. Miss Trunchbull is a masterclass in creating the perfect villain, and I'm obsessed with her insults: "Your mommy is a twit!" and her odd choice of vocabulary: "You will not leave this platform until you have consumed the entire confection!".

Scarlet's favorite is... 

The Child Catcher

A thing of nightmares. He's one of those villains who proves you don't need to be loud or flashy to be terrifying. Just his whole demeanour and how he carries himself is enough to unsettle you. He may not have the biggest number in the show, but he leaves one of the biggest impressions... 

Wendy's favorite is...

The Phantom

A villain? Or just the result of a tragedy... perhaps a little bit of both! The Phantom isn't evil, but a man driven by loneliness and desperate to be loved. He may terrify theatergoers, manipulate those around him and lure Christine to his underground lair, but you can't help but feel sorry for him. There's no other villain that can command a stage quite like the Phantom of the Opera. 

Daniel's favorite is...

Richard III

I love a good underdog story, even if that underdog is a villain. From being mocked and sidelined by everyone including his own family, Richard uses his charm and people skills to manipulate and outwit the people around him. I wasn't surprised when I discovered that scholars note Richard III as the blueprint of most modern-day evil mastermind' supervillains we see in entertainment today. He is an outcast who through nothing but sheer will and determination, becomes a beacon of (and drunk with) power. You can't help but admire his intelligence, and how he uses it to destroy anyone in his way.

Our bonus villain...

MACBETH

What makes Macbeth our bonus villain is that we get to witness him become one, and he does it all to himself. His guilt, paranoia and hunger for power consumes him, driving him to madness and tyranny. 

His villainous legacy doesn't stop there. Even today, many professionals avoid saying his name inside a theater due to a famous superstition surrounding the production.