Few forms of theatre are as popular as the musical - and it's not hard to see why. With their virtuosic technical craft, soaring emotional impact and jawdropping sense of spectacle, musicals can uplift you, move you, and even transport you to another place entirely. 

In this selection, we've rounded up a dozen brilliant books and lyrics of acclaimed, award-winning musicals – plus a few titles for those looking to either perform in or create their own musical extravaganzas.