THEATRE REVIEW: Martin Guerre starring Liv Andrusier and Shane O’Riordan at the Old Vic

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 9 October, opens 20 October and runs through 31 October 2026 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

The best reason to see this re-imagined revival of Martin Guerre is to hear new song Someday (watch and listen below) which very much reminds of Schönberg and Boublil’s best loved work Les Miserables thanks in part to Liv Andrusier’s beautiful vocal.

  • Read on for reasons including how Martin Guerre is a bit of a damp squib on which to end Warchus’ firework-filled reign at this iconic venue
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FILM OF THE MONTH: Elsinore starring Andrew Scott at the London Film Festival (October 2026)

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Official UK release date: 29 January 2027 RUNTIME: 111 minutes

The campaign for Andrew Scott – who won our Best Theatre Actor monsta for his Hamlet almost a decade ago – to win an Oscar playing Chariots Of Fire star Ian Charleson tackling theatre’s greatest role in his last stage performance starts here.

  • Read on for reasons including how amazing it is to see this a stone’s throw from where its events actually unfolded
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THEATRE REVIEW Tartuffe (Remixed) starring Mark Rylance at Marylebone Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 26 September (matinee), runs through 24 October 2026

Rylance (Juno And The Paycock, Gielgud Theatre) is definitely the draw here but this transformation of the Moliere classic to a Nigerian/Jamaican wedding more than makes up for the inexperience of its ensemble cast with an irresistible energy and lively comedy.

  • Read on for reasons including a chance to see Rylance in an intimate setting in a riot of a comedy with a cultural twist and an energy you might not expect
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THEATRE REVIEW: Lucy Moss: some songs i wrote at Shedinburgh at Young Vic Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHEN?: Sunday 4 October 2026, Shedinborough runs through 10 October 2026

Moss is the co-writer of musicals SIX and Why Am I So Single? with Toby Marlow and in 2020 broke the record as the youngest female director of a Broadway musical.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a run-through of some personal songs giving an insight into writing process but also what a talent Moss is
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Cherry Orchard starring Kristin Scott Thomas & Stephen Mangan at the Harold Pinter Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 5 October, opens 13 October and runs through 9 January 2027 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval but aiming for 135)

Scott Thomas (Electra, Old Vic) from Apple TV’s Slow Horses leads this cast with wonderful grace, chutzpah and charisma as Ranevskaya, a broke aristocratic landowner returning to her under-threat estate in the country with the titular fruit-bearing wood.

  • Read on for reasons including how Scott Thomas is less slow horses and more galloping show pony
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THEATRE REVIEW: Bloodsport After Helen Of Troy starring Michelle Dockery, Laura Aikman and Maimuna Memon at Stratford East

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 3 October and runs through 10 October 2026 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Author Ava Pickett is longlisted for our Best New Play monsta for 1536 (Ambassadors Theatre) and don’t be surprised to see this modern-day update of the Helen Of Troy story join it on the soon-to-be-announced shortlist.

  • Read on for reasons including how the West End deserves to see this fiery writing topped off by Dockery’s astonishing transformation
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SONG OF THE MONTH Skinny Boy by Welly (October 2026)

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WORTH A LOOK? ****

Southampton 5-piece Welly approach their difficult 2nd album – or is it technically their 3rd? – without fear on this 145-second tale of being rebuffed romantically that feels more New Order than their previous Britpop-inspired efforts.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see Welly on a UK and European tour this autumn
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Podcast of 2026

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It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2026? Over the next 3 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2026.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for Best Podcast of 2026 2025 winner London Theatre Review Listen 2024 winner Kermode and Mayo’s Take Listen 2023 AussieVision 2021 and 2022 winner Second Cherry
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Danceteria by Soft Cell (October 2026)

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

Tracklist: Elusive; Danceteria; The Space Inside; Times Square; Two Of A Kind; The Rainbow Room; In Heaven (When I Dance With You); Decadence Is Hard Work; Crackland; What Is Your Morality?; Losing Yourself; After Hours; Wave To America; Out Come The Freaks

Keyboardist Dave Ball died last October shortly after finishing work on Soft Cell’s final album which sees them perfecting some of the best work of their career while lyrically returning to early 80s New York, a pivotal time for the duo.

  • Read on for reasons including Danceteria is a wildly entertaining, reflective and fitting epitaph to both Soft Cell and Dave Ball
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THEATRE REVIEW: RENT The Musical starring Gaten Matarazzo at Tom Stoppard’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 30 September, opens 8 October and runs through 27 March 2027 RUNTIME: 175 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Matarazzo from Netflix’s Stranger Things is cast perfectly as Mark the filmmaker chronicling the lives of bohemian friends in the late 80s/early 90s in New York’s East Village in this classic musical revival.

  • Read on for reasons including how brilliant the onstage seating experience is for this production
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