FILM REVIEW: Ink starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce & Claire Foy at the London Film Festival

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Official UK release date: 8 January 2027 RUNTIME: 116 minutes

Ink very much positions itself as the precursor to HBO’s much-garlanded TV series Succession which was thought by many to have been inspired by Rupert Murdoch and his family’s fight for control of a global media and entertainment conglomerate.

  • Read on for reasons including how we look forward already to the awards glory Ink seems set for early next year
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THEATRE REVIEW: Ilford Boy starring Leo Whitfield Harris, Craig Stein, Ria Zmitrowicz & Lindsey Coulson at the Donmar Warehouse

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 12 October, opens 20 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

It’s the day of his nan’s funeral and impressionable 14-year-old Ted meets his mum’s gay best friend and suddenly his world doesn’t feel so lonely.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the best new plays of the year so far
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GIG REVIEW: Gene at Camden Roundhouse

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 10 October tour runs through 1 May 2027

Setlist: Be My Light, Be My Guide; Sick, Sober and Sorry; We Could Be Kings; As Good As It Gets; Truth, Rest Your Head; Still Can’t Find The Phone; Save Me; I’m Yours; Where Are They Now?; You’ll Never Walk Again; Left For Dust; Speak To Me Someone; Yours For The Taking; Tristan; Sleep Well Tonight; Fighting Fit; Haunted By You; Supermarket Bombscare; London, Can You Wait?; Olympian; Somewhere In The World; For The Dead; Don’t Let Me Down

‘We learned 35 songs for these 2 shows which is a world record for the Saga health generation,’ Gene lead singer Martin Rossiter tells the audience at this 2nd Camden Roundhouse gig.

  • Read on for reasons including how we wouldn’t bet against new material and more dates soon
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue 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 Venue Previous winners 2025 London Palladium; 2024 @SohoPlace 2023 Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, 2022: The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre for Cabaret Tickets Review 1 2021: Gillian Lynne Theatre 2020: Bridge Theatre, 2019: Old Vic, 2018: Bush Theatre

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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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