Q&A/PREVIEW: Tip Toe starring Russell T Davies, Alan Cumming & David Morrissey at BFI Southbank

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By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Monday 18 May 2026, show airs on Channel 4 from Sunday 31 May 2026

Writer Davies may be best known for Queer As Folk and It’s A Sin but his new Channel Four drama Tip Toe is his 1st thriller, with a political edge and opens with Cumming’s Leo apparently hanging by his neck in a noose from a lamp post on a Manchester street.

  • Read on for reasons including how Tip Toe promises to be a wild ride although we’ve no idea where it goes next
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THEATRE REVIEW: End Of The Rainbow starring Jinx Monsoon at Soho Theatre Walthamstow

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Wednesday 20 May and runs through 11 July 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

There are moments in this glorious restored 1930 venue with its old Hollywood feel that has hosted acts like The Beatles and Buddy Holly where you could be forgiven for thinking Broadway star Jinx Monsoon is Judy Garland.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production is everything this Garland fan dreamed it could be and so much more
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2026 starring Pride

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Pride at the National Theatre

Writer and director Stephen Beresford and Matthew Warchus (Oedipus, Old Vic) return from the 2014 film for the musical of a group of gay men and lesbians supporting the striking miners in the 80s. Stars Samuel Barnett (Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is About To Happen, Bush Theatre) at the National’s Dorfman Theatre 11 June through 12 September 2026. Original music by DJ Walde (SYLVIA, Old Vic). Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Russell Tovey in Guilty, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Glengarry Glen Ross
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Too Much Not Enough by Daði Freyr (May 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Tracklist: I Don’t Wanna Talk; Me And You; Hot Damn; With You; P-E-R-F-E-C-T; Beautiful Day; Flying Fuck; I’m Out And I Wanna Go Home; Feel It; Why?; Good Enough; Wildfire

Freyr stands 6 ft 9.9 inches tall and for those seeking a cure for post-Eurovision Song Contest depression he could be just the giant to keep the party going.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the sound of Freyr capturing that special magic in 1 place once more
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THEATRE REVIEW: Care starring Linda Bassett at the Young Vic

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 13 May, opens 19 May and runs through 11 July 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (no interval)

This is the story of widow and grandmother Joan, played by Linda Bassett (What If I Only, Royal Court), who finds herself in a care home after a fall.

  • Read on for reasons including how this black comedy finds real love, empathy and understanding in the pain and difficulties around impending death
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THEATRE REVIEW: Krapp’s Last Tape starring Gary Oldman at Royal Court Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 9 May, opens 11 May and runs through 30 May 2026 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (including Godot’s To-Do List)

Oscar winner Oldman (Apple’s Slow Horses) directs and stars in this Samuel Beckett monologue which he originally brought to the York Theatre Royal last year, the venue where he made his professional acting debut in 1979.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a curious choice by an actor we’ve loved light up the big and TV screen
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THEATRE REVIEW: Equus starring Toby Stephens, Amanda Abbington & Noah Valentine at Menier Chocolate Factory

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 9 May (matinee), opens 18 May and runs through 4 July 2026 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Inside No 9 and Waterloo Road‘s Noah Valentine follows in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe in baring all as troubled 17-year-old Alan Strang who is blinding horses.

  • Read on for reasons including how this version is so strong we do expect it to transfer to the West End
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THEATRE REVIEW: An Adequate Abridgement Of Boarding School Life As A Homo at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 8 May and runs through 10 May 2026 RUNTIME: 60 minutes (interval)

It’s a tale as old as time but young gay love story Homo is the anti-Heartstopper.

  • Read on for reasons including how Homo gives us neither the easy answer or ties up all of its very many loose ends
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GIG REVIEW: Rosalía at The 02, London

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Wednesday 6 May 2026, tour runs through 3 September 2026

Setlist: Sexo, violencia y llantos; Reliquia; Porcelana; Divinize; Mo Christo piange diamanti; Berghain; SAOKO: LA FAMA; LA COMBI VERSACE; De madruga; El redentor; Can’t Take My Eyes Off You; La perla; Sauvignon blanc; La yugular; Dios es un stalker; La rumba del perdon; CUUUUuuuuuute; BIZCOCHITO; DESPECHA; Focu ‘ranni; Magnolias

This is the 22nd and final European gig of Rosalía’s LUX tour and she tells us she is exhausted and it’s only the high energy of this London crowd that is seeing her through it.

  • Read on for reasons including why we can’t wait to see Rosalía again on a stage in the UK or Europe and soon
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THEATRE REVIEW: 1536 starring Tanya Reynolds, Siena Kelly & Liv Hill at Ambassadors Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Monday 4 May, opens 12 May and runs through 1 August 2026 RUNTIME: 110 minutes (no interval)

You join us in an Essex woodland meeting place in the titular 1536 where 3 young women meet regularly to discuss the news from London about the fall of Queen Anne Boleyn alongside local gossip.

  • Read on for reasons including how 1536 flags its author as 1 of this country’s most exciting new writers
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