THEATRE REVIEW: Man To Man starring Tilda Swinton at the Royal Court Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 17 October, and ran through 24 October 2026 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval) Plays Edinburgh, Berlin and New York details far below

Oscar winner Swinton makes her New York stage debut next year in this curious monologue about a woman in 1930s Germany who puts on her dead husband’s trousers and never takes them off.

  • Read on for reasons including where and when to see this production in the US, Germany and Scotland
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GIG REVIEW: Transvision Vamp at the 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Thursday 22 October and tour running through 1 November 2026

Setlist: Trash City; Tell That Girl To Shut Up; I Want Your Love; Speedball; Sister Moon; Pressure Times; You’re A Dirtbomb, Lester; The Only One; If Looks Could Kill; Born To Be Sold; Down On You; Revolution Baby; Pay The Ghosts; Landslide Of Love; Baby I Don’t Care; The Impression Of Normalcy; Bad Valentine; Velveteen

We haven’t seen Transvision Vamp live since Portsmouth Guildhall in 1991 and are here for the hits but the added joy of this gig is the occasional nods in the set to lead singer Wendy James’ fascinating continuing solo career.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the best gigs we’ve seen all year
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/Film Actress of 2026

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Thelma And Louise starring Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker at the Young Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Monday 19 October and running through 24 October 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

This musical of the 1991 classic Oscar-winning female road movie was 1 of the most eagerly awaited shows this autumn and we see it in its final week at this venue to assess whether it’s any gas left in its tank.

  • Read on for reasons including how the biggest injustice in this show is how the 5* story receives 2* songs
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THEATRE REVIEW: Table 17 starring Marisha Wallace and Jamael Westman at the Kiln Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Tuesday 6 October, runs through 24 October 2026 RUNTIME: 95 minutes (no interval)

Welcome to the titular Table 17 where Jada and Dallas are attempting to rekindle their romance and leave 7 years of baggage outside the restaurant.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think this Table 17 will find a West End venue for its next encounter
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Pianist starring Daniel Krikler at the Park Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 17 October, opens 22 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

This is the new musical version of the life of Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman during World War 2, a story which won 3 Oscars in its 2002 celluloid incarnation starring Adrien Brody.

  • Read on for reasons including how we’re here for monsta-longlisted star Daniel Krikler
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GIG REVIEW: Antony Szmierek at 02 Academy Bournemouth

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 16 October 2026, tour runs through 6 February 2027

This was a birthday present for Mr H, but I did like The Heron, from his second album Decoding Birdsong, out earlier this year.

  • Read on for reasons including why we all need to channel our inner Szmierek. Be more heron, be more Antony
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Lives Of Others starring Keira Knightley and Luke Thompson at the Adelphi Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 16 October, opens 29 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (no interval)

Adapter/director Robert Icke’s most recent leading ladies have gone on to awards success including Sadie Sink (Stage Debut Award for Romeo and Juliet) and a Best Actress Olivier and Tony for Lesley Manville (Oedipus)

  • Read on for reasons including how Keira Knightley was last on stage in 2011
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Film/TV Actor of 2026

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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 More

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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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