THEATRE REVIEW: Mass starring Monica Dolan & Adeel Akhtar at Donmar Warehouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Monday 20 April, opens 29 April and through 6 June 2026 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

It’s just when you think Mass has run its considerable dramatic course that Monica Dolan’s mother Linda re-appears after bidding farewell to unpin an emotional grenade that can’t fail to obliterate the viewer.

  • Read on for reasons including how Mass boasts a fantastic cast which gets the most from some difficult emotional material
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SONG OF THE MONTH: I Feel So Free by Madonna (April 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Madonna (Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona) chooses not to ape Hung Up, the all-conquering, chart-topping, ABBA-sampling banger that launched album Confessions On A Dancefloor 21 years ago.

  • Read on for reasons including how Madonna is perpetuating her career by growing old both joyously and disgracefully and we wouldn’t have it any other way
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2026 starring Gary Oldman in Krapp’s Last Tape

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Gary Oldman in Krapp’s Last Tape

Oscar winner Oldman (Apple’s Slow Horses) directs and stars in this monologue about a man on his 69th birthday who sits alone and listens to the echoes of his younger self. The play returns to the Royal Court where it ran in 1958 in this York Theatre Royal production. The run is sold out although tickets are available on Mondays. Runs 8 through 30 May 2026. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Rosalia at The 02, High Society and Delta Goodrem at Eurovision
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THEATRE REVIEW: Heart Wall at Bush Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 15 April and runs through 16 May 2026 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

The audience taking their seats is welcomed with the offer of karaoke at The Sun Inn near Manchester by young barman Valentine played by Aaron Anthony.

  • Read on for reasons including how Heart Wall offers an extremely moving final moment which feels well-earned
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Wildfire by Loreen (April 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Tracklist: Where Do We Go From Here?; Feels Like Heaven; Weapons; Is It Love?; Can’t Pull Me Down; Melt; Wildfire; Coming Close; Set Me Free; Tattoo; Lose That Light; Kiss The Sky; True Love

It’s been almost 3 years since Loreen became the 1st woman to win Eurovision twice and, despite the wait, this album’s exceptional quality makes it all worthwhile.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is easily Loreen’s best and most cohesive album
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Semi Final 2 starring Delta Goodrem, Antigoni, Dara & Atvara

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? 14 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm

WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna

The final half of this 2nd semi final is Eurovision at its most competitive and 1 of our favourites is sure to miss out but we do think superstar Delta Goodrem’s is the performance to watch out for here because the song is contest-winning worthy.

  • Read on for reasons including Søren Torpegaard Lund, Jonas Lovv & Simón
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THEATRE REVIEW: Kate Butch at Wilton’s Music Hall

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 9 April, runs through 17 May 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘Give me a shout if you’ve never heard of me before’, asks the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World runner up as part of the audience warm-up. ”Don’t they sound sad?’

  • Read on for reasons including how Butch is definitely our favourite and wittiest queen from Drag Race
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GIG REVIEW: Pet Shop Boys Obscure at Electric Ballroom, Camden

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Tuesday 7 April, runs through 10 April 2026

Setlist: The Theatre; Will-o-the-Wisp; Two Divided By Zero; Jack The Lad; To Face The Truth; After The Event; Hit And Miss; Always; One In A Million/Mister Vain; Sexy Northerner; Young Offender; Through You; It Couldn’t Happen Here; Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend; King Of Rome; King’s Cross; Love Is The Law; Why Don’t We Live Together?; The Performance Of My Life; Your Funny Uncle; The Way It Used To Be; Later Tonight; A Dream Of A Better Tomorrow

The international juggernaut that is the Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Tour celebrates its 4th birthday next month while rolling on and Obscure is alternatively a run of 5 nights in this 1,500-capacity venue of B-sides, album tracks and fan favourites.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t imagine any other band being as wilfully unexpected as Pet Shop Boys
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Doll’s House starring Romola Garai at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 4 April, opens 8 April and runs through 23 May 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We had tickets to see Jessica Chastain in Jamie Lloyd’s version of this Ibsen classic before Covid hit in 2020 and sadly it never made it to the Playhouse Theatre in London although it did run on Broadway.

  • Read on for reasons including how rather than being in miniature this Doll’s House construction is a gigantic must-see
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THEATRE REVIEW: FLYBY starring Stuart Thompson & Poppy Gilbert at the Southwark Playhouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **1/2

WHEN?: Friday 3 April, opens 9 April and runs through 16 May 2026 RUNTIME: 110 minutes (without interval)

We’re here because its star Stuart Thompson (Radiant Boy: A Haunting, Southwark Playhouse) is brilliant in everything we’ve seen him in and here plays an unpredictable engineer who disappears into the void.

  • Read on for reasons including how the writer/composer has worked with artists including David Byrne and Jacob Collier
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