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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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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PREDICTIONS/PREVIEW Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Final starring Monroe & Look Mum No Computer

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? 16 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm

WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna

Rehearsals have begun for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest and we’ll update this preview after each semi final with our predictions for the qualifiers joining the host country and remaining Big 4 after Spain’s boycott.

  • Read on for reasons including predictions for France’s Monroe and the UK’s Look Mum No Computer
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THEATRE REVIEW: Tender starring Dex Lee at Soho Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 2 May (matinee) and runs through 30 May 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (includes a 20-minute interval)

1 of the joys of the West End is that early casting news means we know Lee, who here bares his washboard abs, bottom and soul as a troubled stripper, will play Prince Charming opposite French and Saunders in Cinderella in the Palladium pantomime this Christmas.

  • Read on for reasons including how giving the audience the opportunity to be complicit in the torture inflicted feels troubling
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Maggie’s Song by Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem) (May 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

It’s arguably theatre’s most memorable moment of the year so far and now the song is available to listen to and watch (see below).

  • Read on for reasons including how allowing Taylor this moment to update the play with music is nothing short of astonishing
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THEATRE REVIEW: Please, Please Me starring Calam Lynch & Noah Ritter at Kiln Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Thursday 30 April and runs through 29 May 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The depth of the relationship between John Lennon and Beatles manager Brian Epstein has been much speculated upon and here Calam Lynch and Noah Ritter explore what was certainly an unusually close friendship.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the talented cast that is the best reason to see this show
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