WORTH A LOOK?: ****
Family Stereo is the ‘folkish rockery’ project of London-based songwriter Blake Watt who we 1st encountered at an east London gig last year accompanying his parents.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Saturday 23 May, opens 27 May and runs through 4 July 2026 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Welcome to the best new musical of 2026 so far with a book, music and lyrics by Jordan Luke Gage who you may have seen leading musicals including Bonnie & Clyde.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Saturday 23 May (matinee), opens 3 June and runs through 11 July 2026 and then tours through 14 November 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Helen George (Love In Idleness, Menier) may still be best known for TV’s Call The Midwife and is the central character here as Long Island socialite Tracy Lord planning a June 1938 wedding to accountant George Kittredge.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
