THEATRE REVIEW: The Story starring Letitia Wright & Lorraine Toussaint at National Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Friday 28 August, opens 3 September and runs through 24 October 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best thing about this revival of a 2003 US play inspired by a 1981 scandal in which a journalist won a Pulitzer Prize for writing about an inner city child only to later admit the story was fraudulent is the promising performance of Letitia Wright (pictured centre above) at its heart.

  • Read on for reasons including why today’s UK headlines would be a more relevant place for this venue to seek to represent the population it should be serving
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Jenius by Paul Heaton (September 2026)

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Tracklist: Can’t Get Next To You; Favourite Kind Of Idiot; I Want The Job; Sad Songs And Lawsuits; She Ain’t Pretty; One Eye Open; Send In The Clowns; Do Not Ask Me; Don’t Lean On Me; Jet Black Sky; The Whisky Did; Before Before; Good For The Bees; Go Upstream; A Son Of A Father

We 1st saw Heaton live at Aldershot’s West End Centre with his 2nd band The Beautiful South as chart-topper Song For Whoever was released in 1989.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see Heaton on tour where tickets are less than £40 each
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Month In The Country starring Sophie Okonedo at Donmar Warehouse

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Monday 24 August, opens 2 September and runs through 3 October 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Sophie Okonedo (Medea, @SohoPlace) is the beating heart of this revival of Brian Friel’s (Dancing At Lughnasa, National) take on this very Chekhovian tale of an 1840s Russian landowner’s wife’s infatuation with her son’s young tutor.

  • Read on for reasons including how Okonedo relishes the opportunity to be the emotional focus
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THEATRE REVIEW: Electra/Persona starring Cate Blanchett & Nina Hoss at National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****/***

WHEN? Saturday 22 August, opens 1 September and runs through 10 October 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (without interval)

Perhaps predictably this mash-up of Greek tragedy with Ingmar Bergman is a play of 2 halves.

  • Read on for reasons including how Blanchett and Hoss conjure literal theatrical electricity
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: The Thread by Family Stereo (week beginning 21 August 2026)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Tracklist: Remedy; Waiting On Nina; Sea Change; Fault Lines; The Thread; Removed; Collapsing; DLR; Silhouette On The Hill; Three Moon Trail; Tunnels

Rather than a brat summer, this season has been more Confessions II or Pride summer for us but this understated debut album has grown in stature thanks to repeated play.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see Family Stereo on tour later this year
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Q&A & PREVIEW: Bookish starring Mark Gatiss & Connor Finch at BFI Southbank

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By Neil Durham

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

WHEN? Tuesday 18 August 2026 Show airs from Wednesday 26 August 2026 on U&Alibi

The genius of Mark Gatiss period detective drama Bookish is that as well as 3 Agatha Christie-esque murder mysteries to solve each series it boasts a heartfelt emotional backstory of lost love, longing and hope to keep you glued.

  • Read on for reasons including how the Christmas special is in the can and a 3rd series starts shooting soon
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THEATRE REVIEW: Abigail’s Party starring Tamzin Outhwaite at Harold Pinter Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 15 August and runs through 19 September 2026 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Growing up in the 70s with the sounds of Demis Roussos and taste of cheesy pineapple skewers, even the aspiration was palpable.

  • Read on for reasons including how Outhwaite as Beverley performs remarkable comedy magic
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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2026 so far (Part 1 of 2)

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You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2026.

  • Read on for reasons including 9 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2026 so far
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2026 starring Gillian Anderson

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Gillian Anderson in Virginia Woolf

We last saw Anderson resplendent on a revolving London stage at the Young Vic in A Streetcar Named Desire and here she stars in the classic Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? opposite Billy Crudup (High Noon, Harold Pinter Theatre) at the intimate @SohoPlace. Directed by Marianne Elliott (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, National Theatre) runs 21 September through 19 December 2026. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Golden Boy Josh O’Connor, Christine Baranski’s Hay Fever & farewell to St Etienne
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