WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: The O2
WHEN: 27/3 (matinee), UK tour runs to 23/4, international tour finishes 27/8
SETLIST: Grown; Hair; Change Your Life; A.D.I.D.A.S; Wings; Lightning; DNA; Secret Love Song (Part 2); OMG; Crazy In Love medley; Salute; Little Me; Move; How Ya Doin; I Won’t; Love Me Like You; Weird People; The End; Black Magic
Welcome to the UK’s longest-running arena tour of 2016, a phenomenal 37 dates.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: The O2
WHEN: 26/3, tour runs to 7/5
SETLIST: I’ve Been Losing You; Cry Wolf; Move To Memphis; Stay On These Roads; The Swing Of Things; Cast In Steel; Crying In The Rain; Mother Nature Goes To Heaven; We’re Looking For The Whales; Velvet; Lifelines; Here I Stand & Face The Rain; Sycamore Leaves; She’s Humming A Tune; Foot Of the Mountain; Hunting High and Low; Scoundrel Days; Sun Always Shines On TV; Under The MakeUp; Living Daylights; Take On Me.
We last saw a-ha six years ago on their farewell tour at Wembley Arena but in 2015 they released their fine new Cast In Steel album which they’ve taken on an international jaunt.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: The O2
WHEN: 22/3, tour runs to 15/11
SETLIST: Hello; Hometown Glory; One and Only; Rumour Has It; Water Under The Bridge; I Miss You; Million Years Ago; Skyfall; Don’t You Remember; Send My Love; Make You Feel My Love; Sweetest Devotion; Chasing Pavements; Someone Like You; Set Fire To The Rain; All I Ask; When We Were Young; Rolling In The Deep.
She’s arguably the world’s biggest pop star at the moment and could’ve easily played stadiums rather than arenas on this tour.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Phoenix Theatre
WHEN: 20/3, runs to 30/10
This Chichester Theatre production is up for six Olivier Awards on 3/4 and we gave it 5* when it opened at the Savoy in December.
Q: Who is the most nominated actor still living never to win an Oscar? A: Glenn Close (The World According To Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural (supporting nods), Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs (lead nods)). She brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Coliseum and we’re at the 1/4 first preview as this runs to 7/5. Tickets here. Picture via Facebook courtesy English National Opera.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Dominion Theatre
WHEN: 29/2, runs to 30/4
The cast for this stadium-sized show which has found its way to the Dominion Theatre is as varied as it is star-studded and features, deep breath, David Essex, Michael Praed, Jimmy Nail, Daniel Bedingfield and Heidi from the Sugababes.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Young Vic
WHEN: 11/3, press night 16/3, runs to 16/4
SETLIST: Anthrax (Gang Of Four); Atrocity Exhibition (Joy Division); Fiction Romance (Buzzcocks); Isolation (Joy Division); Nag Nag Nag (Cabaret Voltaire); What Do I Get (Buzzcocks); Empire State Human (The Human League); Hot On The Heels Of Love (Throbbing Gristle); My New House (The Fall); Memorabilia (Soft Cell); I Know It’s Over (The Smiths); Life Is A Pigsty (Morrissey); Temptation (New Order).
We loved Jane Horrocks in Little Voice and Absolutely Fabulous and when we discovered the premise of this show we were at the front of the queue to buy tickets.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: St James Theatre
WHEN: 12/3, press night 14/3, runs to 9/4
Bovvered? We had no idea Catherine Tate could sing and in this world premiere of a new musical her voice is as fine as she is funny.
The greatest show on earth is nearing its 2019 conclusion. How to celebrate at our Melodifestivalen final afterparty? Our selection is unashamedly heavy on the schlager.
WHEN?: Saturday 12 March (7pm UK time) on SVT (link to watch below)
2016 sees the strongest final line-up we can remember and although Frans is currently topping Sweden’s chart the introduction of the international juries into Saturday’s show should add a fascinating dynamic to proceedings.
monstagigz 