- Sheila Atim headlines Old Vic 200th birthday
Our favourite venue marks its bicentenary with events around the 11/5/18 weekend including an open house, street party, variety night headlined by the Olivier Award-nominated Atim, who starred in Girl From The North Country here last year, and ball. We shortlisted Atim for our 2016 monsta for Best Theatre Actress for her star turn in the all-women Shakespeare Trilogy and she won our 2017 Best Performance Of A Song (see below). We’ve loved how Matthew Warchus has transformed the OV with an emphasis on gig theatre, family entertainment and work with messages. Tickets
- Read on for reasons including Eurovision, Tears For Fears, Sir Ian McKellen and Girls Aloud
2. Saara Aalto stars in Eurovision
Check out our predictions elsewhere on this site for the semi finals (8 and 10/5) and final (12/5) from Lisbon, Portugal. Our favourite song is Monsters by UK X Factor runner-up Ms Aalto, who represents Finland. Looking for a dark horse that’s a bit Ed Sheeran?
3. Get your skates on for The Rink at Southwark Playhouse
Liza Minelli and Chita Rivera (who features in tomorrow’s Olivier Awards at the Albert Hall) starred in this Kander and Ebb musical when it opened on Broadway in the 80s. The Southwark Playhouse is the venue for this revival which runs 25/5 through 23/6. Tickets
4. Tears For Fears and Alison Moyet at The O2
Tears For Fears sold out the Albert Hall late last year and here play The O2 during a European tour that stretches from April to May. Support Alison Moyet is no stranger to a big gig herself and we reviewed her Palladium gig last year. Tickets
5. Ian McKellen: Playing The Part
We join McKellen, who stars as King Lear in the West End this summer, for a Q&A with Graham Norton about this documentary about him screened at the BFI this month. Our 2016 BFI Q&A with McKellen. Tickets
6. Good Night to John Hurt in his last film
John Hurt’s last film is previewed at the BFI this month ahead of a June release. Starring The Bridge‘s Sofia Helin, it tells the story of a playwright’s final days. Our 2016 BFI Q&A with Hurt. Tickets
7. Nadine Coyle does Girls Aloud
Missing Girls Aloud? Their former lead singer may rather have been eclipsed by bandmate Cheryl but promises the girl group’s hits during this six-date UK tour which includes a bow at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Tickets
8. Deadpool 2 drops 16 May
The original was shortlisted for our Best Film monsta of 2016. Our favourite wise-cracking anti-superhero takes a bow in this sequel 16/5.
9. Colin Morgan and Ciaran Hinds at the National
Hinds is up for an Olivier tomorrow and we last saw Morgan in the fine Gloria last year at the Hampstead Theatre. Together they star in Translations which runs 22/5 through 7/7 at the National. Tickets
- Picture via Facebook courtesy Old Vic
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