- Dame Maggie Smith’s 1st theatrical performance in 12 years
When we raved about film There’s Nothing Like A Dame we never thought we’d see Dame Maggie tread the boards again but she returns to London for the 1st time in 12 years in a new one-woman play called A German Life based on the actual testimony of Brunhilde Pomsel, who once worked for Joseph Goebbels. Runs 6/4 to 11/5/19. Tickets The Downton Abbey film is expected to be released in September.
- Read on for reasons including Sally Field, Bananarama tour, Jessie Buckley film & Game Of Thrones returns
2. Sally Field, Jenna Coleman & Colin Morgan star in All My Sons at the Old Vic
Field is a two-time Oscar winner and leads a cast including Victoria‘s Coleman and Morgan, shortlisted for our Best Theatre Actor monsta last year for the haunting Translations at the National, in this production of the Arthur Miller classic which runs at the Old Vic 13/4 to 8/6. The production marks the London theatre debuts of Field, Coleman and Bill Pullman. We’ve had the privilege of seeing some early scenes in the Old Vic rehearsal room and were bowled over by the force of nature that is Field. Tickets
3. Bananarama release new Love In Stereo album and perform intimate Q&As
The Original Line Up Tour won our 2017 Best Gig monsta and, as if to celebrate, the remaining Nanas (best friends Keren and Sara) release a new album, In Stereo, this month and choose to do something a little different with the accompanying tour of intimate gigs. Tickets
4. Patsy Ferran in Chekhov’s Three Sisters at the Almeida
Ferran is shortlisted for a Best Actress Olivier award for Summer And Smoke which also originated at the Almeida and was directed by Rebecca Frecknall. Ferran was shortlisted for our Best Theatre Actress monsta for her hilarious one-woman performance in My Mum’s A Twat at the Royal Court. This Chekhov classic runs 6/4 through 1/6. Tickets
5. Robyn brings Honey to the Ally Pally
2010’s Body Talk was an extraordinary album but we weren’t expecting to wait quite so long for last year’s follow up Honey. It was, perhaps inevitably after so long, an underwhelming return and that’s why April’s pair of gigs at London’s enormous Alexandra Palace seem quite so pressured. Tickets
6. Jessie Buckley takes the lead in film Wild Rose
Buckley was shortlisted for a BAFTA Rising Star award this year after appearing alongside Johnny Flynn in Brit film Beast and here she plays an aspiring country music star alongside Julie Walters in a Tom Harper film released 19/4. We last caught Buckley on stage in The Winter’s Tale opposite Sir Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench in 2017.
7. Oliviers given at Royal Albert Hall
We’ll be in the audience at the Royal Albert Hall on 7/4 for 1 of theatre’s biggest nights cheering on nominees who include 2018 monsta winners Arinze Kene, Sharon D. Clarke, The Inheritance and Company.
8. Game of Thrones returns
Stars Kit Harington and Maisie Williams have appeared on stage in London in the hiatus between the last series and the final one of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy saga which returns to TV screens in the UK 15/4/19.
9. Line Of Duty, Unforgiven, Josh O’Connor & Helen Mirren at Radio Times TV festival
2017’s BFI and Radio Times Festival was fun and this year the event returns with attractions including previews of new series as well as Q&As with stars including The Crown‘s O’Connor who appeared in 1 of our favourite films. Tickets
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