WORTH A LOOK?: *****
RUNTIME: 121 minutes
OUT: 22/5/2019 (UK certificate 15)
We are living in a golden age of musical biopics being wonderfully realised by Hollywood and the director here, Dexter Fletcher, completed work on last year’s Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody which will inevitably be compared with this.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? Victoria Park
WHEN? 26/5 and runs to 2/6/19 (Christine and the Queens tour until 31/8/19)
We 1st saw Christine and The Queens the morning after the Brexit vote and here the French act take to the stage as the results of the unexpected 2019 European elections are announced.
Last year’s immersive Shakespeare experience at the Bridge was a real high point of the programming thus far at the newish venue and so we’re super excited for this not least because the cast includes Game Of Thrones star Christie alongside Oliver Chris and David Moorst. Runs 3/6 through 31/8/19. Tickets
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
OUT: 26/4/19
TRACKLIST: Handmade Heaven; Superstar; Orange Trees; Baby; Enjoy Your Life; True; To Be Human; End Of The Earth; Believe In Love; Life Is Strange; You; Karma; Emotional Machine; Too Afraid; No More Suckers; Soft To Be Strong
Earlier this year we were at a Q&A with Marina in London about her 4th album, the 1st since 2015’s Froot.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
OUT: now
The last thing we suspected would result from Bananarama’s award-winning Original Line Up Tour was new material from Siobhan Fahey’s old group Shakespears Sister but here we are.
WHERE? BFI, BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, London
WHEN? 13/4/19
We’re at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival which is an appropriate location because hit ITV cold case series Unforgotten was born here when writer Chris Lang pitched it to producer Laura Mackie (2nd from left and far right below) over coffee.
WHERE? BFI IMAX, BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, London
WHEN? 14/4/19
Derry Girls writer and creator Lisa McGee had never really seen anything on television that represented her growing up in the 90s in Northern Ireland and so set about writing it.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? Apollo Theatre RUNTIME: 2 hours and 40 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 10/5 and booking until 25/1/20
Faye Tozer is a member of pop supergroup Steps who was a runner-up in 2018’s Strictly Come Dancing and now takes on a West End role as a teacher in this award-winning musical.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? Donmar Warehouse RUNTIME: 2 hours and 28 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 6/5, runs to 8/6/2019
‘Sensational’ is the 1-word review we hear Tony and Olivier Award winner Jonathan Pryce utter as he leaves the Donmar after this farewell production by outgoing Artistic Director Josie Rourke – and we agree wholeheartedly.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Young Vic RUNTIME: 185 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
WHEN? 3/5, press night 9/5, runs to 29/6/19 (now extended to 13/7)
We were at the Royal Albert Hall last month for the Olivier Awards and the prize we were most pleased to see received was Sharon D. Clarke’s for Best Actress In A Musical and, as if to prove it, her performance of Lot’s Wife from Caroline, Or Change stole the show.
