By Carron Stacey
WHERE?: Southsea Common (press ticket)
WHEN?: 23 – 25/8/19
Ms Humdrum at monstagigz was lucky enough to catch up with Mr Beats and Swing himself, Luke Fuller, at the weekend.
By Carron Stacey
WHERE?: Southsea Common (press ticket)
WHEN?: 23 – 25/8/19
Republica’s singer, Saffron Sprackling (pictured left), is bouncing with energy post-set at the recent Portsmouth Victorious Festival, on Southsea seafront. With her trademark black bob and red stripes, in a summery “pill” jumpsuit, she has just smashed out Ready to Go amongst other hits, including older tracks, Drop Dead Gorgeous, as well as new ones, New York and Hallelujah.
Billie Trix was the most compelling character from Pet Shop Boys musical Closer To Heaven and author Jonathan Harvey has brought the star played by Frances Barber back for an hour-long show with new songs by the duo. For Every Moment was our Song Of The Month for August. An Edinburgh Festival hit, MUSIK takes its bow at the Leicester Square Theatre 3-7/9. Tickets Pet Shop Boys also play Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park 15/9 Tickets
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHERE? National Theatre (Lyttelton) RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)
WHEN? 26/8, opens 29/8 and runs to 25/11/19
Stars Alex Jennings and Lindsay Duncan boast 5 Olivier Awards between them and we really couldn’t be in safer hands.
By Carron Stacey
WHERE?: Southsea Common (press ticket)
WHEN?: 23-25/8/19
Ms Humdrum at monstagigz had the pleasure of meeting Linden McKenzie from Tuba Libres at Victorious Festival at the weekend.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Turbine Theatre RUNTIME: 150 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 25/8, opens 6/9 and runs to 13/10/19
Welcome to London’s newest theatre at a venue close to Battersea Power Station which we last visited in the late 90s for a pop gig starring Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and All Saints.
By Carron Stacey
WHERE?: Southsea Common (press ticket)
WHEN?: 23 – 25/8/19
Southsea seafront’s festival is in its seventh year and, if the weather is right, it’s unbeatable. Watching bands on the three stages, sweltering in the heat, ships sailing by… But if it rains, like last year, it’s still perfect, but different, and you get to boast for the next year, “I stayed through the rain, I made it”.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? Noel Coward Theatre RUNTIME: 65 minutes (no interval)
WHEN? 20/8, opens 28/8 and runs to 14/9/19
No Time To Die is revealed as the title of the new Bond film Waller-Bridge co-wrote moments before she takes to the West End stage to kill off the character with which she made her name.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Gielgud Theatre RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 17/8 and runs to 30/11/19
STOP PRESS: This production returns at the Sondheim Theatre for 6 weeks from 5/12/20 Tickets
This year’s BBC adaptation of Les Miserables was song-free and here that idea is very much reversed with the focus on the score of the behemoth musical with the labyrinthine plot far less well explained.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
OUT: now
This is the stand-out tune from the 6-song cabaret MUSIK starring character Billie Trix played by Frances Barber from 2001 Pet Shop Boys musical Closer To Heaven.
monstagigz 