INVESTIGATION: Should you join your favourite theatre as a member? (2020 update part two)

The Old Vic was the second winner of our Best Theatre Venue monsta last year and below are details of what you can expect from patron membership which for us meant sharing a rehearsal room with actors including Sally Field and Jenna Coleman (pictured).

  • Read on to find out what membership of Hampstead Theatre, National Theatre, Old Vic, Other Palace, Royal Court and Young Vic gets you

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t/couldn’t wait for May (2020) starring Eurovision: Come Together

  1. Eurovision: Come Together airs

BBC Eurovision host Graham Norton (pictured above) won’t be in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on 16/5 when the Eurovision Song Contest was due to take place but UK fans will have a show to watch at 6.30pm – Eurovision: Come Together. The one-off special promises a celebration of the most unforgettable performances in the contest’s 65-year history along with the greatest songs from the modern contest. Read our predictions for who would have qualified from Semi 1, Semi 2 and how the pre-qualified finalists would have done.

  • Read on for reasons including Leave A Light On, Eurovision Again, KEiiNO album and Second Cherry return

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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa (April 2020)

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

OUT: now

TRACKLIST: Future Nostalgia; Don’t Look Down; Cool; Physical; Levitating; Hallucinate; Pretty Please; Love Again; Break My Heart; Good In Bed; Boys Will Be Boys

Spring 2020 was expected to see much-anticipated album releases from the likes of Lady Gaga, Sam Smith and Rumer but concern over how they they would land during a global coronavirus pandemic saw plans for them shelved, leaving the way clear for Dua Lipa’s sophomore collection.

  • Read on for details of where to see Ms Lipa on her UK tour in 2021

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PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Final starring James Newman, Blas Cantó, Tom Leeb and Ben Dolic

WHEN?: 16/5/2020 (now cancelled, although the EBU is planning a Eurovision Shine A Light show)

WHERE?: Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Coronavirus has caused the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in its 65-year history but we’re not letting it spoil our fun and, because we know the 41 songs which would have participated, we’re predicting how the finalists would have done.

  • Read on for our final predictions. We’ll update them ahead of the show as we include our predicted semi 1 and 2 finalists  

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GIG REVIEW: Tim Mahendran via Leave A Light On

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE?: Livestreaming via Leave A Light On courtesy the Theatre Cafe

WHEN: 10/4/20 (matinee)

‘Absolute chaos’, remembers & Juliet star Tim Mahendran of his time in the recording studio with legendary songwriter Max Martin.

  • Read on for reasons including how not even his girlfriend’s DJ malfunction can put Mahendran off his stride

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LAST NIGHT: GIG REVIEW: Reflections on Madonna at the London Palladium

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: London Palladium

WHEN: 16/2/20

We weren’t able to finish this review immediately after Madonna’s last night at the London Palladium on her Madame X theatre tour but have decided in the coronavirus lockdown to return to it and reflect on it.

  • Read on for reasons including our thoughts on how Madonna will reinvent the live experience

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GIG REVIEW: Fra Fee via Leave A Light On

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Livestreaming via Leave A Light On courtesy the Theatre Cafe

WHEN: 10/4/20

‘This does make me sad about theatre and how we all really need it. It will come back better than ever because then people will know how much they need it. We just need to be strong for the time being,’ says West End and Broadway star Fra Fee during this intimate internet lockdown gig.

  • Read on for reasons including how Fee reminds of pop stars Rufus Wainwright and Robbie Williams

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PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Semi 2 starring Daði og Gagnamagnið, Stefania and Ben and Tan

WHEN?: 14/5/2020 (now cancelled, although the BBC is planning a Eurovision moment for the night of what would have been the final, 16/5/20)

WHERE?: Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Coronavirus has caused the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in its 65-year history but we’re not letting it spoil our fun and, because we know the 41 songs which would have participated, we’re predicting who would’ve made the final here from Semi 2.

  • Who would’ve been through and who would’ve been on the 1st plane out of Rotterdam? Read on for our semi 2 predictions 

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GIG REVIEW: Marisha Wallace via Leave A Light On

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Livestreaming via Leave A Light On courtesy the Theatre Cafe

WHEN: 4/4/20

‘You will be OK, you will get through this – stay positive.’ Wallace, star of Dreamgirls and Waitress, is drawing on her own personal experience to give hope during the coronavirus lockdown.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Wallace next in the West End in Hairspray

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