- Constellations starring Sheila Atim
We saw the original production of Nick Payne’s awards-garlanded two-hander in the West End starring Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins in 2012. It was little surprise that this tale of a couple meeting with repeat scenes and meditations on multiple universes should also find Broadway acclaim with Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson and now it is ripe for return with original director Michael Longhurst. Opening on 18 June 2021 at the Vaudeville Theatre with Atim (Othello, Globe)) and Ivanno Jeremiah, couples will also include Russell Tovey (Angels In America, National Theatre) and Omari Douglas (Channel 4’s It’s A Sin). Tickets
- Read on for reasons including In The Heights, Hairspray, Cinderella and Be More Chill
2. In The Heights film released
We saw Lin Manuel-Miranda‘s musical in London in 2015 and said: ‘It’s a contemporary musical which means rapping and street dancing on a joyous scale’ and ‘Set in the predominantly Dominican-American neighbourhood of Washington Heights in New York, it is the story of Usnavi (rapping in true Eminem style) who loves and is welcoming a childhood friend Nina home from university.’ We preferred it to the composer’s much more lauded follow up Hamilton and it is released as a film in the UK on 18 June 2021.
3. Be More Chill transfers to the West End
The UK premiere of this US musical about a High School where a geeky pupil is offered the chance to access a super computer if he pops a pill had its run at the Other Palace (our review) cut short by Covid in 2020 and so we’re delighted that its original cast will return as it transfers to the Shaftesbury Theatre in the West End between 30 June and 5 September 2021. Tickets Highlight for us was rising star Blake Patrick Anderson singing showstopper Michael In The Bathroom.
4. Hairspray stars Marisha Wallace and Michael Ball
Wallace’s star has well and truly risen since this revival was announced pre-Covid and it is now set to open at the Coliseum in the West End on 21 June 2021 and is booking until 29 September 2021. Tickets Ball stars in drag as mother of teen Tracey Turnblad in Baltimore in 1962 who has dreams of dancing on TV’s Corny Collins Show. It’s message of love, tolerance and acceptance seems even more relevant now than when we 1st saw it on its original West End run in 2007 starring Ball in the same role in an Olivier Award-winning turn.
5. Cinderella by Emerald Fennell and starring Carrie Hope Fletcher opens
Fennell won an Oscar in April for Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman and here turns her attentions to a pantomime staple with music by Lloyd-Webber and a starring role from Hope Fletcher (Heathers, Other Palace). Tickets Performances begin at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End on 25 June ahead of a 14 July opening. Currently booking to 13 February 2022.
6. Love, Victor returns
Love, Simon won our Best Film monsta in 2018 and it’s spin off TV series, returning to the US school where Simon came out to follow the journey of another closeted student, was a hit for Disney+’s Star channel earlier this year. We had to wait a long time to see that show in the UK and we’re delighted just a mere week after it makes its US bow, Love Victor is returning to the channel this month. Details
7. Marina’s Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land
Album 5 and Marina continues to be without The Diamonds and we’ve already heard 3 of the 10 tracks included. Both Man’s World and Purge The Poison have been songs of the week for us and the title track has been released most recently. The album is out 11 June 2021 and we’re looking forward to seeing Marina again after we saw her in 2019 at Eventim Apollo and 2015 at the Palladium.
8. Blow Monkeys sprinkle Dust At Her Feet
The Blow Monkeys release their new album Journey To You in September, we’ve had a cheeky listen and can confirm it contains material which sits brilliantly with the hits – Digging Your Scene, It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way and Wait – for which the band is best known. Singles Time Storm and More Than A Miracle have been songs of the week/month for us and read more about Dust At Her Feet in our interview with Dr Robert. Tickets for the band’s tour later this year are on sale now.
9. John Grant releases new album
New album Boy From Michigan is out 25 June and we’ve heard the title track as well as Rhetorical Figure (which contains the brilliant line: ‘Some people like alliteration but I’ve always been an assonance man.’). The Only Baby and Billy. His tour has been put back to September 2021 and includes gigs in London’s Alexandra Palace. Tickets
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