- Saoirse Ronan makes London stage debut
Ronan is an Irish/American actress who starred opposite Kate Winslet and James McArdle (Angels In America, National Theatre) in film Ammonite earlier this year. She’s been shortlisted for an Oscar 4 times (including for 3 of our favourite films Brooklyn, Lady Bird and Little Women) and makes her London stage debut this month at the Almeida opposite McArdle again in The Tragedy Of Macbeth which runs 1 October to 20 November 2021. Review Tickets
- Read on for reasons including Stockard Channing, The Blow Monkeys’ tour and new Bob Marley musical
2. Stockard Channing in Night, Mother at Hampstead Theatre
Rizzo in Grease and First Lady Abbey Bartlett from The West Wing are 2 of our favourite ever characters and so the arrival of the actress who played both parts on a stage on these shores is cause for much celebration. We last saw Channing at Trafalgar Studios in 2017 and we can’t wait for her return at Hampstead Theatre in a production which runs 22 October to 4 December 2021. Tickets
3. The Blow Monkeys 40th anniversary tour
New album Journey To You was released last month and we think it’s the band’s best work. We interviewed frontman Dr Robert and he talked about this 40th anniversay UK tour which includes a London gig at 229 this month. Tickets
4. New Bob Marley musical Get Up, Stand Up
Arinzé Kene (Misty, Bush Theatre then West End) stars as Bob Marley in a musical featuring 28 songs directed by Clint Dyer (Death of England: Delroy, National Theatre) at the Lyric Theatre between 1 October and 3 April 2022. Review Tickets
5. Scritti Politti tour
This 9-date UK tour finishes with a London gig on 2 October 2021 at 02 Shepherds Bush Empire. Frontman Green Gartside never much liked touring in the band’s 80s heyday and we didn’t see them for the 1st time live until an east London festival in 2012 when they were surprisingly good. Review Tickets
6. Little Boots’ single and gigs
Last year Boots was featured artist on a song of the week for us with LP Giobbi called Meet Again. We saw her live in 2009 and 2012 and do so again in October when she celebrates the release of her 1st new solo single in a while, Silver Balloons (watch above), including a London gig at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. Tickets
7. Second Cherry at the RVT
Podcast Second Cherry showcases the best of the songs that didn’t win their national finals and we’ve outlined our top 10 of the 14 songs selected this year in our preview. There’s a final show at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern this month and you can watch all the songs on the podcast’s site. Tickets
8. Foxes on the prowl at Theatre503
Dexter Flander’s fierce debut play explores masculinity and homosexuality within London’s Caribbean Community and black street culture at Theatre503 5 October to 23 October. Review Tickets
9. Film of Dear Evan Hansen released
We caught the musical on Broadway before seeing it in the West End where it re-opens post Covid on the 26 October 2021. Fellow musical-to-film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie won a 5* review from us but Hansen has drawn criticism for casting an actor thought to be too old in the leading role. Released as a film 22 October 2021. West End musical tickets
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