- Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton and Jade Anouka in Cock
Bridgerton star Bailey won our Best Performance Of A Song monsta in 2018 under Marianne Elliott’s direction in Sondheim’s Company, currently running on Broadway. Elliott returns to direct here. Anouka won a monsta too in 2016 for Best Theatre Actress in the Shakespeare Trilogy. Both star with Egerton (Rocketman) and Phil Daniels (Les Miserables). Mike Bartlett’s 2009 (Snowflake) play about a gay male couple threatened from an unlikely source originally starred Ben Whishaw, Andrew Scott and Katherine Parkinson. Runs 5 March through 4 June 2022 at the Ambassadors Theatre. Tickets The view from the audience as Egerton fainted at the 1st preview
- Read on for reasons including To Kill A Mockingbird in the West End and the return of Bridgerton
2. To Kill A Mockingbird starring Rafe Spall
We last saw Spall fall off the stage in the monsta-winning Death Of England shortly before Covid struck and he really impressed us with his performance of the monologue. Aaron (The West Wing) Sorkin’s take on this classic book has already taken a bow on Broadway. Runs at the Gielgud 10 March through 13 August 2022. Cast also includes David Moorst. Tickets Review
3. The return of Bridgerton
Quite the month for Bailey (see number 1) who had a prominent role in the 1st season of this Netflix saga and takes centre stage for the 2nd series airing 25 March. The colour-blind tale of the Bridgerton family set in Regency era England was shortlisted for Best TV and Best TV Actress monstas last year but narrowly missed out on both. What will happen next now we know the identity of the mysterious Lady Whistledown? Q&A at Kiln Theatre with 7 of the Bridgerton cast hosted by Downton Abbey‘s Jim Carter
4. 1st new Little Boots LP for 7 years
Tomorrow’s Yesterdays is the title of this new collection from this Blackpool singer/songwriter/DJ who found fame in the early 10s and includes a single of the month for January for us Crying On The Inside. Also featured is song of the week Silver Balloons as well as Landline and new song Out, Out (see above). We saw Boots play live in London last year and the new material is great especially the album title track. She also tours in support of the new album at Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival in August. Tickets Review
5. Finals of Eurovision selection shows including Sweden’s Melodifestivalen
The greatest show on earth has its final on 12 March. We’ll preview it on this site the weekend ahead of the event. Check out our previews for Heat 1, Heat 2, Heat 3 and Heat 4. We’ve also made predictions after hearing the songs for Heat 1, Heat 2 and Heat 3 so far. France’s selection was both entertaining and successful last year and this year takes place 5 March.
6. Ruth Wilson is The Human Voice at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Wilson stars memorably in His Dark Materials and here the two-time Olivier winner tells the story of a woman’s heartbreak over the final call with her former lover. It’s Wilson’s 1st West End role since her Hedda Gabler at the National in 2017. Runs 17 March through 9 April 2022. Adapted and directed by Ivo Van Hove (All About Eve, Noel Coward Theatre). Tickets Review
7. Ella Henderson finally releases 2nd LP
Last single Brave was a song of the week for us in January and it feels like a long time since her debut album Chapter One. She’s spent the time productively however not least writing the clever duet Let’s Go Home Together which features on album Everything I Didn’t Say out 11 March 2022. We caught Henderson live at an intimate east London gig in 2019 and there was a glimpse there of what the new album would sound like. Tickets for a tour including a gig at 02 Shepherds Bush Empire are now on sale Album review
8. Red Pitch at Bush Theatre
New work Red Pitch plays at Bush Theatre this month starring Sex Education‘s Kedar Williams-Stirling. This coming of age story about gentrification features three lifelong friends Omz, Bilal and Joey who are play football together. Opens in February and runs to 26 March. Tickets Review
9. Oscars awarded 27 March
A shout out to Jessie Buckley who is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for The Lost Daughter. She won our Best Theatre Actress monsta in 2021 for her star-turn in Cabaret, currently wowing audiences in London’s West End. We’re surprised Lady Gaga didn’t get shortlisted and we’re rooting for The Power Of The Dog which boasts a powerful and unexpected Benedict Cumberbatch performance at its heart as well as being beautifully realised by director Jane Campion. West Side Story review
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