1. New Elton John, Jake Shears and James Graham musical

Tammy Faye Messner was an American evangelist, singer, author, talk show host, and television personality. This musical about her life includes music by Elton John, lyrics by Jake Shears and a book by James Graham (Ink, Almeida and BBC1’s Sherwood). It stars Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells (The Prom and The Boys In The Band). Runs 13 October through 3 December. Tickets Review

• Read on for reasons including Brown Boys Swim, Simon Russell Beale and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

2. Marvellous opens new West End theatre

Nimax’s 602-seat Soho Place is the 1st new West End theatre in 50 years and its 1st production is Marvellous, the story of Neil Baldwin who was born in less enlightened times in the 50s but decided to make the best of his life. Directed by Theresa Heskins, this New Vic production reaches the West End with warm reviews. Runs 15 October through 26 November. Tickets Review

3. Brown Boys Swim at Soho Theatre

A hit at this summer’s Edinburgh Festival, Brown Boys Swim is the story by writer Karim Khan about best friends Mohsen and Kash who are looking forward to Jess Denver’s pool party apart from 1 reason – they can’t swim. Runs at Soho Theatre 26 September to 15 October. Tickets Review

4. Simon Russell Beale is John Gabriel Borkman

Russell Beale (Bach & Sons, Bridge Theatre) won a Tony for his last role in The Lehman Trilogy and here plays the titular character in this new version of an Ibsen play about an illustrious entrepreneur imprisoned for fraud and obsessed by making a comeback. A starry cast also includes Lia Williams (The Night Of The Iguana, Noel Coward Theatre) and Clare Higgins (Clarion, Arcola Theatre) so moving recently in Apple TV’s Trying. Runs 24 September through 26 November 2022. Tickets

5. Ella Henderson tours

As we write, the song Henderson duets with Cian Ducrot on, a song of the week for us last month, is top 40 and Henderson’s other feature, Crazy What Love Can Do with Becky Hill and David Guetta is top 10. 2nd album Everything I Didn’t Say went top 10 this year and Henderson tours with Ducrot as support this month including a London gig at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Tickets Cian Ducrot live review

6. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK at the Palladium

We saw the season 2 queens at the Palladium this year and the series 3 cast shantay you stay at the same venue for 2 nights this month as part of a 22-gig UK tour. We’re expecting to see favourites Kitty Scott-Claus (‘Lock up yours dads … Knockers for days …Bringing the camp to season 3, sweetie, darlings, it’s all about me’) Dick Whittington, Phoenix Theatre), Ella Vaday and Veronica Green (Drag Queens Of Pop, Vaudeville Theatre). Season 4 starts in September. Tickets

7. The Feeling at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

6th album Loss. Hope. Love. was released earlier this year and included tracks from the Everybody’s Talking About Jamie film, This Was Me and While You’re Still Young. The band have a devoted live following and play a 10-date UK tour this month including a pitstop at 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Tickets

8. New Heaton and Abbott LP

Paul and Jacqui made our shortlist of the best acts at this summer’s Glastonbury Festival and their new album N.K-Pop is released 7 October. Singles Still and Too Much For One (Not Enough For Two) couldn’t be more different and bode well for this 12-track follow-up to the pair’s 2020 Manchester Calling, an album of the month for us from the original lockdown. A 12-gig UK winter tour includes a date at The 02 with the excellent Billy Bragg, who we 1st saw live in the 80s, as support. Tickets

9. 2nd series of Industry on BBC1

The opening season made our Best TV of 2020 list to be beaten by I May Destroy You. Industry‘s Harry Lawtey was also shortlisted as Best TV/Film actor that year to be beaten by Normal People‘s Paul Mescal. Industry season 2 has already begun airing on HBO and is expected to take its 8-episode season 2 bow in October.

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy Almeida Theatre Tickets
• Have you heard any of these songs or seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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