1. West End debut of Zachary Quinto in Best Of Enemies

Quinto (The Boys In The Band) is probably best known for his role as Spock in the rebooted Star Trek franchise and here plays Gore Vidal in the Young Vic production of this James (Ink, Almeida) Graham play opposite David Harewood as William F Buckley about the 1968 ATV TV debates. Runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 14 November through 18 February 2023. Tickets

• Read on for reasons including Florence and the Machine, The Crown and My Policeman

2. Greenwich pantomime Robin Hood

Andrew Pollard co-wrote and starred in World War 2 comedy Tom, Dick and Harry to much acclaim at Alexandra Palace Theatre earlier this year and steps aside from writing and starring in the annual Greenwich Theatre pantomime which this year is Robin Hood. Familiar face Anthony Spargo writes and stars with Phil Sealey as the Dame. Runs 24 November through 8 January 2023. Tickets

3. My Son’s A Queer transfers to the West End

Non-binary performer Rob Madge’s autobiographical My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) is the story of attempting to recreate a Disney parade that their 12-year-old self tried. It started life at the Turbine, played Edinburgh and transfers to the West End’s Garrick Theatre for a limited run until 6 November. Single We Will Be Loved Anyway is a gorgeous gateway to it and was a song of the month for us. Tickets Review

4. Emma Corrin as Orlando

Corrin played Princess Diana in The Crown (see later in this list) and we said: ‘Emma Corrin as Diana has the advantage of being relatively unknown and her transformation from fresh-faced innocent to a woman trapped in a marriage with unenviable baggage is well-judged. The scene where she is rollerskating the corridors of Buckingham Palace listening to Duran Duran on her Walkman couldn’t be more emblematic of her loneliness.’ She made her West End debut in Anna X at the Harold Pinter last year. Directed by Michael (Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) Grandage, this is the story of young nobleman Orlando, played by the non-binary Corrin, in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Runs 26 November through 25 February 2023 again at the Garrick. Tickets

5. Florence And The Machine Dance Fever tour

5th album Dance Fever was an album of the month for us in May and the band’s world tour includes 2 gigs at London’s The 02 in November where we join them. Tickets We last saw them at this venue 4 years ago and said: ‘High As Hope may have lacked the big anthems and bombast that has characterised her previous work but this gig brilliantly showcases that she has a new string to her bow – and it’s hitting its audience’s bullseye.’

6. Sigrid How To Let Go tour

Sigrid made our best of Glastonbury Festival list this year and we said: ‘Our favourite Norwegian is growing in live stature for us and this tightly-packed set curated from the best of both her albums proved just how much brilliant pop music she is currently writing.’ Her world tour arrives in the UK this month including a stop at London’s SSE Arena. Tickets

7. The Crown returns

monsta winner Imelda Staunton (Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, Harold Pinter Theatre) takes over from Olivia Colman as the Queen in a 5th season which will do well to improve on its riveting 4th. For some it may come too soon after the Queen’s death but we think its watchability may well match its controversy. Catch it on Netflix from 9 November 2022.

8. Harry Styles goes gay in My Policeman

The former One Direction-er plays 4 Wembley Stadium gigs next year as part of a massive world tour and his Hollywood career is very much in its early stages but we’re delighted he’s chosen to play a gay policeman who marries a woman in 1950s Brighton while in a relationship with a character played by David Dawson (Aristocrats, Donmar). Director Michael Grandage and cast member Emma Corrin also feature in Orlando (see above) and the stagey cast also includes Kadiff Kirwan (Queers, Old Vic) and Rupert Everett who won a monsta for film The Happy Prince. Review

9. Second Cherry live event

The Almost A Eurovision podcast won our monsta last year and this year’s run of the highlights from the national Eurovision selection shows with hosts Matt and Monty – the Ant and Dec of Eurovision – has once again been a real riot. Join them if you can get a ticket at The RVT for the live show finale of 2022’s run on 11 November. Tickets Vote for Second Cherry to win our Podcast Of The Year 2022

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy Delfont Mackintosh 
• Have you heard any of these songs or seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
• Enjoyed this review? Follow monstagigz on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook