Month: February 2023

PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen andra chansen starring Theoz, Tennessee Tears, Mariette & Melanie Wehbe

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 4 March 2023

WHERE? Hägglunds Arena, Örnsköldsvik

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

We’ve now seen the performances, all the songs are available and below we predict how each of the songs in Saturday’s semi final – or andra chansen as we prefer to call it – would fare in May in Liverpool at the Eurovision Song Contest itself.

  • Read on for reasons including our thoughts on acts including Theoz, Tennessee Tears, Mariette and Melanie Wehbe
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2023 starring Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

This venue’s promenade performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar have been amongst some of the best theatre we’ve ever immersed ourselves in and so this similar new production of a musical which is 1 of our favourites offers a great deal to look forward to. Not least with a cast including Marisha Wallace (Oklahoma!, Young Vic) and Daniel Mays (The Caretaker, Old Vic). Runs 3 March, opens 14 March through 2 September 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Self Esteem, Cian Ducrot and the return of Eugenius
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 4 starring Loreen

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 25 February 2023

WHERE? Malmö, Malmö Arena

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

Each act performing last in this season of Melodifestivalen has won their heat or progressed to Andra Chansen and we think 2012 Eurovision Song Contest winner Loreen is likely to be in the euphoric former camp.

  • Read on for reasons including finalen and Andra Chansen predictions
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THEATRE REVIEW: Romeo and Julie starring Callum Scott Howells and Rosie Sheehy at the National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: 18 February, opens 21 February and runs through 1 April 2023 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Callum Scott Howells (Cabaret. Playhouse Theatre) proves what a versatile actor he is in this story of a single young father struggling to bring up a young child and cope with an alcoholic mother.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is really the story of the injustices of the education system
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THEATRE REVIEW: Shirley Valentine starring Sheridan Smith at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: 17 February, runs through 3 June 2023 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The moment we know we’re in the presence of comedy genius is when something unexpected happens – a sink in the kitchen set overflows and threatens to drench the front row tonight – and Smith acknowledges it, laughs with it yet never breaks character.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the funniest comedy now running in the West End
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: The Cut Up by Jo Bartlett (February 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Fortress; And I Loved You; Greener; Aldershot; Eilean; Our Reward; Camden; Hwyl; Hero

A confession: as a teenager we used to go to Aldershot’s Buzz Club which Bartlett ran featuring intimate gigs by bands that would go on to great things including The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, The Beautiful South and Blur.

  • Read on for reasons including what next for Bartlett as well as how to glimpse Indie Through The Looking Glass
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 3 starring Melanie Wehbe, Laurell and Paul Rey

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 18 February 2023

WHERE?: Sparbanken Lidköping Arena, Lidköping

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

Last week’s Heat 2 saw a ratcheting up of quality, a surprise non-qualifier and a Heat 3 performer co-writing the winning song.

  • Read on for reasons including finalen and Andra Chansen predictions
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THEATRE REVIEW: Standing At The Sky’s Edge at the National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: 11 February, opens 13 February and runs through 25 March 2023 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) UPDATE: Standing won 2 Olivier Awards and transfers to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End in February 2024

It’s not very often at the theatre that we cry so uncontrollably that we worry we might embarass ourselves.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is London’s best new musical
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