- 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
2. Self Esteem at the Eventim Apollo
2nd album Prioritise Pleasure was shortlisted as Album Of The Year for us in 2022 and A Humdrum Mum reviewed her at Victorious Festival last summer. This 21-date UK and Ireland tour includes 3 sold out Eventim Apollo gigs and Self Esteem goes on to support Blur at Wembley Stadium this summer. Tickets
3. Cian Ducrot at KOKO
Ella Henderson duet All For You was shortlisted for Best Song of 2022 and Ducrot’s gig with her at 02 Shepherds Bush Empire received similar acclaim. We also saw him perform in Lafayette in King’s Cross in September 2022 saying: ‘There is a magical moment during this gig when Ducrot steps away from his microphone, straps on an acoustic guitar and sits in the audience as he plays a song they will eventually sing along with.’ A 31-date UK, European and US tour starts in February and we’ll be at his London KOKO gig in March. Tickets UPDATE: Some of the later shows have been rearranged because Ducrot now supports Ed Sheeran at dates including 1 at The 02 in London.
4. Eugenius at the Turbine Theatre
Eugenius is co-written by Ben Adams from A1 and Subwoolfer and won our Best New Musical monsta in 2018 for its Other Palace production. It returns to the smaller Turbine Theatre for a revival from 17 March through 28 May 2023. Tickets
5. The Way Old Friends Do at the Park Theatre
Ian Hallard (Closer To Heaven, Above The Stag) writes and stars in a play directed by Mark Gatiss (The Unfriend, Criterion Theatre) about 2 old friends who come out to each other – one as gay and the other as an ABBA fan. A chance meeting 30 years later sees them trying to form an ABBA tribute band. Will it be Money, Money, Money or Mamma Mia? Runs 15 March through 15 April 2023 at the Park Theatre. Tickets
6. Smiley on Netflix
This Barcelona-set romantic comedy in 8 parts is the story of 2 ill-matched gay men played by Miki Esparbé and Carlos Cuevas surrounded with an interesting and believable ensemble cast and even has a drag bar as 1 of its main locations. It’s both Tales Of The City and a gay Sex in The City for the 20s and it’s also surprisingly moving as well as being very funny. Watch on Netflix Our Barcelona strand also makes a welcome return this month.
7. Sweden chooses its Eurovision entry
The fact the UK is hosting Eurovision this year for the 1st time since Dana International won in Birmingham in 1998 – and for Ukraine – breathes fresh new life into the franchise and we’ve been reporting regularly on the heats before greatest show on Earth Melodifestivalen concludes 11 March 2023. As we write, the big favourite Tattoo by Loreen is about to be unveiled in Saturday’s Heat 4 and we are beyond excited. This season has been far from predictable however including the early departure of Wiktoria (performance above).
8. New Depeche Mode album
Keyboardist Andy Fletcher died last year and remaining members Dave Gahan and Martin Gore return with single Ghosts Again ahead of album Memento Mori on 24 March. A world tour sees them playing London’s Twickenham Stadium on 17 June as well as a headlining gig at Barcelona’s Primavera. Tickets
9. Jennifer Saunders stars in Allelujah! film
We reviewed Alan Bennett’s play about about a geriatric ward in a cradle-to-grave hospital that is under threat of closure when it premiered in 2018 at the Bridge Theatre. Casting Jennifer Saunders as the revered Sister at the piece’s heart is a masterstroke and we look forward to the ‘moments when Allelujah! sings (and dances) that it really soars’ to be repeated from stage to celluloid. Opens 17 March 2023.
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