1. Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear reigns in the West End

We haven’t seen Branagh in the West End since The Kenneth Branagh Company’s year-long run of six plays at the Garrick Theatre closed in 2016 on its highest high with its star taking the lead in The Entertainer. Branagh also directs at the Wyndham’s Theatre 21 October through 9 December. Tickets Our recent Lears have included Sir Ian McKellen and the late Glenda Jackson. 1st preview review

• Read on for reasons including Madonna, S Club reunion, Dear England‘s West End transfer and new Agnetha ABBA

2. Madonna launches world tour in London

The Queen of Pop’s Madonna: The Celebration Tour was to open in July in Vancouver, Canada but illness forced those dates to be re-arranged. Madonna now opens the much-anticipated tour in London in October for the 1st of 6 dates at The 02. We join her in Barcelona in November for 2 dates at the Palau Sant Jordi. The tour now runs through 24 April 2024 where it finishes in Mexico. It highlights a recording career spanning 4 decades and we last saw her at the London Palladium in February 2020 just before Covid. Tickets 

3. S Club reunion tour

One of the saddest stories of the year was the death of former S Club 7 member Paul Cattermole by natural causes aged just 46 shortly after his band announced a 15-date UK tour reunion this autumn. New single These Are The Days is a tribute to Paul and was a song of the week for us in August. We join the band for 1 of 3 gigs at London’s 02. The tour opens 12 October in Manchester. Tickets The 02 review

4. Dear England transfers to the West End

James Graham’s latest play reflects on Gareth Southgate’s management of the England men’s football team and was longlisted for 3 2023 monstas. It was highly acclaimed and transfers from the National Theatre with its star Joseph Fiennes and arrives at the Prince Edward Theatre 9 October running through 13 January 2024. Tickets West End cast and production review

5. Agnetha ABBA’s A+ album

Lead single Where Do We Go From Here?, written by Jörgen Elofsson and Kamilla Bayrak, is a pleasant reminder of Fältskog’s fine vocals on a tune which is a little more laidback than the 70s and 80s ABBA hits with which she made her name. It’s from a reworking of her 2013 album A, called aptly A+ out 13 October. We’re excited for it thanks to show ABBA Voyage and the band’s recent new material. Tickets

6. Second Cherry at the RVT

Second Cherry has won our Best Podcast monsta for the last 2 years and is longlisted once again in 2023. Hosts Matt and Monty cast their irreverent eye across the national finals that select the songs for the year’s Eurovision Song Contest and at its live event on 13 October at London’s iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern its listeners pick their favourite. Tickets if there are any left. Listen to Second Cherry Our favourite cherries so far this year are EYJAA from Denmark and Skrellex for Norway. Fingers crossed for Agoney for Spain.

7. Elephant returns to the Bush

We 1st saw Anoushka Lucas in a leading role in the reworking of Oklahoma! at the Young Vic and she followed it with her debut play Elephant which returns to the Bush Theatre this month. It’s part gig, which we love, and runs 14 October through 4 November 2023. Tickets Review

8. New RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

Season 5 takes its bow from 28 September 2023 on BBC3 and we’re looking forward to disovering new drag superstars of the calibre of some of our favourites including Kitty Scott-Claus (Dick Whittington, Phoenix Theatre), Ella Vaday (Drag Race UK tour, London Palladium), Cheryl Hole (Gals Aloud, Underbelly Festival) and Baga Chipz (Cinderella, Trafalgar Studios). Watch

9. Clyde’s at the Donmar

Lynette Linton is the artistic director of the Bush Theatre and here helms a Lynn Nottage play starring Giles Terera (Black Matter, Le Crazy Coqs) about the bustling kitchen of a run-down Pennsylvania truck stop and the quest to create the perfect sandwich. Runs 13 October through 2 December 2023. Tickets

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy Delfont Mackintosh Tickets
• Have you seen a show starring or directed by Kenneth Branagh? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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