Month: November 2023

THEATRE REVIEW: The Producers at the Teatro Tivoli, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 4 November (matinee), runs through 4 February 2024 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We can’t think of a less appropriate time to be staging this musical tale of producers who put on a Nazi-themed musical designed to fail to make money but are thwarted by a surprise hit.

  • Read on for reasons including how we and our companion made our Catalan stage debuts in this near-the-knuckle rollercoaster
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Album of 2023

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2023? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2023.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Snow White starring Katie Tonkinson & Anthony Spargo at Greenwich Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 25 November, runs through 7 January 2024 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

‘Mirror, mirror on the wall – where is the greatest panto of them all?’

  • Read on for reasons including why the Greenwich Theatre pantomime is the UK’s best
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Victorious Festival hints at 2024 headliner

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum Update: Headliners confirmed to include Fatboy Slim, Jamie T and Biffy Clyro

Keen readers may recall back in September, I had a lovely chat with a certain Mr Cook from further up the south coast.

  • Read on for reasons including why Fatboy Slim might be playing at Southsea’s glorious Victorious Festival in 2024
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Gig of 2023

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2023? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2023.

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GIG REVIEW: Cian Ducrot at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 21 November 2023, tour runs through 28 June 2024

SETLIST: Victory; Mama; Heaven; Him; Endless Nights; Rest Of Our Days; How Do You Know; Hurt When You Hurt Me; All For You; Blame It On You; Step Dad; Everyone Who Falls In Love (Has Someone Else They’re Thinking Of); Part Of Me; Thank God You Stayed; I’ll Be Waiting

A year ago we reviewed Ducrot as support on Ella Henderson’s tour and tonight she returns the favour by appearing here to duet on their new Christmas single Rest Of Our Days.

  • Read on for reasons including how 2024 promises some big gigs in his native Ireland
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GIG REVIEW: Shiiine On Weekender 2023 at Butlins, Minehead

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: 17 to 20 November 2023

Our seventh Shiiine (we only missed the first one) and it appears, musically, to have been the best! We review Wonder Stuff, Sleeper, Terrorvision, Inspiral Carpets, John Power, Jesus Jones, A Certain Ratio and Steve Lamacq’s Going Deaf for a Living talk plus DJ set.

  • Read on for reasons including Wonder Stuff, Sleeper, Terrorvision and Steve Lamacq
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV of 2023

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2023? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2023.

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: The Witches at the National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Saturday 18 November (matinee), opens 21 November and runs through 27 January 2024

The best thing about this new musical version of the beloved Road Dahl children’s tale is Daniel Rigby’s comic turn as an increasingly exasperated Devon hotelier who is Basil Fawlty played by Eric Morecambe.

  • Read on for reasons including how this compares with Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
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THEATRE REVIEW: Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 18 November, opens 14 December and runs through 25 August 2024 RUNTIME: 210 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Season 4 of Netflix hit series Stranger Things is set in 1986 and this spin off play – The First Shadow – turns back the clock in US town Hawkins to 1959.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is less Upside Down and more all over the place
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