By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN?: Monday 29 January, runs through 3 February 2024, touring the UK until 11 May 2024 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
‘The wedding’s off but the honeymoon is on!’ runs the tagline for this fun Stock Aitken Waterman musical and, plot-wise, there’s very little else you need to know.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: 27 January 2024, tour runs through 8 April 2024
SETLIST: My Cosmos Is Mine; Wagging Tongue; Walking In My Shoes; It’s No Good; Policy Of Truth; In Your Room; Everything Counts; Precious; Before We Drown; Home; Somebody; Ghosts Again; I Feel You; A Pain that I’m Used To; Behind The Wheel; Black Celebration; Stripped; John The Revelator; Enjoy The Silence; Waiting For The Night; Just Can’t Get Enough; Never Let Me Down Again; Personal Jesus
This is our 1st time seeing Depeche Mode since 1986’s Black Celebration and 1988’s Music For The Masses tours at the old Wembley Arena.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
Growing up gay in the 80s wasn’t much fun with its AIDS and Clause 28 and Andrew Scott’s (Vanya, Duke Of York’s Theatre) screenwriter Adam is struggling with writer’s block, watching old episodes of Top Of The Pops and living alone in a high-rise London tower block which is sparsely populated.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 2 March 2024
WHERE?: Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus return to Melodifestivalen at the 1st time of asking after finishing as runners up in 2023.
Former Dr Who Smith (Lungs, Old Vic) who recently led TV’s House Of The Dragon stars in this Ibsen play about truth in a society driven by power and money. The supporting cast includes Jessica Brown Findlay (Uncle Vanya, Almeida) and Paul Hilton (The Glass Menagerie, Duke Of York’s Theatre) at the Duke Of York’s Theatre. Runs 6 February through 6 April 2024. Tickets Our review
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
We can’t ever remember writing about Ireland’s Eurovision selection show Eurosong but this year it contains an entry we think has the potential to do very well in Sweden in May and 1 that is competent but unchallenging which may well win the ticket.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Saturday 20 January, runs through 30 March 2024 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) UPDATE: Run extended to 13 April 2024
Real life husband and wife Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker are the perfect pair to bring the best out of this Neil Simon comedy which is arguably the funniest show currently playing in London’s West End.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 24 February 2024
WHERE?: Stiga Sports Arena, Eskilstuna WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
Both this week’s returning acts – Dotter and Danny Saucedo – have come agonisingly close to winning Melodifestivalen and would be expected to advance straight to the finalen from this heat.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Saturday 13 January (matinee), runs through 27 January 2024 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)
We had 4 walk-outs and at least 1 audience member crying during this provocative 3-hander comedy without interval.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
We’ve heard all 18 songs vying to represent Norway at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden in May and this is the 1 we couldn’t get out of our head on 1st listen.
