GIG REVIEW: Culture Club, Tony Hadley & Heaven 17 at The 02

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 15 December 2024, Culture Club tour runs through 21 June 2025

Setlist: White Boy; I’m Afraid Of Me; Take Control; You Know I’m Not Crazy; Boy, Boy (I’m The Boy); White Boys Can’t Control It; I’ll Tumble 4 Ya; Kissing To Be Clever; Love Twist; Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?; Church Of The Poison Mind; It’s A Miracle; Mister Man; Miss Me Blind; Stormkeeper; Changing Every Day; Black Money; Colour By Numbers; That’s The Way (I’m Only Trying To Help You); Victims; Time (Clock Of The Heart); Get It On; Karma Chameleon

Perhaps it was because this was the last night of this leg of the tour but we’ve seen Boy George and his band Culture Club live many times and this was the friendlist and chattiest we’ve ever seen him.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was the warmest and most interesting we’ve ever seen Culture Club
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Supporting Theatre Actress of 2024

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Supporting Theatre Actress of 2024 2023 winner: Katy SecombeGuys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre Review Tickets
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GIG REVIEW: My Life Story at Camden Dingwalls

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Friday 13 December 2024, next date 14 March 2025

Setlist: Tits And Attitude; Motorcade; Broken; If You Can’t Live Without Me Then Why Aren’t You Dead Yet?; Running Out Of Heartbeats; Numb Numb Numb; Taking On The World; Walk/Don’t Walk; It’s A Girl Thing; Strumpet; Sparkle; #NoFilter; Penthouse In The Basement; Bubblewrap; You Can’t Uneat The Apple; Naked; 12 Reasons Why I Love Her

It’s 12 days to Christmas and 30 years since we 1st saw My Life Story support Cud at Exeter’s Lemon Grove, falling head over heels for their orchestral pop and suited and booted savoir-faire.

  • Read on for the very many more than 12 reasons why we love them
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Performance Of A Song 2024

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Tempest starring Sigourney Weaver, Mason Alexander Park & Mathew Horne at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Monday 9 December 2024, opens 17 December and runs through 1 February 2025 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We’ve certainly had the recent windy weather to fully appreciate the timing of this much looked-forward-to production starring Storm Sigourney.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s only really when Weaver gets to her feet that this production has wind in its sails
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THEATRE REVIEW: Robin Hood starring Jane McDonald, Julian Clary, Marisha Wallace & Charlie Stemp at the London Palladium

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Sunday 8 December 2024, runs through 12 January 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

What would Morecambe and Wise do?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the funniest, most heartfelt, joyous and dazzling the Palladium pantomime has ever been
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Gig of 2024

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Bette & Joan starring Greta Scacchi & Felicity Dean

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 5 December 2024, runs through 11 January 2025 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Heat and Dust, White Mischief, Presumed Innocent and The Player … if you’re wondering whatever happened to Greta Scacchi, the actress who appeared in those films, read on.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is serious subject matter given a delightfully funny airing thanks to a formidable duo
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/Film Actor of 2024

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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GIG REVIEW: Welly at The MOTH Club, Hackney

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHEN?: Wednesday 4 December 2024, tour runs through 15 Febuary 2025

Setlist: It’s Not Like This In France; Deere John; Soak Up The Culture; Shopping; Cul De Sac; Home For The Weekend; Jockey; Big In The Suburbs; Me And Your Mates

Q: What do Welly have in common with Pet Shop Boys, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, Cocteau Twins, The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Marine Girls?

  • Read on for reasons including how everyone needs to give their life a bit of Welly in 2025
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