WHEN?: Tuesday 28 January, Thursday 30 January through Saturday 1 February 2025
WHERE?: Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm
Spain achieved its best Eurovision result for 27 years with the 1st winner of Benidorm Fest – Chanel’s SloMo was 3rd – but the last 2 years have seen finishes in 17th and 22nd.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Friday 10 January, running through 22 March 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
We’ve been regularly visiting Barcelona for the last 25 years and only ever seen the musicals we love in Spanish, English or a mixture and so this is our 1st in the native Catalan.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: Saturday 15 February 2025 7pm UK time
WHERE?: ABB Arena, Västerås
Will it be 4th time lucky for a girl band with a rotating membership to rival the UK’s own Sugababes?
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
This is the lead single from the album we are most excited for in 2025, Lady Gaga’s 8th studio collection expected in February.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Sunday 5 January 2025, runs through 31 August 2025 RUNTIME: 125 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
The best thing about this coming-of-age story riffing on Greek mythology is the way it encourages difference to be viewed as a superpower.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Friday 3 January, runs through 15 March 2025 Update: Extended through 31 May 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Relocating F Scott Fitzgerald’s short story of a baby born as an elderly man and living his life backwards – best known as a 2008 film starring Brad Pitt – to the North Cornwall coast brings a community feel reminiscent of fellow musical Come From Away to this warm hug of a show.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: Saturday 8 February 2025 7pm UK time
WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg
Hammarström has made the finalen in each of her last 2 Melodifestivalens and has co-written an entry with 4 of the authors of 2023 Eurovision winner Tattoo.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHEN?: Friday 27 December 2024, runs through 1 February 2025 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including 2 intervals)
There’s a ghost at the piano in Rebecca Frecknall’s (A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida) take on Tennessee Williams’ favourite of all his acclaimed plays who may be Skipper, whose love dared speak its name to ageing football jock Brick, but was rebuffed.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN?: Sunday 29 December 2024, runs through 25 January 2025 and then tours the UK (details below) RUNTIME: 120 minutes with a 20-minute interval
This production began as a conversation in 2018 when Oberman told director Brigid Larmour she wanted to play Shylock as an East End matriarch in the 1930s, inspired by her great grandmother.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: Saturday 1 February 2025 7pm UK time
WHERE?: Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå
Melodifestivalen turns 65 this year, in 2024 gave us Unforgettable Norwegian twins Marcus and Martinus as victors and we see them live in London in March, the biggest compliment we can pay an act.
