1. Born With Teeth starring Ncuti Gatwa

Former Doctor Who Gatwa (The Importance Of Being Earnest, National Theatre) stars opposite Edward Bluemel (Love In Idleness, Menier Chocolate Factory) in this story of playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare at the Wyndham’s Theatre 13 August through 1 December 2025. Tickets Our review

• Read on for reasons including Brigadoon, Steps’ musical Here And Now and Materialists

2. Brigadoon at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Louis Gaunt (Peter Pan, London Palladium) stars in this musical about World War 2 fighter pilots seatching for a way home who crash land in the Highlands of Scotland as wedding preparations are afoot. Runs at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2 August through 20 September 2025. Tickets Our review

3. Steps’ musical Here And Now tours

We caught Steps supermarket-based musical Here And Now in Birmingham last year calling it ‘light enough on its feet and this audience so willing to go with it that everything’s carried off successfully with the cheekiest of winks’. Original cast members Rebecca Lock (Heathers, Other Palace), Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill, Shaftesbury Theatre), River Medway (Unfortunate, Southwark Playhouse) and Finty Williams (The Baker’s Wife, Menier) return. Tour runs at 30 locations across the UK and Ireland until May 2026. Tickets

4. New Alison Goldfrapp LP

Flux – out 15 August 2025 – is Goldfrapp’s follow up to her debut solo album The Love Invention which won our 2023 Best Album monsta. We’ve currently heard 4 of the 10 tracks including Sound & Light, July’s song of the month, and song of the week Find Xanadu. She recently supported Scissor Sisters on an arena tour where we caught up with her at London’s The 02. Tickets

5. Celine Song’s film Materialists

Materialists is Celine Song’s follow up to Past Lives which won our 2023 Best Film monsta. It stars Pedro Pascal and follows a love triangle between a matchmaker, her aspiring actor ex-boyfriend, and a charming millionaire. Released 15 August 2025.

6. New Blow Monkeys LP

Birdsong – released 15 August 2025 – will be the band’s 13th album and includes the title track and Penny Drops as the 2 singles so far which remind just how funky and sax-friendly Dr Robert and co could be at their 80s charttopping best. There’s also a co-headlining tour to come this autumn with gigs including 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in October. Tickets

7. Southsea’s Victorious Festival

Our favourite summer festival takes place on Portsmouth seafront between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 August. Acts include some we’ve seen – including Madness and The Mary Wallopers – and some we want to like The Last Dinner Party, Melanie C as a DJ and Gabrielle. Everything crossed that our favourites Welly are also confirmed to play. Tickets

8. Saving Mozart at The Other Palace

We’re excited to see Aimie Atkinson (Pretty Woman: The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre), Jordan Luke Gage (Bonnie & Clyde, Arts Theatre) and Gloria Onitiri (Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre) in this new musical about the composing genius which runs 28 July through 30 August 2025. Tickets

9. The Roses film

Benedict Cumberbatch (Hamlet, Barbican), Olivia Colman (Mosquitoes, National Theatre), Allison Janney and Ncuti Gatwa (see number 1 above) star in this remake of the classic Michael Douglas/Kathleen Turner 1989 comedy classic film about a feuding couple. Released 29 August 2025.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Born With Teeth Tickets
• Have you seen a Ncuti Gatwa show before and what do you think of this list? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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