Month: January 2026

THEATRE REVIEW: Dracapella starring Keala Settle (but not this night) & Ako Mitchell at Park Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Saturday 10 January 2026, runs through 17 January 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best thing about this jukebox musical loosely retelling the Dracula story via the medium of acapella hits is the entrancing blend of voices on show.

  • Read on for reasons including how Dracapella was more pain in the neck for us than giving eternal life
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THEATRE REVIEW: Daniel’s Husband starring Joel Harper-Jackson, Liza Sadovy & David Bedella

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 10 January (matinee) and runs through 10 January 2026 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

Should gay couples get married because they can?

  • Read on for reasons including how Daniel’s Husband deserves a West End transfer because the questions it asks have never been more pertinent than now
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FILM REVIEW: Hamnet starring Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Friday 9 January 2026 on its UK release date RUNTIME: 126 minutes

Jessie Buckley deserves all the Best Actress Oscar attention she is attracting for this showstopping role as Agnes Hathaway, a woman renowned as a ‘forest witch’ who marries budding author William Shakespeare.

  • Read on for reasons including how Hamnet offers explosive Oscar-worthy performances
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 3 2026 starring Saga Ludvigsson, Medina & Patrik Jean

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHERE? Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad WHEN? Saturday 14 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT

Saga Ludvigsson made last year’s final on her debut finishing 12th with Hate You So Much.

  • Read on for reasons including more detail about this show’s 6 acts
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FILM OF THE MONTH: The History Of Sound starring Paul Mescal & Josh O’Connor (January 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Tuesday 6 January, released in the UK Friday 23 January 2026 RUNTIME: 128 minutes

It’s the gift of Paul Mescal’s singer Lionel to ‘see’ sound that compels him to seek out Josh O’Connor’s musician David as the latter sits at a piano playing a rare folk song familiar to both men.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a melancholic, quietly understated film which will eventually be regarded as a classic
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THEATRE REVIEW: Bengal Tiger At The Baghdad Zoo starring Arinze Kene & Peter Forbes at the Young Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK? **1/2

WHEN? Saturday 13 December (matinee) and runs through 31 January 2026 RUNTIME 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Young Vic artistic director Nadia Fall takes to the stage immediately before this performance to say 3rd ‘tiger’ Peter Forbes (Follies, National Theatre) only read the play on Wednesday, 3 days ago.

  • Read on for reasons including how we’d advise to go late in the run to see this production if at all
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 2 2026 starring Robin Bengtsson, Arwin, Brandsta City Släckers, Felicia & Laila Adèle

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHERE? Scandinavium, Gothenburg WHEN? Saturday 7 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT

There are 2 returning winners to the 66th Melodifestivalen this year and the 1st is Robin Bengtsson who won MF in 2017 finishing 5th in Kyiv, Ukraine with I Can’t Go On.

  • Read on for reasons including more detail about this show’s 6 acts
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