By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Wednesday 20 May and runs through 11 July 2026 and runs through RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

There are moments in this glorious restored 1930 venue with its old Hollywood feel that has hosted acts like The Beatles and Buddy Holly where you could be forgiven for thinking Broadway star Jinx Monsoon is Judy Garland.

• Read on for reasons including how this production is everything this Garland fan dreamed it could be and so much more

We’ve never been to this venue before but it’s the perfect setting for this play with music about the last months of The Wizard of Oz star’s life in 1969 as she prepares for a run of shows at The Talk Of The Town venue in London.

It’s bigger in scale than the 2012 Trafalgar Studios version we saw starring Tracie Bennett which was nominated for 4 Oliviers and earned its star a Tony nomination.

Garland is staying in London with young new fiancé Mickey Deans and loyal friend and pianist Anthony while struggling with drug and alcohol addictions.

This 1,000-seater production boasts a 6-strong band and Monsoon bosses hits including Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart, The Trolley Song, The Man That Got Away, Get Happy and Over The Rainbow.

Monsoon explains in the programme not only how much Garland meant to her but her own personal experience with addiction.

She says: ‘I think the responsibility is to show an accurate depiction of addiction and how it hurts the people around the person with the addiction but how it really hurts that person too.

‘I always say Judy Garland was like a gay man in a woman’s body, well ahead of her time right? And that’s essentially what I am. So, in that regard, I think I’m able to draw a lot of strength from the same sources. But I’ve got more of an insider perspective.’

Monsoon is not wrong but also she’s capable of portraying Garland at her 1,000-seater pleasing best and it’s a real treat to hear some of the star’s best known numbers realised here in quite such a showstopping venue.

The double RuPaul’s Drag Race winner casts real light on the injustice of not being able to have her own bank account leading to Garland being extorted by men who don’t think she deserves the money.

This production is everything this Garland fan dreamed it could be and so much more. It might not be in the West End’s heart but it’s definitely going to be the talk of the town.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Soho Theatre Tickets
• Have you seen a Soho Theatre Walthamstow show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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