Author: mrmonstagigz
FILM OF THE MONTH: The History Of Sound starring Paul Mescal & Josh O’Connor (January 2026)
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
THEATRE REVIEW: Bengal Tiger At The Baghdad Zoo starring Arinze Kene & Peter Forbes at the Young Vic
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
PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 2 2026 starring Robin Bengtsson, Arwin, Brandsta City Släckers, Felicia & Laila Adèle
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
Best read monstagigz content of 2025 starring Inside No 9 Stage/Fright
- TV’s Inside No 9 takes to the stage
Our most read content of 2025 was this preview review of Inside No 9 Stage/Fright as the beloved TV anthology series was put to bed at Wyndham’s Theatre. After a UK tour it transfers to Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith early next year. Tickets
- Read on for reasons including EVITA, new Conor McPherson, Brie Larson and Rami Malek
PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2026 starring The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
- The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Passenger wrote the music and lyrics for this adaptation of the novel at Theatre Royal Haymarket starring The Full Monty‘s Mark Addy and Jenna Russell (Hello Dolly! London Palladium) running 29 January through 18 April 2026. It’s the story of a man who receives a letter from a long-lost friend and walks from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Tickets
- Read on for reasons including American Psycho, I’m Sorry Prime Minister and The History Of Sound
SONG OF THE MONTH: Too Epic To Be True by Vanilla Ninja (December 2025)
Estonia’s all-female rock band Vanilla Ninja next year attempt to return to the Eurovision Song Contest for the 1st time in 21 years with this anthemic delight.
- Read on for reasons including when Vanilla Ninja compete to represent Estonia
PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 1 2026 starring A-Teens, Greczula & Jacqline
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Saab Arena, Linköping WHEN? Saturday 31 January 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
A-Teens had UK hits with Upside Down and Halfway Around The World as well as 2 ABBA covers a quarter of a century ago and mark their reformation in Melodifestivalen’s 66th year.
- Read on for reasons including more detail about this opening show’s 6 acts
AWARDS: Winners of our 2025 monstas are …
monstagigz readers have been voting throughout October, November and December for their favourite pop, theatre, TV, film and podcasts of 2025 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2025 11th annual monstas winners …
- Read on for reasons including the winners of our 17 monstas for the best theatre, pop, TV, film and podcasts of 2025
AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre Actress of 2025
It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2025? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.
- Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Performance Of A Song 2025 Previous winners 2024 Katy Owen, The Buddha Of Suburbia 2023 Marisha Wallace Guys And Dolls 2022: Jodie Comer Prima Facie; 2021 Jessie Buckley Cabaret; 2020: Lesley Manville Talking Heads, 2019: Monica Dolan Appropriate, 2018: Sharon D. Clarke Caroline Or Change?, 2017: Imelda Staunton Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, 2016: Jade Anouka Shakespeare Trilogy, 2015: Sheridan Smith Funny Girl
