It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2019? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2019.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Eventim Apollo
WHEN? 4/12/19
SETLIST: Mine Right Now; In Vain; Schedules; Plot Twist; Raw; Sight Of You; Don’t Kill My Vibe; Level Up; High Five; Fake Friends; Business Dinners; Sucker Punch; Dynamite; Home To You; Basic: Never Mine; Strangers; Don’t Feel Like Crying
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Almeida RUNTIME: 175 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
WHEN? 2/12, press night 10/12, runs to 25/1/20
The Duchess of Malfi is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written in the 17th century by English dramatist John Webster that is unusual for having a female protagonist.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHERE? Playhouse Theatre RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 30/11, press night 6/12, runs to 29/2/20
‘This’ll work – I’ve seen it in a movie with Steve Martin.’ So says McAvoy to much audience laughter as Cyrano de Bergerac before impersonating friend Christian who is struggling to woo the challenging Roxane.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? Greenwich Theatre RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 29/11 (press night), runs to 12/1/20
Welcome to a show worthy of the West End but at a fraction of the ticket price that speaks to what it is like to live in this beautiful nook of south-east London.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Menier Chocolate Factory RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including two intervals)
WHEN? 22/11, press night 3/12, runs to 7/3/20
Julie Andrews made her American stage debut in this 1954 British musical in a role played here by Amara Okereke who won a Stage Debut award for Best Actress in a Musical
This seasonal favourite returns for its fourth outing starring Julian Clary, Paul O’Grady, Gary Wilmot, Nigel Havers, Paul Zerdin and new face Matt Baker. Tempted? Read our 2016, 2017 and 2018 reviews. Runs 7/12 to 12/1/20. Tickets
WHERE? Greenwich Theatre
WHEN? opens 22/11, press night 29/11, runs to 12/1/20
Greenwich Theatre’s annual pantomime is always one of the highlights of our festive season and so we quizzed writer/director/star Andrew Pollard (pictured above) to find out more about this year’s show which is in previews from Friday (22/11/19)
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
OUT: now
TRACKLIST: Shadows; I Don’t Know What’s Cool Anymore; Back Of My Bike; Goldmine; Sing A Song; Sometimes; Now You Know; The Answer; I’d Rather Die
‘Got a UK deal before we finished school, Moved to East London and tried to be cool,
Top ten felt like picking a cherry, Wearing free sneaks in the pub with Katy Perry.’
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
OUT: now
Ladies – start your engines. We’re big fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and so, when monstagigz favourite MNEK appeared to produce rival girl groups, we thought the results would be good but we weren’t quite prepared for two fabulous versions of a great original song.
