Author: mrmonstagigz

GIG REVIEW: Dua Lipa

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Brighton Dome

WHEN: 5/10, world tour runs until 20/4/18

SETLIST: Hotter Than Hell; Dreams/No Lie; Lost In Your Light; Garden; Last Dance; IDGAF; Blow Your Mind (Mwah); Thinking ‘Bout You; New Love; Genesis; No Goodbyes; Scared To Be Lonely; Begging; Homesick; Be The One; New Rules

We arrive at the venue two-and-a-half hours before the doors open and are greeted by dozens of Dua Lipa fans already queueing to see their idol.

  • Read on for reasons including what we think album two from Dua will offer

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THEATRE REVIEW: Young Frankenstein

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Garrick Theatre

WHEN: 30/9, press night 10/10, booking to 10/2/18

Creating a smash hit musical from a successful film is something which author Mel Brooks has much experience of.

  • Read on for reasons including why Bonnie Langford was in the audience for this third preview

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THEATRE REVIEW: Labour Of Love starring Martin Freeman & Tamsin Greig

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Noel Coward Theatre

WHEN: 29/9, press night 3/10, booking to 2/12

It would be fair to say that author James Graham is on a bit of a roll, with not one but two plays running in the same street in the West End.

  • Read on for reasons including why we wish Sarah Lancashire hadn’t pulled out of this play

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for October

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Christian Slater in Glengarry Glen Ross

Lady Gaga would’ve been our number one but her Joanne world tour now arrives – fingers crossed – at The 02 for two dates early in 2018, rescheduled from this month. No matter. Heathers star Slater appears in this David Mamet play about cutthroat Chicago salesmen at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End from 26/10 through 3/2/18. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Stranger Things, Dua Lipa and the Bridge Theatre opens

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THEATRE REVIEW: King Lear starring Ian McKellen

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre

WHEN: 23/9, press night 29/9, booking to 28/10

This is the third King Lear we’ve seen in recent years and is actually McKellen’s second stab at the role, describing it in the programme as ‘unfinished business’.

  • Read on for reasons including which Oscar winner was in the audience for this 2nd preview

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THEATRE REVIEW: Le Grand Mort starring Julian Clary

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Trafalgar Studios 2

WHEN: 22/9, booking to 28/10

Writer Stephen Clark won an Olivier award for his lyrics for the re-worked version of Martin Guerre and the poetic nature of his writing is much in evidence here.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is Julian Clary as you’ve never seen him before

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THEATRE REVIEW: Outlaws To In-laws

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE: King’s Head Theatre, Islington

WHEN: 17/9, runs to 23/9

Seven writers pen seven short plays which commemorate the recent 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

  • Read on for reasons including which three of the seven plays worked best

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THEATRE REVIEW: Wings starring Juliet Stevenson

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Young Vic

WHEN: 15/9, press night 20/9, runs to 4/11

Two years ago Natalie Abrahami directed Juliet Stevenson in a memorable and mesmeric static rendition of Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days at this very venue.

  • Read on for reasons including why Stevenson’s performance is the most acrobatic we’ve ever seen

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PREVIEW: 5 reasons why we can’t wait for new Hurts album Desire

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. They’re ever more LGBTQ friendly

Happiness. Exile. Surrender … and now Desire – all four of Hurts’ album titles have spoken to what it is to be an outsider. As their lyrics and music do. Their LGBTQ audience has never been more embraced than for the video for the first single of this campaign (still above, clip below) Beautiful Ones. Fans of recent BBC1 drama Rellik will be familiar with the story line playing out in reverse.

  • Read on for reasons including the video for their best new single for years

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