We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. Sheridan Smith and Jade Anouka are previous winners in this category.
Read on for our top 5 best theatre actresses of 2017 so far and our hopes for the next half year
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Apollo Theatre
WHEN: 13/7, press night 24/7, runs to 7/10
Director Benedict Andrews’ last Young Vic production starred Gillian Anderson and was his take on Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. It was the smash hit of 2014, transferred to Broadway and his follow-up is no less deserving of such an honour.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Park Theatre
WHEN: 3/7 (matinee), runs to 3/7
It’s Pride weekend in London and Sir Ian McKellen is reaching the end of a week-long series of shows during which he has raised an astonishing £250,000 for north London’s four-year-old Park Theatre, which receives no government funding.
We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. Temple and Oddshaped Balls are previous winners in this category.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Barbican Theatre
WHEN: 30/6, runs to 18/8
Simon Russell Beale is one of the finest actors of his generation and therefore it’s curious that he should choose to return to the Royal Shakespeare Company after 20 years in something quite so overcooked.
27/7 will mark the 50th anniversary of the repeal of the law against homosexuality and BBC4 has commissioned the filming of eight monologues curated by Mark Gatiss and featuring authors including Jackie Clune performed by stars such as Ben Whishaw (pictured above), Russell Tovey and Alan Cumming. UPDATE: 4/7: No sign of Whishaw or Cumming in the Old Vic casting announced today but it does include Tovey, Gemma Whelan, Sarah Crowe, Ian Gelder, Mark Bonnar & Kadiff Kirwan. Tickets
BY: Carron Stacey
WHERE: Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth
WHEN: 24/6
Having seen this Cure tribute band at the Butlins Shiiine On Weekend last year, I decided to give them another go in my home town.
Melodrama is our favourite album of the year so far and made number 5 in the UK charts this week as well as topping them in the US. Liability broke our hearts and Perfect Places proved she’s the fire in her belly to be one of pop’s most interesting stars for a long time yet. She played her fans at the Other Stage a video of Kate Bush’s epic Running Up That Hill on Friday immediately before she appeared. And that probably tells you all you need to know about her ambition. BBC coverage
Second album Melodrama out on Friday is our favourite of 2017 so far. Writer In The Dark is pure Kate Bush, Perfect Places where we’d love Robyn to go and the lyrics are as brimful of character (she’s 19 and she’s on fire) as the likes of Green Light and Supercut are dancefloor friendly.
WORTH A LOOK: *****
WHERE: Almeida Theatre
WHEN: 19/6, press night 27/6, runs to 5/8
Star Bertie Carvel’s father John worked on the Guardian for 36 years before retiring in 2009. UPDATE 17/7: INK transfers to the Duke Of York’s Theatre from 9/9. TICKETS
