WORTH A LOOK?: ****
There’s something extraordinarily self aware about the winner of the BBC Music’s Sound of 2018 title penning a tune asking: ‘Honestly, did I live up to the hype?’
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN?: Saturday 16 September 2023
It’s almost 4 years to the day since we first saw drag Girls Aloud tribute act, named Gals Aloud, at the Underbelly Festival shortly before the Gals leader Cheryl Hole was due to appear on the 1st season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Saturday 16 September (matinee), opens 19 September runs through 28 October 2023 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Ferran and Carvel are 2 of this country’s finest actors and here they combine in a very familiar, London-set production of this classic without songs to produce something quite unexpected.
We haven’t seen Branagh in the West End since The Kenneth Branagh Company’s year-long run of six plays at the Garrick Theatre closed in 2016 on its highest high with its star taking the lead in The Entertainer. Branagh also directs at the Wyndham’s Theatre 21 October through 9 December. Tickets Our recent Lears have included Sir Ian McKellen and the late Glenda Jackson. 1st preview review
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Sunday 10 September (150 minutes no interval), booking through 8 October 2023
The theatrical version of beloved 1982 film Tootsie won Tonys for Best Book and Best Leading Actor In A Musical in 2019 and has long been rumoured for a West End transfer but would it be vamos Tootsie vamos?
You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 16 categories from late November this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2023.
By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum
Monstagigz’s Ms Humdrum was selected as a local artist to produce a street art piece as part of this year’s Look Up Portsmouth, a city-wide celebration of worldwide street artists, including our very own My Dog Sighs, The London Police and many more.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
We’re in South America as we write and there’s 1 Spanish-speaking song we hear everywhere and it’s this 1 with its reflection on a difficult relationship and determination to put an end to it to a moody, dancefloor-friendly bop.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
TRACKLIST: Thank You; I’m Fine; Limit To Love; Shut Up; Sometimes; I Just Want It; Sunshine; Moves To Make; Settle Down; If You Want To; Trying; Bitte
Freyr is clearly laying the groundwork here for a lengthy career and our only qualm with his sophomore album is that there is nothing quite so catchy as either of his Eurovision entries Think About Things or 10 Years.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
The title track from Kylie’s 16th album out 22 September proves Padam Padam, a song of the week for us in May and Ms Minogue’s biggest UK hit for 13 years, was no flash in the pan.
