PREVIEW

9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2024 starring Sheridan Smith in Opening Night

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  1. Sheridan Smith stars in new Rufus Wainwright musical

Smith (Shirley Valentine, Duke Of York’s Theatre) stars in this new musical directed by Ivo van Hove (A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre) based on the John Cassavetes film with music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright. Runs at the Gielgud Theatre 6 March through 27 July 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including the UK’s Eurovision entry, new musical Cable Street & Bananarama’s Glorious
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2024 starring Matt Smith

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  1. Matt Smith in An Enemy Of The People

Former Dr Who Smith (Lungs, Old Vic) who recently led TV’s House Of The Dragon stars in this Ibsen play about truth in a society driven by power and money. The supporting cast includes Jessica Brown Findlay (Uncle Vanya, Almeida) and Paul Hilton (The Glass Menagerie, Duke Of York’s Theatre) at the Duke Of York’s Theatre. Runs 6 February through 6 April 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including a Live Aid musical, Wicked Little Letters & Nye
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2024 Heat 2 starring LIAMOO & Maria Sur

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By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 7pm UK time 10 February 2024

WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenberg WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

This week’s half a dozen new entries include 4 by artists who are making their Melodifestivalen debuts.

  • Read on for reasons including C-Joe, Engmanns Kapel, Dear Sara & Fröken Snusk
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2024 Heat 1 starring Smash Into Pieces, Lisa Ajax & Samir & Viktor

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By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 7pm UK time 3 February 2024

WHERE?: Malmö Arena, Malmö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Last year Sweden won Eurovision for a 7th time equalling Ireland’s record and this 1st heat is from the venue where the Eurovision Song Contest final itself will take place on Saturday 11 May 2024.

  • Read on for reasons including Samir & Viktor, Lisa Ajax and Adam Woods
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2024 starring Plaza Suite

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  1. Plaza Suite at the Savoy Theatre

Sarah Jessica Parker makes her West End debut in Neil Simon’s comedy about marriage Plaza Suite opposite her husband Matthew Broderick at the Savoy Theatre 17 January through 30 March 2024. Tickets Broderick is the winner of 2 Tonys and Parker 2 Emmys. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including film All Of Us Strangers, Depeche Mode live and The Hills Of California
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Victorious Festival hints at 2024 headliner

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum Update: Headliners confirmed to include Fatboy Slim, Jamie T and Biffy Clyro

Keen readers may recall back in September, I had a lovely chat with a certain Mr Cook from further up the south coast.

  • Read on for reasons including why Fatboy Slim might be playing at Southsea’s glorious Victorious Festival in 2024
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2023 starring Jennifer Saunders in Peter Pan

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  1. Jennifer Saunders and Julian Clary in the Palladium pantomime

7 years ago Julian Clary starred opposite Paul O’Grady in pantomime Cinderella at this venue in a production that marked a return of the form to a theatre previously renowned for it. We’ve loved the shows that have followed, Dick Whittington, Snow White, Goldilocks, and Pantoland at the Palladium, in both 2020 and 2021, and Jack And The Beanstalk starring Dawn French in 2022. French’s comedy partner Jennifer Saunders stars here alongside Clary and My Son’s A Queer‘s Rob Madge. Runs 9 December through 14 January 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including David Tennant’s Macbeth, Joe Cole’s Homecoming and new musical Cold War
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2023 starring Stranger Things

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  1. Stranger Things at the Phoenix Theatre

The 80s-set Netflix sci-fi series of the same name won our 2016 Best TV monsta and so we’re very much looking forward to its theatrical counterpart promising to turn back the clock to Hawkins in 1959 ‘before the world turned upside down’. Stranger Things: The First Shadow invites us to explore the history of Hawkins and the origins of some key characters. Runs at the Phoenix Theatre 17 November through 25 August 2024. Tickets Preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Snow White, Cian Ducrot, Feeling Afraid and The Witches
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for October 2023 starring Kenneth Branagh as King Lear

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  1. Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear reigns in the West End

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

  • Read on for reasons including Madonna, S Club reunion, Dear England‘s West End transfer and new Agnetha ABBA
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2023 starring Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends

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  1. Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga

Last year’s televised show celebrating the work of the late great Sondheim was a real thrill and this month stars including Peters and Salonga perform some of the composer’s best-loved songs alongside Haydn Gwynne (The Welkin, National Theatre), Janie Dee (Follies, National Theatre) and Jac Yarrow (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, London Palladium). Runs at the West End’s Gielgud Theatre 16 September through 6 January 2024. Tickets Update: Performances now begin 21 September without Gwynne. Review

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