THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: The Importance Of Being Earnest starring Stephen Fry & Olly Alexander at the Noel Coward Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 28 September 2025, runs through 10 January 2026 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Stephen Fry returns to the West End stage as Lady Bracknell for the 1st time since being nominated for a Tony for his Malvolio in 2012’s Twelfth Night and appearing as The Narrator in the Rocky Horror Show in 2015.

  • Read on for reasons including how if you’re having half as much fun as they are onstage, you’ll be having 1 of the best nights of your life
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THEATRE REVIEW: Romans, a novel starring Kyle Soller at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **

WHEN? Friday 26 September, runs through 11 October 2025 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Last year this venue had a big hit with Eline Arbo’s play The Years which transferred to the West End and looked at the life of 1 woman at different stages across 65 years featuring multiple actresses, winning 2 Oliviers in the process.

  • Read on for reasons including how pretentious full title, Romans, a novel perhaps sharply illustrates this play’s failure of form
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THEATRE REVIEW: Bacchae starring Clare Perkins, Ukweli Roach & James McArdle at the National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Tuesday 23 September, opens 24 September and runs through 1 November 2025 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

Author Nima Taleghani (Romeo And Juliet, Duke Of York’s Theatre) is perhaps best known as gay teacher Mr Farouk in Netflix’s Heartstopper and with this his play becomes the 1st debut work on the Olivier Theatre stage.

  • Read on for reasons including this is a flawed and irreverent take on a Greek classic which will make you laugh
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THEATRE REVIEW: Entertaining Mr Sloane starring Jordan Stephens & Tamzin Outhwaite at the Young Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Monday 22 September, opens 24 September and runs through 8 November 2025 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Stephens plays the titular Sloane, a would-be lodger, interviewed by Outhwaite’s (Stepping Out, Vaudeville Theatre) lonely landlady Kath who reveals she had an illegitimate son she gave up for adoption who would be Sloane’s age now.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production is most likely to be remembered for its excruciating turn by Outhwaite who is unforgettable
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THEATRE REVIEW: Oliver! starring Simon Lipkin, Shanay Holmes & Billy Jenkins at the Gielgud Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 2 August 2025 (matinee), runs through March 29 2026

It’s the songs that are the stars of this musical which won 6 Oscars in its 1968 film version and it’s hard not to raise a smile at a tune like Consider Yourself which rhymes ‘uppity’ and ‘cup’o’tea’.

  • Read on for reasons including how this musical’s dazzling future is well-placed in the hands of a cast featuring Billy Jenkins
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THEATRE REVIEW: Stereophonic starring Jack Riddiford at Duke Of York’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 30 August, runs through 22 November 2025

RUNTIME: 195 minutes (including 15-minute interval)

Can you ever have too much of a good thing?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a classy production we’re unsure will repeat its Tonys success at the Oliviers
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THEATRE REVIEW: Interview starring Robert Sean Leonard & Paten Hughes at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Monday 25 August, runs through 27 September 2025 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (without interval)

A war correspondent in Ukraine blames himself for the maiming of his photographer, is demoted and sent to interview a New York influencer turned actress he has little interest in.

  • Read on for reasons including how these are 2 people going at each other who it’s difficult to muster much empathy for
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THEATRE REVIEW: Juniper Blood at Donmar Warehouse by Mike Bartlett

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Tuesday 19 August, opens 26 August and runs through 4 October 2025 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including 2 intervals)

What do you get if you cross the desire for self-sufficiency of TV’s The Good Life with the farming techniques of wilding and regeneration seen in Clarkson’s Farm?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the most interesting plays 1 of this country’s most celebrated writers has yet penned
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THEATRE REVIEW: Born With Teeth starring Ncuti Gatwa & Edward Bluemel at Wyndham’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 16 August, opens 2 September and runs through 1 November 2025 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (without interval)

Will they or won’t they? There’s real sexual tension between Gatwa’s roistering mentor Kit Marlowe and Bluemel’s in awe fanboy Shakespeare.

  • Read on for reasons including how Born With Teeth boasts plenty of bite, much to chew and lots that’s entertaining to swallow
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THEATRE REVIEW: Brigadoon starring Louis Gaunt at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Monday 4 August, opens 11 August and runs through 20 September 2025 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

This outdoor setting is the perfect venue for this updated musical of 2 crashed World War Two airmen who stumble across a Scottish Highlands village seemingly suspended in time and not on any map.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a thoughtful re-imagination of a classic which deserves to be seen in this glorious outdoor venue
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