THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: To Kill A Mockingbird starring Rafe Spall & Pamela Nomvete at the Gielgud Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 12 March, opens 31 March, runs to 13 August 2022

RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

‘We can’t go on like this,’ repeats Rafe Spall’s lawyer Atticus Finch during this hard-hitting rewriting of Harper Lee’s classic 1960 novel for the stage by Aaron (The West Wing) Sorkin.

  • Read on for reasons including how this 5th preview audience all rose to their feet at the show’s conclusion
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(not a) THEATRE REVIEW: Cock starring Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton, Jade Anouka & Phil Daniels

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHERE?: Ambassadors Theatre, London

WHEN?: Saturday 5 March, booking to 4 June 2022 RUNTIME: Usually 105 minutes (no interval)

We’re at the 1st preview of this Mike Bartlett revival and 90 minutes in Egerton faints onstage, a doctor is called from the audience and the curtain goes down for 40 minutes.

  • Read on for reasons including how Egerton is due back onstage to perform this on Monday 7 March
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THEATRE REVIEW: Wicked starring Lucie Jones at Apollo Victoria Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 19 February (matinee), booking to 27 November 2022

We’re here because Lucie Jones, 1 of the UK’s greatest musical theatre actresses and former Eurovision contestant, has been cast in a musical we haven’t seen since it opened in the West End way back when in 2006.

  • Read on for reasons including how grown-up, political and subversive Wicked is
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THEATRE REVIEW: Red Pitch starring Kedar Williams-Stirling, Emeka Sesay & Francis Lovehall at Bush Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: Opening night Tuesday 22 February 2022 (press ticket), runs to 26 March 2022 Update: transfers to @SohoPlace in London’s West End 15 March through 4 May 2024 Tickets Update: returns to Bush Theatre and runs 12 to 30 September 2023 Tickets

Williams-Stirling plays Jackson Marchetti, a head boy and swimming champion in Netflix’s TV series Sex Education and it’s a role light years from his part in this coming of age story set on a football pitch not far from this west London venue.

  • Read on for reasons including how there’s a truthfulness in the friendship represented here
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THEATRE REVIEW: STEVE starring Jenna Russell, David Ames & Joe Aaron Reid at Seven Dials Playhouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 12 February (matinee), runs to 19 March 2022

It’s Steven’s birthday, he’s in a restaurant with his partner and their best friends – and a secret is uncovered.

  • Read on for reasons including how Holby City star David Ames is the revelation here
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Glow starring Ria Zmitrowicz, Rakie Ayola & Fisayo Akinade

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Thursday 3 February (matinee), running to 5 March RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

Zmitrowicz made our Best Theatre Actress shortlist in 2020 for The Welkin at the National and during her impressive body of work we have already described her as ‘captivating in a role that we felt should have been better explored’ by the author.

  • Read on for reasons including how this has the ambition of 1 of the best Doctor Who episodes
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THEATRE REVIEW: Taboo – the 20th Anniversary Charity Concert at the Palladium

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Sunday 30 January 2022

We 1st saw this musical co-written by Boy George around 20 years ago on its arrival to London’s West End at what is now Leicester Square Theatre and was then The Venue.

  • Read on for reasons including guests Boy George, Julian Clary, John Partridge, Declan Bennett and Sally Ann Triplett
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Number starring Lennie James & Paapa Essiedu at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 29 January (matinee), opens 4 February runs to 19 March 2022

5 scenes. 2 actors. 65 minutes. A father. 3 clones of his son.

  • Read on for reasons including how spellbinding the stars of TV’s The Walking Dead and I May Destroy You are
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THEATRE REVIEW: Bring It On – The Musical starring Amber Davies & Louis Smith at Southbank Centre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 15 January (matinee), runs to Saturday 22 January 2022

We’re here because Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote this musical and we’re big fans of his In The Heights rather than his mega hit Hamilton.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should catch this stand-out show while you can
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THEATRE REVIEW: Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 1 January 2022, opens 20 January, booking to 28 May 2022

Garlanded with 10 Tonys in 2020 and based on Baz Luhrmann’s brilliant 2001 film, this jukebox musical focuses on the spectacle of the story of a visitor to Paris in 1899 who falls in love with a performer at the titular club at the expense of the tale’s romance.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a feast for the eyes rather than the ears
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