THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: Cyprus Avenue starring Stephen Rea at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

UPDATE: This production is available to watch for a month from 27/3/20. More details

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Royal Court Theatre RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 16/2/, opens 19/2, runs to 23/3/19

We’re in the 5th row and we count 3 members of the audience who head for the exit early as this startling play hurtles inexorably towards its terrifying conclusion.

  • Read on for reasons including why this play seems especially relevant now

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THEATRE REVIEW: Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train starring Ukweli Roach & Dervla Kirwan

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Young Vic RUNTIME: 120 minutes (excluding 15-minute interval)

WHEN? 15/2, opens 20/2 and runs to 30/3/19

Angel Cruz played by Ukweli Roach (pictured above) is in prison on Rikers Island, New York, where he encounters a fellow inmate on a similar murder charge.

  • Read on for reasons including how this play was shortlisted for a Best New Play Olivier when it was 1st staged in London

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THEATRE REVIEW: Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 9/2/19 (matinee), opens 18/2/19, booking until 14/9/19

‘Come from aways’ is a Newfoundland description for visitors from beyond the island and this is the story of what happened in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 when 38 planes were grounded there and the community embraced the outsiders.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is a big, warm hug of a musical about the importance of kindness

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THEATRE REVIEW: All About Eve starring Gillian Anderson & Lily James

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Noel Coward Theatre RUNTIME: 120 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 9/2/19 (evening), opening 12/2/19, booking until 11/5/19

All About Eve is best known as a 1950 film which won 6 Oscars starring Bette Davis as Broadway star Margo Channing who finds she is usurped by ambitious young Eve Harrington who insinuates herself into the star’s life.

  • Read on for reasons including how stars Gillian Anderson and Lily James complement each other

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Shy Manifesto starring Theo Ancient at Greenwich Theatre studio

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK? ****

WHERE?: Greenwich Theatre (studio) RUN TIME: 80 minutes (without interval)

WHEN?: 3/2, touring UK until 4/3/19 Details

Navigating the challenging terrain of social media is tough enough for adults but what must be it like for teenagers at a time when cyber bullying is rarely out of the headlines?

  • Read on for reasons including why you should grasp this chance to see Ancient in an intimate venue

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THEATRE REVIEW: Pinter at the Pinter starring Martin Freeman & Danny Dyer

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Harold Pinter Theatre RUN TIME: 120 minutes (including interval)

WHEN?: 1/2/19, press night 6/2/19, booking to 23/2/19

Danny Dyer might be familiar to you as father of Love Island‘s Dani, his Henry VIII connection, from EastEnders or because of a memorable ‘trotters up’ Brexit quote but you might not know he was twice directed by Harold Pinter, in 2000 and 2002.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the most successful so far of the Pinter at the Pinter series

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THEATRE REVIEW: Time Is Love/Tiempo Es Amor starring Sheila Atim

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE?: Finborough Theatre RUN TIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: Last night 26/1/19

In April Sheila Atim (pictured above) won the Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Olivier and tonight we’re in the front row at this 50-seater theatre above a pub to see her in a production of a new play she has also composed the music for.

  • Read on for reasons including why this production deserves a transfer to a larger London venue

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THEATRE REVIEW: Cost Of Living starring Adrian Lester at Hampstead Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Hampstead Theatre RUN TIME: 110 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 25/1, press night 31/1, booking to 2/3/19

Author Martyna Majok is a Polish-American playwright familiar with homelessness, grief and working multiple jobs to pay her way and weaves those subjects seamlessly together here in her play which won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

  • Read on for reasons including why Hampstead Theatre is becoming the home of cutting edge new writing

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THEATRE REVIEW: Leave To Remain starring Tyrone Huntley & Billy Cullum at Lyric Hammersmith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith RUN TIME: 120 minutes (without interval)

WHEN?: 21/1, press night 24/1, booking to 16/2/19

Former pop stars have co-written our favourite new musicals of the last 2 years (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Eugenius) and so we approached this collaboration between Doctor Who writer Matt Jones and Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke with much excitement.

  • Read on for reasons including why we think this deserves a West End transfer

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THEATRE REVIEW: Six at the Arts Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

UPDATE: Six is now booking at the Lyric Theatre from 14/11/20 through to 31/1/21 Tickets

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHERE?: Arts Theatre RUN TIME: 75 minutes

WHEN?: 17/1/19 (matinee) booking to 5/1/20

It couldn’t be more timely for this musical about the 6 wives of Henry VIII to be returning to the West End as tales of Queen Anne, Mary Queen Of Scots and Elizabeth I dominate cinemas.

  • Read on for reasons including how you’ll be headed home humming the hits with a smile across your face

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