PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2020 starring Palladium pantomime

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  1. Palladium pantomime starring Julian Clary and Beverley Knight

Pantomime at Christmas looked for a while like it might not happen but this seasonal showstopper returns with a familiar cast including star Julian Clary 12/12/20 to 3/1/21 Tickets We’ve seen it ever since it started in 2016 and it’s essentially a variety show with something for everyone. Here’s what we said in 2017, 2018 and last year.

  • Read on for reasons including Death Drop, Cinderella by Jodie Prenger and Ma Rainey
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Film of 2020

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It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2020? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2020.

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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Apart Together by Tim Minchin (week beginning 23/11/20)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

TRACKLIST: Summer Romance; Apart Together; Airport Piano; The Absence Of You; I Can’t Save You; Talked Too Much, Stayed Too Long; Leaving LA; I’ll Take Lonely Tonight; Beautiful Head; If This Plane Goes Down; Carry You

The self-described ‘comedic minstrel’ born in Northampton to Australian parents is best known to us for writing the Olivier Award-winning musical Groundhog Day, which also won our Best Musical monsta.

  • Read on for reasons including what Minchin is working on next
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Play of 2020

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2020? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2020.

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SONG OF THE WEEK: Man’s World by MARINA (week beginning 21/11/20)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

MARINA last played in London a year ago and said then from the stage at the Eventim Apollo: ‘This has been the perfect last show for me for a while. I won’t play here for a year or two.’

  • Read on for reasons including where to find detail of MARINA’s next shows

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue of 2020

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2020? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2020.

  • Read on for 5 nominees for the monsta for best venue of the year. 2019 winner: The Old Vic , 2018: Bush Theatre

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TV REVIEW: The Crown starring Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Erin Doherty, Emma Corrin & Gillian Anderson

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Netflix from 15/11/20

There can be few women more associated with the 80s than Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher – they are so iconic that it was always going to be difficult to know how one of the most popular series on TV would cope with their arrival.

  • Read on for reasons including how Emma Corrin and Gillian Anderson do in the Diana and Margaret roles

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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Infinite Things by Paloma Faith (week beginning 15/11/20)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

RELEASED: 13/11/20

TRACKLIST: Supernatural; Monster; Gold; Falling Down; Infinite Things; If This Is Goodbye: Better Than This; Me Time; If Loving You Was Easy; Beautiful & Damned; I’d Die For You; Living With A Stranger; Last Night On Earth

We first saw Paloma Faith live by chance when we were waiting for another main stage act at Lovebox in east London a decade ago and it was her personality and way with her hometown crowd that initially drew us in.

  • Read on for reasons including how Sigrid and MNEK are co-writers here
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Straight To The Morning by Hot Chip featuring Jarvis Cocker (week beginning 14/11/20 )

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

Hot Chip caught our ear earlier this year with a fine remix of Daði Freyr’s Eurovision winner-that-never was (clip below) but it is with this dancefloor juggernaut that they really strike gold.

  • Read on for reasons including how Cocker injects the sex here

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BOOK OF THE MONTH: Really Saying Something by Bananarama (November 2020)

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

WHEN?: released 29/10/20

Really Saying Something is the story of the childhood friendship at the heart of the UK’s most successful all-female group.

  • Read on for reasons including how the band might celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2022

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