THEATRE REVIEW: Ink starring Bertie Carvel

WORTH A LOOK: *****

WHERE: Almeida Theatre

WHEN: 19/6, press night 27/6, runs to 5/8

Star Bertie Carvel’s father John worked on the Guardian for 36 years before retiring in 2009. UPDATE 17/7: INK transfers to the Duke Of York’s Theatre from 9/9. TICKETS

  • Read on for reasons including how this new play’s mistaken identity kidnapping is no fake news

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THEATRE REVIEW: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill starring Audra McDonald

WORTH A LOOK: *****

WHERE: Wyndham’s Theatre

WHEN: 17/6, press night 27/6, runs to 9/9

SETLIST: I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone; When A Woman Loves A Man; Crazy He Calls Me; Gimme A Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer); Baby Doll; God Bless The Child; Foolin’ Myself; Somebody’s On My Mind; Easy Livin’; Strange Fruit; Blues Break; T’ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do; Don’t Explain; What A Little Moonlight Can Do; Deep Song

It’s March 1959 and Billie Holiday is singing in South Philadelphia at the titular run-down bar in one of her last performances before her death just four months later.

  • Read on for reasons including what the view from the 2nd row of cabaret-style seating is like

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GIG REVIEW: Idina Menzel

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Royal Albert Hall

WHEN: 16/6

SETLIST: Queen Of Swords; Seasons Of Love; Don’t Rain On My Parade; Everybody Knows; Cake/Black Dog; I’m Not That Girl; Wind Beneath My Wings; Defying Gravity; I Do; Bridge Over Troubled Water; Rock Steady; No Day But Today; Dear Prudence/Do You Want To Build A Snowman?; For Good; Let It Go; I See You; Ev’ry Time I Say Goodbye

We’ve been working away in Liverpool and it’s taken us four hours to travel several hundred miles to make it here with a rucksack shortly after curtain up.

  • Read on for reasons including how Idina Menzel charms after an awkward start

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best musical shortlist of 2017 so far

We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. Funny Girl and Groundhog Day are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our favourite musicals of 2017 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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THEATRE REVIEW: Cover My Tracks starring Jade Anouka & Charlie Fink

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

WHERE: Old Vic

WHEN: 9/6, runs to 17/6

‘Gig theatre’ is the term used to describe this 70-minute show currently running on the same stage as John Boyega’s Woyzeck just half an hour after its curtain down.

  • Read on for reasons including why Jade Anouka is the most charismatic actor of the moment

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best theatre actor shortlist of 2017 so far

We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. James McAvoy and George Mackay are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best theatre actors of 2017 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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THEATRE REVIEW: Barber Shop Chronicles starring Cyril Nri & Fisayo Akinade

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Dorfman Theatre, National

WHEN: 3/6, press night 7/6 runs to 18/7

STOP PRESS: Barber Shop Chronicles runs at the Camden Roundhouse in summer 2019. Tickets

Barber Shop Chronicles is an ambitious and fun 105-minute play without interval set in barber shops in London, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

  • Read on for reasons including why this play packs an emotional punch

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ALBUM REVIEW: Home Counties by Saint Etienne

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

OUT: now

TRACKLIST: The Reunion; Something New; Magpie Eyes; Whyteleafe; Dive; Church Pew Furniture Restorer; Take It All In; Popmaster; Underneath The Apple Tree; Out Of My Mind; After Hebden; Breakneck Hill; Heather; Sports Report; Train Drivers In Eyeliner; Unopened Fanmail; What Kind Of World; Sweet Arcadia; Angel Of Woodhatch

Saint Etienne are now out on tour, we’ve had a look at a recent setlist and are disappointed that only five songs from this impressive collection made it to their current live shows.

  • Read on for reasons including why this album evokes early Saint Etienne LPs

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ALBUM REVIEW: Pollinator by Blondie

WORTH A LOOK: ****

OUT: now

TRACKLIST: Doom Or Destiny; Long Time; Already Naked; Fun; My Monster; Best Day Ever; Gravity; When I Gave Up On You; Love Level; Too Much; Fragments

Q: What do Joan Jett, Charli XCX, Sia, Nick Valensi (The Strokes), Dev Hynes and Johnny Marr all have in common?

  • Read on for reasons including our highlights of Blondie’s 11th studio LP

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