INTERVIEW: Nicki French: Teardrops, panto, Eurovision and me

Nicki French is bowled over by the love shown to her new single Teardrops (On The Disco Floor), which is a slice of 70s Donna Summer, penned by a Eurovision-winning lyricist that is shaping up to be one of the hits of the season.

  • Read on for reasons including how her new album is progressing and which of her hits Nicki will be performing in panto 

Read More

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August

  1. Follies at the National

Imelda Staunton made our Best Theatre Actress of 2017 shortlist so far for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf and stars here at the National with Tracie Bennett and Janie Dee in the Sondheim classic (which features Losing My Mind, see below). Runs 22/8 through 3/1/18. Picture courtesy National Theatre. Tickets

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Mosquitoes starring Olivia Colman

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE: National Theatre

WHEN: 21/7, runs to 28/9

Broadchurch star Olivia Colman won’t be the first female Doctor Who and plays a woman called Jenny here who is pregnant but worried about the risk an ultrasound might pose to her unborn child.

  • Read on for reasons including how this comedy will delight viewers of TV’s Big Bang Theory

Read More

AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best theatre actress 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. Sheridan Smith and Jade Anouka are previous winners in this category.

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

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof starring Sienna Miller & Jack O’Connell

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Apollo Theatre

WHEN: 13/7, press night 24/7, runs to 7/10

Director Benedict Andrews’ last Young Vic production starred Gillian Anderson and was his take on Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. It was the smash hit of 2014, transferred to Broadway and his follow-up is no less deserving of such an honour.

  • Read on for reasons including why this earned a standing ovation on its first preview

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Ian McKellen with Shakespeare, Tolkien, others and you

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Park Theatre

WHEN: 3/7 (matinee), runs to 3/7

It’s Pride weekend in London and Sir Ian McKellen is reaching the end of a week-long series of shows during which he has raised an astonishing £250,000 for north London’s four-year-old Park Theatre, which receives no government funding.

  • Read on for reasons including how panto was an early inspiration

Read More

AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best new play 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. Temple and Oddshaped Balls are previous winners in this category.

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

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: The Tempest starring Simon Russell Beale

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Barbican Theatre

WHEN: 30/6, runs to 18/8

Simon Russell Beale is one of the finest actors of his generation and therefore it’s curious that he should choose to return to the Royal Shakespeare Company after 20 years in something quite so overcooked.

  • Read on for reasons including why cutting edge technology detracts from this

Read More

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for July

  1. Queers at the Old Vic

27/7 will mark the 50th anniversary of the repeal of the law against homosexuality and BBC4 has commissioned the filming of eight monologues curated by Mark Gatiss and featuring authors including Jackie Clune performed by stars such as Ben Whishaw (pictured above), Russell Tovey and Alan Cumming. UPDATE: 4/7: No sign of Whishaw or Cumming in the Old Vic casting announced today but it does include Tovey, Gemma Whelan, Sarah Crowe, Ian Gelder, Mark Bonnar & Kadiff Kirwan. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Jack O’Connell, Frank Ocean & Stockard Channing

Read More