THEATRE REVIEW: Limehouse starring Roger Allam, Debra Gillett & Tom Goodman-Hill

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE: Donmar Warehouse

WHEN: 16/3 (matinee), runs to 15/4

This dramatisation of the moment in 1981 when ‘Gang Of Four’ Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins, David Owen and Bill Rodgers left the Labour party to form a party of their own is a recent history that will be familiar to many.

  • Read on for reasons including how £10 standing tickets at the Donmar can be upgraded

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THEATRE REVIEW: La Cage Aux Folles starring John Partridge

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: New Wimbledon Theatre

WHEN: 15/3 (matinee), runs until 18/3 and then on UK tour until 26/8

Hard to believe, perhaps, that this is the first UK tour this classic 1983 musical, which won six Tonys, has embarked on.

  • Read on for reasons including why star John Partridge may not be the Albin you’re expecting

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THEATRE REVIEW: Rent starring Lucie Jones

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: New Victoria Theatre, Woking

WHEN: 11/3 (matinee), touring the UK until 27/5

This 20th anniversary production of Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking musical features a showstopping performance by this year’s UK Eurovision entrant Lucie Jones as Maureen (pictured above).

  • Read on for reasons including why the UK’s Eurovision entry is in safe hands this year

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Miser starring Griff Rhys Jones, Lee Mack & Mathew Horne

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Garrick Theatre

WHEN: 8/3 (matinee), press night 13/3, runs to 3/6

It’s Budget Day and we decide to see this comedy as cheaply as possible with a £20 restricted view ticket three rows back from the end of the stalls behind a pillar.

  • Read on for reasons including why our £20 was well spent

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THEATRE REVIEW: Stepping Out starring Amanda Holden

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Vaudeville Theatre

WHEN: 4/3 (matinee), press night 14/3, runs to 17/6

A foot fracture meant Tamzin Outhwaite had to withdraw from this production shortly before its first preview and is replaced by Kate Verner here.

  • Read on for reasons including which cast member’s sister will join the show

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PREVIEW: Our predictions for the Melodifestivalen 2017 final

WHEN?: Saturday 11 March (7pm UK time) on SVT (link to watch below)

2017 sees the strongest final line-up we can remember, our favourite is currently the highest placed entry on Swedish iTunes and the introduction of the international juries into Saturday’s show should add a fascinating dynamic to proceedings.

  • Read on for our predictions for the 12 finalists and their heat performances

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THEATRE REVIEW: Speech and Debate starring Patsy Ferran, Douglas Booth & Tony Revolori

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Trafalgar Studios 2

WHEN: 2/3 (matinee), runs to 1/4

We’re mulling over the breaking story of the audience being banned from eating in Imelda Staunton’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? when a group of uniformed schoolchildren walk in and their teacher hands out a giant bag of popcorn, which they share before curtain up.

  • Read on for reasons including why Patsy Ferran is a name to watch out for

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THEATRE REVIEW: Hamlet starring Andrew Scott and Juliet Stevenson

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Almeida Theatre

WHEN: 2/3, runs to 6/4

Such was our excitement about this Robert Icke production that we had second row tickets for the first preview on 17/2.

  • Read on for reasons including why Scott’s Hamlet is better than Cumberbatch’s

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LIVE REVIEW: Sophie Ellis-Bextor

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE?: KOKO

WHEN: 1/3

SETLIST: Wild Forever; Death of Love; The Deer And The Wolf; Unrequited; Don’t Shy Away; Cassandra; 13 Little Dolls; Mixed Up World; Today the Sun’s On Us; I Won’t Change You; Get Over You; Young Blood; Crystallise;  Love Is The Camera; Come With Us; Take Me Home; Lady; Groovejet; Sing It Back; Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer; Murder On The Dancefloor; Here Comes The Rapture

Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s most recent two albums have seen her step away from the dance floor where she made her name and try her hand at something a little more ambitious.

  • Read on for reasons including who Sophie’s surprise guest was

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