GIG REVIEW: Welly at The MOTH Club, Hackney

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By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Wednesday 4 December 2024, tour runs through 15 Febuary 2025

Setlist: It’s Not Like This In France; Deere John; Soak Up The Culture; Shopping; Cul De Sac; Home For The Weekend; Jockey; Big In The Suburbs; Me And Your Mates

Q: What do Welly have in common with Pet Shop Boys, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, Cocteau Twins, The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Marine Girls?

  • Read on for reasons including how everyone needs to give their life a bit of Welly in 2025
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/Film Actress of 2024

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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 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Producers starring Andy Nyman & Marc Antolin at Menier Chocolate Factory

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 30 November 2024 (matinee), opens 9 December and runs through 1 March 2025 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including interval) Update: Transfers to the Garrick 30 August 2025 through 21 February 2026 Tickets

Our companion whispers: ‘This is brilliant!’ in our ear at the end of 2nd song The King Of Old Broadway as Andy Nyman (film Wicked (Part 1) as down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock makes us forget we saw Nathan Lane (Angels In America, National Theatre) in the role in London’s West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was the funniest show our companion had seen for at least 10 years
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Musical of 2024

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 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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GIG REVIEW: Charli XCX at The 02

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Thursday 28 November 2024, tour runs through 18 June 2025

Setlist: 365; 360; Von Dutch; Rewind; I Might Say Something Stupid; Club Classics; Unlock It; Talk Talk; Apple; So I; Spring Breakers; Girl, So Confusing; Welcome To My Island; Everything Is So Romantic; Speed Drive; Sympathy Is A Knife; Guess; 365; Party 4 U; Vroom Vroom; Everything Is Romantic; Welcome To My Island; 360; Dancing On My Own; Track 10; I Love It;

Charli XCX describes her biggest London gig to date as a moment she’ll never forget after she duets with Robyn and takes a back seat during an emotional encore including the kindred spirit’s Dancing On My Own.

  • Read on for reasons including how XCX absolutely convinced as an arena act
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FILM REVIEW: Wicked (Part 1) starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Released Friday 22 November 2024 RUNTIME: 165 minutes

Q: How does the 1st act of a beloved stage show lasting 90 minutes or so become a compelling film of almost 3 hours?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is visualised with such flair that musical theatre fans should be enthralled
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Film Of 2024

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 2024? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Here And Now starring Rebecca Lock, Sharlene Hector & Blake Patrick Anderson at Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 24 November (matinee) and runs through 30 November 2024 Tours UK and Ireland in 2025 and 2026 Tickets RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

A Steps musical needs a vocalist with the power of the band’s Claire Richards and, luckily for Here And Now, it has 3.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is moving, a lot of fun and a knowing budget Mamma Mia
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GIG REVIEW: Shiiine On Weekender at Butlin’s Minehead Arena

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 15 to Monday 18 November 2024

It’s been a week since the festival so it’s around this time that we have fully recovered and start to lament “this time last week…” As I write, this time last week, I was Day Raving at Bentley Rhythm Ace.

  • Read on for reasons including Bentley Rhythm Ace, Kula Shaker and Lightning Seeds
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Importance Of Being Earnest starring Ncuti Gatwa at National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Friday 22 November 2024, opens 28 November and runs through 25 January 2025 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Oscar Wilde described this – his final and best loved play – as ‘exquisitely trivial’ and this production is exquisitely cast, perfectly judged and executed with both swagger and flamboyance.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is currently London’s funniest comedy
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