THEATRE REVIEW: Just For One Day starring Jackie Clune, Craige Els & Olly Dobson at the Old Vic

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Saturday 3 February 2024, opens 13 February booking until 30 March 2024 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (includes a 20-minute interval) Update: now booking Shaftesbury Theatre 15 May through 10 January 2026 Tickets

On 13 July 1985 we weren’t quite old enough for a Saturday job in Woolworth’s or WH Smith’s and instead watched Live Aid on TV at home after our paper round and if there’s 1 message from this global jukebox musical that resonates it is that individuals matter and when they work together they can change things.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is over-earnest and perhaps lacking in the killer material to make good on its promise
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Hills Of California at the Harold Pinter Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 3 February, runs through 15 June 2024 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including a 15-minute interval and a brief pause)

It’s the long hot summer of 1976 and 3 sisters reunite in the front room of their mother’s Blackpool guesthouse as she lays dying upstairs.

  • Read on for reasons including why despite the inevitable air of melancholy this is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny
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FILM REVIEW: Pet Shop Boys Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 31 January 2024, also showing in selected cinemas Sunday 4 February 2024

‘A Friday night in Copenhagen – what could be better?’ asks Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant as the duo follow Taylor Swift and Beyonce into cinemas.

  • Read on for reasons including how some of the band’s greatest hits have recently featured in films
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2024 Heat 1 starring Elisa Lindström & Smash Into Pieces

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time 3 February 2024

WHERE?: Malmö Arena, Malmö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

This year’s Melodifestivalen has 4 rather than 5 heats with this opener from the venue where the Eurovision Song Contest final itself will take place on Saturday 11 May 2024.

  • Read on for reasons including who we think will be going straight to the final
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THEATRE REVIEW: I Should Be So Lucky at New Wimbledon Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Monday 29 January, runs through 3 February 2024, touring the UK until 11 May 2024 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘The wedding’s off but the honeymoon is on!’ runs the tagline for this fun Stock Aitken Waterman musical and, plot-wise, there’s very little else you need to know.

  • Read on for reasons including why this production has West End legs and a hen-do feel
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GIG REVIEW: Depeche Mode at The 02

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: 27 January 2024, tour runs through 8 April 2024

SETLIST: My Cosmos Is Mine; Wagging Tongue; Walking In My Shoes; It’s No Good; Policy Of Truth; In Your Room; Everything Counts; Precious; Before We Drown; Home; Somebody; Ghosts Again; I Feel You; A Pain that I’m Used To; Behind The Wheel; Black Celebration; Stripped; John The Revelator; Enjoy The Silence; Waiting For The Night; Just Can’t Get Enough; Never Let Me Down Again; Personal Jesus

This is our 1st time seeing Depeche Mode since 1986’s Black Celebration and 1988’s Music For The Masses tours at the old Wembley Arena.

  • Read on for reasons including which new song made its live debut at this gig
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FILM REVIEW: All Of Us Strangers starring Andrew Scott & Paul Mescal

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Growing up gay in the 80s wasn’t much fun with its AIDS and Clause 28 and Andrew Scott’s (Vanya, Duke Of York’s Theatre) screenwriter Adam is struggling with writer’s block, watching old episodes of Top Of The Pops and living alone in a high-rise London tower block which is sparsely populated.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is beautiful, haunting and likely to stay with you long after the end credits
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 5 starring Marcus & Martinus & Medina

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 7pm UK time 2 March 2024

WHERE?: Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus return to Melodifestivalen at the 1st time of asking after finishing as runners up in 2023.

  • Read on for reasons including Chelsea Mucco, Jay Smith, Elecktra & Annika Wickihalder
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2024 starring Matt Smith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Matt Smith in An Enemy Of The People

Former Dr Who Smith (Lungs, Old Vic) who recently led TV’s House Of The Dragon stars in this Ibsen play about truth in a society driven by power and money. The supporting cast includes Jessica Brown Findlay (Uncle Vanya, Almeida) and Paul Hilton (The Glass Menagerie, Duke Of York’s Theatre) at the Duke Of York’s Theatre. Runs 6 February through 6 April 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including a Live Aid musical, Wicked Little Letters & Nye
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Go Tobann by Ailsha (week beginning 22 January 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

We can’t ever remember writing about Ireland’s Eurovision selection show Eurosong but this year it contains an entry we think has the potential to do very well in Sweden in May and 1 that is competent but unchallenging which may well win the ticket.

  • Read on for reasons including how Go Tobann reminds us of Ukraine’s beloved Go_A which finished 5th
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