THEATRE REVIEW: King Lear starring Kenneth Branagh at Wyndham’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 21 October, opens 31 October and runs through 9 December 2023 RUNTIME: 120 minutes without interval

At 62 years old director Branagh is considerably younger than the last 2 actors we’ve seen take on the role of Shakespeare’s King Lear – Sir Ian McKellen who was 78 in 2017 and the late Glenda Jackson 80 in 2016.

  • Read on for reasons including how Branagh’s casting is less A Haunting In Venice and more a vanity in London
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2023 starring Stranger Things

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Stranger Things at the Phoenix Theatre

The 80s-set Netflix sci-fi series of the same name won our 2016 Best TV monsta and so we’re very much looking forward to its theatrical counterpart promising to turn back the clock to Hawkins in 1959 ‘before the world turned upside down’. Stranger Things: The First Shadow invites us to explore the history of Hawkins and the origins of some key characters. Runs at the Phoenix Theatre 17 November through 25 August 2024. Tickets Preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Snow White, Cian Ducrot, Feeling Afraid and The Witches
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Feel The Love by Bananarama (week beginning Wednesday 18 October 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

With Madonna 4 nights into a 6-date run at The 02 celebrating her 40 years in pop, it seems high time that Bananarama – Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward – did similar to mark their 4 decades at the top.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should be feeling the love as well as Glorious
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THEATRE REVIEW: Elephant starring Anoushka Lucas at Bush Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 14 October, opens 19 October runs through 4 November 2023 RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)

Lucas was shortlisted for Best Actress In A Musical at the 2023 Oliviers for her role in the reimagining of musical Oklahoma! which we saw at the Young Vic before it transferred into the West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how Lucas will go on to write something even more thought-provoking
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dear England starring Joseph Fiennes & Dervla Kirwan at Prince Edward Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 14 October (matinee), runs through 13 January 2024 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

As the men’s England football team prepares for a crucial EURO 24 game against Italy on Tuesday (17 October 2023), James Graham’s latest play about Gareth Southgate’s reign as manager transfers to the West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how this West End production has changed from its National version
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FILM REVIEW: Past Lives written & directed by Celine Song

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Have you ever wondered whether there might be a finite number of people in the world and that all of us have past lives that occasionally bubble to the surface when paths cross?

  • Read on for reasons including why this is never afraid to disappoint and is 1 of the most perfectly executed films of the year
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THEATRE REVIEW: Beautiful Thing at Theatre Royal Stratford East

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 7 October (matinee), runs until 7 October 2023 Then Leeds Playhouse 18-28 October Tickets & HOME Manchester 31 October – 11 November 2023 Tickets

We took our 1st tentative steps out of the closet in Devon in 1993, the year that this Jonathan Harvey (Mother Goose, Duke Of York’s Theatre) play premiered at London’s Bush Theatre starring Jonny Lee Miller.

  • Read on for reasons including why Leeds and Manchester have a beautiful treat in store
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Sorry, I’m Late by Mae Muller (October 2023)

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: I Just Came To Dance; Sorry Daniel; Bitch With A Broken Heart; I Wrote A Song; Me, Myself And I; Tatiana; Somebody New; I Wish I Could Hate You; A Little Bit Sad; MTJL; Breathe; Something Real; Nervous (In A Good Way); Better Days; Porn Lied To Us; Miss America; Written By A Woman

Muller has co-written all but 1 of the 17 songs here and there’s a line in the downbeat, reflective and extraordinarily vulnerable MTJL (Maybe That’s Just Life) that says: ‘I wish I was a better singer, or better than I am. I wish one little thing would go to plan.’

  • Read on for reasons including why this is 1 of the year’s best albums
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THEATRE REVIEW: PIAF starring Elena Roger at Teatro Liceo Buenos Aires, Argentina

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 14 September 2023 RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

Roger gives a five-star performance of a three-star play in which she is the uncanny embodiment of the French singer who performed in cabaret and chanson styles and was the country’s most popular singer in the 1940s.

  • Read on for reasons including how we joined the enthusiastic standing ovation for this performance and production
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