9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2023 starring Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga

Last year’s televised show celebrating the work of the late great Sondheim was a real thrill and this month stars including Peters and Salonga perform some of the composer’s best-loved songs alongside Haydn Gwynne (The Welkin, National Theatre), Janie Dee (Follies, National Theatre) and Jac Yarrow (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, London Palladium). Runs at the West End’s Gielgud Theatre 16 September through 6 January 2024. Tickets Update: Performances now begin 21 September without Gwynne. Review

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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2023 starring Jamiroquai, Pete Tong Orchestra, The Charlatans & Welly (Day 1)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 25 August 2023 (press pass)

Disco isn’t dead. The first year for a full Friday, kicking off for us with a drumming workshop from DrumNation Tribe at the People’s Lounge.

  • Read on for reasons including Jamiroquai, Pete Tong, The Charlatans and Welly
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2023 starring Cian Ducrot, Mae Muller, Welly & Billy Nomates (Day 1)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** (press pass)

WHEN?: Friday 25 August 2023

A fortnight ago Cian Ducrot’s debut album topped the charts in both the UK and his native Ireland and this afternoon he opens his set on the Castle Stage with the title track from it, the appropriately titled Victory.

  • Read on for reasons including Mae Muller, Britain’s best new band Welly, Billy Nomates and The Charlatans
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GIG REVIEW: Welly at The Scoop, Tower Bridge

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

SETLIST: It’s Not Like This In France; Take 5; Home For The Weekend; Shopping; Deere John; Me And Your Mates; Flowers; A Right Royal Show; Big In The Suburbs

WHEN?: Thursday 24 August 2023, tour continues until 22 September 2023

We’ve not fallen quite so much in love with and head over heels for a band as we have with Welly since Pulp in the early 90s.

  • Read on for reasons including why Welly are your next favourite band and will be as big as 90s Blur in 18 months
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Summer Night City by Claire Richards & Andy Bell (week beginning Wednesday 23 August)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

31 years ago Erasure topped the UK charts with their ABBA-esque EP and now lead singer Andy Bell is duetting with Steps frontwoman Claire Richards on the pair’s new single.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Richards performing solo later this year
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Mirror starring Jonny Lee Miller, Tanya Johnson & Micheal Ward at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 120 minutes (without interval) UPDATE: This production transfers to the Trafalgar Theatre for 13 weeks from 22 January 2024 Tickets

WHEN?: Saturday 19 August, opens 23 August and runs through 23 September 2023

You join us at the wedding of Leyla and Joel as this play-within-a-play-within-a-play about the power of creating a narrative to perpetuate power begins.

  • Read on for reasons including how the audience were asked to behave as if at a wedding during this production
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SONG OF THE WEEK: These Are The Days by S Club (week beginning Thursday 17 August 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

One of the saddest stories of the year was the death of former S Club 7 member Paul Cattermole by natural causes aged just 46 shortly after his band announced a 15-date UK tour reunion this autumn.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see S Club on their Good Times tour
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THEATRE REVIEW: Next To Normal starring Caissie Levy at the Donmar Warehouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Monday 14 August, opens 22 August and runs through 7 October 2023 UPDATE: Transferring to London’s West End in June 2024 Details

Think Dear Evan Hansen but where the mental health focus is on a middle-aged mother spiralling out of control rather than a struggling teen.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is hard-hitting and well-performed material which is already finding its audience
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THEATRE REVIEW: Groundhog Day starring Andy Karl at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 12 August, runs through 19 August 2023 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Pre-Covid we told Old Vic Artistic Director Matthew Warchus after Groundhog Day‘s initial run that it was ahead of its time when he revealed his plan for its return.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think this show has the legs for a West End run after its old Vic bow
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Balance by Lucy Spraggan (week beginning Saturday 12 August 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Everything Changes; OCD; Balance; Bodies; Seasick; Not Another Travelling Song; California; Cocaine; Hope For The Best; Caroline; Underdog; Empire; Manchester; Cost Of Living

When Spraggan released opening track Everything Changes last year incorporating her X Factor hit Beer Fear it wasn’t quite clear what she was referring to when she sang: ‘I think of things that happened 10 years ago and I feel much better letting them go.’

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Spraggan on tour including a London gig
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