THEATRE REVIEW: The Way Old Friends Do at Park Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 18 March (matinee), runs through 15 April 2023, then tours at venues until 10 June 2023 Update: Transfers to the West End and the Criterion Theatre 17 August through 9 September 2023 Tickets

The best bit in this new comedy written by its star Ian Hallard (Closer To Heaven, Above The Stag) is the reaction of his character’s Nan to his news that he is bisexual at the close of Act 1.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the best time of year to see this show about the world’s 1st ABBA drag tribute act
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GIG REVIEW: Cian Ducrot at KOKO

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 20 March, tour runs until 28 April 2023

SETLIST: Make Believe; Victory; Not Usually Like This; Aftertaste; Him; Crocodiles; Endless Nights; How Do You Know?; Hello Gorgeous; Part Of Me; All For You; I’ll Be Waiting

Last night Ducrot played a sold out show at the 2,400-capacity KOKO in Camden and has re-arranged his tour schedule so he can support Ed Sheeran at gigs including The 02 in London on Friday and Saturday this week.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t wait for Ducrot’s debut album
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Live In A Village Hall by Welly (March 2023)

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By Neil Durham

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

TRACKLIST: Me And Your Mates; Home For The Weekend; Deere John; Take 5; Michelangelo; Locally Made Jam; Flowers; 501

‘The sweet smell of Lynx and regret.’ Remembering. Misremembering. Nostalgia. Youth. Cities by the sea. Welcome to Welly, your new favourite singer/band.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should see Welly in a village hall because they’ll be playing larger gigs next
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Breaking The Circle by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (week beginning Saturday 18 March 2023)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

This single marks Ellis-Bextor’s return to working with Ed Harcourt who co-wrote her Wanderlust and Familia albums before her greatest hits and Kitchen Disco eras.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about Ellis-Bextor’s new album Hana
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THEATRE REVIEW: La Jaula De Las Locas (The cage of the crazy) at Teatre Tivoli, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 11 March (matinee), runs through 23 April 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

We take our 4th row seats and notice steps leading down from the stage into the centre aisle and a terrifying fear about being invited onstage and interrogated in a language that is not native to us grips us.

  • Read on for reasons including how this Zaza – director Àngel Llàcer – compares with others we have seen including Graham Norton, John Barrowman and John Partridge
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 1 starring Loreen, Käärijä, Mimicat & Luke Black

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By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 8pm 9 May 2023

WHERE?: Liverpool Arena

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC

‘Irregular voting paterns’ in 6 jury votes last year means this year’s semi finals will be televote only with this being the toughest semi and tasked with finding 10 finalists from a field of 15.

  • Read on for reasons including 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen and why this is 2023’s toughest semi
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Final starring Mae Muller, La Zarra & Blanca Paloma

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By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 13 May 2023 8pm (GMT)

WHERE?: Liverpool Arena

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1

We’ve now heard all the songs by the 6 countries pre-qualified for May’s Eurovision Song Contest final and below we predict where we think they will finish there.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think the entries from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ukraine would fare at Eurovision this year
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THEATRE REVIEW: Medea starring Sophie Okonedo @sohoplace

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: 25 February (matinee) and runs through 22 April 2023 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

We’re in the front row of this intimate venue and Okonedo’s Medea points at us, locks eyes with us and asserts: ‘Watch and keep silent.’

  • Read on for reasons including how members of the cast sit in the audience and call out to those on stage in this production
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Fever by Alison Goldfrapp & Paul Woolford (week beginning 6 March 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Leeds-born Woolford had a top 5 hit in 2020 with Looking For Me with Diplo featuring vocals from Kareen Lomax – and this new single feels far more current than Alison Goldfrapp’s recent collaboration.

  • Read on for reasons including details of Alison Goldfrapp’s next London and Glastonbury Festival gigs
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