Best read monstagigz content of 2023 starring Lemons, Lemons, Lemons

  1. Lemons, Lemons, Lemons starring Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman

Our most read content of 2023 was this preview review of a play by Sam Steiner about a society where spoken words were rationed to 140 a day in a two-hander starring Aidan Turner (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Noel Coward Theatre) and Jenna Coleman (All My Sons, Old Vic). Our review also caught the attention of Mail Online (see below).

  • Read on for reasons including Cabaret starring Jake Shears and Self Esteem, Guys And Dolls and The Motive And The Cue
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THEATRE REVIEW: Cabaret starring Aimee Lou Wood & Jon McCrea at The Kit Kat Club

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***** RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 25 March, booking to 16 December 2023

It’s a sign of the quality of this production that despite 3 major cast changes it continues to punch at the very top of its weight.

  • Read on for reasons including how Sex Education’s Aimee Lee Wood’s hilarious turn as Sally Bowles is the best reason to catch this Cabaret
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2023 starring Sheridan Smith as Shirley Valentine

  1. Sheridan Smith is Shirley Valentine

Smith (Funny Girl, Savoy) returns to the stage for the 1st time since Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Palladium and this beloved Willy Russell one-woman comedy about a woman who finds love on holiday abroad is the perfect choice. Runs 17 February through 3 June at the Duke Of York’s. Tickets 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Callum Scott Howells at the National, Standing At The Sky’s Edge and Benidorm Fest
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for September starring The Normal Heart (2021)

  1. The Normal Heart beats at the National

This revival of Larry Kramer’s play about the American AIDS crisis is timed beautifully after the National’s unforgettable Angels In America in 2017 and Channel 4’s It’s A Sin earlier this year. Starring Ben Daniels we’re excited for the return of monsta winner Daniel Monks (Teenage Dick, Donmar), director Dominic Cooke (Follies, National) and Dino Fetscher (Torch Song, Turbine Theatre). Runs 23 September to 6 November 2021. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Saoirse Ronan’s London stage debut, Jennifer Saunders, new Blow Monkeys album and Jamie film released finally
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre Actress of 2020

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2020? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2020.

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best Theatre Actress of 2020 so far

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Sheridan Smith, Jade Anouka, Imelda Staunton, Sharon D. Clarke and Monica Dolan are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best theatre actresses of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

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THEATRE REVIEW: Uncle Vanya starring Richard Armitage & Toby Jones

STOP PRESS: Sonia Friedman Productions has announced that a specially-commissioned film of this production is to be released 27/10/20. Watch the trailer below

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

WHERE? Harold Pinter Theatre RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 14/1, press night 23/1 runs to 2/5/20

Six years after a brooding Olivier-nominated performance as John Proctor in the Old Vic’s production of The Crucible and Richard Armitage (pictured above in rehearsal) is back on the London stage in Conor McPherson’s re-imagining of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya

  • Read on for reasons including how Toby Jones is the comic highlight as Armitage goes topless

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