Imelda Staunton made our Best Theatre Actress of 2017 shortlist so far for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf and stars here at the National with Tracie Bennett and Janie Dee in the Sondheim classic (which features Losing My Mind, see below). Runs 22/8 through 3/1/18. Picture courtesy National Theatre. Tickets
We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. James McAvoy and George Mackay are previous winners in this category.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Almeida
WHEN: 27/4 to 10/6
How comfortable are we with the notion that no-one’s real life story is actually their own?
Our most anticipated theatrical event of the year. Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time) directs a stellar cast including Nathan Lane (The Producers, The Birdcage), Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, James McArdle and Russell Tovey in this two-part Tony Kushner classic at the National Theatre from 11/4. Runs to 19/8. Tickets
Europe’s premiere Eurovision selection show launches on 4/2 at 7pm English time with the return of 1999 winner Charlotte Perrelli, who also won Melodifestivalen in 2008, MF favourites Ace Wilder, Dinah Nah and Boris Rene. 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen also competes in heat 4 25/2. Prime-time Saturday nights in February sorted. Picture via YouTube from the Take Me To Your Heaven performance in 1999’s Eurovision.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Almeida
WHEN: 9/12, runs to 21/1/17
‘A majority does not mean a thing is always in the right’. There aren’t many laughs in this but it’s a moment of hilarity for this north London audience.
Paul O’Grady, Julian Clary, Amanda Holden, Lee Mead, Nigel Havers and Funny Girl understudy Natasha J. Barnes star in this panto at the Palladium 10/12-15/1/17 and we can’t think of a better Christmas present. Tickets Picture via Facebook courtesy London Palladium.
WORTH A LOOK?: **
WHERE: Barbican
WHEN: 19/9, runs to 1/10
We caught Jamie Lloyd’s West End take on Christopher Marlowe’s classic starring Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harrington less than five months ago.
This 18-song David Bowie musical ran off Broadway for three months from November 2015 and features hits including Life On Mars?, Heroes and Absolute Beginners. It was written by Bowie with Once author Enda Walsh. Starring Dexter’s Michael C. Hall and directed by Ivo van Hove, it runs 25/10 – 22/1 at the King’s Cross Theatre and seems a fitting salute to the star who died 10 days before curtain down on the US show. Tickets.
Would becoming a member of your favourite theatre make it easier for you to get the most in-demand tickets? We became a member of five of our favourite London venues to see what the value for money is.
