Arinze Kene

THEATRE REVIEW: Alterations starring Arinze Kene at the National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Friday 20 February, opens 27 February and runs through 5 April 2025 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (no interval)

Kene (2018’s Best Theatre Actor monsta winner for Misty, Bush Theatre) plays tailor Walker in 70s London with designs on a Carnaby Street business who is part of the Windrush generation negotiating aspiration with loss of community.

  • Read on for reasons including how Alterations is laugh-out-loud funny but also illuminating about difference, ambition and sacrifice
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2025 starring Jonathan Bailey as Richard II

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Jonathan Bailey is Richard II

Bailey (film Wicked and COCK, Ambassadors) stars in this Shakespeare directed by Nicholas Hytner (Giant, Royal Court and transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre) at the Bridge Theatre. Runs 10 February through 10 May 2025 Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Cate Blanchett, Patti LuPone, Olly Alexander and Nicola Walker
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: Best Theatre Actor of 2021

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2021? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 15 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2021.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical starring Arinze Kene at the Lyric Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

WHEN?: Sunday 3 October 2021, opens 20 October, booking to 3 April 2022 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) UPDATE: now booking to 18 September 2022

The biggest compliment we can pay this jukebox musical is that it worked its audience up at only this 3rd preview into such a frenzy that 2 songs before the finish everyone was up on their feet, dancing and singing along.

  • Read on for reasons including how Kene is 1 of this country’s finest performers but here the whole ensemble shines
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THEATRE REVIEW: Death Of A Salesman starring Sharon D. Clarke & Arinze Kene at the Young Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Young Vic RUNTIME: 185 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

WHEN? 3/5, press night 9/5, runs to 29/6/19 (now extended to 13/7)

We were at the Royal Albert Hall last month for the Olivier Awards and the prize we were most pleased to see received was Sharon D. Clarke’s for Best Actress In A Musical and, as if to prove it, her performance of Lot’s Wife from Caroline, Or Change stole the show.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production emphasises the mental health element of the classic play

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2019

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Death Of A Salesman starring Sharon D.Clarke and Arinze Kene

D. Clarke (pictured 2nd from right, top) won our Best Actress monsta last year as well as the Olivier for Best Actress In A Musical for her star turn in Caroline, Or Change and is here directed by Marianne Elliott (pictured left in video, hot from Company) and appears alongside Arinze Kene (winner of our Best Actor monsta for Misty and far left in the picture). Their revival of the Arthur Miller classic runs 1/5 through 29/6 at the Young Vic. Review. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Madonna, Eurovision, Anne-Marie Duff, Faye Tozer and Oti Mabuse

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AWARDS: Winners of the 2018 monstas are …

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2018’s Best Theatre Actress

  • Sharon D. Clarke in Caroline, Or Change at Hampstead Theatre, now Playhouse Theatre Review Tickets   Lot’s Wife
  • Picture courtesy Caroline, or Change – West End

Screen Shot 2018-12-27 at 16.04.10

  • Read on for reasons including the remaining 13 theatre, pop, film & TV winners

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Best Theatre Actor of the year: 2018

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2018? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2018.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for Theatre Actor of the year. 2017 winner: Andrew Scott in Hamlet at the Almeida

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THEATRE REVIEW: Misty starring Arinzé Kene at the Trafalgar Studios

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Trafalgar Studios

WHEN?: 13/9 (press ticket), runs to 20/10 RUNTIME: 2 hours (including interval)

NOTE: now extended until 17/11/18

We shortlisted half a dozen Best New Plays of the year in June and 2, including this 1, make their West End bows this month.

  • Read on for reasons including why Misty works in its new West End home

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best theatre actor of 2018 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 13 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2017 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2018 so far and what’s to come. James McAvoy, George Mackay and Andrew Scott are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 6 best theatre actors of 2018 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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