Art

THEATRE REVIEW: Beautiful Little Fool starring David Hunter, Hannah Corneau & Lauren Ward at Southwark Playhouse (The Large)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Friday 16 January, opens 22 January and runs through 28 February 2026 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

Corneau (pictured centre above) has written the music and lyrics for this look at the life of Zelda Fitzgerald and her husband F. Scott, who wrote classic novel The Great Gatsby, through the eyes of their daughter.

  • Read on for reasons including how Corneau has great potential and may well go on to write and star in something quite exceptional next
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THEATRE REVIEW: Gerry & Sewell at the Aldwych Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Thursday 15 January 2026, runs through 24 January 2026 (review ticket) RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Non-league Macclesfield beat FA Cup holders Crystal Palace 5 days ago and Gerry & Sewell is the giant-killing theatrical equivalent.

  • Read on for reasons including how Gerry & Sewell is about the everyday hopes and dreams that every one of us needs to keep going, pet
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2026 starring The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Passenger wrote the music and lyrics for this adaptation of the novel at Theatre Royal Haymarket starring The Full Monty‘s Mark Addy and Jenna Russell (Hello Dolly! London Palladium) running 29 January through 18 April 2026. It’s the story of a man who receives a letter from a long-lost friend and walks from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including American Psycho, I’m Sorry Prime Minister and The History Of Sound
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THEATRE REVIEW: High Noon starring Billy Crudup & Denise Gough at Harold Pinter Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ***1/2

WHEN? Friday 19 December, opens 9 January and runs through 7 March 2026 RUNTIME 100 minutes without interval

There’s a clock above the stage ticking forward in real time to the titular High Noon as Billy Crudup’s marshal Will Kane prepares to meet his fate.

  • Read on for reasons including how Gough and Crudup make for a couple the audience can root for
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Revival of 2025

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 2025? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Play of 2025

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 2025? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Song of 2025

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 2025? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS Best Album of 2025

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 2025? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Fallen Angels starring Janie Dee at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ****

WHEN? Saturday 22 November (matinee), opens 2 December and runs through 21 February 2026 RUNTIME 120 minutes (including interval)

This Noel Coward comedy about 2 married women admitting to premarital sex and contemplating adultery was 1st performed in London 100 years ago with the theatre censor initially recommending it shouldn’t be staged because the morals of the female leads ‘would cause too great a scandal’.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production is as frivolous, light and intoxicating as the champagne bubbles that its leading ladies savour so enthusiastically here
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: LUX by Rosalía (November 2025)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Tracklist: Sexo, Violencia y Llantas; Reliquia; Divinize; Porcelana; Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti; Berghain; La Perla; Mudo Nuevo; De Madruga; Dios Es Un Stalker; La Yugular; Sauvignon Blanc; La Rumba Del Perdon; Memoria; Magnolias

Music is the original international tongue and Rosalía’s use here of 13 languages appears to be an attempt to maximise its appeal.

  • Read on for reasons including how the need for repeat listening is required to appreciate the ambition, breadth of ideas and astonishing realisation of them here
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