Barcelona

GIG REVIEW: Toto at Poble Espanyol, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 26 July, tour runs through 29 November 2024

SETLIST: Girl Goodbye; Hold The Line; 99; Pamela; Jake To The Bone; Georgy Porgy; Burn; I’ll Be Over You; Stop Loving You; Little Wing; I’ll Supply The Love; Little Wing; A Thousand Years; Stop Loving You; Home Of The Brave; With A Little Help From My Friends; Rosanna; Africa

It’s a perfect summer night for an outdoor gig and this American super group arrive on stage shortly after this unusual venue’s advertised 9pm opening time.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a well-honed, hits-based set that was definitely worth seeing in such a beautiful outdoor venue like this
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GIG REVIEW: Rufus Wainwright at Les Nits De Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 21 July, tour runs through 28 July 2024

SETLIST: Agnus Dei; Montauk; Millbrook; Sanssouci; He Loved; Peaceful Afternoon; The Art Teacher; Old Song; Early Morning Madness; Gay Messiah; Ready For Battle; So Long, Marianne; Poses; Dinner At Eight; Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk; Going To A Town; Hallelujah; La Complainte De La Butte

Tomorrow is Wainwright’s 51st birthday and the only gift he asks from us is our forgiveness that he’s not playing the song Barcelona from his debut album.

  • Read on for reasons including how this gorgeous outdoor venue was as classy as the superstar that graced its stage
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for July starring Dame Imelda Staunton in Hello Dolly!

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  1. Dame Imelda Staunton in Hello Dolly! at the Palladium

Staunton won our Best Theatre Actress monsta for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at the Harold Pinter Theatre in 2017 and here stars at the London Palladium in the titular role in this classic 1964 musical about a matchmaker who travels to New York. The starry cast includes Jenna Russell (STEVE, Seven Dials Playhouse), Tyrone Huntley (The View UpStairs, Soho Theatre) and Harry Hepple (Boy Meets Girl Q&A, BFI). Runs 6 July through 14 September 2024. Tickets Our 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Suede and Manic St Preachers at Ally Pally, Cherry Jones at the National & Madness on Blackheath
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2024 starring Sheridan Smith in Opening Night

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Sheridan Smith stars in new Rufus Wainwright musical

Smith (Shirley Valentine, Duke Of York’s Theatre) stars in this new musical directed by Ivo van Hove (A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre) based on the John Cassavetes film with music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright. Runs at the Gielgud Theatre 6 March through 27 July 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including the UK’s Eurovision entry, new musical Cable Street & Bananarama’s Glorious
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Producers at the Teatro Tivoli, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 4 November (matinee), runs through 4 February 2024 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We can’t think of a less appropriate time to be staging this musical tale of producers who put on a Nazi-themed musical designed to fail to make money but are thwarted by a surprise hit.

  • Read on for reasons including how we and our companion made our Catalan stage debuts in this near-the-knuckle rollercoaster
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Gig of 2023

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It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2023? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2023.

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GIG REVIEW: Madonna at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***** RUNTIME: 120 minutes without interval

WHEN?: Thursday 2 November, tour runs through 24 April 2024

SETLIST: Nothing Really Matters; Everybody; Into The Groove; Burning Up; Open Your Heart; Holiday; Live To Tell; Like A Prayer; Erotica; Justify Your Love; Hung Up; Bad Girl; Vogue; Human Nature; Crazy For You; Die Another Day; Don’t Tell Me; Mother And Father; I Will Survive; La Isla Bonita; Don’t Cry For Me Argentina; Bedtime Story; Ray Of Light; Rain; Like A Virgin; Bitch I’m Madonna; Celebration

Madonna brings her director’s eye, her actress’s understanding of drama and her musician’s intimacy with her 40-year treasure trove of hits and deep cuts to tell the story of her life – and it’s everything we’ve always wanted from her and the best gig we’ve ever seen.

  • Read on for reasons including how this gig features the most devastating coup de théâtre we’ve ever seen
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THEATRE REVIEW: Rocky Horror Show at Teatro Coliseum, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 31 October, runs through 5 November 2023 Then touring Europe including the UK and booking currently until 31 March 2024 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

It’s Halloween night, we’re in the middle of the 3rd row at this 1,700-capacity cinema/theatre celebrating its 100th birthday to watch a musical 1st seen upstairs at London’s Royal Court Theatre in June 1973.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s no effort at all to be swept away by the sheer love with which this production is both performed and received
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THEATRE REVIEW: La Jaula De Las Locas (The cage of the crazy) at Teatre Tivoli, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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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