BFI

INVESTIGATION: Should you join your favourite theatre as a member? (2020 update, part one)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

The Old Vic was the second winner of our Best Theatre Venue monsta last year and in part two are details of what you can expect from patron membership which for us meant sharing a rehearsal room with actors including Fleabag‘s Andrew Scott (pictured above).

  • Read on to find out what membership of the Almeida, ATG, Bridge Theatre, British Film Institute, Delfont Mackintosh, Donmar Warehouse and Globe Theatre gets you

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Q&A and TV PREVIEW: His Dark Materials featuring Ruth Wilson, Dafne Keen & Sir Philip Pullman at the BFI

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHERE? BFI IMAX RUNTIME: 60 minutes (episode 1 to air on BBC1 3/11 and HBO 4/11/19)

WHEN? 15/10

Piers Wenger is BBC’s controller of drama and describes this eight-part first season of Sir Philip Pullman’s renowned literature trilogy as ‘the most ambitious drama the BBC has ever made’.

  • Read on for reasons including what to expect from episode 1 which airs on BBC1 Sunday 3 November 2019

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Q&A: Derry Girls at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival

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WHERE? BFI IMAX, BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, London

WHEN? 14/4/19

Derry Girls writer and creator Lisa McGee had never really seen anything on television that represented her growing up in the 90s in Northern Ireland and so set about writing it.

  • Read on for reasons including the similarities between Derry Girls and Channel 4’s Father Ted

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Q&A: Josh O’Connor at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHERE? BFI & Radio Times Television Festival

WHEN? 13/4/19 The Durrells airs on ITV at 8pm on Sundays, finishing 12/5/19

Josh O’Connor plays Prince Charles in the next series of Netflix’s The Crown and if he met the royal he would want to compare ear stories.

  • Read on for reasons including what happened when O’Connor auditioned for the film version of Les Miserables

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Q&A: Line Of Duty featuring Jed Mercurio at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHERE? BFI IMAX

WHEN? 13/4/19, series 5 concludes on BBC1 5/5/19

monstagigz guarantee: There are no spoilers in the Q&A that follows if you’re up to date with the show

‘Do I know who ‘H’ is? Oh yes,’ says Line Of Duty creator and writer Jed Mercurio who is speaking at the 2nd annual BFI & Radio Times Television Festival at the BFI IMAX in London.

  • Read on for reasons including which character suggested her own demise in series 5

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Dame Maggie Smith’s 1st theatrical performance in 12 years

When we raved about film There’s Nothing Like A Dame we never thought we’d see Dame Maggie tread the boards again but she returns to London for the 1st time in 12 years in a new one-woman play called A German Life based on the actual testimony of Brunhilde Pomsel, who once worked for Joseph Goebbels. Runs 6/4 to 11/5/19. Tickets The Downton Abbey film is expected to be released in September.

  • Read on for reasons including Sally Field, Bananarama tour, Jessie Buckley film & Game Of Thrones returns

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INVESTIGATION: Should you join your favourite theatre as a member?

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

Should theatre go Netflix? Would subscribing as a member of your favourite theatre make it easier for you to get the most in-demand tickets? We became a member of 11 of our favourite venues and bought two group memberships to see what the value for money is.

  • Read on to find out what membership of the Almeida, ATG, Bridge Theatre, British Film Institute, Delfont Mackintosh, Donmar Warehouse, Globe Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, National Theatre, Old Vic, Other Palace, Royal Court and Young Vic gets you

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Q&A and WORLD PREMIERE SEASON 2 FINALE: Westworld featuring Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: BFI

WHEN: 19/6, UK air date 25/6

We’ve just seen the world premiere of the final episode in season 2 of award-winning HBO series Westworld and are joined by its creators, husband and wife Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy.

  • Read on for reasons including no spoilers but clues to where season 3 of Westworld is heading

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Q&A and FILM REVIEW: McKellen: Playing The Part starring Sir Ian McKellen

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: BFI Southbank

WHEN: 27/5, UK release 1/6/18

RUN TIME: 1 hour 36 minutes

‘I wouldn’t be here if he was a prick,’ remarks Martin Freeman of Sir Ian McKellen who celebrated his 79th birthday this weekend with a star-studded launch of his autobiographical new film McKellen: Playing The Part.

  • Read on for reasons including what McKellen regrets and the film’s highlights

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