BFI

9 reasons why we can’t wait for October

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Lazarus rises

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.

  • Read on for reasons including Star Trek, Anne-Marie Duff and Glenda Jackson’s return

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Q&A/PREVIEW: Inside No 9 with Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton

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WHERE?: BFI

WHEN: 5/9

Sir Derek Jacobi is the narrator of the BBC’s children series In The Night Garden and, here, in the third season of dark BBC2 comic delight Inside No. 9, well, he’s … that would be telling ….

  • Read on for more teasers from the third series of BBC2 dark comedy series Inside No. 9

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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.

  • Read on to find out what membership of the Almeida, British Film Institute, Menier Chocolate Factory, National Theatre and Old Vic gets you.

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PREVIEW: 11 reasons why we can’t wait for July

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Pet Shop Boys play the Royal Opera House

Super is our album of the year so far and the Boys’ only 2016 UK dates are during their four-date Inner Sanctum residency at the Royal Opera House. We saw Rufus Wainwright there a while back and it’s a venue Neil and Chris were born to play. Tickets have sold out but we’d check here for returns.

  • Read on for reasons including Looking: The Movie, Shura, Ab Fab & Groundhog Day premiere

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Q&A: Sir Ian McKellen & review of Heuristic Shakespeare app

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHERE: BFI

WHEN: 28/4

Without his leading role in the film Richard III, which he also co-wrote, Sir Ian McKellen doubts whether he would ever have been cast as Gandalf and Magneto in the Lord Of the Rings and X-Men films respectively.

  • Read on for a review of Sir Ian’s new Heuristic Shakespeare app

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PREVIEW & Q&A: The Hollow Crown starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Sturridge

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: BFI

WHEN: 29/3, screens April

The BFI audience has just seen the first episode of the new BBC Hollow Crown trilogy and there are clear Game Of Thrones comparisons although star Tom Sturridge (who plays Henry VI) is having none of it.

  • Read on to find out which Sherlock actor joins Benedict Cumberbatch (pictured above) in this BBC2 production

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Sir Ian McKellen: Shakespeare on Stage, Screen & Elsewhere

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHERE?: BFI

WHEN: 6/4

Sir Ian McKellen is telling the BFI audience about his relationship with Shakespeare because the venue has put his Richard III at the heart of its celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death later this month.

Read on for details of Sir Ian’s new app version of The Tempest out 23/4

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PREVIEW: 8 reasons why we can’t wait for May

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. UK has a shot at Eurovision 

43 countries, two semis and a final: 14/5. The bookies have the UK’s Joe and Jake 27th as we write this but we’ve heard all the entries and think You’re Not Alone has a shot at winning particularly with an EU referendum 23/6. Our dark horse is Croatia’s Nina Kraljić (main picture and below) who’s channelling Hounds Of Love-era Kate Bush:

  • Read on for reasons including Cyndi Lauper, Aladdin and The Threepenny Opera

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PREVIEW: 11 reasons why we can’t wait for April

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Glenn Close stars in Sunset Boulevard

Q: Who is the most nominated actor still living never to win an Oscar? A: Glenn Close (The World According To Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural (supporting nods), Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs (lead nods)). She brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Coliseum and we’re at the 1/4 first preview as this runs to 7/5. Tickets here. Picture via Facebook courtesy English National Opera.

  • Read on for reasons including Game of Thrones star in West End, Pet Shop Boys album, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom & Benedict Cumberbatch’s Hollow Crown

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