books

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2026 starring Pride

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Pride at the National Theatre

Writer and director Stephen Beresford and Matthew Warchus (Oedipus, Old Vic) return from the 2014 film for the musical of a group of gay men and lesbians supporting the striking miners in the 80s. Stars Samuel Barnett (Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is About To Happen, Bush Theatre) at the National’s Dorfman Theatre 11 June through 12 September 2026. Original music by DJ Walde (SYLVIA, Old Vic). Tickets

  • Read on for reasons ioncluding Russell Tovey in Guilty, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Glengarry Glen Ross
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THEATRE REVIEW: Equus starring Toby Stephens, Amanda Abbington & Noah Valentine at Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 9 May (matinee), opens 18 May and runs through 4 July 2026 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Inside No 9 and Waterloo Road‘s Noah Valentine follows in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe in baring all as troubled 17-year-old Alan Strang who is blinding horses.

  • Read on for reasons including how this version is so strong we do expect it to transfer to the West End
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THEATRE REVIEW: An Adequate Abridgement Of Boarding School Life As A Homo at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 8 May and runs through 10 May 2026 RUNTIME: 60 minutes (interval)

It’s a tale as old as time but young gay love story Homo is the anti-Heartstopper.

  • Read on for reasons including how Homo gives us neither the easy answer or ties up all of its very many loose ends
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THEATRE REVIEW: Slippery starring John McCrea & Perry Williams at the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Sunday 23 March, runs through 11 April 2026 RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)

What would you do if the ex-boyfriend you ghosted for 10 years put you down as his emergency contact and the hospital called to ask you to pick him up after an accident?

  • Read on for reasons including how this captivating 2-hander refuses to let its audience out of its vice-like grip
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THEATRE REVIEW: Choir Boy starring Terique Jarrett at Stratford East

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Saturday 28 March, opens 31 March and runs through 25 April 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Author Tarell Alvin McCraney won the 2017 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Moonlight and like that film Choir Boy is the story of a young black man struggling with his sexuality.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is exactly the sort of work we’ve longed to see at this venue
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THEATRE REVIEW: John Proctor Is The Villain at the Royal Court Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Saturday 21 March, opens 26 March and runs through 25 April 2026 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

‘Well those rumours, they have big teeth, hope they bite you. Thought you said that you would always be in love but you’re not in love no more,’ sings Lorde on Green Light as modern day female high school students lip synch to it in an attempt to make sense of the situation they’re in.

  • Read on for reasons including how this will spark many talking points without necessarily providing the theatrical heft to settle any of them
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GIG REVIEW: Youth Sector at Edge Of The Wedge, Portsmouth

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN? Friday 20 February through 3 May 2026

What better to blow away the wet cobwebs of this dingy start to the year than to experience Youth Sector?

  • Read on for reasons including why A Humdrum Mum can’t wait to see what the future holds for Youth Sector
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PREVIEW & Q&A: Bridgerton starring Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha hosted by Alison Hammond at BFI Southbank

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? Tuesday 24 February 2026

HOW TO WATCH? Final 4 episodes of season 4 now available on Netflix. Season 5 and 6 to air

ITV This Morning’s host Alison Hammond makes for a sympathetic and enthusiastic host as we view episode 5 of season 4 of this Netflix period behemoth amidst an audience of mostly women who clap, cheer and whoop their way through the most enjoyable big screen way to watch an episode of Bridgerton.

  • Read on for reasons including which RuPaul quote Ha’s character maid Sophie lives by
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THEATRE REVIEW: Broken Glass directed by Jordan Fein and starring Eli Gelb, Pearl Chanda, Alex Waldmann, Nancy Carroll & Juliet Cowan at the Young Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Saturday 21 February, opens 3 March and runs through 18 April 2026 RUNTIME: 120 minutes without interval

This venue has a strong recent record of reviving Arthur Miller plays including A View From The Bridge and Death Of A Salesman and this lesser known work deserves to be considered in the same sentence as those.

  • Read on for reasons including how there are no multi cameras or technological trickery needed when the cast is this strong and material so pertinent
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