Bush Theatre

9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2023 starring Stranger Things

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  1. Stranger Things at the Phoenix Theatre

The 80s-set Netflix sci-fi series of the same name won our 2016 Best TV monsta and so we’re very much looking forward to its theatrical counterpart promising to turn back the clock to Hawkins in 1959 ‘before the world turned upside down’. Stranger Things: The First Shadow invites us to explore the history of Hawkins and the origins of some key characters. Runs at the Phoenix Theatre 17 November through 25 August 2024. Tickets Preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Snow White, Cian Ducrot, Feeling Afraid and The Witches
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THEATRE REVIEW: Elephant starring Anoushka Lucas at Bush Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 14 October, opens 19 October runs through 4 November 2023 RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)

Lucas was shortlisted for Best Actress In A Musical at the 2023 Oliviers for her role in the reimagining of musical Oklahoma! which we saw at the Young Vic before it transferred into the West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how Lucas will go on to write something even more thought-provoking
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for October 2023 starring Kenneth Branagh as King Lear

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  1. Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear reigns in the West End

We haven’t seen Branagh in the West End since The Kenneth Branagh Company’s year-long run of six plays at the Garrick Theatre closed in 2016 on its highest high with its star taking the lead in The Entertainer. Branagh also directs at the Wyndham’s Theatre 21 October through 9 December. Tickets Our recent Lears have included Sir Ian McKellen and the late Glenda Jackson. 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Madonna, S Club reunion, Dear England‘s West End transfer and new Agnetha ABBA
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Play of 2022

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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 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

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THEATRE REVIEW: The P Word at the Bush Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 10 September 2022, opens 14 September, runs to 22 October 2022 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval) Update: run extended to 29 October 2022

Bilal – or Billy as he prefers to be known (pictured right above) – is 31 and has lots of anonymous sex but wonders why he’s never found the 1 or even a boyfriend.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is 1 of the best new plays performed this year
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2022 starring Suede

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  1. Suede live and new album Autofiction

Suede may have reformed in 2010 but they’ve never mattered to us in the same way as they did when we 1st saw them at Portsmouth Pyramids in 1993 – until now. Singles She Still Leads Me On and 15 Again show a flair and consistency we’ve not seen this century. New album Autofiction is released 16 September and we see them the night before at a special gig at PRYZM, Kingston. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including The P Word, The Band’s Visit, Eureka Day and Self Esteem
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THEATRE REVIEW: Red Pitch starring Kedar Williams-Stirling, Emeka Sesay & Francis Lovehall at Bush Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: Opening night Tuesday 22 February 2022 (press ticket), runs to 26 March 2022 Update: transfers to @SohoPlace in London’s West End 15 March through 4 May 2024 Tickets Update: returns to Bush Theatre and runs 12 to 30 September 2023 Tickets

Williams-Stirling plays Jackson Marchetti, a head boy and swimming champion in Netflix’s TV series Sex Education and it’s a role light years from his part in this coming of age story set on a football pitch not far from this west London venue.

  • Read on for reasons including how there’s a truthfulness in the friendship represented here
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for March starring Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton & Jade Anouka in Cock

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  1. Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton and Jade Anouka in Cock

Bridgerton star Bailey won our Best Performance Of A Song monsta in 2018 under Marianne Elliott’s direction in Sondheim’s Company, currently running on Broadway. Elliott returns to direct here. Anouka won a monsta too in 2016 for Best Theatre Actress in the Shakespeare Trilogy. Both star with Egerton (Rocketman) and Phil Daniels (Les Miserables). Mike Bartlett’s 2009 (Snowflake) play about a gay male couple threatened from an unlikely source originally starred Ben Whishaw, Andrew Scott and Katherine Parkinson. Runs 5 March through 4 June 2022 at the Ambassadors Theatre. Tickets The view from the audience as Egerton fainted at the 1st preview

  • Read on for reasons including To Kill A Mockingbird in the West End and the return of Bridgerton
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AWARDS: Winners of the 2018 monstas are …

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2018’s Best Theatre Actress

  • Sharon D. Clarke in Caroline, Or Change at Hampstead Theatre, now Playhouse Theatre Review Tickets   Lot’s Wife
  • Picture courtesy Caroline, or Change – West End

Screen Shot 2018-12-27 at 16.04.10

  • Read on for reasons including the remaining 13 theatre, pop, film & TV winners

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Best New Play of the year: 2018

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2018? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2018.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for Best New Play of the year. 2017 winner: The Ferryman (Royal Court, then Gielgud Theatre)

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