THEATRE REVIEW: Ilford Boy starring Leo Whitfield Harris, Craig Stein, Ria Zmitrowicz & Lindsey Coulson at the Donmar Warehouse

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 12 October, opens 20 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

It’s the day of his nan’s funeral and impressionable 14-year-old Ted meets his mum’s gay best friend and suddenly his world doesn’t feel so lonely.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the best new plays of the year so far
Read More

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for October 2026 starring Keira Knightley & Luke Thompson

  1. Keira Knightley in The Lives Of Others

Knightley performs in the West End for the 1st time since 2011 opposite Bridgerton‘s Luke Thompson (A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre) in this story of a writer and actor under surveillance in 1984 at the Adelphi Theatre. Written, adapted and directed by Robert Icke (Romeo and Juliet, Harold Pinter Theatre) Runs 14 October through 9 January 2027. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Kristin Scott Thomas, Tilda Swinton and Michelle Dockery in the new Ava Pickett
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: A Month In The Country starring Sophie Okonedo at Donmar Warehouse

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Monday 24 August, opens 2 September and runs through 3 October 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Sophie Okonedo (Medea, @SohoPlace) is the beating heart of this revival of Brian Friel’s (Dancing At Lughnasa, National) take on this very Chekhovian tale of an 1840s Russian landowner’s wife’s infatuation with her son’s young tutor.

  • Read on for reasons including how Okonedo relishes the opportunity to be the emotional focus
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: The Guilty starring Russell Tovey at the Donmar Warehouse

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 70 minutes (without interval)

WHEN?: Monday 22 June, opens 30 June and runs through 15 August 2026 Update: Transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre 16 January through 3 April 2027 Tickets

Meet troubled police officer Joe, played by Russell Tovey (Constellations, Vaudeville Theatre), who takes a series of 999 calls in this real-time thriller set in London.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the perfect setting for this real-time thriller to grip you by your collar and never let go
Read More

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

  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 Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Russell Tovey in Guilty, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Glengarry Glen Ross
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Mass starring Monica Dolan & Adeel Akhtar at Donmar Warehouse

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Monday 20 April, opens 29 April and through 6 June 2026 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

It’s just when you think Mass has run its considerable dramatic course that Monica Dolan’s mother Linda re-appears after bidding farewell to unpin an emotional grenade that can’t fail to obliterate the viewer.

  • Read on for reasons including how Mass boasts a fantastic cast which gets the most from some difficult emotional material
Read More

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2026 starring Pet Shop Boys

  1. Pet Shop Boys Obscure at Electric Ballroom, Camden

Do I Have To? We All Feel Better In The Dark. Shameless. Pet Shop Boys Tennant and Lowe have been releasing extraordinary songs since the 80s and this 5-night residency of Obscure tracks at Camden’s Electric Ballroom in London Monday 6 April through Friday 10 April 2026 has long been sold out. We join Neil and Chris there for a post-Dreamworld (Glastonbury Festival) check in. Tickets if you’re very lucky Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Monica Dolan at the Donmar, Cuckoo revived and Romola Garai’s Doll’s House
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Evening All Afternoon starring Anastasia Hille at the Donmar

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Friday 20 February, opens 24 February and runs through 11 April 2026 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

Anastasia Hille (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Young Vic) plays Jennifer, a woman marrying late and nervous about how she is perceived by her soon-to-be stepdaughter.

  • Read on for reasons including how meditating on grief, acceptance, unexpected love and finding contentment where you never dared look are themes that feel universal
Read More

AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre Supporting Actress of 2025

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2025? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Theatre Supporting Actress 2025 Previous winners 2024 Lorraine Ashbourne, Till The Stars Come Down, National; Katy Secombe, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: When We Are Married starring Siobhan Finneran, Samantha Spiro & Sophie Thompson at the Donmar

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ****

WHEN? Wednesday 10 December, opens 17 December and runs through 7 February 2026

What would you do if you found out on your silver wedding anniversary that you weren’t actually legally married 25 years ago?

  • Read on for reasons including how this reminds of the best of Victoria Wood and Alan Bennett and was an unexpected riot of a comedy
Read More