Donmar Warehouse

AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Musical 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 Band’s Visit starring Miri Mesika at the Donmar Warehouse

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 1 October, runs to 3 December 2022 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

Like a downplayed Star Wars, this new musical opens with the following words beamed against the stage’s back wall: ‘Once, not long ago, a group of musicians came to Israel from Egypt. You probably didn’t hear about it. It wasn’t very important.’

  • Read on for reasons including how this intimate venue is the place to see this heartwarming new musical
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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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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2022 starring Kit Harington

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  1. Kit Harington stars as Henry V at the Donmar

The most memorable time the Game Of Thrones star performed in the West End was at the Duke Of York’s in 2016 for Jamie Lloyd’s Doctor Faustus. It was our 2nd best read piece that year which may have had something to do with Harington flashing his bum during the performance. Hard to know what to expect from his Henry V (Harington pictured) at the Donmar which is in previews from 12 February and is booking until 9 April. Directed by Max Webster (Cover My Tracks, The Lorax, Old Vic). Tickets Update: due to Covid-19-related absences in the company the 1st 4 previews have been cancelled

  • Read on for reasons including Monica Dolan, new Tears For Fears album and intimate Years and Years gig
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THEATRE REVIEW: Force Majeure starring Rory Kinnear at the Donmar

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 11 December, opens 16 December, booking until 5 February 2022 Note: this production did not open and is currently paused because of Covid. Previews resume 29 December 2021

The stage is a dry ski slope for this tale of a family skiing holiday that goes wrong when an avalanche hits.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is a well-acted production that left us feeling cold
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2021 starring Pantoland at the Palladium

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  1. Pantoland At The Palladium starring Julian Clary

We’ve seen the Palladium’s annual pantomime in each of its 5 years and last year’s run was cruelly cut very short by Covid and so it is with some relief that we can report it is returning in 2021 with much of its now familiar variety-based cast but with Donny Osmond and The Tiller Girls added this Christmas. We’re big fans of Julian Clary and it’s a real treat to see him absolutely in his element. Last year we said: ‘Clary is a master of improvisation and the rest of the cast are clearly trying to stifle their own laughing often and, when Yarrow dries, Clary references Stemp in Mary Poppins  saying ‘Charlie’s chimney’s never dry’.’ Runs 4 December 2021 through 9 January 2022. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including new musical Hex, Spring Awakening revival and world premieres of La Belle Sauvage and Force Majeure
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August 2021 starring Culture Club

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  1. Culture Club and Bananarama play Kenwood House

This is shaping up to be 1 of our 1st gigs proper since Madonna at the Palladium pre-lockdowns in February 2020 and we couldn’t be more thrilled. The occasion is Heritage Live and the setting is north London’s beautiful Kenwood House. We’ve seen Rufus Wainwright here before and we know we’re in for something special because Culture Club and Bananarama always deliver live. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including new albums from Lorde and Will Young and the Victorious festival
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2021 starring Constellations

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  1. Constellations starring Sheila Atim

We saw the original production of Nick Payne’s awards-garlanded two-hander in the West End starring Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins in 2012. It was little surprise that this tale of a couple meeting with repeat scenes and meditations on multiple universes should also find Broadway acclaim with Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson and now it is ripe for return with original director Michael Longhurst. Opening on 18 June 2021 at the Vaudeville Theatre with Atim (Othello, Globe)) and Ivanno Jeremiah, couples will also include Russell Tovey (Angels In America, National Theatre) and Omari Douglas (Channel 4’s It’s A Sin). Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including In The Heights, Hairspray, Cinderella and Be More Chill
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue of 2020

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2020? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2020.

  • Read on for 5 nominees for the monsta for best venue of the year. 2019 winner: The Old Vic , 2018: Bush Theatre

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