We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2018 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2019 so far and what’s to come. Company, Follies and Shakespeare Trilogy are previous winners in this category.
D. Clarke (pictured 2nd from right, top) won our Best Actress monsta last year as well as the Olivier for Best Actress In A Musical for her star turn in Caroline, Or Change and is here directed by Marianne Elliott (pictured left in video, hot from Company) and appears alongside Arinze Kene (winner of our Best Actor monsta for Misty and far left in the picture). Their revival of the Arthur Miller classic runs 1/5 through 29/6 at the Young Vic. Review. Tickets
We awarded 13 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2017 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2018 so far and what’s to come. Sheridan Smith, Jade Anouka and Imelda Staunton are previous winners in this category.
WORTH A LOOK?: **
WHERE: Donmar
WHEN: 30/3, press night 3/4, runs to 26/5/18
We’re here for the casting of Linda Bassett, reviewed on this site in Escaped Alone at the Royal Court, as matriarch Lady Wishfort but she is replaced before previews begin.
Postponed from October due to health reasons, the world’s greatest pop star drops by for two nights at The 02 this month. Her last album Joanne won our monsta for Best Album in 2016. Tickets Her new film A Star Is Born is out in May.
We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. Temple and Oddshaped Balls are previous winners in this category.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHERE: Donmar Warehouse
WHEN: 16/3 (matinee), runs to 15/4
This dramatisation of the moment in 1981 when ‘Gang Of Four’ Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins, David Owen and Bill Rodgers left the Labour party to form a party of their own is a recent history that will be familiar to many.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Donmar
WHEN: 31/12 (matinee), runs to 18/2/17
We almost saw lead Gemma Arterton in Nell Gwynn, her film 100 Streets was one of our favourites of 2016 and so we pulled out as many stops as possible to see her star in Josie Rourke’s Saint Joan at the Donmar.
It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2016? Over the next fortnight we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 12 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2016.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Donmar at King’s Cross
WHEN: 30/9, runs to 15/10
Q: How many of Shakespeare’s characters were female? A: 16 per cent.
