Donmar Warehouse

THEATRE REVIEW: Intimate Apparel starring Samira Wiley, Kadiff Kirwan & Faith Omole at Donmar Warehouse

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 26 July, runs through 9 August 2025 RUNTIME: 145 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Jack Thorne (The Motive And The Cue, National Theatre) recently described Lynn Nottage, the author of this play, as ‘the closest thing to a living Shakespeare we have’ and on the evidence of this production it’s easy to see why.

  • Read on for reasons including how Intimate Apparel is ultimately devastating as we realise the truth of Esther’s situation
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for July 2025 starring Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar

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  1. Sean Hayes from Will And Grace in Good Night, Oscar

Emmy and Tony Award-winner Hayes makes his London debut and plays the hottest late night talk show host in 1958 in this Broadway transfer to the Barbican. Runs 100 minutes without interval 31 July through 21 September 2025. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including new Cian Ducrot, Samira Wiley in the West End and Culture Club
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Revival of 2024

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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 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre Supporting Actor of 2024

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 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Theatre Supporting Actor of 2024 Previous winner 2023: Katy Secombe (Guys And Dolls, Bridge Thetare)
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Human Body starring Keeley Hawes & Jack Davenport at the Donmar

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 19 February and runs through 13 April 2024 RUNTIME: 190 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

It’s 1948 and Keeley Hawes (TV’s  It’s A Sin) is GP, housewife and budding MP Iris Elcock who is working all hours to create Nye Bevan’s National Health Service.

  • Read on for reasons including how this drama is beautifully crafted and staged
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THEATRE REVIEW: Macbeth starring David Tennant & Cush Jumbo at the Donmar

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***/*****

WHEN?: Saturday 9 December, opens 15 December and runs through 10 February 2024 RUNTIME: 115 minutes (without interval) UPDATE: Transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre 1 October through 14 December 2024 Tickets

Should the wearing of headphones ever be a requirement for theatre?

  • Read on for reasons including how this production will be divisive and felt as if it was conceived for cinema rather than theatre
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2023 starring Jennifer Saunders in Peter Pan

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Jennifer Saunders and Julian Clary in the Palladium pantomime

7 years ago Julian Clary starred opposite Paul O’Grady in pantomime Cinderella at this venue in a production that marked a return of the form to a theatre previously renowned for it. We’ve loved the shows that have followed, Dick Whittington, Snow White, Goldilocks, and Pantoland at the Palladium, in both 2020 and 2021, and Jack And The Beanstalk starring Dawn French in 2022. French’s comedy partner Jennifer Saunders stars here alongside Clary and My Son’s A Queer‘s Rob Madge. Runs 9 December through 14 January 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including David Tennant’s Macbeth, Joe Cole’s Homecoming and new musical Cold War
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THEATRE REVIEW: PIAF starring Elena Roger at Teatro Liceo Buenos Aires, Argentina

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 14 September 2023 RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

Roger gives a five-star performance of a three-star play in which she is the uncanny embodiment of the French singer who performed in cabaret and chanson styles and was the country’s most popular singer in the 1940s.

  • Read on for reasons including how we joined the enthusiastic standing ovation for this performance and production
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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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THEATRE REVIEW: Next To Normal starring Caissie Levy at the Donmar Warehouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Monday 14 August, opens 22 August and runs through 7 October 2023 UPDATE: Transferring to London’s West End in June 2024 Details

Think Dear Evan Hansen but where the mental health focus is on a middle-aged mother spiralling out of control rather than a struggling teen.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is hard-hitting and well-performed material which is already finding its audience
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