Duke of York’s Theatre

THEATRE REVIEW: Teeth ‘n’ Smiles starring Rebecca Lucy Taylor – Self Esteem – and Phil Daniels at Duke Of York’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 14 March, opens 25 March and runs through 6 June 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Three-quarters of the way through this revival of a David Hare play with music which originally starred Helen Mirren its new star Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, sits on the steps leading up to the stage and plays a new song she has written herself solo on the guitar as her character finds her voice.

  • Read on for reasons including how Self Esteem updates this work with new material that brings real soul and authenticity to it
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2026 starring Aidan Turner in Les Liaisons Dangereuses

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  1. Aidan Turner and Lesley Manville in Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Turner (Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Harold Pinter Theatre) and Manville (Oedipus, Wyndham’s Theatre) star in Marianne Elliott’s (COCK, Ambassadors Theatre) take on Christopher Hampton’s sexy adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel. Runs at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre 21 March through 6 June 2026. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Rachel Zegler live, Self Esteem and Sadie Sink in the West End
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AWARDS: Winners of our 2025 monstas are …

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monstagigz readers have been voting throughout October, November and December for their favourite pop, theatre, TV, film and podcasts of 2025 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2025 11th annual monstas winners …

  • Read on for reasons including the winners of our 17 monstas for the best theatre, pop, TV, film and podcasts of 2025
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THEATRE REVIEW: Woman In Mind starring Sheridan Smith & Romesh Ranganathan at Duke Of York’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ***1/2

WHEN? Friday 12 December, opens 6 January and runs through 28 February 2026 and then to Sunderland Empire and Glasgow Theatre Royal RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Patsy Cline’s Crazy and Jamiroquai‘s Virtual Insanity play immediately before curtain up to establish the mood as we enter the mind of Susan played by national treasure Sheridan Smith (Opening Night, Gielgud Theatre).

  • Read on for reasons including how Smith brings the warmth and humanity she is renowned for to some still topical material
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Musical of 2025

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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 2025? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Stereophonic starring Jack Riddiford at Duke Of York’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 30 August, runs through 22 November 2025

RUNTIME: 195 minutes (including 15-minute interval)

Can you ever have too much of a good thing?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a classy production we’re unsure will repeat its Tonys success at the Oliviers
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: A Complicated Woman by Self Esteem (May 2025)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

Tracklist: I Do And I Don’t Care; Focus Is Power; Mother; The Curse; Logic, Bitch; Cheers To Me; If Not Now, It’s Soon; In Plain Sight; Lies; 69; What Now; The Deep Blue Okay

There’s a thematic through-line to this album with the final track’s title being referenced in its opening song as Self Esteem sings: ‘We’re not chasing happiness anymore, girls. We’re chasing nothing, the great big still, the deep blue okay – and we’re okay today.’

  • Read on for reasons including how Madonna was in the audience for Self Esteem
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2025 starring Self Esteem at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Self Esteem debuts new album at the Duke Of York’s Theatre in London

Rotherham-born Rebecca Lucy Taylor starred in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End but is perhaps best known as pop star Self Esteem for last album Prioritise Pleasure, in 2021 an album of the month for us. She debuts 3rd album A Complicated Woman at gigs we join her for in London’s West End this month. Tickets are return only. Album out 25 April 2025 Our song of the month is new single 69. Our review of the gig and review of the album

  • Read on for reasons including Here We Are, new Conor McPherson play and Ewan McGregor onstage
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THEATRE REVIEW: Elektra starring Brie Larson & Stockard Channing at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 24 January, opening 5 February and running through 12 April 2025 RUNTIME: 95 minutes without interval

Elektra is angry and we know this because she sports a buzz cut, wears a Bikini Kill T-shirt and shouts into a variety of onstage microphones, some with distortion pedals, unavailable to the rest of the cast like a slam poet goes full Sinead O’Connor on Saturday Night Live.

  • Read on for reasons including how Larson’s performance is wholehearted, brave and uncompromising
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