By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 12 and 14 January, with a final on 11 February 2023
WHERE?: Tondiraba Ice Hall, Tallinn Watch on ERR
Stefan’s Hope finished 13th in Eurovision 2022 and it was our 3rd favourite in that year’s Eesti Laul with lots of big-hitters to beat.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 31 January, 2 and 4 February 2023
WHERE?: Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm Watch on TVE
2022 saw the return of Benidorm Fest as the method for Spain to select its Eurovision entry and our choice to win, Chanel with SloMo, finished 3rd in Turin, Spain’s best result since 1995.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
The UK returns to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest after a 16-year absence this month and we’re back with a banger because 13-year-old Freya Skye’s song is an absolute bop.
Frecknall directed Cabaret which still runs at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre and whose EmCees have included an Olivier-winning turn from Eddie Redmayne, Fra Fee and Callum Scott Howells. The star of the Tennessee Williams classic she has chosen to follow it up with won a Best TV/Film Actor from us in 2020 for Normal People (pictured above). Streetcar runs at the Almeida 12 December 2022 to 4 February 2023. Tickets Streetcar review Mescal currently stars in film Aftersun Review Note: now opens Saturday 17 December as leading lady Lydia Wilson withdraws for health reasons to be replaced by Olivier winner Patsy Ferran (Camp Siegfried, Old Vic)
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Tuesday 8 November, tour runs until 4 April 2023
SETLIST: Tiny Riot; Whirlwind; Somebody; Put A Light On Me; Deep Blue Doubt; You’re The Voice; All The Way Over; More; Everybody Wants To Rule The World/I Want To Break Free/September/The Way You Make Me Feel; SPACE MAN
Before this show we thank Ryder for turning around the UK’s Eurovision fortunes and ask him whether he will be playing a part in the 2023 event in Liverpool next May and he doesn’t yet know.
By Aline Mahrud and Neil Durham
WHEN?: Saturday 14 May 2022
WHERE?: PalaOlimpico, Turin, Italy
HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 8pm (UK time)
Rousing anti-ballad Hold Me Closer by Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs (pictured) is our pick to take home the 66th Eurovision Song Contest crown on Saturday.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
We’ve now watched rehearsal clips of all 40 entries into next Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest and this is both our favourite and the song we think will win.
We saw lead Okereke in both The Boy Friend (Menier) and Spring Awakening (Almeida) and so know how deserved this casting is. We last saw Martine McCutcheon’s triumphant take on this Lerner and Loewe classic in 2001 and it returns to the West End at the Coliseum 7 May through 27 August 2022. Tickets 1st preview review
By Aline Mahrud and Neil Durham
WHEN? Thursday 12 May 2022
WHERE? PalaOlimpico, Turin, Italy
HOW DO I WATCH? BBC3 8pm (UK time)
We think the standard of this 2nd semi final is far greater than Tuesday’s 1st and also it will therefore be tougher for the better songs here to advance to Saturday’s final.
By Aline Mahrud and Neil Durham
WHEN? Tuesday 10 May 2022
WHERE? PalaOlimpico, Turin, Italy
HOW DO I WATCH? BBC3 8pm (UK time)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sees the former thrown out of this 66th Contest while the latter are now favourites to win the whole thing.
