By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN? Saturday 15 August and runs through 19 September 2026 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Growing up in the 70s with the sounds of Demis Roussos and taste of cheesy pineapple skewers, even the aspiration was palpable.
You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2026.
Blanchett (The Seagull, Barbican) stars opposite Nina Hoss (The Cherry Orchard, Donmar) in Benedict Andrews’ (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Apollo Theatre) production fusing ancient myth and modern psychology at the Lyttelton at the National 19 August through 10 October 2026. Tickets Our review
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 Our review
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 week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK? ***1/2
WHEN? Friday 19 December, opens 9 January and runs through 7 March 2026 RUNTIME 100 minutes without interval
There’s a clock above the stage ticking forward in real time to the titular High Noon as Billy Crudup’s marshal Will Kane prepares to meet his fate.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK? *****
WHEN? Tuesday 11 November, runs through 6 December 2025 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)
Conor McPherson (The Brightening Air, Old Vic) adapts The Hunger Games which opens this week in London and this won the Best New Play Olivier in 1999.
We last saw Sally Field in this Arthur Miller play at the Old Vic in 2019. Ivo Van Hove (Opening Night, Gielgud Theatre) is at the helm of this version at the Wyndham’s Theatre starring Paapa Essiedu, who won last year’s Best Theatre Actor monsta, Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Runs 14 November through 7 March 2026. Tickets Our review
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 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.
You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2024.
