AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/Film Actress 2025

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: The House Of Bernarda Alba starring Harriet Walter at the National

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 17 November, opens 25 November and runs through 6 January 2024 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

You join us in 1945 in Andalusia, Spain in the titular home of Walter’s Bernarda Alba as she and her 5 daughters mourn the loss of her husband and their father.

  • Read on for reasons including how this retelling of a classic reminds how often and wrongly women can be viewed as secondary to men
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THEATRE REVIEW: Henry IV starring Harriet Walter

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Donmar at King’s Cross Theatre

WHEN: 18/11, runs to 17/12

‘Cel-e-ry, cel-e-ry, She won’t come unless you tickle her bum with a lump of celery.’

  • Read on for reasons including why this football chant fits perfectly with this all-female cast’s prison-set amalgamation of Henry IV (Parts I and II)

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November

  1. Dreamgirls’ Glee

London’s iconic Savoy Theatre is always a guarantee of a hot hit musical and Glee‘s Amber Riley (pictured above and with And I’m Telling You clip below) stars in Dreamgirls there 19/11 – 11/3/17. We’ve given the Savoy’s last three musicals (Gypsy, Guys and Dolls and Funny Girl) the full 5*. We’re going twice already. Would you bet against this supreme musical not inspiring such baby love? Tickets.

  • Read on for reasons including Idris Elba, London’s best panto and Christine and The Queens 

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for October

  1. Lazarus rises

This 18-song David Bowie musical ran off Broadway for three months from November 2015 and features hits including Life On Mars?, Heroes and Absolute Beginners. It was written by Bowie with Once author Enda Walsh. Starring Dexter’s Michael C. Hall and directed by Ivo van Hove, it runs 25/10 – 22/1 at the King’s Cross Theatre and seems a fitting salute to the star who died 10 days before curtain down on the US show. Tickets.

  • Read on for reasons including Star Trek, Anne-Marie Duff and Glenda Jackson’s return

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for September

  1. Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart inhabit No Man’s Land

Our most read content of the year so far was shared by Sir Ian on his Facebook page and was a Shakespeare BFI Q&A with him in April. We’ve seen him many times filming Vicious at ITV Studios on the South Bank but never on stage in the theatre – until now and this Broadway transfer. Runs 8/9 to 17/12 at Wyndham’s Theatre. Picture via No Man’s Land. Tickets here.

  • Read on for reasons including The Fall, Billy Joel and Inside No 9

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: Theatre of the year

It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2015? Over the last fortnight we’ve shortlisted five nominees in each of seven categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2015. Read on for the final nominees for our four theatre of the year monstas. Read More