THEATRE REVIEW: Otherland starring Jade Anouka & Fizz Sinclair at the Almeida

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Saturday 21 February, runs through 15 March 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best bit of this unusual story is trans character Harry finding solace on the hill in Greenwich Park straddling the meridian and appreciating a line that only exists because someone says it does.

  • Read on for reasons including how Otherland feels overthought rather than fresh out of the box
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2025 starring Jonathan Bailey as Richard II

  1. Jonathan Bailey is Richard II

Bailey (film Wicked and COCK, Ambassadors) stars in this Shakespeare directed by Nicholas Hytner (Giant, Royal Court and transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre) at the Bridge Theatre. Runs 10 February through 10 May 2025 Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Cate Blanchett, Patti LuPone, Olly Alexander and Nicola Walker
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre Actress of 2022

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

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(not a) THEATRE REVIEW: Cock starring Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton, Jade Anouka & Phil Daniels

By Neil Durham

WHERE?: Ambassadors Theatre, London

WHEN?: Saturday 5 March, booking to 4 June 2022 RUNTIME: Usually 105 minutes (no interval)

We’re at the 1st preview of this Mike Bartlett revival and 90 minutes in Egerton faints onstage, a doctor is called from the audience and the curtain goes down for 40 minutes.

  • Read on for reasons including how Egerton is due back onstage to perform this on Monday 7 March
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for March starring Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton & Jade Anouka in Cock

  1. Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton and Jade Anouka in Cock

Bridgerton star Bailey won our Best Performance Of A Song monsta in 2018 under Marianne Elliott’s direction in Sondheim’s Company, currently running on Broadway. Elliott returns to direct here. Anouka won a monsta too in 2016 for Best Theatre Actress in the Shakespeare Trilogy. Both star with Egerton (Rocketman) and Phil Daniels (Les Miserables). Mike Bartlett’s 2009 (Snowflake) play about a gay male couple threatened from an unlikely source originally starred Ben Whishaw, Andrew Scott and Katherine Parkinson. Runs 5 March through 4 June 2022 at the Ambassadors Theatre. Tickets The view from the audience as Egerton fainted at the 1st preview

  • Read on for reasons including To Kill A Mockingbird in the West End and the return of Bridgerton
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Phlebotomist starring Jade Anouka & Rory Fleck Byrne at Hampstead Theatre

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

WHERE? Hampstead Theatre RUNTIME: 2 hours and 15 minutes (with 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 22/3, opens 25/3, runs to 20/4/19

Theatre’s 34th Olivier Awards will be presented at the Royal Albert Hall on 7 April and this new play is shortlisted for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre.

  • Read on for reasons including what beat The Phlebotomist to our Best New Play monsta

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2019

  1. Pinter’s Betrayal stars Zawe Ashton and Tom Hiddleston

The Pinter at the Pinter season at the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre has been hit and miss but it’s big finish stars Hiddleston and monstagigz favourite Ashton. Runs 5/3 to 1/6. We’ve reviewed Ashton at both the Old Vic and Trafalgar Studios in recent years. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Jade Anouka, Wiktoria, Sigrid & Sophie Ellis Bextor

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REHEARSED READING & Q&A: Bull In A China Shop starring Fiona Shaw, Jade Anouka & Leah Harvey at the National

WHERE? Dorfman Theatre, National

RUN TIME: 75 minutes (without interval)

WHEN?: 17/11/18

Author Bryna Turner explains the conflict at the heart of her play is between a revolutionary, the old guard and someone seeking to make progress, and its star Fiona Shaw adds 1 word – ‘Brexit’.

  • Read on for reasons including how this play forms part of the Courage Everywhere season at the National

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best theatre actress of 2018 so far

We awarded 13 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2017 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2018 so far and what’s to come. Sheridan Smith, Jade Anouka and Imelda Staunton are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 6 best theatre actresses of 2018 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best new play of 2018 so far

We awarded 13 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2017 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2018 so far and what’s to come. Oddshaped Balls and The Ferryman are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 6 best new plays of 2018 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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