James Graham

THEATRE REVIEW: Boys From The Blackstuff at the National Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 25 May 2024, runs through 8 June and then onto the Garrick Theatre 13 June through 3 August 2024 Tickets RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Songs including Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury, Depeche Mode’s New Life and Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division play before curtain up to set the scene as the UK in 1982 or thereabouts.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is an adaptation that is always sensitive to the elements that made the original so human with a real sense of place and time
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2024 starring Dominic West in A View From The Bridge

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  1. A View From The Bridge in the West End

Transferring from Bath’s Theatre Royal, this Lindsay Posner production stars Dominic West (TV’s The Crown), Kate Fleetwood (Ugly Lies The Bone, National Theatre) and Callum Scott Howells (Cabaret, Kit Kat Club) in this Arthur Miller play about 1 man’s place in the close-knit American-Italian community of 1950s New York. Runs 23 May through 3 August 2024 at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Tickets Our preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Olly Alexander, Boys From The Blackstuff and Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dear England starring Joseph Fiennes & Dervla Kirwan at Prince Edward Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 14 October (matinee), runs through 13 January 2024 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

As the men’s England football team prepares for a crucial EURO 24 game against Italy on Tuesday (17 October 2023), James Graham’s latest play about Gareth Southgate’s reign as manager transfers to the West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how this West End production has changed from its National version
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dear England starring Joseph Fiennes at the National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Tuesday 13 June, runs through 11 August 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) BREAKING: This production transfers to the Prince Edward Theatre 9 October through 13 January 2024 Tickets

Can it really be true that England’s football team are the ‘premature ejaculators’ of penalty taking and the quick speed with which they take them corresponds directly to their lack of success?

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the best new play of the year so far and so much more than about football
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2023 starring A Strange Loop

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. A Strange Loop at the Barbican

The winner of 2 2022 Tonys is written by Michael R. Jackson and is the story of Usher, a black queer man writing a musical about a black queer man writing a musical. Starring Kyle Ramar Freeman and Jason Pennycooke (Hamilton, Victoria Palace) it runs at the Barbican 17 June through 9 September 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Rebecca Frecknall’s Romeo and Juliet, James Graham’s Dear England and Glastonbury Festival
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THEATRE REVIEW: Best Of Enemies starring David Harewood and Zachary Quinto at the Noel Coward Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 19 November (matinee), running until 18 February 2023

So, cards on the table, we’re huge fans of author James Graham but chose not to see this on its run at the Young Vic last winter because its subject matter failed to fire our imagination.

  • Read on for reasons including how Quinto in particular makes a dazzling West End debut in this riveting new play
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THEATRE REVIEW: Tammy Faye starring Katie Brayben & Andrew Rannells at Almeida Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 22 October (matinee), runs to 3 December 2022 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

There are so many male reasons – music by Elton John, lyrics by the Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and a book by James (Ink) Graham – to be excited for this musical life story of US tele-evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker but, ultimately, it is its leading lady Katie Brayben whose input shines brightest.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a musical designed with a Broadway transfer in mind
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2022 starring Best Of Enemies

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. West End debut of Zachary Quinto in Best Of Enemies

Quinto (The Boys In The Band) is probably best known for his role as Spock in the rebooted Star Trek franchise and here plays Gore Vidal in the Young Vic production of this James (Ink, Almeida) Graham play opposite David Harewood as William F Buckley about the 1968 ATV TV debates. Runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 14 November through 18 February 2023. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Florence and the Machine, The Crown and My Policeman
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for October 2022 starring Tammy Faye at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. New Elton John, Jake Shears and James Graham musical

Tammy Faye Messner was an American evangelist, singer, author, talk show host, and television personality. This musical about her life includes music by Elton John, lyrics by Jake Shears and a book by James Graham (Ink, Almeida and BBC1’s Sherwood). It stars Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells (The Prom and The Boys In The Band). Runs 13 October through 3 December. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Brown Boys Swim, Simon Russell Beale and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2019

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Leave to Remain at the Lyric, Hammersmith

A modern love story by Matt Jones with music by Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke starring Billy Cullum and Tyrone Huntley (pictured left to right above) runs at the Lyric, Hammersmith, 18/1/19 through 16/2/19. Tickets

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  • Read on for reasons including Benedict Cumberbatch in Brexit and Olivia Colman’s The Favourite

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