London Palladium

9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2023 starring Jennifer Saunders in Peter Pan

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Jennifer Saunders and Julian Clary in the Palladium pantomime

7 years ago Julian Clary starred opposite Paul O’Grady in pantomime Cinderella at this venue in a production that marked a return of the form to a theatre previously renowned for it. We’ve loved the shows that have followed, Dick Whittington, Snow White, Goldilocks, and Pantoland at the Palladium, in both 2020 and 2021, and Jack And The Beanstalk starring Dawn French in 2022. French’s comedy partner Jennifer Saunders stars here alongside Clary and My Son’s A Queer‘s Rob Madge. Runs 9 December through 14 January 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including David Tennant’s Macbeth, Joe Cole’s Homecoming and new musical Cold War
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Jack And The Beanstalk at the London Palladium starring Julian Clary, Dawn French and Alexandra Burke

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Sunday 11 December (matinee), runs to 15 January 2023

We’re in the 4th row behind a group of women who are finding Julian Clary’s character The Spirit Of The Beans uproariously funny and even taking sneaky pictures of his very many costume changes.

  • Read on for reasons including how it is Clary’s saucy quips which once again steal the show
Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2022 starring Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Rebecca Frecknall starring Paul Mescal

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)

  • Read on for reasons including Julian Clary, Sir Ian McKellen and Jack O’Connell
Read More

GIG REVIEW: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (season 3) at the London Palladium starring Kitty Scott-Claus, Ella Vaday, Vanity Milan and Choriza May

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 8 October, runs to 16 October 2022 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best bit during this celebration of the 3rd series of BBC’s RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is when it is compered by runner-up queens Ella Vaday and Kitty Scott-Claus (see pictured below) who have real warmth and charisma.

  • Read on for reasons including how queens Kitty Scott-Claus and Ella Vaday are the stand-outs here
Read More

GIG REVIEW: Kim Wilde at the London Palladium

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 27 September 2022, last night of tour

SETLIST: Rage To Love; Never Trust A Stranger; Million Miles Away; Can’t Get Enough (Of Your Love); If I Can’t Have You; The Touch; The Second Time/Pop Muzik; Kandy Krush; Birthday; Water On Glass; Love Is Holy; Love In The Natural Way; Four Letter Word; Another Step; Cambodia; View From A Bridge; Chequered Love; You Keep Me Hangin’ On; Pop Don’t Stop; Kids In America

Born in 1960, Wilde tells us she grew up listening to The Beatles, was a teenager during punk, glam rock and ABBA, and, perhaps most importantly was 20 in 1980.

  • Read on for reasons including how Wilde was reunited with an extra special duet partner during this show
Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2022 starring Suede

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Suede live and new album Autofiction

Suede may have reformed in 2010 but they’ve never mattered to us in the same way as they did when we 1st saw them at Portsmouth Pyramids in 1993 – until now. Singles She Still Leads Me On and 15 Again show a flair and consistency we’ve not seen this century. New album Autofiction is released 16 September and we see them the night before at a special gig at PRYZM, Kingston. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including The P Word, The Band’s Visit, Eureka Day and Self Esteem
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Taboo – the 20th Anniversary Charity Concert at the Palladium

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Sunday 30 January 2022

We 1st saw this musical co-written by Boy George around 20 years ago on its arrival to London’s West End at what is now Leicester Square Theatre and was then The Venue.

  • Read on for reasons including guests Boy George, Julian Clary, John Partridge, Declan Bennett and Sally Ann Triplett
Read More

SONG OF THE MONTH: The Best Mistakes by The Divine Comedy (December 2021)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

It’s quite the feat for a band that has been releasing records for 4 decades to put out a new single that sounds both quintessentially them but also with an understanding of what made supergroup ABBA’s return to the fold this year such a thrill.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about how to see The Divine Comedy live in 2022
Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2021 starring Pantoland at the Palladium

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Pantoland At The Palladium starring Julian Clary

We’ve seen the Palladium’s annual pantomime in each of its 5 years and last year’s run was cruelly cut very short by Covid and so it is with some relief that we can report it is returning in 2021 with much of its now familiar variety-based cast but with Donny Osmond and The Tiller Girls added this Christmas. We’re big fans of Julian Clary and it’s a real treat to see him absolutely in his element. Last year we said: ‘Clary is a master of improvisation and the rest of the cast are clearly trying to stifle their own laughing often and, when Yarrow dries, Clary references Stemp in Mary Poppins  saying ‘Charlie’s chimney’s never dry’.’ Runs 4 December 2021 through 9 January 2022. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including new musical Hex, Spring Awakening revival and world premieres of La Belle Sauvage and Force Majeure
Read More