THEATRE REVIEW: Man To Man starring Tilda Swinton at the Royal Court Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 17 October, and ran through 24 October 2026 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval) Plays Edinburgh, Berlin and New York details far below

Oscar winner Swinton makes her New York stage debut next year in this curious monologue about a woman in 1930s Germany who puts on her dead husband’s trousers and never takes them off.

  • Read on for reasons including where and when to see this production in the US, Germany and Scotland
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THEATRE REVIEW: Thelma And Louise starring Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker at the Young Vic

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Monday 19 October and running through 24 October 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

This musical of the 1991 classic Oscar-winning female road movie was 1 of the most eagerly awaited shows this autumn and we see it in its final week at this venue to assess whether it’s any gas left in its tank.

  • Read on for reasons including how the biggest injustice in this show is how the 5* story receives 2* songs
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Pianist starring Daniel Krikler at the Park Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 17 October, opens 22 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

This is the new musical version of the life of Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman during World War 2, a story which won 3 Oscars in its 2002 celluloid incarnation starring Adrien Brody.

  • Read on for reasons including how we’re here for monsta-longlisted star Daniel Krikler
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Lives Of Others starring Keira Knightley and Luke Thompson at the Adelphi Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 16 October, opens 29 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (no interval)

Adapter/director Robert Icke’s most recent leading ladies have gone on to awards success including Sadie Sink (Stage Debut Award for Romeo and Juliet) and a Best Actress Olivier and Tony for Lesley Manville (Oedipus)

  • Read on for reasons including how Keira Knightley was last on stage in 2011
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THEATRE REVIEW: Ilford Boy starring Leo Whitfield Harris, Craig Stein, Ria Zmitrowicz & Lindsey Coulson at the Donmar Warehouse

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 12 October, opens 20 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

It’s the day of his nan’s funeral and impressionable 14-year-old Ted meets his mum’s gay best friend and suddenly his world doesn’t feel so lonely.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the best new plays of the year so far
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Podcast of 2026

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2026? Over the next 3 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2026.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for Best Podcast of 2026 2025 winner London Theatre Review Listen 2024 winner Kermode and Mayo’s Take Listen 2023 AussieVision 2021 and 2022 winner Second Cherry
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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2026 so far (Part 2 of 2)

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.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2026 so far
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AWARDS: Winners of our 2025 monstas are …

monstagigz readers have been voting throughout October, November and December for their favourite pop, theatre, TV, film and podcasts of 2025 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2025 11th annual monstas winners …

  • Read on for reasons including the winners of our 17 monstas for the best theatre, pop, TV, film and podcasts of 2025
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Podcast of 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 3 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Podcast of 2025 2024 winner Kermode and Mayo’s Take Listen 2023 AussieVision 2021 and 2022 winner Second Cherry
Read More

AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2025 so far (Part 2 of 2)

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 2025.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2025 so far
Read More