London

GIG REVIEW: Ben Watt & Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl) at The MOTH Club

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Sunday 6 April, runs through 7 April 2025 Update: New gigs at this venue in June Details

This is the 200-capacity east London venue where we saw our 1st post-pandemic gig and our best show of 2024 but we never dared dream we’d see the 1st concert in a quarter of a century by 1 of our favourite bands here.

  • Read on for reasons including how we hope that the experience has been enjoyable enough for Thorn and Watt to look to repeat it
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GIG REVIEW: Welly at Rough Trade East, London

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Sunday 23 March, tour runs through August 2025 Tickets

Setlist: Big In The Suburbs; Knock And Run; Soak Up The Culture; Shopping; Country Cousins; Life Is A Motorway; It’s Not Like This In France; Me And Your Mates

Debut album Big In The Suburbs has been in the world for less than 72 hours and we hear 3 songs from it tonight that we’ve not heard Welly play live before.

  • Read on for reasons including how things are just beginning for this band
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Big In The Suburbs by Welly (April 2025)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

Tracklist: Big In The Suburbs; Home For The Weekend; Knock And Run; Deere John; Soak Up The Culture; Shopping; Cul-De-Sac; Pampas Grass; The Roundabout Racehorse; Under Milk Wood; Family Photos; Country Cousins; It’s Not Like This In France; Life Is A Motorway

Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas where the narrator invites the audience to listen to the dreams and innermost thoughts of the inhabitants of the fictional small Welsh fishing town, Llareggub.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the best album of 2025 so far
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Why Am I So Single? (Original London cast recording) (Friday 14 March 2025)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

New musical Why Am I So Single? ran at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End from 27 August 2024 through 19 January 2025 and this cast recording is a welcome way to remind its audience of its merits until its inevitable triumphant return to the stage.

  • Read on for reasons including this is a show with a big heart unafraid to wear it on its sleeve and it’s certainly not goodbye forever
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2025 starring Jonathan Bailey as Richard II

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  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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THEATRE REVIEW: Oedipus starring Rami Malek, Indira Varma & Cecilia Noble at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Friday 25 January 2025, opening 4 February and running through 29 March 2025 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

There’s so much to rave about in this razor-sharp adaptation of this Greek tragedy containing a 1st stage performance in 18 years by Oscar winner Rami Malek (film Bohemian Rhapsody) but it’s too often left flatfooted by pointless techno dance breaks.

  • Read on for reasons including how from our row 5 seat we can see Malek’s eyes sparkle in the lights as they glaze with tears
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre Supporting Actor of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Theatre Supporting Actor of 2024 Previous winner 2023: Katy Secombe (Guys And Dolls, Bridge Thetare)
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Supporting Theatre Actress of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Supporting Theatre Actress of 2024 2023 winner: Katy Secombe, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre Review Tickets
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Producers starring Andy Nyman & Marc Antolin at Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 30 November 2024 (matinee), opens 9 December and runs through 1 March 2025 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including interval) Update: Transfers to the Garrick 30 August 2025 through 21 February 2026 Tickets

Our companion whispers: ‘This is brilliant!’ in our ear at the end of 2nd song The King Of Old Broadway as Andy Nyman (film Wicked (Part 1) as down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock makes us forget we saw Nathan Lane (Angels In America, National Theatre) in the role in London’s West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was the funniest show our companion had seen for at least 10 years
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Big In The Suburbs by Welly (week beginning Saturday 16 November 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

‘Don’t spend a lifetime looking for heaven when you can find it on the A27.’ Five-piece band Welly should know because they’re from Southampton and Brighton which are linked by that major road.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see Welly on tour in 2024 and 2025
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