AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Performance Of A Song 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 week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Revival 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 week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Musical 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 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue 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.

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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2025 so far (Part 1 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 9 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2025 so far
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THEATRE REVIEW: Sing Street at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN? Saturday 12 July, opens 18 July and runs through 23 August 2025 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

Everything Stops For Top Of The Pops is the opening number of this new musical based on a film which encapsulates first love, the thrill of pop music and wanting to escape 80s Dublin for the freedom of London.

  • Read on for reasons including why Sing Street is Once‘s cute younger brother and deserves a West End transfer
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for July 2025 starring Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar

  1. Sean Hayes from Will And Grace in Good Night, Oscar

Emmy and Tony Award-winner Hayes makes his London debut and plays the hottest late night talk show host in 1958 in this Broadway transfer to the Barbican. Runs 100 minutes without interval 31 July through 21 September 2025. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including new Cian Ducrot, Samira Wiley in the West End and Culture Club
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THEATRE REVIEW: Ghosts starring Callum Scott Howells & Victoria Smurfit at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN? Saturday 12 April, opens 16 April runs through 10 May 2025 RUNTIME 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Playwright Gary Owen explains his modern take on this beloved Ibsen in the programme: ‘There is a point to messing with a classic – if you get it right, you might preserve what was truly startling about the original. You might reproduce the impact this dusty old classic had when it was a snarling, swaggering young play.’

  • Read on for reasons including how you couldn’t ask for a more intense performance than star Scott Howells serves up
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2025 starring Self Esteem at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

  1. Self Esteem debuts new album at the Duke Of York’s Theatre in London

Rotherham-born Rebecca Lucy Taylor starred in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End but is perhaps best known as pop star Self Esteem for last album Prioritise Pleasure, in 2021 an album of the month for us. She debuts 3rd album A Complicated Woman at gigs we join her for in London’s West End this month. Tickets are return only. Album out 25 April 2025 Our song of the month is new single 69. Our review of the gig and review of the album

  • Read on for reasons including Here We Are, new Conor McPherson play and Ewan McGregor onstage
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THEATRE REVIEW: Minority Report at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Saturday 20 April, opens 29 April and runs through 18 May 2024 RUNTIME: 90 minutes without interval

A Philip K Dick short story, a Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise and now a play re-imagined by a well-known British actor but does it already know it’s transferring to the West End after this run?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is an adrenaline rush of visual spectacle and intellectual stimulation that is fully deserving of a West End transfer
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