movies

PREVIEW/Q&A : How To Get To Heaven From Belfast starring Lisa McGee at BFI Southbank

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? Tuesday 10 February 2026

HOW TO WATCH? Episodes available on Netflix from Thursday 12 February 2026

McGee created Derry Girls and her follow-up – How To Get To Heaven From Belfast – is about 3 women in their late 30s who investigate the mysterious death of the former schoolfriend they haven’t seen for 20 years.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is recognisably by the creator of Derry Girls but throws a little Scooby Doo-style mystery into the mix as well as some reflection on youth
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo at the Noel Coward Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 9 February, opens 17 February and runs through 30 May 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (no interval)

Erivo (film Wicked) delivers an extraordinarily committed performance in this 20,000-word monologue of a 1-woman Dracula.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is an impressive spectacle of her acting ability that will divide theatre purists who prefer fewer cameras on our stages
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THEATRE REVIEW: End starring Clive Owen & Saskia Reeves at the Dorfman, National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ***

WHEN? Monday 8 December, runs through 17 January 2026 RUNTIME 90 minutes (without interval)

A 90s house DJ discusses his cancer with the mother of their child as their 60th birthdays approach and he looks for the titular end armed with the ‘best record in his box’.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a rare chance to see this cast in an intimate setting in challenging new material
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Q&A/TV PREVIEW: Mark Gatiss & Ben Mansfield on The Room In The Tower at the BFI

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Sunday 14 December 2025, to air at 10pm on BBC2 on Christmas Eve RUNTIME: 30 minutes

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the now annual Mark Gatiss ghost story airing late on Christmas Eve on BBC2.

  • Read on for reasons including how this Christmas tradition is just a part of festivities as It’s A Wonderful Life
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Play of 2025

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 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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FILM REVIEW: Pillion starring Alexander Skarsgård & Harry Melling

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK? ****

The winner of this year’s British Independent Film Award for best film revels in being both an unflinching look at a BDSM relationship while colliding with a very embarrassed British sense of humour more likely found in fare like Four Weddings And A Funeral.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is funny, thought-provoking and far more warm of heart than you might expect
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FILM REVIEW: Wicked: For Good starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? 21 November 2025 on its day of release RUNTIME: 137 minutes

Wicked (Part 1) was a 5-star hit because it built on the beloved Act 1 of a classic musical giving it the visual flair and world-building that only cinema can with a superstar cast.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the satisfying conclusion to a tale which speaks to our lives now set up beautifully by its magical 1st film
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THEATRE REVIEW: Paddington The Musical at the Savoy Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ****

WHEN? Friday 14 November, opens 1 December and runs through 25 October 2026 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

They say the devil has the best tunes and this new musical’s showstopper is reserved for its taxidermist villainess – Pretty Little Dead Things (listen below).

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the strength of the songs that made us enjoy this show so much more than we expected
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/Film Actor 2025

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 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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THEATRE REVIEW: Stereophonic starring Jack Riddiford at Duke Of York’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 30 August, runs through 22 November 2025

RUNTIME: 195 minutes (including 15-minute interval)

Can you ever have too much of a good thing?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a classy production we’re unsure will repeat its Tonys success at the Oliviers
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