musical

THEATRE REVIEW: Romeo and Juliet starring Sadie Sink at the Harold Pinter Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Friday 27 March, opens 31 March and runs through 20 June 2026 RUNTIME: 175 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Sink may have found worldwide fame with Netflix’s Stranger Things but the 23-year-old has been performing in theatre since 2011 including as the lead in Annie on Broadway and being nominated for a Tony as Best Actress last year for John Proctor Is The Villain which has just opened in London.

  • Read on for reasons including how Sadie Sink is a mesmerising heroine in this production which breathes new life into a classic
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THEATRE REVIEW: Avenue Q at Shaftesbury Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 21 March (matinee), opens 16 April and runs through August 29 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

With song titles like It Sucks To Be Me, If You Were Gay and Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist, this 3-time Tony Award winner is very much an adult take on Sesame Street with puppets.

  • Read on for reasons including how Avenue Q has lots of irreverent laughs and more fun-filled songs than you could shake a stick (puppet) at
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Mirrored Monet: The Musical starring Dean John-Wilson at Charing Cross Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Tuesday 17 March, opens 24 March and runs through 9 May 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

The best thing about this musical of the life of French painter and founder of the Impressionists Monet is when his wife contemplates their relationship in 11pm number There Are No Stars.

  • Read on for reasons including whether Monet’s story benefitted from musical form and why the songs weren’t better
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THEATRE REVIEW: Evening All Afternoon starring Anastasia Hille at the Donmar

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Friday 20 February, opens 24 February and runs through 11 April 2026 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

Anastasia Hille (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Young Vic) plays Jennifer, a woman marrying late and nervous about how she is perceived by her soon-to-be stepdaughter.

  • Read on for reasons including how meditating on grief, acceptance, unexpected love and finding contentment where you never dared look are themes that feel universal
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry starring Mark Addy at Theatre Royal Haymarket

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Friday 30 January, opens 10 February and runs through 18 April 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

There’s a kindness and generosity of spirit about this new musical which reminds of the Olivier Award-winning The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and a final reveal so devastating we spend much of the 2nd act shedding silent tears.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a a feelgood musical with heartfelt songs that won’t fail to put a spring in your step
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2026 starring The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Passenger wrote the music and lyrics for this adaptation of the novel at Theatre Royal Haymarket starring The Full Monty‘s Mark Addy and Jenna Russell (Hello Dolly! London Palladium) running 29 January through 18 April 2026. It’s the story of a man who receives a letter from a long-lost friend and walks from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including American Psycho, I’m Sorry Prime Minister and The History Of Sound
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THEATRE REVIEW: When We Are Married starring Siobhan Finneran, Samantha Spiro & Sophie Thompson at the Donmar

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ****

WHEN? Wednesday 10 December, opens 17 December and runs through 7 February 2026

What would you do if you found out on your silver wedding anniversary that you weren’t actually legally married 25 years ago?

  • Read on for reasons including how this reminds of the best of Victoria Wood and Alan Bennett and was an unexpected riot of a comedy
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2025 starring Oh, Mary!

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  1. Oh Mary! at Trafalgar Theatre

This winner of 2 Tony Awards is a comedy play written by American comedian Cole Escola spoofing the lives of former US President Abraham Lincoln and wife Mary in the days leading up to his assassination where she might be an alcoholic while he is deeply closeted. Stars Mason Alexander Park (The Tempest, Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Runs 3 December through 25 April at Trafalgar Theatre. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Into The Woods, Nicola Coughlan and Sheridan Smith
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FILM REVIEW: Wicked: For Good starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey

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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: Here And Now starring Rebecca Lock, Blake Patrick Anderson, River Medway & Finty Williams at New Victoria Theatre, Woking

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Tuesday 14 October, tour runs through 16 May 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We catch this musical realisation of the Steps songbook shortly before the departure this week of its leading lady Rebecca Lock (Heathers, Other Palace) to musical Freaky Friday in Manchester.

  • Read on for reasons including how you’d be a deeper shade of blue if you missed out
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