musical

THEATRE REVIEW: Rocky Horror Show starring Jason Donovan at Teatre Coliseum, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Sunday 2 November 2025, European tour includes the UK and runs through 1 August 2026 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (with 20-minute interval)

It’s Halloween weekend and almost 2 years to the day after we last saw this musical at this very venue as we return to it with Jason Donovan (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium) this time playing the lead.

  • Read on for reasons including how Donovan’s charismatic performance is the delightful showbiz bow on a gift of a show
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THEATRE REVIEW: Intimate Apparel starring Samira Wiley, Kadiff Kirwan & Faith Omole at Donmar Warehouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 26 July, runs through 9 August 2025 RUNTIME: 145 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Jack Thorne (The Motive And The Cue, National Theatre) recently described Lynn Nottage, the author of this play, as ‘the closest thing to a living Shakespeare we have’ and on the evidence of this production it’s easy to see why.

  • Read on for reasons including how Intimate Apparel is ultimately devastating as we realise the truth of Esther’s situation
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THEATRE REVIEW: Operation Mincemeat new UK cast at the Fortune Theatre, London

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 31 May 2025, booking through 28 February 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The Broadway production of this musical starring its original British cast is up for 4 Tonys on Sunday (9 June 2025) and to celebrate we made our 3rd visit to this show.

  • Read on for reasons including how we couldn’t recommend this new musical more highly
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THEATRE REVIEW: Shucked at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre starring Sophie McShera, Georgina Onuorah & Ben Joyce

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 10 May, opens 19 May and runs through 14 June 2025 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Fans of the country-inspired hits by acts including Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter will find a great deal to enjoy here in this Tony-winning musical about a woman trying to save her community when the corn that protects it starts dying.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best new musical of the year so far
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THEATRE REVIEW: Self Esteem at Duke Of York’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 19 April (matinee), runs through 20 April 2025 Tickets for autumn gigs

Setlist: I Do And I Don’t Care; Mother; Lies; 69; You Forever; Logic Bitch; Prioritise Pleasure; Fucking Wizardry; The Curse; In Plain Sight; What Now; Cheers To Me; If Not Now, It’s Soon; Focus Is Power; I Do This All The Time; The Deep Blue Okay

Self Esteem urges us to keep our cameraphones on, ignore the ‘dusty old pervert vibes’ of this esteemed West End theatre and to get up out of our seats and dance if we want to.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is our favourite gig of the year so far and A Complicated Woman deserves to be number 1
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THEATRE REVIEW: Cry-Baby the musical starring Adam Davidson at the Arcola Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN? Saturday 12 April 2025 (matinee, last night)

Based on the 1990 John Waters film (BFI Q&A), this new musical with book by the writer of Hairspray which ran on Broadway in 2008 is brought spectacularly to life in the best production we’ve yet seen at this east London studio venue.

  • Read on for reasons including why this production should transfer into the West End
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AWARDS: Winners of the 2024 monstas are …

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

monstagigz readers have been voting throughout October, November and December for their favourite pop, theatre, TV, film and podcasts of 2024 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2024 10th annual monstas winners …

  • Read on for reasons including the winners of our 17 monstas for the best theatre, pop, TV, film and podcasts of 2024
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Wicked (Part 1) by cast including Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande (December 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Tracklist: No One Mourns the Wicked; Dear Old Shiz; The Wizard And I; What Is This Feeling?; Something Bad; Dancing Through Life; Popular; I’m Not That Girl; One Short Day; A Sentimental Man; Defying Gravity

Splitting the theatrical musical of Wicked into 2 movies was a controversial but genius decision.

  • Read on for reasons including how this soundtrack album surpasses expectations
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/Film 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.

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Musical 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 Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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