National Theatre

9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2023 starring A Strange Loop

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  1. A Strange Loop at the Barbican

The winner of 2 2022 Tonys is written by Michael R. Jackson and is the story of Usher, a black queer man writing a musical about a black queer man writing a musical. Starring Kyle Ramar Freeman and Jason Pennycooke (Hamilton, Victoria Palace) it runs at the Barbican 17 June through 9 September 2023. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Rebecca Frecknall’s Romeo and Juliet, James Graham’s Dear England and Glastonbury Festival
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Motive And The Cue starring Johnny Flynn, Mark Gatiss & Tuppence Middleton at the National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 22 April, opens 2 May running to 15 July 2023 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Mark Gatiss (ITVX’s Nolly) is 1 of our finest character actors and here plays Sir John Gielgud directing Richard Burton in Hamlet in 1964 on Broadway.

  • Read on for reasons including how The Motive should be more confident of its worth and rely less heavily on Shakespeare’s greatest hits
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dancing At Lughnasa starring Siobhan McSweeney, Louisa Harland & Ardal O’Hanlon at National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Saturday 8 April, opens Tuesday 18 April runs through 27 May 2023 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Our narrator is actor Tom Vaughan-Lawlor who plays Michael, the unseen seven-year-old boy who is being raised by the Mundy sisters in County Donegal in 1936.

  • Read on for reasons including how the cast includes 3 of Channel 4’s hit comedy Derry Girls
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THEATRE REVIEW: Romeo and Julie starring Callum Scott Howells and Rosie Sheehy at the National Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: 18 February, opens 21 February and runs through 1 April 2023 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Callum Scott Howells (Cabaret. Playhouse Theatre) proves what a versatile actor he is in this story of a single young father struggling to bring up a young child and cope with an alcoholic mother.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is really the story of the injustices of the education system
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THEATRE REVIEW: Standing At The Sky’s Edge at the National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: 11 February, opens 13 February and runs through 25 March 2023 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) UPDATE: Standing won 2 Olivier Awards and transfers to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End in February 2023

It’s not very often at the theatre that we cry so uncontrollably that we worry we might embarass ourselves.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is London’s best new musical
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2023 starring Sheridan Smith as Shirley Valentine

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  1. Sheridan Smith is Shirley Valentine

Smith (Funny Girl, Savoy) returns to the stage for the 1st time since Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Palladium and this beloved Willy Russell one-woman comedy about a woman who finds love on holiday abroad is the perfect choice. Runs 17 February through 3 June at the Duke Of York’s. Tickets 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Callum Scott Howells at the National, Standing At The Sky’s Edge and Benidorm Fest
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THEATRE REVIEW: Othello starring Giles Terera at the National Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *** RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 3 December (matinee), runs to 21 January 2023

Director Clint Dyer told the New York Times of his 1st visit to this venue in the 80s when he saw a picture in the auditorium of Laurence Olivier in blackface in the title role of this play in the 60s that broke his heart.

  • Read on for reasons including why we wanted this production of Othello to be so much better than it was
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2022 starring The 47th

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  1. Mike Bartlett’s The 47th at the Old Vic starring Bertie Carvel

Dr Foster author Bartlett’s COCK was our pick of last month and in April he has 2 new plays opening (see also Scandaltown further down this list). The 47th stars Carvel (pictured, Ink, the Almeida, West End and Broadway) as Donald Trump, the 47th US President, and runs at the Old Vic 29 March through 28 May 2022. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Nicola Walker, Jodie Comer and an Oklahoma revival
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2021 starring Pantoland at the Palladium

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Pantoland At The Palladium starring Julian Clary

We’ve seen the Palladium’s annual pantomime in each of its 5 years and last year’s run was cruelly cut very short by Covid and so it is with some relief that we can report it is returning in 2021 with much of its now familiar variety-based cast but with Donny Osmond and The Tiller Girls added this Christmas. We’re big fans of Julian Clary and it’s a real treat to see him absolutely in his element. Last year we said: ‘Clary is a master of improvisation and the rest of the cast are clearly trying to stifle their own laughing often and, when Yarrow dries, Clary references Stemp in Mary Poppins  saying ‘Charlie’s chimney’s never dry’.’ Runs 4 December 2021 through 9 January 2022. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including new musical Hex, Spring Awakening revival and world premieres of La Belle Sauvage and Force Majeure
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Normal Heart starring Ben Daniels, Dino Fetscher & Daniel Monks at National Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 25 September, opens 30 September, booking to 6 November 2021

WHERE?: Olivier Theatre, National RUNTIME?: 160 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

New York was the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic crisis in the 80s and 90s and, before Channel 4’s award-winning It’s A Sin in 2021, theatre’s response to the issue had very much been American.

  • Read on for reasons including how The Normal Heart is a well-cast rallying cry against a Government not listening
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