National Theatre

9 reasons why we can’t wait for August 2023 starring Victorious Festival

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Victorious Festival starring Cian Ducrot, Mae Muller and Welly

This year’s glorious Victorious Festival in Southsea runs across 3 days from Friday 25 August through Sunday 27 August with A Humdrum Mum’s names to look out for including Kasabian, Friendly Fires and The Charlatans as well as Jamiroquai, The Divine Comedy and Sigrid. Although we’re excited for newcomers Welly, this year’s UK Eurovision entry Mae Muller and Cian Ducrot whose debut album is appropriately titled Victory and out 4 August 2023. Tickets Day 1 review starring album chart-topper Cian Ducrot. A Humdrum Mum’s day 1 review Day 2 review Day 3 review

  • Read on for reasons including Heartstopper, new musical Next To Normal and The Effect at the National
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dear England starring Joseph Fiennes at the National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Tuesday 13 June, runs through 11 August 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) BREAKING: This production transfers to the Prince Edward Theatre 9 October through 13 January 2024 Tickets

Can it really be true that England’s football team are the ‘premature ejaculators’ of penalty taking and the quick speed with which they take them corresponds directly to their lack of success?

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the best new play of the year so far and so much more than about football
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2023 starring A Strange Loop

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  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 Review

  • 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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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) UPDATE: This productions transfers to the West End 9 December 2023 through 23 March 2024 at the Noel Coward Theatre Tickets

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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 2024

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  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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