Netflix

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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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2026 starring Cynthia Erivo as Dracula

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Cynthia Erivo is Dracula

Erivo won our 2024 Best TV/Film Actress monsta for Wicked and recently starred in its sequel which was our 2025 Best Film. Here she is the sole focus of attention in a 1-woman Dracula directed by Kip Williams (The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Theatre Royal Haymarket) which runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 4 February through 30 May 2026. Tickets The 1st 3 preview performances have now been cancelled. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Suede on tour, Fl02, Wuthering Heights and Broken Glass
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AWARDS: Winners of our 2025 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 2025 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2025 11th annual monstas winners …

  • Read on for reasons including the winners of our 17 monstas for the best theatre, pop, TV, film and podcasts of 2025
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2024 starring Sir Ian McKellen in Player Kings

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Player Kings starring Sir Ian McKellen

Director Robert Icke (Oresteia and Hamlet, Almeida) combines Henry IV parts 1 and 2 and McKellen (Mother Goose, Duke Of York’s Theatre) plays Falstaff alongside Richard Coyle’s (Ink, Almeida) Henry and Toheeb Jimoh’s (Romeo and Juliet, Almeida) Hal. Runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 1 April through 22 June 2024. Tickets McKellen’s ‘performance of a lifetime’ Player Kings review

  • Read on for reasons including new Pet Shop Boys album, Bananarama at the Palladium & Two Strangers
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV of 2023

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 2023? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2023.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 18 November, opens 14 December and runs through 25 August 2024 RUNTIME: 210 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Season 4 of Netflix hit series Stranger Things is set in 1986 and this spin off play – The First Shadow – turns back the clock in US town Hawkins to 1959.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is less Upside Down and more all over the place
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FILM REVIEW: WHAM! on Netflix

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

We’ve not written a lot about George Michael because we regarded his imperial phase as WHAM! but never saw him live until he was solo at Wembley Stadium when his hunger for writing number 1s appeared to have been lost.

  • Read on for reasons including how WHAM! were a gateway for us to music we would go on to love
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2023 starring Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

This venue’s promenade performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar have been amongst some of the best theatre we’ve ever immersed ourselves in and so this similar new production of a musical which is 1 of our favourites offers a great deal to look forward to. Not least with a cast including Marisha Wallace (Oklahoma!, Young Vic) and Daniel Mays (The Caretaker, Old Vic). Runs 3 March, opens 14 March through 2 September 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Self Esteem, Cian Ducrot and the return of Eugenius
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AWARDS: Winners of the 2022 monstas are …

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

monstagigz readers have been voting throughout November and December for their favourite pop, theatre, TV, film and podcasts of 2022 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2022 monstas winners …

  • Read on for reasons including the winners of our 16 monstas for the best pop, theatre, film, TV and podcasts of 2022
Read More

AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV of 2022

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 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

Read More