Nicholas Hytner

THEATRE REVIEW: Richard II starring Jonathan Bailey at Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 10 February, opens 18 February and runs through 10 May 2025 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

Bailey is perhaps best known as Fiyero in film Wicked, nominated for 10 Oscars on 2 March, although we have previously reviewed him in Shakespeare (King Lear, Chichester Festival Theatre) but never as the leading man.

  • Read on for reasons including the parallels between Fiyero and Richard II and how this accessible production could be your gateway to Shakespeare
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2025 starring Jonathan Bailey as Richard II

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Jonathan Bailey is Richard II

Bailey (film Wicked and COCK, Ambassadors) stars in this Shakespeare directed by Nicholas Hytner (Giant, Royal Court and transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre) at the Bridge Theatre. Runs 10 February through 10 May 2025 Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Cate Blanchett, Patti LuPone, Olly Alexander and Nicola Walker
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THEATRE REVIEW: Giant starring John Lithgow & Romola Garai at the Royal Court Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 28 September, runs through 16 November 2024 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval) Update: Transfers to Harold Pinter Theatre 26 April through 2 August 2025

Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony award winner John Lithgow plays author Roald Dahl here under fire for an antisemetic article he had written on the eve of the launch of his 1983 book The Witches.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the central performance of Lithgow’s which will both shock and enthral you
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Guys And Dolls at the Bridge Theatre (December 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Runyonland; Fugue For Tinhorns; Follow The Fold; Oldest established; I’ll Know; A Bushel And A Peck; Adelaide’s Lament; Guys And Dolls; Havana; If I Were A Bell; My Time Of Day; I’ve Never Been In Love Before; Entr’acte; Take Back Your Mink; Adelaide’s Second Lament; Crapshooter’s Ballet; Luck Be A Lady; Sue Me; Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat; the Guys Follow The Fold; Adelaide Meets Sarah; Mary The Man Today; Runyonland; Happy Ending

There can be few revivals we’ve enjoyed more this year than Guys And Dolls at the Bridge Theatre which has extended its run at least twice and is now booking until 31 August 2024.

  • Read on for reasons including why this album is worth a punt but is no substitute for seeing the show
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THEATRE REVIEW: Guys And Dolls starring Marisha Wallace & Daniel Mays at Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: 3 March, opens 13 March and runs through 2 September 2023 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 15-minute interval) UPDATE: This production is now booking through 31 August 2024 Tickets

Marisha Wallace is scene-stealingly sensational in this revival of a musical theatre classic as nightclub singer Miss Adelaide, a role often played for laughs rather than deploying the killer voice Wallace has.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the best revivals of a show we have ever seen
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THEATRE REVIEW: Philip Pullman’s The Book Of Dust – La Belle Sauvage at Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Thursday 2 December 2021, opens 7 December booking until 26 February 2022

RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best thing about this prequel to His Dark Materials based on the 2017 book is the theatre debut of Samuel Creasey (pictured above right) who reminds of a young James Corden in the leading role as 12-year-old Malcolm Polstead.

  • Read on for reasons including how climate change fears and Storm Arwen make the setting very now
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Christmas Carol starring Simon Russell Beale, Patsy Ferran & Eben Figueiredo at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: 5/12/20 (matinee), runs to 16/1/21

WHERE?: Bridge Theatre RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

There’s something quietly moving about how the Bridge Theatre, more than any other venue we can think of, has opened during this pandemic. It did close its doors but for nowhere near as long as other venues, offering performers work at a time when it was scarce and audiences escape when it was most needed.

  • Read on for reasons including what to expect of this one of many A Christmas Carols

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THEATRE REVIEW: A Midsummer Night’s Dream starring Gwendoline Christie at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Bridge Theatre RUNTIME: 2 hours and 40 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: 7/6, opens 11/6 and runs to 31/8/19 (To be broadcast by National Theatre Live 17/10/19)

The last time we saw an immersive Midsummer it was called The Donkey Show, it was set in a 70s New York nightclub and boasted a soundtrack of disco classics.

  • Read on for reasons including how Gwendoline Christie from Game Of Thrones fares here

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2019

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Gwendoline Christie in Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge

Last year’s immersive Shakespeare experience at the Bridge was a real high point of the programming thus far at the newish venue and so we’re super excited for this not least because the cast includes Game Of Thrones star Christie alongside Oliver Chris and David Moorst. Runs 3/6 through 31/8/19. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Andrew Scott, Tales Of the City and Sheridan Smith

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THEATRE REVIEW: Allelujah! starring Sacha Dhawan & Samuel Barnett at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Bridge Theatre

WHEN?: 14/11, press night 18/7, runs to 29/11/18

‘I tend to write a play before I do the research for it,’ confesses Alan Bennett in the programme notes for his 1st play in 5 years and it really shows here.
* Read on for reasons including how Alan Bennett’s new play couldn’t be more topical

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