Old Vic

THEATRE REVIEW: Mary Page Marlowe starring Susan Sarandon & Andrea Riseborough at the Old Vic

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Tuesday 29 September, opens 8 October and runs through 1 November 2025 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

Oscar winner Susan Sarandon makes her London stage debut in a play which looks at a woman’s life across 7 decades and 11 scenes.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is never less than totally engrossing as we see the unvarnished portrayal of a woman’s difficult life
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2025 starring Entertaining Mr Sloane

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  1. Entertaining Mr Sloane at Young Vic Theatre

Rizzle Kick Jordan Stephens makes his theatre debut opposite Tamzin Outhwaite (Stepping Out, Vaudeville Theatre) in this revival of the classic Joe Orton comedy. Runs at the Young Vic Theatre 15 September through 8 November 2025. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Stephen Fry in Oscar Wilde, new Divine Comedy and Suede LPs
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Brightening Air at the Old Vic starring Chris O’Dowd

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Friday 11 April, opens 24 April runs through 14 June 2025 RUNTIME 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Could unknowingly drinking water from a local well make the recipient fall in love with the 1st person they see afterwards?

  • Read on for reasons including how this gives Punch a run for its money as best new play of the year so far
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2025 starring Self Esteem at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

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  1. Self Esteem debuts new album at the Duke Of York’s Theatre in London

Rotherham-born Rebecca Lucy Taylor starred in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End but is perhaps best known as pop star Self Esteem for last album Prioritise Pleasure, in 2021 an album of the month for us. She debuts 3rd album A Complicated Woman at gigs we join her for in London’s West End this month. Tickets are return only. Album out 25 April 2025 Our song of the month is new single 69. Our review of the gig and review of the album

  • Read on for reasons including Here We Are, new Conor McPherson play and Ewan McGregor onstage
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THEATRE REVIEW: Oedipus starring Rami Malek, Indira Varma & Cecilia Noble at the Old Vic

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Friday 25 January 2025, opening 4 February and running through 29 March 2025 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

There’s so much to rave about in this razor-sharp adaptation of this Greek tragedy containing a 1st stage performance in 18 years by Oscar winner Rami Malek (film Bohemian Rhapsody) but it’s too often left flatfooted by pointless techno dance breaks.

  • Read on for reasons including how from our row 5 seat we can see Malek’s eyes sparkle in the lights as they glaze with tears
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2025 starring Inside No 9

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  1. Inside No 9 transfers to the West End from TV

You can vote for Steve Pemberton (The Pillowman, Duke Of York’s Theatre) and Reece Shearsmith’s (The Unfriend, Criterion Theatre) genius 9th and final TV series of Inside No 9 to win Best TV of 2024. The anthology show’s theatre incarnation Inside No 9 Stage/Fright arrives at the Wyndhams Theatre for a run 18 January through 5 April 2025. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Rami Malek in Oedipus, Brie Larson in Elektra and new Severance
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Best read monstagigz content of 2024 starring Sigourney Weaver in The Tempest

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  1. Sigourney Weaver’s West End debut in Jamie Lloyd’s The Tempest

Our most read content of 2024 was this preview review of the West End debut of Alien star Weaver in Jamie Lloyd’s take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest which runs at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 1 February 2025. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Sheridan Smith, Steve Coogan’s Dr Strangelove and Michael Sheen’s Nye
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Supporting Theatre Actress of 2024

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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.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best Supporting Theatre Actress of 2024 2023 winner: Katy Secombe, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre Review Tickets
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Real Thing starring James McArdle at the Old Vic

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 23 August, opens 3 September and runs through 26 October 2024 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best thing about Max Webster’s (Minority Report, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith) production of this revered comedy is the ridiculous performance of McArdle (pictured left, The Tragedy Of Macbeth, Almeida Theatre) who won our 2021 Best Theatre Actor monsta.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a rather functional re-run of a dated favourite
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August starring Death Of England: The Plays

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  1. Death Of England: The Plays @SohoPlace

Death Of England: Michael, Death Of England: Delroy and Death Of England: Closing Time were written by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams and were originally performed at the National Theatre. Delroy won monstas for our Best New Play in 2020 and Best Theatre Actor for Michael Balogun in 2020. You can see these plays starring Paapa Essiedu (The Effect, National Theatre) and Erin Doherty (Crave, Chichester Festival Theatre) singly or in combinations during this innovative run. Runs 15 July through 28 September 2024. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including new musical Why Am I So Single?, Victorious Festival and A Chorus Line
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