We awarded our first monstas for 2015’s best pop, theatre, TV and film and below we review the best of 2016 so far – and look forward to what the rest of the year has in store.
Just 1 of the reasons why we started this blog. So much to look forward to in 2016: John Grant, Fatboy Slim, Cyndi Lauper, Aluna George, Adele, Coldplay, Disclosure, New Order, Grimes, Roisin Murphy, Years and Years, Jake Bugg and St Etienne, we’re looking at you for starters. And that’s just the main stages. Our annual fix will also feature the delights from the rest including Will Young, The Feeling and Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs. An opportunity to say goodbye also to Bowie and Prince.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Donmar Warehouse
WHEN: 29/4, runs to 18/6
At just 75 minutes long Elegy feels like the obvious follow-up to author Nick Payne’s biggest hit Constellations, an exploration of free will and quantum physics, which opened on Broadway over a year ago starring Jake Gyllenhaal after a West End transfer.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 2/4, runs to 14/5
It’s 19 years since star Timothy Spall last acted on stage and just over one since his tremendous grumbling titular turn in Mike Leigh’s biopic Mr Turner inexplicably failed to earn him a best actor Oscar nomination.
Q: Who is the most nominated actor still living never to win an Oscar? A: Glenn Close (The World According To Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural (supporting nods), Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs (lead nods)). She brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Coliseum and we’re at the 1/4 first preview as this runs to 7/5. Tickets here. Picture via Facebook courtesy English National Opera.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Royal Court Theatre
WHEN: 3/2, running to 12/3
We first fell in love with Linda Bassett (pictured far left) in 1999 comedy East is East as an English mother married to a Pakistani Muslim and struggling to raise their family in 70s Manchester.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 29/1, runs to 19/3
Paranoid and egotistical master builder Halvard Solness (Ralph Fiennes) is going through a midlife crisis: he fears the young are seeking to do him out of a job yet is infatuated by a woman many years his junior.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Savoy Theatre
WHEN: 20/12 runs to 12/3/16
Casting has been announced for next year’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and its hero is Jamie Parker, who is currently starring in Guys and Dolls in the West End.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 17/12 runs to 16/1
We’ve been quite critical of Matthew Warchus’ tenure as Old Vic artistic director but this is his debut season’s first real success and it draws on much of which made his Matilda such a must-see.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Young Vic
WHEN: 5/12 (matinee), runs to 19/12
‘If you treat people like animals, they’ll behave like them.’ It’s an observation by protagonist Paul (rising star Brian Vernel, menacing and brilliant here) referring to football clubs’ treatment of their fans as he waits ticketless outside the only game he’ll miss this season, the 1976 FA Cup final, but it references much else here. Read More
