Old Vic

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May

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  1. Sheila Atim headlines Old Vic 200th birthday

Our favourite venue marks its bicentenary with events around the 11/5/18 weekend including an open house, street party, variety night headlined by the Olivier Award-nominated Atim, who starred in Girl From The North Country here last year, and ball. We shortlisted Atim for our 2016 monsta for Best Theatre Actress for her star turn in the all-women Shakespeare Trilogy and she won our 2017 Best Performance Of A Song (see below). We’ve loved how Matthew Warchus has transformed the OV with an emphasis on gig theatre, family entertainment and work with messages. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Eurovision, Tears For Fears, Sir Ian McKellen  and Girls Aloud

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THEATRE REVIEW: Fanny and Alexander starring Penelope Wilton

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Old Vic

WHEN: 24/2, press night 1/3, runs to 14/4/18

We join director Max Webster and writer Stephen Beresford for a Q&A two nights before their production of Ingmar Bergman’s beloved children’s classic Fanny and Alexander opens.

  • Read on for reasons including how this version does not include Nazis and jazz

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Best performance of a song from a musical: 2017

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It’s Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2017? Over the next few days we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 13 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2017.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for Best performance of a song from a musical

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TOP 5 Best read monstagigz content of 2017

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  1. When Jack O’Connell went full-frontal at a first preview

We were at the first preview of the Young Vic production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Apollo Theatre in July when Jack O’Connell decided to perform naked. Review

  • Read on for the rest of the top 5 including our toilet encounter with Lin Manuel-Miranda

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January

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  1. Lady Windermere’s Fan opens starring Jennifer Saunders

Kathy Burke (whose The Retreat at the Park Theatre earlier this year was lots of fun) directs Jennifer Saunders in this Oscar Wilde play for Dominic Dromgoole’s Classic Spring theatre company as a follow-up to his delightful A Woman Of No Importance. Runs 12/1 to 7/4 at the Vaudeville Theatre. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Ben Whishaw in Julius Caesar and both Julie Walters and Zawe Ashton at the Old Vic

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Revival of the year: 2017

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2017? Over the next fortnight we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 13 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2017.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for Revival of the year. 2016 winner: Shakespeare Trilogy (Donmar at King’s Cross)

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THEATRE REVIEW: A Christmas Carol starring Rhys Ifans, John Dagleish and Golda Rosheuvel

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Old Vic

WHEN: 28/11, press night 29/11, runs to 20/1/18

Providing family entertainment with a message has been the aim of Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus since succeeding Kevin Spacey in 2015.

  • Read on for reasons including how 54,000 free mince pies feature in this production

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THEATRE REVIEW: Barnum starring Marcus Brigstocke

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Menier Chocolate Factory

WHEN: 25/11, press night 5/12, runs to 3/3/18

We’re leafing through the programme, the morning after the first preview of this revival, and brightly-coloured ticker tape thrown by the cast keeps falling out.

  • Read on for reasons including how Marcus Brigstocke performs as the leading man

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for December

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  1. Hamilton launches

The delays refurbishing the Victoria Palace Theatre have rather taken some of the shine off the opening of this Tony Award-winning musical which is now in previews from 6/12 with a 21/12 press night. We’ll be reviewing the Boxing Day show (if it’s opened by then). Still the hottest tickets in town

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