THEATRE REVIEW: All My Sons starring Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste & Paapa Essiedu at the Wyndham’s Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? *****

WHEN? Saturday 15 November, opens 21 November and runs through 7 March 2026 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (no interval)

Cranston (from TV’s Breaking Bad) plays under-fire US businessman Joe Keller post World War 2 in this Arthur Miller classic and occasionally sports a red baseball cap that can’t help but bring to mind the current US President.

  • Read on for reasons including how this exploration of the dark side of the American dream is the best production of this classic we’ve ever seen
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2025 starring All My Sons

  1. All My Sons starring Paapa Essiedu, Bryan Cranston & Marianne Jean-Baptiste 

We last saw Sally Field in this Arthur Miller play at the Old Vic in 2019. Ivo Van Hove (Opening Night, Gielgud Theatre) is at the helm of this version at the Wyndham’s Theatre starring Paapa Essiedu, who won last year’s Best Theatre Actor monsta, Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Runs 14 November through 7 March 2026. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Wicked 2, Everything But The Girl hits album and Noel Coward at the Menier
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AWARDS: Winners of the 2024 monstas are …

monstagigz readers have been voting throughout October, November and December for their favourite pop, theatre, TV, film and podcasts of 2024 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2024 10th annual monstas winners …

  • Read on for reasons including the winners of our 17 monstas for the best theatre, pop, TV, film and podcasts of 2024
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre Actor of 2024

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.

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THEATRE REVIEW: Death Of England: The Plays starring Paapa Essiedu, Erin Doherty, Thomas Coombes & Sharon Duncan-Brewster

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****/*****/****

WHEN?: Saturday 24 August and runs through 28 September 2024 RUNTIME: 3 successive 100-minute plays without interval

Paapa Essiedu (The Effect, National Theatre) plays Delroy in the 2nd of these intertwined state-of-the-nation dramas and it’s a performance so electric it draws an immediate standing ovation from an audience including Pedro Pascal and Russell Tovey (Constellations, Vaudeville Theatre) who are sitting together near our front row seat.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is brutally honest and unflinching work unafraid to take a deep dive into the nation’s heart
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August starring Death Of England: The Plays

  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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THEATRE REVIEW: The Effect starring Paapa Essiedu & Taylor Russell at the National Theatre

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 5 August, opens 9 August and runs through 7 October 2023

Clinical psychiatrists Dr Lorna James and Dr Toby Sealey are setting up a trial to discover whether they have found a ‘Viagra for the heart’.

  • Read on for reasons including how Essiedu is 1 of this country’s finest young actors and Russell is making her debut
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Number starring Lennie James & Paapa Essiedu at the Old Vic

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 29 January (matinee), opens 4 February runs to 19 March 2022

5 scenes. 2 actors. 65 minutes. A father. 3 clones of his son.

  • Read on for reasons including how spellbinding the stars of TV’s The Walking Dead and I May Destroy You are
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2022 starring Moulin Rouge

  1. Moulin Rouge at the Piccadilly Theatre

This musical version of the 2001 film won 10 Tonys in 2020 and opened in London in 2021 although Covid delayed its press night and, as we write, it is still in previews with a 1st official night pushed back to 9 January 2022. We hope to visit the jukebox musical ahead of its revised press night and check out our site for a review. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including A Number at the Old Vic, new Years & Years album and Taboo reunion
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/film Actor of 2020

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2020? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2020.

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