THEATRE REVIEW: Bette & Joan starring Greta Scacchi & Felicity Dean

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 5 December 2024, runs through 11 January 2025 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Heat and Dust, White Mischief, Presumed Innocent and The Player … if you’re wondering whatever happened to Greta Scacchi, the actress who appeared in those films, read on.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is serious subject matter given a delightfully funny airing thanks to a formidable duo
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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2023 so far (part 1 of 2)

You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 16 categories from November this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2023.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 16 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2023 so far
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THEATRE REVIEW: Disruption starring Nathaniel Curtis at Park Theatre

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *** RUNTIME: 125 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 8 July, opens Thursday 13 July runs through 5 August 2023 (public ticket)

The rise of Artifical Intelligence has fuelled fears that it could wipe out humanity or, at the very least, threaten our jobs and so AI as a topic for theatre couldn’t be more now.

  • Read on for reasons including how we would have liked to have seen more of Nathaniel Curtis’ character
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Way Old Friends Do at Park Theatre

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 18 March (matinee), runs through 15 April 2023, then tours at venues until 10 June 2023 Update: Transfers to the West End and the Criterion Theatre 17 August through 9 September 2023 Tickets

The best bit in this new comedy written by its star Ian Hallard (Closer To Heaven, Above The Stag) is the reaction of his character’s Nan to his news that he is bisexual at the close of Act 1.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the best time of year to see this show about the world’s 1st ABBA drag tribute act
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2023 starring Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

  1. Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

This venue’s promenade performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar have been amongst some of the best theatre we’ve ever immersed ourselves in and so this similar new production of a musical which is 1 of our favourites offers a great deal to look forward to. Not least with a cast including Marisha Wallace (Oklahoma!, Young Vic) and Daniel Mays (The Caretaker, Old Vic). Runs 3 March, opens 14 March through 2 September 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Self Esteem, Cian Ducrot and the return of Eugenius
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THEATRE REVIEW: On The Ropes starring Mensah Bediako, Ashley D Gayle and Amber James at the Park Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Tuesday 10 January (press ticket), runs to 4 February 2023

RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We cast our eye across the audience at this 200-seat venue and we can see Beverley Knight, David Morrissey, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the performance of classic hits like Labi Siffre’s Something Inside So Strong which works best here
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2023 starring Aidan Turner & Jenna Coleman in Lemons, Lemons, Lemons

  1. Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman bring Lemons, Lemons, Lemons to the West End

We last saw Turner on a West End stage 4 years ago in Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Noel Coward Theatre) and Coleman at the Old Vic in 2019 in All My Sons. Lemons is a revival of a 2015 two-hander with a running time of just 75 minutes about the importance of words, is directed by Josie Rourke (Sweet Charity, Donmar) and on at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Runs 18 January through 18 March 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Beverley Knight in new musical Sylvia, Nolly and new plays Boys Are Kissing and The Unfriend
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for February (2020) starring Pretty Woman: The Musical

  1. Pretty Woman: The Musical opens starring Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKTEQSNuozo

Bryan Adams co-wrote this musical version of the beloved 1990 Julia Roberts/Richard Gere film which ran on Broadway starring Samantha Barks (performing in clip above) for a year until August. Atkinson has a Eurovision connection and we saw her in Six in the West End. Mac will be familiar to Strictly viewers. Opens at the Piccadilly Theatre 13/2, booking until 2/1/21. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Be More Chill, Melodifestivalen, Colin Morgan and La Cage Aux Folles

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THEATRE REVIEW: Sydney And The Old Girl starring Miriam Margolyes at the Park Theatre

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Park Theatre RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 2/11, press night 5/11, runs to 30/11/19

Star Miriam Margolyes may be playing a woman who is housebound and sits predominantly in a wheelchair  here but she has a hugely expressive face which leaves us in no doubt about what she is thinking.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see this world premiere

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

  1. Blues In The Night starring Sharon D. Clarke

Olivier winners D. Clarke and Clive Rowe take part in this compilation of 26 hot and torchy blues numbers that frame the lives and loves of four residents of a downtown hotel. Runs 18/7 to 7/9/19 at the Kiln Theatre. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including The Night Of The Iguana, Janelle Monae and a revival of a Pet Shop Boys musical

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