Paul Mescal

FILM OF THE MONTH: The History Of Sound starring Paul Mescal & Josh O’Connor (January 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Tuesday 6 January, released in the UK Friday 23 January 2026 RUNTIME: 128 minutes

It’s the gift of Paul Mescal’s singer Lionel to ‘see’ sound that compels him to seek out Josh O’Connor’s musician David as the latter sits at a piano playing a rare folk song familiar to both men.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a melancholic, quietly understated film which will eventually be regarded as a classic
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2026 starring The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

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  1. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Passenger wrote the music and lyrics for this adaptation of the novel at Theatre Royal Haymarket starring The Full Monty‘s Mark Addy and Jenna Russell (Hello Dolly! London Palladium) running 29 January through 18 April 2026. It’s the story of a man who receives a letter from a long-lost friend and walks from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including American Psycho, I’m Sorry Prime Minister and The History Of Sound
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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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FILM REVIEW: Gladiator 2 starring Paul Mescal & Pedro Pascal

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Mescal returns to the West End stage in 2025 in Rebecca Frecknall’s A Streetcar Named Desire and that performance as swarthy and brutish Stanley Kowalski gives a sense of the physicality he brings to Ridley Scott’s sequel to his 5 Oscar-winning film Gladiator.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is absolutely ridiculous but also a riveting romp through its 148 minutes that requires a suspension of disbelief
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV/Film Actor 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.

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2024 starring Ncuti Gatwa

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Ncuti Gatwa stars in The Importance Of Being Earnest

‘A handbag …?’ New Doctor Who Gatwa stars alongside Best Theatre Actress monsta winner Sharon D Clarke (Caroline, Or Change?, Hampstead Theatre and TV’s Lost Boys and Fairies) and Hugh Skinner (The Trial, Young Vic and film Wicked Little Letters) in Max Webster’s (Minority Report, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith) production of the Oscar Wilde classic comedy at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre 20 November through 25 January 2025. Tickets Vote for Doctor Who to win Best TV of 2024. Our Earnest review

  • Read on for reasons including the Greenwich pantomime, The Producers and the Steps musical
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FILM REVIEW: All Of Us Strangers starring Andrew Scott & Paul Mescal

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Growing up gay in the 80s wasn’t much fun with its AIDS and Clause 28 and Andrew Scott’s (Vanya, Duke Of York’s Theatre) screenwriter Adam is struggling with writer’s block, watching old episodes of Top Of The Pops and living alone in a high-rise London tower block which is sparsely populated.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is beautiful, haunting and likely to stay with you long after the end credits
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2024 starring Plaza Suite

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  1. Plaza Suite at the Savoy Theatre

Sarah Jessica Parker makes her West End debut in Neil Simon’s comedy about marriage Plaza Suite opposite her husband Matthew Broderick at the Savoy Theatre 17 January through 30 March 2024. Tickets Broderick is the winner of 2 Tonys and Parker 2 Emmys. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including film All Of Us Strangers, Depeche Mode live and The Hills Of California
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FILM REVIEW: God’s Creatures starring Paul Mescal & Emily Watson

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

2023 has already been an incredible year for Paul Mescal with a Best Actor Olivier and Oscar nomination under his belt, although film God’s Creatures is very much for the Mescal completists.

  • Read on for reasons including how the best scene is where Mescal’s character is confronted by a woman in a line-up at a wake
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2023 starring Sheridan Smith as Shirley Valentine

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Sheridan Smith is Shirley Valentine

Smith (Funny Girl, Savoy) returns to the stage for the 1st time since Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Palladium and this beloved Willy Russell one-woman comedy about a woman who finds love on holiday abroad is the perfect choice. Runs 17 February through 3 June at the Duke Of York’s. Tickets 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Callum Scott Howells at the National, Standing At The Sky’s Edge and Benidorm Fest
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