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
Siobhan McSweeney (The Alchemist, Barbican Theatre) and Louisa Harland (Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp, Royal Court) may be best known as Sister Michael and Orla McCool from Channel 4’s Derry Girls but here they reunite onstage with fellow cast member Ardal O’Hanlon in Brian Friel’s (Translations, National Theatre) 1936-set County Donegal tale of the Mundy sisters battling poverty to raise seven-year-old Michael and care for their uncle Jack. Runs 6 April through 27 May 2023. Tickets Review
Comer’s West End debut was anticipated eagerly and this review of the Killing Eve star’s 1st preview is the best read piece of content monstagigz has published in its 7-and-a-half year history, let alone in 2022. Vote for Comer to win Best Theatre Actress in our annual monstas and for Prima Facie to win Best New Play. Review Broadway tickets
It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
This was the 1st Glastonbury Festival since 2019, the 1st 1 since it turned 50 years old in 2020 – and it didn’t disappoint.
Her Thank You Tour is currently making its way around the UK with a setlist including I’m Coming Out, Baby Love, Stop! In The Name Of Love, You Can’t Hurry Love, Chain Reaction, Upside Down and Why Do Fools Fall In Love? This is promising to be a legends slot to remember for many years to come.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Sunday 22 May 2022, tour runs until 16 October 2022
SETLIST: Suburbia; Can You Forgive Her?; Opportunities; Where The Streets Have No Name; Rent; I Don’t Know What You Want But I Can’t Give It Anymore; So Hard; Left To My Own Devices; Single – Bilingual; Domino Dancing; Monkey Business; New York City Boy; You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk; Jealousy; Love Comes Quickly; Losing My Mind; You Were Always On My Mind; Dreamland; Heart; It’s Alright; Vocal; What Have I Done To Deserve This?; Go West; It’s A Sin; West End Girls; Being Boring
We popped our Pet Shop Boys live cherry in 1989 at the old Wembley Arena and this greatest hits gig means we’ve seen the duo, we think, 14 times across each of the last 5 decades.
We saw lead Okereke in both The Boy Friend (Menier) and Spring Awakening (Almeida) and so know how deserved this casting is. We last saw Martine McCutcheon’s triumphant take on this Lerner and Loewe classic in 2001 and it returns to the West End at the Coliseum 7 May through 27 August 2022. Tickets 1st preview review
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
TRACKLIST: Consequences; Starstruck; Night Call; Intimacy; Crave; Sweet Talker; Sooner Or Later; 20 Minutes; Strange And Unusual; Make It Out Alive; See You Again; Immaculate; Muscle; Reflection; A Second To Midnight; Starstruck (final 2 with Kylie Minogue)
Did you join It’s A Sin star Olly Alexander to usher in 2022 with The Big New Years and Years Eve Party on BBC1 which also featured Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys?
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
RELEASED: Friday 30 April 2021
TRACKLIST: Tonight Is Forever; I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing; Always On My Mind; Domino Dancing; To Speak Is A Sin; One In A Million/Mr Vain; Paninaro; Rent; Suburbia; King’s Cross; So Hard; Left To My Own Devices/Rhythm Of The Night; Absolutely Fabulous; Liberation; West End Girls; Can You Forgive Her?; Girls And Boys; It’s A Sin/I Will Survive; Go West; Being Boring
This tour of Australia and South America was Pet Shop Boys’ 1st not to arrive in the UK which is a shame because despite being less of a spectacle than their previous 2 productions it’s far more fun.
