REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: Man To Man starring Tilda Swinton at the Royal Court Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 17 October, and ran through 24 October 2026 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval) Plays Edinburgh, Berlin and New York details far below

Oscar winner Swinton makes her New York stage debut next year in this curious monologue about a woman in 1930s Germany who puts on her dead husband’s trousers and never takes them off.

  • Read on for reasons including where and when to see this production in the US, Germany and Scotland
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Pianist starring Daniel Krikler at the Park Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 17 October, opens 22 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

This is the new musical version of the life of Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman during World War 2, a story which won 3 Oscars in its 2002 celluloid incarnation starring Adrien Brody.

  • Read on for reasons including how we’re here for monsta-longlisted star Daniel Krikler
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GIG REVIEW: Antony Szmierek at 02 Academy Bournemouth

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 16 October 2026, tour runs through 6 February 2027

This was a birthday present for Mr H, but I did like The Heron, from his second album Decoding Birdsong, out earlier this year.

  • Read on for reasons including why we all need to channel our inner Szmierek. Be more heron, be more Antony
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THEATRE REVIEW: Ilford Boy starring Leo Whitfield Harris, Craig Stein, Ria Zmitrowicz & Lindsey Coulson at the Donmar Warehouse

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 12 October, opens 20 October and runs through 28 November 2026 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

It’s the day of his nan’s funeral and impressionable 14-year-old Ted meets his mum’s gay best friend and suddenly his world doesn’t feel so lonely.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the best new plays of the year so far
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THEATRE REVIEW: Bloodsport After Helen Of Troy starring Michelle Dockery, Laura Aikman and Maimuna Memon at Stratford East

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 3 October and runs through 10 October 2026 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Author Ava Pickett is longlisted for our Best New Play monsta for 1536 (Ambassadors Theatre) and don’t be surprised to see this modern-day update of the Helen Of Troy story join it on the soon-to-be-announced shortlist.

  • Read on for reasons including how the West End deserves to see this fiery writing topped off by Dockery’s astonishing transformation
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Danceteria by Soft Cell (October 2026)

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

Tracklist: Elusive; Danceteria; The Space Inside; Times Square; Two Of A Kind; The Rainbow Room; In Heaven (When I Dance With You); Decadence Is Hard Work; Crackland; What Is Your Morality?; Losing Yourself; After Hours; Wave To America; Out Come The Freaks

Keyboardist Dave Ball died last October shortly after finishing work on Soft Cell’s final album which sees them perfecting some of the best work of their career while lyrically returning to early 80s New York, a pivotal time for the duo.

  • Read on for reasons including Danceteria is a wildly entertaining, reflective and fitting epitaph to both Soft Cell and Dave Ball
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THEATRE REVIEW: RENT The Musical starring Gaten Matarazzo at Tom Stoppard’s Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 30 September, opens 8 October and runs through 27 March 2027 RUNTIME: 175 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Matarazzo from Netflix’s Stranger Things is cast perfectly as Mark the filmmaker chronicling the lives of bohemian friends in the late 80s/early 90s in New York’s East Village in this classic musical revival.

  • Read on for reasons including how brilliant the onstage seating experience is for this production
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THEATRE REVIEW Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? starring Gillian Anderson @SohoPlace

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 26 September, opens 30 September and runs through 19 December 2026 RUNTIME: 210 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Gillian Anderson gave us the definitive Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Young Vic on a revolving stage a decade ago and here performs a similar trick as Martha.

  • Read on for reasons including how Anderson’s performance is 1 for the history books as she gives an unforgettable take on a classic role
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THEATRE REVIEW Golden Boy starring Josh O’Connor at Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHEN?: Saturday 19 September (matinee), runs through 31 October 2026 RUNTIME: 145 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Boxing or playing the violin?

  • Read on for reasons including how to see this on NT Live if not at the sold-out Almeida
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