SONG OF THE MONTH: Danceteria by Soft Cell (July 2026)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Danceteria is the name of the New York nightclub where Soft Cell‘s young Marc Almond and Dave Ball would party until the small hours after recording sessions for their 1981 debut LP Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.

  • Read on for reasons including Almond’s thoughts on the upcoming final album and its Madonna link
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THEATRE REVIEW: May Day starring Jo Foster at the King’s Head Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Friday 19 June, runs through 21 June 2026 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

The big draw of this workshop production of a new musical is the central role for the Olivier Award-nominated Jo Foster (Into The Woods, Bridge Theatre and Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre).

  • Read on for reasons including how May Day has real potential with a little tender loving care to find and bare its West End legs
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THEATRE REVIEW: Pride starring Samuel Barnett at the National Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 13 June, opens 25 June and runs through 12 September 2026 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

The audience rises as 1 at the curtain to give this musical re-imagining of the beloved 2014 film about lesbian and gay support for the miners during their 80s industrial action the adulation it deserves.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is giving Redcliffe a run for its money as the best new musical of the year so far
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Apollo by Gene (June 2026)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Tracklist: London, Can You Wait?; Be My Light, Be My Guide; We Could Be Kings; Where Are They Now?; Truth, Rest Your Head; Your Love, It Lies; Long Sleeves For The Summer; Sleep Well Tonight; Save Me, I’m Yours; O Lover; Speak To Me Someone; A Car That Sped; Walking In The Shallows; Haunted By You; Olympian; For The Dead; Sick, Sober and Sorry; Fighting Fit; I Can’t Help Myself; Who Said This Was The End?

It’s 8 months after Gene’s 1st London gig for 21 years and the perfect time for this live album to drop ahead of Camden Roundhouse shows this autumn.

  • Read on for reasons including how Apollo proves a startling reminder of both how incredible Gene were and could be again
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THEATRE REVIEW: Redcliffe starring Jordan Luke Gage at Southwark Playhouse (The Large)

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 23 May, opens 27 May and runs through 4 July 2026 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Welcome to the best new musical of 2026 so far with a book, music and lyrics by Jordan Luke Gage who you may have seen leading musicals including Bonnie & Clyde.

  • Read on for reasons including how we fell head over heels in love with the songs and even shed a few tears throughout
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THEATRE REVIEW: High Society starring Helen George, Felicity Kendal, Julian Ovenden & Freddie Fox at Barbican Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 23 May (matinee), opens 3 June and runs through 11 July 2026 and then tours through 14 November 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Helen George (Love In Idleness, Menier) may still be best known for TV’s Call The Midwife and is the central character here as Long Island socialite Tracy Lord planning a June 1938 wedding to accountant George Kittredge.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production maintains the general standard of this venue’s traditional summer musical blockbuster revival
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THEATRE REVIEW: Kate Butch at Wilton’s Music Hall

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 9 April, runs through 17 May 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘Give me a shout if you’ve never heard of me before’, asks the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World runner up as part of the audience warm-up. ”Don’t they sound sad?’

  • Read on for reasons including how Butch is definitely our favourite and wittiest queen from Drag Race
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THEATRE REVIEW: Our Town starring Michael Sheen at Rose Theatre, Kingston

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Saturday 28 March (matinee) and runs through 28 March 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘No other play I’ve read or seen performed has ever affected me in quite the same way,’ writes star Michael Sheen (Nye, National Theatre) of this revival of a classic as the 1st production of the Welsh National Theatre.

  • Read on for reasons including how there’s a world where there is a West End transfer for this show
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THEATRE REVIEW: Romeo and Juliet starring Sadie Sink at the Harold Pinter Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Friday 27 March, opens 31 March and runs through 20 June 2026 RUNTIME: 175 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Sink may have found worldwide fame with Netflix’s Stranger Things but the 23-year-old has been performing in theatre since 2011 including as the lead in Annie on Broadway and being nominated for a Tony as Best Actress last year for John Proctor Is The Villain which has just opened in London.

  • Read on for reasons including how Sadie Sink is a mesmerising heroine in this production which breathes new life into a classic
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