WORTH A LOOK?: ****
OPENS IN THE UK: 8/2/18
Guillermo del Toro’s tenth effort arrives on these shores with more Oscar nominations than any other film this year, a startling 13.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Royal Court, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
WHEN: 17/1, runs to 20/1/18
PR turned playwright Anoushka Warden was working in the Royal Court press office when her 75-minute monologue came to the venue’s attention.
Star Bette Midler bids farewell to the Tony Award-winning revival on 14/1/18 leaving it in the capable hands of Bernadette Peters. Charlie Stemp (Half A Sixpence and Dick Whittington) joins the cast on 20/1/18. Does his arrival signal an imminent West End transfer? Booking through July. Tickets
It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2017? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 13 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2017.
Europe’s premiere Eurovision selection show launches on 4/2 at 7pm English time with the return of 1999 winner Charlotte Perrelli, who also won Melodifestivalen in 2008, MF favourites Ace Wilder, Dinah Nah and Boris Rene. 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen also competes in heat 4 25/2. Prime-time Saturday nights in February sorted. Picture via YouTube from the Take Me To Your Heaven performance in 1999’s Eurovision.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Royal Court Theatre
WHEN: 3/2, running to 12/3
We first fell in love with Linda Bassett (pictured far left) in 1999 comedy East is East as an English mother married to a Pakistani Muslim and struggling to raise their family in 70s Manchester.
WORTH A LOOK?: ** (on 28/11, **** potential later)
WHERE: Royal Court
WHEN: 28/11, runs to 9/1/16
Is it ever acceptable for a leading actor to carry their script with them while on stage and refer to it occasionally when they have clearly forgotten their lines?
Arguably Britain’s favourite actress has sold out the entire run of this musical classic at the Menier Chocolate Factory. It’s Ms Smith’s first musical since her award-winning turn in the fantastic Legally Blonde and we’ll be reporting from the previews this month.
