Rupert Goold

THEATRE REVIEW: Cold War starring Luke Thallon & Anya Chalotra at the Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Monday 4 December, opens 12 December and runs through 27 January 2024 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Luke Thallon (Camp Siegfried, Old Vic, main picture) plays composer Wiktor who longs to write in communist-controlled Poland in 1949 and is drawn to the talented young singer Zula.

  • Read on for reasons including how this downbeat show has real sparks
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dear England starring Joseph Fiennes & Dervla Kirwan at Prince Edward Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 14 October (matinee), runs through 13 January 2024 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

As the men’s England football team prepares for a crucial EURO 24 game against Italy on Tuesday (17 October 2023), James Graham’s latest play about Gareth Southgate’s reign as manager transfers to the West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how this West End production has changed from its National version
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THEATRE REVIEW: Spring Awakening starring Laurie Kynaston and Amara Okereke at the Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Tuesday 7 December, opens 17 December, booking until 22 January 2022 UPDATE: now extended to 29 January 2022

This production is so powerful that at 1 point a woman in the audience bursts into tears and has to leave while at another a young man is audibly sobbing behind our front row seat.

  • Read on for reasons including how we forecast both West End and Broadway transfers for this angry production
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THEATRE REVIEW: Shipwreck starring Fisayo Akinade, Raquel Cassidy & Tara Fitzgerald at the Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Almeida Theatre

WHEN? 15/3 runs to 30/3/19 RUNTIME: 3 hours (including a 20-minute interval)

Can political plays ever be about now? Was Shakespeare liberated by the censorship which dominated his writing or did its influence transform the Bard’s work into something truly universal?

  • Read on for reasons including how this work is like the best of James Graham

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for October

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Christian Slater in Glengarry Glen Ross

Lady Gaga would’ve been our number one but her Joanne world tour now arrives – fingers crossed – at The 02 for two dates early in 2018, rescheduled from this month. No matter. Heathers star Slater appears in this David Mamet play about cutthroat Chicago salesmen at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End from 26/10 through 3/2/18. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Stranger Things, Dua Lipa and the Bridge Theatre opens

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THEATRE REVIEW: Ink starring Bertie Carvel

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK: *****

WHERE: Almeida Theatre

WHEN: 19/6, press night 27/6, runs to 5/8

Star Bertie Carvel’s father John worked on the Guardian for 36 years before retiring in 2009. UPDATE 17/7: INK transfers to the Duke Of York’s Theatre from 9/9. TICKETS

  • Read on for reasons including how this new play’s mistaken identity kidnapping is no fake news

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THEATRE REVIEW: Labyrinth starring Tom Weston-Jones

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE: Hampstead Theatre

WHEN: 3/10, runs to 8/10

The Latin American debt crisis of the 80s might not sound like the most riveting subject for a play but its parallels with Grexit resonate.

  • Read on for which West End star was in the theatre bar on our Monday night visit

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THEATRE REVIEW: Richard III starring Ralph Fiennes & Vanessa Redgrave

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Almeida

WHEN: 10/6, press night 16/6 runs to 6/8

Director Rupert Goold’s inventive take on this Shakespeare classic revolves around a trench centre stage, beginning and concluding in the modern day Leicester car park where Richard III‘s body was recently found.

  • Read on for whether Ralph Fiennes’ Richard III is as good as Benedict Cumberbatch’s

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