Southwark Playhouse

THEATRE REVIEW: Midnight Cowboy starring Max Bowden at the Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Saturday 5 April, opens 10 April and runs through 17 May 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

The triple Oscar-winning 1969 film about the unlikely friendship between a male prostitute and his business partner played by Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman is perhaps not the 1st candidate to spring to mind to become a stage musical.

  • Read on for reasons including how you should see this if you’re a fan of Bowden’s because he displayed some serious musical theatre muscle
Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2025 starring Kylie Minogue

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Kylie brings Tension tour to The 02

Ms Minogue’s Tension show arrives in London for 4 gigs at The 02 this and next month as part of a world tour which runs through 26 August 2025. Tickets We 1st saw her live on the Enjoy Yourself tour at London’s now-no-more London Arena in 1990 and have seen her since at the old Wembley Arena, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, new Wembley Arena and many times at The 02 – but not since 2014. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Eurovision Song Contest predictions, Scissor Sisters reunite and Imelda Staunton
Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2025 starring Self Esteem at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Self Esteem debuts new album at the Duke Of York’s Theatre in London

Rotherham-born Rebecca Lucy Taylor starred in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End but is perhaps best known as pop star Self Esteem for last album Prioritise Pleasure, in 2021 an album of the month for us. She debuts 3rd album A Complicated Woman at gigs we join her for in London’s West End this month. Tickets are return only. Album out 25 April 2025 Our song of the month is new single 69. Our review of the gig and review of the album

  • Read on for reasons including Here We Are, new Conor McPherson play and Ewan McGregor onstage
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Fly More Than You Fall starring Keala Settle at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 2 November (matinee), runs through 23 November 2024 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Settle (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre) plays Miss Coddle, a new character created for the film Wicked released later this month and she’s by some distance the best reason to catch this new musical at this 300-seater venue.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is worth seeing for Settle but manages to be both big-hearted and yet heavy-handed
Read More

AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2024 so far (part 1 of 2)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2024.

  • Read on for reasons including 9 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2024 so far
Read More

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2024 starring Ben Whishaw

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Ben Whishaw is Waiting For Godot

We last saw Whishaw at the Royal Court (Bluets) and here he stars opposite Lucian Msamati (Talking Heads, Bridge Theatre) in the Beckett classic at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 13 September through 14 December 2024. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including John Lithgow, Look Back In Anger and the return of Cable Street
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Police Cops: The Musical at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 29 March 2024, runs through 20 April 2024 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Film franchise The Naked Gun is probably the closest touchstone for this 80s, US-set musical co-written by Ben Adams (Eugenius, Turbine Theatre) from A1 and Subwoolfer.

  • Read on for reasons including how this spoof comedy music could well arrest you
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Cable Street at Southwark Playhouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 27 February and runs through 16 March 2024 RUNTIME: 145 minutes (with a 20 minute interval) UPDATE: This production transfers to Southwark Playhouse (Elephant) 6 September through 10 October 2024 Tickets

You join us on 4 October 1936 in the East End’s Cable Street where its community of socialists, communists, Jews and Irish people refuse to let Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) pass.

  • Read on for reasons including how to get tickets for this sold-out run
Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2024 starring Sheridan Smith in Opening Night

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Sheridan Smith stars in new Rufus Wainwright musical

Smith (Shirley Valentine, Duke Of York’s Theatre) stars in this new musical directed by Ivo van Hove (A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre) based on the John Cassavetes film with music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright. Runs at the Gielgud Theatre 6 March through 27 July 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including the UK’s Eurovision entry, new musical Cable Street & Bananarama’s Glorious
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Unfortunate – The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Saturday 30 December, runs through 17 February 2024 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We’re reminded of the old adage that great musicals are not written but re-written as we take our seats for a show we 1st heard the bones of during lockdown and saw originally 18 months ago at London’s Underbelly Festival.

  • Read on for reasons including how this could be the next Operation Mincemeat sleeper hit
Read More