THEATRE REVIEW: Here And Now starring Rebecca Lock, Blake Patrick Anderson, River Medway & Finty Williams at New Victoria Theatre, Woking

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Tuesday 14 October, tour runs through 16 May 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We catch this musical realisation of the Steps songbook shortly before the departure this week of its leading lady Rebecca Lock (Heathers, Other Palace) to musical Freaky Friday in Manchester.

  • Read on for reasons including how you’d be a deeper shade of blue if you missed out
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August 2025 starring Ncuti Gatwa in Born With Teeth

  1. Born With Teeth starring Ncuti Gatwa

Former Doctor Who Gatwa (The Importance Of Being Earnest, National Theatre) stars opposite Edward Bluemel (Love In Idleness, Menier Chocolate Factory) in this story of playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare at the Wyndham’s Theatre 13 August through 1 December 2025. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Brigadoon, Steps’ musical Here And Now and Materialists
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THEATRE REVIEW: Here And Now starring Rebecca Lock, Sharlene Hector & Blake Patrick Anderson at Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 24 November (matinee) and runs through 30 November 2024 Tours UK and Ireland in 2025 and 2026 Tickets RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

A Steps musical needs a vocalist with the power of the band’s Claire Richards and, luckily for Here And Now, it has 3.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is moving, a lot of fun and a knowing budget Mamma Mia
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2024 starring Ncuti Gatwa

  1. Ncuti Gatwa stars in The Importance Of Being Earnest

‘A handbag …?’ New Doctor Who Gatwa stars alongside Best Theatre Actress monsta winner Sharon D Clarke (Caroline, Or Change?, Hampstead Theatre and TV’s Lost Boys and Fairies) and Hugh Skinner (The Trial, Young Vic and film Wicked Little Letters) in Max Webster’s (Minority Report, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith) production of the Oscar Wilde classic comedy at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre 20 November through 25 January 2025. Tickets Vote for Doctor Who to win Best TV of 2024. Our Earnest review

  • Read on for reasons including the Greenwich pantomime, The Producers and the Steps musical
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Summer Night City by Claire Richards & Andy Bell (week beginning Wednesday 23 August)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

31 years ago Erasure topped the UK charts with their ABBA-esque EP and now lead singer Andy Bell is duetting with Steps frontwoman Claire Richards on the pair’s new single.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Richards performing solo later this year
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GIG REVIEW: Steps & Sophie Ellis Bextor at The 02

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 27 November 2021. Last night of tour, next year gig details below

SETLIST (Sophie Ellis Bextor): Take Me Home; Get Over You; Lady; Groovejet; Sing It Back; Crying At The Discoteque; Like A Prayer; Muder On The Dancefloor

(Steps): What The Future Holds; One For Sorrow; Heartbreak In This City; Neon Blue; Take Me For A Ride; 5,6,7,8; After the Love Has Gone; Something In Your Eyes; Say You’ll Be Mine; Chain Reaction; It’s The Way That You Make Me Feel; Slightest Touch; A Hundred Years Of Winter; Last Thing On Your Mind; Stomp; Heartbeat; Better The Devil You Know; Love’s Got A Hold Of My Heart; Better Best Forgotten; Deeper Shade Of Blue; Here And Now; Scared Of The Dark; Tragedy

Steps proved what strength in depth they have tonight as Faye Tozer returned to the line-up after suffering from Covid which also meant bandmate Lee Latchford-Evans could not appear at this show.

  • Read on for reasons including how good support Sophie Ellis Bextor was
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November includes Cabaret starring Jessie Buckley and Eddie Redmayne

  1. Cabaret starring Jessie Buckley and Eddie Redmayne

The West End’s Playhouse Theatre is being repurposed as the Kit Kat Club to stage director Rebecca Frecknall’s (Summer And Smoke, Almeida and West End) vision of this musical and movie classic with film stars Redmayne and Buckley (Romeo and Juliet, Sky Arts). Runs from 15 November 2021 and is currently booking to 16 April 2022. Tickets 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including new ABBA album, Dadi Freyr tour, Beverley Knight musical and Rina Sawayama gig
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Heartbreak In This City by Steps & Michelle Visage (week beginning 3 April 2021)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: 25 February 2021

Visage is a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race and played the role of teacher Miss Hedge in West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie before new bandmate Faye Tozer and so perhaps it should come as little surprise that she fits so flawlessly into Lisa Scott-Lee’s shoes.

  • Read on for reasons including which Melodifestivalen song we think the band should cover next
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Song of 2020

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2020? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2020.

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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: What The Future Holds by Steps (December 2020)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: 27/11/20

TRACKLIST: What The Future Holds; Something In My Eyes: Clouds; To The Beat Of My Heart; Father’s Eyes; One Touch; Under My Skin; Heartbreak In This City; Come And Dance With Me; Don’t You Leave Us Halfway; To The One; Hold My Heart; What The Future Holds

If 2017’s comeback album Tears On The Dancefloor was an attempt to give the band’s loyal fans what they wanted (all bangers no fillers), 2020’s consolidation seems very much about broadening their appeal with more mature mid-paced material.

  • Read on for reasons including our latest Steps for Eurovision thoughts and how to buy tickets for their 2021 tour
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