WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Upstairs At The Gatehouse
WHEN: 18/8, runs to 19/8
The words experimental Steps jukebox musical may be enough to strike fear into the heart of the average theatregoer but 5,6,7,8 is definitely more comedy than, ahem, Tragedy.
We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. Lady Gaga, Shura, Suede and Florence and the Machine are among the previous winners in these categories.
1. Comeback of the year
It’s hard to envisage an act of their stature coming back with quite the impact that Steps managed in 2017 (and 2018). Their Party On The Dancefloor tour moved seamlessly into Summer Of Steps. Do supports Blue, Aqua and Saara Aalto foreshadow a Steps Eurovision bow?
Nicki French is bowled over by the love shown to her new single Teardrops (On The Disco Floor), which is a slice of 70s Donna Summer, penned by a Eurovision-winning lyricist that is shaping up to be one of the hits of the season.
Imelda Staunton made our Best Theatre Actress of 2017 shortlist so far for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf and stars here at the National with Tracie Bennett and Janie Dee in the Sondheim classic (which features Losing My Mind, see below). Runs 22/8 through 3/1/18. Picture courtesy National Theatre. Tickets
WORTH A LOOK: ****
OUT: now
TRACKLIST: Scared Of The Dark; You Make Me Whole; Story Of A Heart; Happy; No More Tears On The Dancefloor; Firefly; Space Between Us; Glitter And Gold; Neon Blue; I Will Love Again; Scared Of the Dark (Wideboys In the Shadows Vocal Mix); Story Of A Heart (7th Heaven Radio Mix)
‘Did he see me? Or did I just imagine it all? Putting a face on a stranger, a face I find more and more hard to recall.’
Our most anticipated theatrical event of the year. Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time) directs a stellar cast including Nathan Lane (The Producers, The Birdcage), Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, James McArdle and Russell Tovey in this two-part Tony Kushner classic at the National Theatre from 11/4. Runs to 19/8. Tickets
