THEATRE REVIEW: Inside No 9 Stage/Fright starring Steve Pemberton & Reece Shearsmith at Wyndham’s Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 18 January 2025, running through 5 April 2025 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) Update: UK tour runs 9 September through 29 November 2025 Tickets

Steve Pemberton (The Pillowman, Duke Of York’s Theatre) and Reece Shearsmith (The Unfriend, Criterion Theatre) are established West End performers and the theatre incarnation of their award-winning anthology TV show Inside No 9 is an elegant full stop to it.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is what Pet Shop Boys and Morecambe and Wise would do
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Pillowman starring Lily Allen and Steve Pemberton at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Friday 30 June, runs through 2 September 2023 RUNTIME: 145 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Returning Doctor Who David Tennant (Good, Harold Pinter Theatre) played writer Katurian in the original National Theatre production of this Martin McDonagh play and much has been made of the gender swap of this role now played by Lily Allen (2.22 A Ghost Story, Noel Coward Theatre).

  • Read on for reasons including how The Pillowman is funny, dark yet hugely thought-provoking
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2023 starring A Strange Loop

  1. A Strange Loop at the Barbican

The winner of 2 2022 Tonys is written by Michael R. Jackson and is the story of Usher, a black queer man writing a musical about a black queer man writing a musical. Starring Kyle Ramar Freeman and Jason Pennycooke (Hamilton, Victoria Palace) it runs at the Barbican 17 June through 9 September 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Rebecca Frecknall’s Romeo and Juliet, James Graham’s Dear England and Glastonbury Festival
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GIG REVIEW: The League Of Gentlemen Live again! at the Eventim Apollo

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

WHEN?: 27/9, tour runs to 29/9/18

Tonight is the 45th gig of this 47-date tour and the BBC is filming which means the chance of seeing it on a small screen near you sometime soon seems assured.

  • Read on for reasons including whether beloved Restart officer Pauline is really dead – or not

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Q&A: The League Of Gentlemen featuring Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson

WHERE: BFI

WHEN: 12/12, show airs 18, 19 and 20/12

We’re sat behind Jack Whitehall for this chance to see two of three new League Of Gentlemen episodes and an opportunity to ask questions of the cast.

  • Read on for reasons including details of a new League Of Gentlemen tour

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

  1. Hamilton launches

The delays refurbishing the Victoria Palace Theatre have rather taken some of the shine off the opening of this Tony Award-winning musical which is now in previews from 6/12 with a 21/12 press night. We’ll be reviewing the Boxing Day show (if it’s opened by then). Still the hottest tickets in town

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Q&A: Inside No 9 with Reece Shearsmith & Steve Pemberton

26165501_10156010235404731_3074277529763241097_nWHERE?: BFI

WHEN: 30/10

‘It’s every Shakespeare play you’ve ever seen in 30 minutes’: Steve Pemberton, author and star of BBC2’s Inside No 9 is describing Zanzibar, the opening episode of the fourth series.

  • Read on for reasons including whether Inside No 9 will be appearing in a theatre near you soon

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THEATRE REVIEW: Dead Funny starring Katherine Parkinson

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Vaudeville Theatre

WHEN: 2/11, runs to 4/2/17

This consistently joyous revival of Terry Johnson’s 1994 hit comedy is notable for including the second example of full-frontal male nudity we’ve seen in London theatreland in less than a week.

  • Read on for reasons including a fabulously camp supporting role by the League of Gentleman’s Steve Pemberton

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November

  1. Dreamgirls’ Glee

London’s iconic Savoy Theatre is always a guarantee of a hot hit musical and Glee‘s Amber Riley (pictured above and with And I’m Telling You clip below) stars in Dreamgirls there 19/11 – 11/3/17. We’ve given the Savoy’s last three musicals (Gypsy, Guys and Dolls and Funny Girl) the full 5*. We’re going twice already. Would you bet against this supreme musical not inspiring such baby love? Tickets.

  • Read on for reasons including Idris Elba, London’s best panto and Christine and The Queens 

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Q&A/PREVIEW: Inside No 9 with Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton

WHERE?: BFI

WHEN: 5/9

Sir Derek Jacobi is the narrator of the BBC’s children series In The Night Garden and, here, in the third season of dark BBC2 comic delight Inside No. 9, well, he’s … that would be telling ….

  • Read on for more teasers from the third series of BBC2 dark comedy series Inside No. 9

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