The 02

9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2023 starring Aidan Turner & Jenna Coleman in Lemons, Lemons, Lemons

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman bring Lemons, Lemons, Lemons to the West End

We last saw Turner on a West End stage 4 years ago in Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Noel Coward Theatre) and Coleman at the Old Vic in 2019 in All My Sons. Lemons is a revival of a 2015 two-hander with a running time of just 75 minutes about the importance of words, is directed by Josie Rourke (Sweet Charity, Donmar) and on at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Runs 18 January through 18 March 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Beverley Knight in new musical Sylvia, Nolly and new plays Boys Are Kissing and The Unfriend
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LAST NIGHT: GIG REVIEW: Paul Heaton (get well soon Jacqui Abbott) and Billy Bragg at The 02

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 17 December, last night of the tour

SETLIST: I Drove Her Away With My Tears; From Under The Covers; Too Much For One (Not Enough For Two); One Last Love Song; Everybody’s Talkin’; Old Red Eyes Is Back; A Good Day Is Hard To Find; A Little Time; The People Who Grinned Themselves Top Death; Five Get Over Excited; I’ll Sail This Ship Alone; Liars’ Bar; My Mother’s Womb; Me And The Farmer; Prettiest Eyes; Manchester; Heatongrad; Rotterdam; Song For Whoever; Think For A Minute; Happy Hour; Perfect 10; You Keep It All In; Caravan Of Love

36 years ago The Housemartins’ cover of Caravan Of Love was number 1 and it is the last song tonight and elevated brilliantly by an enthusiastic audience singalong.

  • Read on for reasons including why Heaton and Abbott are in the Guinness Book Of World Records
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Gig of 2022

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It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2022 starring Best Of Enemies

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. West End debut of Zachary Quinto in Best Of Enemies

Quinto (The Boys In The Band) is probably best known for his role as Spock in the rebooted Star Trek franchise and here plays Gore Vidal in the Young Vic production of this James (Ink, Almeida) Graham play opposite David Harewood as William F Buckley about the 1968 ATV TV debates. Runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 14 November through 18 February 2023. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Florence and the Machine, The Crown and My Policeman
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Dance Fever by Florence and the Machine (May 2022)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: King; Free; Choreomania; Back In Town; Girls Against God; Dream Girl Evil; Prayer Factory; Cassandra; Heaven Is Here; Daffodil; My Love; Restraint; The Bomb; Morning Elvis

Choreomania is a social phenomena that took place on mainland Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries where sometimes thousands of people would gather and dance into a frenzy that would end through exhaustion or injury.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see F+TM on tour later this year
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GIG REVIEW: Pet Shop Boys at The 02, London

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Sunday 22 May 2022, tour runs until 16 October 2022

SETLIST: Suburbia; Can You Forgive Her?; Opportunities; Where The Streets Have No Name; Rent; I Don’t Know What You Want But I Can’t Give It Anymore; So Hard; Left To My Own Devices; Single – Bilingual; Domino Dancing; Monkey Business; New York City Boy; You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk; Jealousy; Love Comes Quickly; Losing My Mind; You Were Always On My Mind; Dreamland; Heart; It’s Alright; Vocal; What Have I Done To Deserve This?; Go West; It’s A Sin; West End Girls; Being Boring

We popped our Pet Shop Boys live cherry in 1989 at the old Wembley Arena and this greatest hits gig means we’ve seen the duo, we think, 14 times across each of the last 5 decades.

  • Read on for reasons including how, amidst all the hits, there were 2 very special moments
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GIG REVIEW: Dua Lipa and Griff at The 02

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 3 May 2022, tour runs until 16 November 2022

GRIFF SETLIST: Say It Again; Walk; Forgive Myself; One Foot In Front Of The Other; Head On Fire; One Night; Shade Of Yellow; Black Hole

DUA SETLIST: Physical; New Rules; Love Again; Cool; Pretty Please; Break My Heart; Be The One; We’re Good; Good In Bed; Fever; Boys Will Be Boys; One Kiss; Electricity; Hallucinate; Cold Heart; Levitating; Future Nostalgia; Don’t Start Now

We arrive early at this venue because we want to see support act Griff who was named the Rising Star at 2021’s BRIT Awards and released her debut album last year.

  • Read on for reasons including how Dua Lipa made good on Levitating at this gig
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2022 starring My Fair Lady

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  1. My Fair Lady starring Amara Okereke at the Coliseum

We saw lead Okereke in both The Boy Friend (Menier) and Spring Awakening (Almeida) and so know how deserved this casting is. We last saw Martine McCutcheon’s triumphant take on this Lerner and Loewe classic in 2001 and it returns to the West End at the Coliseum 7 May through 27 August 2022. Tickets 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Legally Blonde, Amy Adams’ West End debut and last Little Mix gig
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GIG REVIEW: Steps & Sophie Ellis Bextor at The 02

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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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