THEATRE REVIEW: The Merchant Of Venice 1936 starring Tracy-Ann Oberman at Trafalgar Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Sunday 29 December 2024, runs through 25 January 2025 and then tours the UK (details below) RUNTIME: 120 minutes with a 20-minute interval

This production began as a conversation in 2018 when Oberman told director Brigid Larmour she wanted to play Shylock as an East End matriarch in the 1930s, inspired by her great grandmother.

  • Read on for reasons including where and how to see this production on its tour after this memorable run
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2024 starring Sigourney Weaver

  1. Sigourney Weaver’s West End debut in Jamie Lloyd’s The Tempest

Weaver who starred in the original Alien movies but not this year’s fine newcomer to the franchise Alien: Romulus makes her West End debut as Prospero in this Jamie Lloyd (Romeo and Juliet, Duke Of York’s Theatre) version of The Tempest which we’ve previously seen starring Simon Russell Beale at the Barbican in 2017. Will it be ‘such stuff as dreams are made?’ Runs at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane 7 December through 1 February 2025. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including the Palladium pantomime, Welly’s biggest London show and Oliver!
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2019

  1. Leave to Remain at the Lyric, Hammersmith

A modern love story by Matt Jones with music by Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke starring Billy Cullum and Tyrone Huntley (pictured left to right above) runs at the Lyric, Hammersmith, 18/1/19 through 16/2/19. Tickets

Screen Shot 2018-12-27 at 07.23.16

  • Read on for reasons including Benedict Cumberbatch in Brexit and Olivia Colman’s The Favourite

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THEATRE REVIEW: Stepping Out starring Amanda Holden

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Vaudeville Theatre

WHEN: 4/3 (matinee), press night 14/3, runs to 17/6

A foot fracture meant Tamzin Outhwaite had to withdraw from this production shortly before its first preview and is replaced by Kate Verner here.

  • Read on for reasons including which cast member’s sister will join the show

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for March

  1. Sheena Easton debuts in 42nd Street

We’ve never seen 42nd Street but are very excited by the West End debut casting of Sheena Easton who we remember as far back in her career as 9 to 5 (see below) and her duet with Prince. Opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane 20/3 and booking through July. Tickets Picture via Facebook courtesy 42nd Street.

  • Read on for reasons including Goldfrapp, The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia? and Marc Almond

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5 reasons to see McQueen at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

  1. Stephen Wight

monstagigz last saw Stephen Wight in the West End in The Ladykillers in 2011 but we love him more for his turn in BBC3’s Bluestone 42. Tonight he couldn’t be further from either performances and is the spitting image of Alexander McQueen. Don’t buy tickets for McQueen to see Wight unless you’re prepared to have him transform in front of your eyes, as the best actors do. It’s a mesmeric performance, brave to be there from the moment the audience enters the auditorium but ultimately the best reason to see this. Astonishing.

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