travel

THEATRE REVIEW: Ride The Cyclone starring Divina de Campo at the Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Sunday 21 June, opens 24 June and runs through 22 August 2026 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

We really weren’t expecting to love this new musical as much as we did and we wonder whether it is its creators’ fondness for the awkward British humour of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and the Pythons that won us over.

  • Read on for reasons including how, if you’re looking for a dark horse musical that’s a bit edgy, eerie yet a wild experience, come Ride The Cyclone!
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THEATRE REVIEW: Hot Mess starring Danielle Steers & Morgan Gregory at the Other Palace

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Sunday 14 June, opens 23 June and runs through 6 September 2026 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

Hot Mess was shortlisted for our Best New Musical 2025 monsta and last year we said of it: ‘We’d definitely recommend catching it on this short run and wouldn’t be at all surprised if it scorches its way to the West End next.’

  • Read on for reasons including how Hot Mess remains 1 of the best new musicals of recent years
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2026 starring Pride

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Pride at the National Theatre

Writer and director Stephen Beresford and Matthew Warchus (Oedipus, Old Vic) return from the 2014 film for the musical of a group of gay men and lesbians supporting the striking miners in the 80s. Stars Samuel Barnett (Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is About To Happen, Bush Theatre) at the National’s Dorfman Theatre 11 June through 12 September 2026. Original music by DJ Walde (SYLVIA, Old Vic). Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Russell Tovey in Guilty, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Glengarry Glen Ross
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THEATRE REVIEW: Equus starring Toby Stephens, Amanda Abbington & Noah Valentine at Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 9 May (matinee), opens 18 May and runs through 4 July 2026 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Inside No 9 and Waterloo Road‘s Noah Valentine follows in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe in baring all as troubled 17-year-old Alan Strang who is blinding horses.

  • Read on for reasons including how this version is so strong we do expect it to transfer to the West End
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SONG OF THE MONTH: I Feel So Free by Madonna (April 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Madonna (Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona) chooses not to ape Hung Up, the all-conquering, chart-topping, ABBA-sampling banger that launched album Confessions On A Dancefloor 21 years ago.

  • Read on for reasons including how Madonna is perpetuating her career by growing old both joyously and disgracefully and we wouldn’t have it any other way
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2026 starring Gary Oldman in Krapp’s Last Tape

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Gary Oldman in Krapp’s Last Tape

Oscar winner Oldman (Apple’s Slow Horses) directs and stars in this monologue about a man on his 69th birthday who sits alone and listens to the echoes of his younger self. The play returns to the Royal Court where it ran in 1958 in this York Theatre Royal production. The run is sold out although tickets are available on Mondays. Runs 8 through 30 May 2026. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Rosalia at The 02, High Society and Delta Goodrem at Eurovision
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Semi Final 2 starring Delta Goodrem, Antigoni, Dara & Atvara

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? 14 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm

WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna

The final half of this 2nd semi final is Eurovision at its most competitive and 1 of our favourites is sure to miss out but we do think superstar Delta Goodrem’s is the performance to watch out for here because the song is contest-winning worthy.

  • Read on for reasons including Søren Torpegaard Lund, Jonas Lovv & Simón
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GIG REVIEW: Pet Shop Boys Obscure at Electric Ballroom, Camden

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Tuesday 7 April, runs through 10 April 2026

Setlist: The Theatre; Will-o-the-Wisp; Two Divided By Zero; Jack The Lad; To Face The Truth; After The Event; Hit And Miss; Always; One In A Million/Mister Vain; Sexy Northerner; Young Offender; Through You; It Couldn’t Happen Here; Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend; King Of Rome; King’s Cross; Love Is The Law; Why Don’t We Live Together?; The Performance Of My Life; Your Funny Uncle; The Way It Used To Be; Later Tonight; A Dream Of A Better Tomorrow

The international juggernaut that is the Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Tour celebrates its 4th birthday next month while rolling on and Obscure is alternatively a run of 5 nights in this 1,500-capacity venue of B-sides, album tracks and fan favourites.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t imagine any other band being as wilfully unexpected as Pet Shop Boys
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THEATRE REVIEW: Copenhagen starring Richard Schiff, Damien Malony & Alex Kingston

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 1 April, opens 2 April and runs through 2 May 2026 RUN TIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

What happened when German physicist Werner Heisenberg visited his mentor Niels Bohr, whose father was Jewish, in the titular Copenhagen in 1941?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a brilliantly cast revival of a thought-provoking play which has plenty to say about world events we are currently living through
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