It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our 10th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Saturday 1 June 2024, closes 30 June 2024 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 15-minute interval) Update: now extended through 27 July 2024
We 1st saw this Pet Shop Boys musical on its debut at the intimate Arts Theatre in London’s West End in 2001 and then on its revival at Above The Stag in Vauxhall in 2019 and said: ‘If you’re a Pet Shop Boys fan you’ll marvel at just how good these songs are but also why being so ahead of its time can be the only reason why it wasn’t a bigger hit’.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Wednesday 17 April and runs through 27 April 2024 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)
Struggling writer Tony is in a relationship with the more successful author Greg and would rather devote time to his career than keep their Kentish Town flat spick and span so employs a cleaner.
Transferring from Bath’s Theatre Royal, this Lindsay Posner production stars Dominic West (TV’s The Crown), Kate Fleetwood (Ugly Lies The Bone, National Theatre) and Callum Scott Howells (Cabaret, Kit Kat Club) in this Arthur Miller play about 1 man’s place in the close-knit American-Italian community of 1950s New York. Runs 23 May through 3 August 2024 at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Tickets Our preview review
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Sunday 2 April (matinee), runs through 28 May 2023 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Time travel back to October 2018 and this superhero musical was on the verge of a West End transfer which never materialised when a backer withdrew.
This venue’s promenade performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar have been amongst some of the best theatre we’ve ever immersed ourselves in and so this similar new production of a musical which is 1 of our favourites offers a great deal to look forward to. Not least with a cast including Marisha Wallace (Oklahoma!, Young Vic) and Daniel Mays (The Caretaker, Old Vic). Runs 3 March, opens 14 March through 2 September 2023. Tickets Review
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN? matinee Sunday 3 April, runs to 8 May 2022
RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Conversion therapy is headline news in the UK and there seems no more apt time for this new musical based on a beloved 1999 cult film starring RuPaul and Michelle Williams to be taking its bow.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Saturday 13 November 2021 (matinee), runs to 13 November RUNTIME: 60 minutes (no interval)
Time spent alone in the country writing during lockdown has been well spent by West End musical theatre and TV star Bennett who has written this 60-minute monologue.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Tuesday 27 July 2021, running to 21 August 2021 UPDATE: Run extended to 11 September 2021
RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
Written in 1994, the same year as film Four Weddings and a Funeral, comedy My Night With Reg could easily have been re-titled ‘two funerals and a housewarming’.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHEN?: 6/12/20, runs to 23/12/20 RUNTIME: 75 minutes
WHERE?: Turbine Theatre UPDATE: Lockdown means this production closed early with its last performance 15/12/20. However a recorded version is available to pay to view until 1/1/21. Details
Our go-to Christmas pantomime is Greenwich Theatre‘s but this year COVID-19 has forced its postponement until Easter.
