west-end

THEATRE REVIEW Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? starring Gillian Anderson @SohoPlace

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 26 September, opens 30 September and runs through 19 December 2026 RUNTIME: 210 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Gillian Anderson gave us the definitive Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Young Vic on a revolving stage a decade ago and here performs a similar trick as Martha.

  • Read on for reasons including how Anderson’s performance is 1 for the history books as she gives an unforgettable take on a classic role
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THEATRE REVIEW Oh Mary! starring Jinx Monsoon at Trafalgar Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Monday 21 September, runs through 2 January 2027 Lolly Adefope plays Mary from 28 September 2026 RUNTIME: 80 minutes without interval

Monsoon (End Of The Rainbow, Soho Theatre Walthamstow) reprises her Broadway turn in this comic delight and reminds how twistedly funny she can be so rush to see her in this West End hit because her run comes to an end in it all too soon.

  • Read on for reasons including how you won’t ever have laughed so often in its 80 short fun-filled minutes
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THEATRE REVIEW: Electra/Persona starring Cate Blanchett & Nina Hoss at National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****/***

WHEN? Saturday 22 August, opens 1 September and runs through 10 October 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (without interval)

Perhaps predictably this mash-up of Greek tragedy with Ingmar Bergman is a play of 2 halves.

  • Read on for reasons including how Blanchett and Hoss conjure literal theatrical electricity
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THEATRE REVIEW: Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder, Tyrone Huntley, Desmonda Cathabel & Richard Armitage at London Palladium

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 18 July, and runs through 5 September 2026. Transfers to Theatre Royal Drury Lane 16 October through 9 January 2027. Tickets Also UK tour 11 February 2027 through 23 October 2027 RUNTIME: 125 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The summer success of last year’s Olivier Award-winning EVITA! perhaps made this resurrection of a recent Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of an Andrew Lloyd Webber classic an obvious choice as follow up.

  • Read on for reasons including how Ryder gives so much vocally it may be unsustainable 8 shows a week
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August 2026 starring Cate Blanchett

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Cate Blanchett in Electra/Persona

Blanchett (The Seagull, Barbican) stars opposite Nina Hoss (The Cherry Orchard, Donmar) in Benedict Andrews’ (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Apollo Theatre) production fusing ancient myth and modern psychology at the Lyttelton at the National 19 August through 10 October 2026. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Abigail’s Party, Kimberley Akimbo and Letitia Wright in The Story
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Maggie’s Song by Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem) (May 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

It’s arguably theatre’s most memorable moment of the year so far and now the song is available to listen to and watch (see below).

  • Read on for reasons including how allowing Taylor this moment to update the play with music is nothing short of astonishing
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THEATRE REVIEW: Kinky Boots starring Johannes Radebe and Matt Cardle at the London Coliseum

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Thursday 19 March, opens 29 March and runs through 11 July 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Condragtulations to Strictly professional dancer Radebe who makes the transition to West End leading man with perfect poise and in fine voice.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is Radebe’s musical theatre debut and he’s the perfect fit for this show
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THEATRE REVIEW: Oh Mary! starring Mason Alexander Park & Giles Terera at the Trafalgar Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? *****

WHEN? Thursday 4 December, opens 18 December and runs through 25 April 2026 RUNTIME 80 minutes (without interval)

There’s so much that’s troubling going on in the world right now that sometimes it’s easy to forget the importance of laughing daily.

  • Read on for reasons including how Oh Mary! is arguably London’s funniest comedy of the moment
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Producers starring Andy Nyman & Marc Antolin at the Garrick Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 18 October, runs through 19 September 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We reviewed this revival of the Mel Brooks-written classic at the Menier Chocolate Factory last year and brought friends who’d never seen it to its West End transfer.

  • Read on for reasons including how Brooks virgins will be seduced by this marvellous musical comedy
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THEATRE REVIEW: Clarkston starring Joe Locke & Ruaridh Mollica at Trafalgar Studios

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Friday 3 October, runs through 22 November 2025 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

Heartstopper‘s Locke plays Jake who is being trained by Ruaridh Mollica’s Chris to work the nightshift in the warehouse of superstore CostCo stacking shelves.

  • Read on for reasons including how Heartstopper fans won’t feel shortchanged by a drama which offers 1 of its stars navigating similar subject matter to the show that made his name
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