
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Theatre actress of the year: 2017
It’s Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2017? Over the next few days we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 13 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2017.
- Read on for nominees for the monsta for Theatre actress of the year: 2017 2016 winner: Jade Anouka (Shakespeare Trilogy, Donmar)

AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best theatre actress of 2017 so far
We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. Sheridan Smith and Jade Anouka are previous winners in this category.
Read on for our top 5 best theatre actresses of 2017 so far and our hopes for the next half year

THEATRE REVIEW: The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia? starring Sophie Okonedo & Damian Lewis
WORTH A LOOK?: **
WHERE: Theatre Royal Haymarket
WHEN: 24/3, runs to 27/5
Click-thump. The audience at this first preview starts leaving and tipping up their chairs, in very small, but regular, trickles around the middle of act two.
- Read on for reasons including why it’s lucky this three-act play has no interval

THEATRE REVIEW: Speech and Debate starring Patsy Ferran, Douglas Booth & Tony Revolori
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Trafalgar Studios 2
WHEN: 2/3 (matinee), runs to 1/4
We’re mulling over the breaking story of the audience being banned from eating in Imelda Staunton’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? when a group of uniformed schoolchildren walk in and their teacher hands out a giant bag of popcorn, which they share before curtain up.
- Read on for reasons including why Patsy Ferran is a name to watch out for

THEATRE REVIEW: Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? starring Imelda Staunton
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Harold Pinter Theatre
WHEN: 24/2, runs to 27/5
It’s 2am and the wife of a university lecturer has invited a younger couple back to their home for some after party drinks.
- Read on for reasons including why Staunton is the West End’s biggest talent

9 reasons why we can’t wait for February
- Charlotte Perrelli returns to Melodifestivalen
Europe’s premiere Eurovision selection show launches on 4/2 at 7pm English time with the return of 1999 winner Charlotte Perrelli, who also won Melodifestivalen in 2008, MF favourites Ace Wilder, Dinah Nah and Boris Rene. 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen also competes in heat 4 25/2. Prime-time Saturday nights in February sorted. Picture via YouTube from the Take Me To Your Heaven performance in 1999’s Eurovision.
- Read on for reasons including what Imelda Staunton did next, Sherlock goes Hamlet and the pick of the awards season