MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Best Theatre Actor of the year: 2018

It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2018? Over the next week we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2018.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for Theatre Actor of the year. 2017 winner: Andrew Scott in Hamlet at the Almeida

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Best Theatre Venue of the year: 2018

It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2018? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 14 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2018.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for Best Theatre Venue of the year

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for December

  1. Julian Clary & Dawn French star in Snow White at the Palladium

This is only the 3rd year of the Olivier Award-winning annual family pantomime at the Palladium but already it’s a staple in our Christmas must-do list – and we’re bringing the relations. Clary has found his niche and here’s what we thought about his show stopping turn in its 2016 and 2017 incarnation. Former Vicar Of Dibley French should make an interesting comic foil. Runs 8/12 through 13/1/19. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Take That, Rocky Horror Show, Claire Richards and the monstas

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THEATRE REVIEW: Twelfth Night at the Young Vic

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Young Vic RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 5/10, press night 8/10, runs to 17/11/18

Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah arrives at the Young Vic with a modern-day musical re-imagining of Twelfth Night that he co-directed and was a hit this summer in New York’s Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park program.

  • Read on for reasons including why this production is like a breath of fresh theatrical air

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for October

  1. Dame Eileen Atkins in The Height Of The Storm

There’s Nothing Like A Dame and we loved the film of that name which starred Dame Eileen (pictured above) who appears here in this Florian Zeller drama with Jonathan Pryce (Game Of Thrones) at the Wyndhams 2/10 through 1/12. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Lady Gaga, Jim Broadbent, Dr Who goes Macbeth and Game Of Thrones in Hampstead

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INVESTIGATION: Should you join your favourite theatre as a member?

Should theatre go Netflix? Would subscribing as a member of your favourite theatre make it easier for you to get the most in-demand tickets? We became a member of 11 of our favourite venues and bought two group memberships to see what the value for money is.

  • Read on to find out what membership of the Almeida, ATG, Bridge Theatre, British Film Institute, Delfont Mackintosh, Donmar Warehouse, Globe Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, National Theatre, Old Vic, Other Palace, Royal Court and Young Vic gets you

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THEATRE REVIEW: Fun Home at the Young Vic starring Eleanor Kane, Jenna Russell & Cherrelle Skeete

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Young Vic

WHEN: 23/6, press night 27/6, runs to 1/9/18

RUN TIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

This first mainstream musical about a young lesbian won 5 Tonys and brings the curtain down on David Lan’s 18-year tenure as Artistic Director at this venue.

  • Read on for reasons including why The Inheritance is what we’ll remember Lan for

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best new play of 2018 so far

We awarded 13 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2017 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2018 so far and what’s to come. Oddshaped Balls and The Ferryman are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 6 best new plays of 2018 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Inheritance (Part 2) starring Vanessa Redgrave

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Young Vic

WHEN: 17/3, press night 28/3 runs to 19/5/18

We leave the auditorium with tears in our eyes at the end of Part 1 to be met by Vanessa Redgrave in the venue lobby who we assume is gauging audience reaction before she debuts in Part 2.

  • Read on for reasons including why we didn’t think Part 2 was the equal of Part 1

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Inheritance (Part 1) starring Kyle Soller, Andrew Burnap and Samuel H. Levine

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Young Vic

WHEN: 17/3, press night 28/3 runs to 19/5/18

Author Matthew Lopez writes in the programme of the power of literature – how watching Emma Thompson in Howards End as a 16-year-old changed his life.

  • Read on for reasons including when we will review Part 2 starring Vanessa Redgrave

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