Young Vic

THEATRE REVIEW: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof starring Sienna Miller & Jack O’Connell

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Apollo Theatre

WHEN: 13/7, press night 24/7, runs to 7/10

Director Benedict Andrews’ last Young Vic production starred Gillian Anderson and was his take on Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. It was the smash hit of 2014, transferred to Broadway and his follow-up is no less deserving of such an honour.

  • Read on for reasons including why this earned a standing ovation on its first preview

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

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  1. Queers at the Old Vic

27/7 will mark the 50th anniversary of the repeal of the law against homosexuality and BBC4 has commissioned the filming of eight monologues curated by Mark Gatiss and featuring authors including Jackie Clune performed by stars such as Ben Whishaw (pictured above), Russell Tovey and Alan Cumming. UPDATE: 4/7: No sign of Whishaw or Cumming in the Old Vic casting announced today but it does include Tovey, Gemma Whelan, Sarah Crowe, Ian Gelder, Mark Bonnar & Kadiff Kirwan. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Jack O’Connell, Frank Ocean & Stockard Channing

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THEATRE REVIEW: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Young Vic

WHEN: 16/2, runs to 1/4

Q: Who has the toughest job in London’s Theatreland? A: The wardrobe department at the Young Vic working on this production set in a mudbath that would put last year’s Glastonbury Festival to shame.

  • Read on for reasons including how the Young Vic’s sets are London’s most imaginative

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. 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

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Theatre actress of the year: 2016

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It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2016? Over the next fortnight we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 12 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2016.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for theatre actress of the year. 2015 winner: Sheridan Smith (Funny Girl)

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THEATRE REVIEW: Lazarus starring Michael C. Hall, Amy Lennox and Sophia Anne Caruso

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WORTH A LOOK?: **

WHERE: King’s Cross Theatre

WHEN: 27/10, runs to 22/1/17

The original cast recording of this show already sits at number 8 in this week’s midweek album charts as we take our seats for this third preview in a new temporary 800-seat King’s Cross Theatre venue.

  • Read on for reasons including Sophia Anne Caruso’s beautifully realised Girl

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THEATRE REVIEW: Yerma starring Billie Piper

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Young Vic

WHEN: 29/7, runs to 24/9

Has Billie Piper won an Olivier Award for best actress? We ask because this performance as the protagonist in Simon Stone’s adaptation of Lorca’s classic about a woman destroyed by her childlessness may well bear fruit for her where The Effect failed in 2012.

  • Read on for why this is a Pokemon Go reference from being so utterly of its time

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

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  1. Sheridan Smith returns to Funny Girl and releases soundtrack

Sheri actually made her triumphant return last month but we’re seeing her in it for the 3rd time the day after the soundtrack is released 5/8. It won 2015’s monstas for best musical and actress. Picture via Facebook courtesy Funny Girl UK. Tickets.

  • Read on for reasons including X Factor, Billie Piper and Trapped

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PREVIEW: 8 reasons why we can’t wait for May

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. UK has a shot at Eurovision 

43 countries, two semis and a final: 14/5. The bookies have the UK’s Joe and Jake 27th as we write this but we’ve heard all the entries and think You’re Not Alone has a shot at winning particularly with an EU referendum 23/6. Our dark horse is Croatia’s Nina Kraljić (main picture and below) who’s channelling Hounds Of Love-era Kate Bush:

  • Read on for reasons including Cyndi Lauper, Aladdin and The Threepenny Opera

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THEATRE REVIEW: If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me starring Jane Horrocks

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Young Vic

WHEN: 11/3, press night 16/3, runs to 16/4

SETLIST: Anthrax (Gang Of Four); Atrocity Exhibition (Joy Division); Fiction Romance (Buzzcocks); Isolation (Joy Division); Nag Nag Nag (Cabaret Voltaire); What Do I Get (Buzzcocks); Empire State Human (The Human League); Hot On The Heels Of Love (Throbbing Gristle); My New House (The Fall); Memorabilia (Soft Cell); I Know It’s Over (The Smiths); Life Is A Pigsty (Morrissey); Temptation (New Order).

We loved Jane Horrocks in Little Voice and Absolutely Fabulous and when we discovered the premise of this show we were at the front of the queue to buy tickets.

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