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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
We’ve never seen Adele live. We’re going to Glasto and are still hoping she’s headlining Saturday. Her 22-date UK tour begins in Belfast 29/2 and we’ll be reporting from her eight-night run at The 02 in March. Picture via Facebook courtesy Adele.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Young Vic
WHEN: 5/12 (matinee), runs to 19/12
‘If you treat people like animals, they’ll behave like them.’ It’s an observation by protagonist Paul (rising star Brian Vernel, menacing and brilliant here) referring to football clubs’ treatment of their fans as he waits ticketless outside the only game he’ll miss this season, the 1976 FA Cup final, but it references much else here. Read More
WORTH A LOOK? Young Vic: *****
The Globe: ****
WHEN: Young Vic 14/10 (matinee), runs to 14/11. The Globe 13/10 (matinee), last performance 17/10
Is Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure a tragedy or a comedy? It’s currently being played in an anarchic, sex doll-laden, rock’n’roll version at the Young Vic and more traditionally at The Globe.
WORTH A LOOK?: **1/2
WHERE: Young Vic (The Maria)
WHEN: runs to 17/10
The most remarkable thing about this revival is the involving way it is staged. At first we see the two former lovers’ faces on screens before us as they sit on a platform above us with their backs to the audience, acting out what we see on screen.
