Author: Theatremonkey

Owner and founder of Theatremonkey.com.

Still Life (Grand Saloon Bar, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane)

8 September 2026

(seen at the press performance on 7th September 2026, by invitation) It is a beautiful room, the Grand Saloon Bar. High, vaulted ceiling with three glorious chandeliers. Luxuriously thick rugs on highly polished floor. Thick blue or golden armchairs pulled up to dainty tables at which even daintier sandwiches and pastries are served (the chocolate […]

Eventim Apollo Hammersmith Tour

25 August 2026

(23rd August 2026) “Goooood Afternooooon Haaammmmeerrrrsmith!” One ticked off the monkey bucket-list, as it stood on the stage, facing an auditorium packed with… 7 fellow guests and 3 tour guides, really. Must have been its encore of “I Wanna Be Like You”… or just the initial opening bars, really… Over the course of two August […]

Now You See Me Live (London Coliseum) and touring

20 August 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 20th August 2026) For those who didn’t know, the London Coliseum was designed as a home for variety theatre. Only the very best acts played it, though they would seem slow and often tame to our modern eyes. This show does a sound job of recreating the experience. Most […]

Cleansed (Almeida Theatre)

19 August 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 19th August 2026) One hundred unique Kane minutes, as she explores what theatre can do if you switch off every safety catch and convention. Director Rebecca Frecknall gives us “Cleansed” without a hint of fashionable over-protectiveness. Indeed, today’s techniques and effects energise this 1998 work. As usual, Kane’s […]

Ride The Cyclone – The Musical (Southwark Playhouse, Elephant)

30 July 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 30th July 2026) Sometimes the monkey gets a run of shows sharing similar themes. This week, “Cats” on Monday, “Ride The Cyclone” today. Both deal with choosing who gets to be reincarnated. This show is a lot shorter, and considerably less cute – but judging by the reaction from […]

Abigail’s Party (Richmond Theatre) and touring

27 July 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 25th July 2026) Anthropology was the fashionable subject to study at university in the 1970s. This slice of human behavioural study is a fine example of this introspective decade. The play started life at the original Hampstead Theatre Club in 1977, but is best known as a BBC TV […]

Midnight at The Never Get (Menier Chocolate Factory)

21 July 2026

(seen at the afternoon preview performance on 18th July 2026) If the theatre gods are kind, this afternoon will – in time to come – be one of those “I was there at the start” moments. Just like the original audiences of “Oklahoma,” “Cats” and “Operation Mincemeat.” This is theatre history in the making. According […]

Black Comedy (Orange Tree Theatre)

11 July 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 11th July 2026) Fresh from the bleakness that is “Equus” at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the monkey finally ticks off the elusive “Black Comedy” from the same thrillingly theatrical mind of Peter Shaffer. Written for the National Theatre’s 1965 Chichester season, it literally leaves our cast in the dark […]

Relics (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith)

4 July 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 4th July 2026) Ben Ockrent’s latest play has four siblings clearing their late mother’s house and dividing her possessions. Jonny (JJ Field) wants a small painting. SPOILER ALERT: His antique dealer friend thinks it is a lost Pissarro worth millions. SPOILER ENDS. There is a twist, but to reveal […]

Malory Towers (Richmond Theatre) and touring

2 July 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 1st July 2026) Like most children of its era, the monkey learned reading endurance working through Enid Blyton’s “Secret Seven,” “Famous Five” and “Five Find-Outers and Dog,” with a little Noddy and many short story compilations thrown in. Also, like most boys of the era, it was discouraged from […]