News The Karate Kid The Musical (New Wimbledon Theatre) and touring 2 May 2026 (seen at the afternoon performance on 2nd May 2026) For those of the monkey’s generation, cinema visits meant movies based on original writing or existing books, rather than endless franchise adaptations. We often got a warm teenage romance, with a bit of action to keep the male half of the date happy. “The Karate Kid” […] Read more »
News Please Please Me (Kiln Theatre) 25 April 2026 (seen at the afternoon performance on 25th April 2026) Plenty has been written about the Beatles – the final four and those who were not. Plenty too about George Martin, their impressive producer. Far less is available about Brian Epstein, the Gay son of a Jewish furniture store owner, who managed the Beatles from their […] Read more »
News The Price (Marylebone Theatre) 24 April 2026 (seen at the press night performance on 23rd April 2026, by invitation) A programme note states that the Guardian newspaper thinks the Marylebone Theatre has, “National Theatre-level production values.” They are wrong. Marylebone’s are currently higher. From casting, to Jon Bausor’s perfect cluttered attic apartment set, to Jonathan Munby’s lively – detailed yet unfinicky – […] Read more »
News The Holy Rosenbergs (Menier Chocolate Factory) 20 April 2026 (seen at the afternoon performance on 19th April 2026) The monkey can vouch for the absolute authenticity, as this is set in its stamping-ground. The estate on Honeypot Lane is real – and the catering unit is occupied by an Indian catering company. “Hair on Broadway” is now “HOB,” but set designer Tim Shortall’s home […] Read more »
News Single White Female (Richmond Theatre) and touring 16 April 2026 (seen at the afternoon performance on 15th April 2026) Almost nothing remains of the 1992 movie. As adaptor Rebecca Reid notes in the programme, today’s social media and economic situation would leave too many gaping holes in the backstory. So, the whole thing is transferred to one of those anonymous horrible cheap new-build apartments in […] Read more »
News A Doll’s House (Almeida Theatre) 14 April 2026 (seen at the performance on 13th April 2026) “First time I’ve ever really enjoyed ‘A Doll’s House’” the monkey remarked to its companion as the curtain fell, greatly amusing the gentleman sitting the other side of her. It meant it, though. Anya Reiss does an excellent job of stripping away Henrik Ibsen’s Scandinavian lugubriousness to […] Read more »
News New App books your Stage Door Meets! 1 April 2026 Show Star Fix App to help you meet your favourites after the show! Read more »
News The Last Five Years (London Palladium) 28 March 2026 (seen at the afternoon performance on 28th March 2026) Almost ten years ago, the monkey wrote of Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey in a production at the St James’s (now The Other Palace) Theatre, “Based purely on vocal performances, this is a five-star show. Samantha Barks (Cathy) and Jonathan Bailey (Jamie) connect wonderfully with the […] Read more »
News Disney On Ice Presents Into The Magic (Wembley Arena) and touring 26 March 2026 (seen at the 5.30pm performance on 25th March 2026) Laura and Ian are our peppy hosts for this simple run through Disney’s more recent catalogue. Greeting the audience in a little pre-show routine, the lights then go up on a “High School Musical” style company skate, before Goofy, Donald, Mickey and Minnie arrive to confirm […] Read more »
News Yentl (Marylebone Theatre) 16 March 2026 (seen at the afternoon performance on 15th March 2026) Sadly, “Yiddish Theatre” in the UK now exists only in the memories of a very few elders of the Jewish Community, plus a single 1987 television documentary, “Wandering Stars.” This Australian Kadimah Yiddish Theatre Production is a highly successful attempt to bring back a little of […] Read more »