Theatremonkey

26 January 2026

(seen on 25th January 2026) On the gorgeous 1930s luxurious apartment set of “Fallen Angels,” two (well, three, as it turns out) of its stars give a Sunday evening cabaret, an unmissable celebration of its author, Noel Coward. “A Room with a View” opens proceedings, Janie Dee then pouring herself a snifter – “I’ve done […]

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24 January 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 24th January 2026) “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” A play, the title based on a New York subway station graffiti. “Woolf Works” is more literal. Three short ballets based on work by the celebrated, tragic author. The first, “I Now, I Then” takes 1925’s “Mrs Dalloway,” alternating between Clarissa […]

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14 January 2026

Once again it is time to enjoy the free (if not freely given) hospitality of a theatre, for a brief period until security arrives, in order to deliver the awards some folk would rather not win. This year, Hampstead Theatre are our unwitting hosts. Obviously, this is a “couples only” event as they don’t admit […]

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10 January 2026

(seen at the 2pm performance on 10th January 2026) We all remember (and later pay for) a children’s party entertainer. Most are pretty good. Members of the Magic Circle, earning enough to feed their wooden duck and keep that squirty flower full of vodka (it isn’t all just keeping the little blighters’ attention with words, […]

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9 January 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 8th January 2026) With a start, the monkey realised that it couldn’t remember a production of “Twelfth Night” that it had attended since Peter and Rebecca Hall’s version at the Playhouse Theatre in 1991. Memorable for Hall, Maria Miles and the fact the monkey was sold a seat that […]

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8 January 2026

So, time to look back on a year where the highs were higher than usual, the lows far lower. Musicals, the sensation of the year has to be “Evita”. Rachel Zegler just demolishing all other performances. A few ran her close. Cameron Mackintosh finally convinced the monkey that “Oliver!” is worthwhile. A perfect, truly adult, […]

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7 January 2026

(seen at the afternoon performance on 30th December 2025) The first gulp is arriving at the usually wide-open Almeida Theatre sliding front door, to find it closed. Audiences are funnelled instead through a bag check zone. “Bag checks at the Almeida?” the monkey queried, then suddenly realised the reason… and felt very depressed. It also […]

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20 December 2025

(seen on 19th December 2025) Entering to Judi Dench’s definitive performance of “Send in the Clowns,” given in 1995 on this very stage, two living legends of theatre history settle into comfortable armchairs for an hour of pure theatrical gold. Under Jim Carter’s relaxed prompting, five decades of performing history unfolded via a myriad personal […]

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15 December 2025

(Seen at the afternoon performance on 14th December 2025) Third time lucky for the monkey. It never saw the original show live. In 2020 the trip was scuppered by lockdown, 2022 by a need for immediate surgery. Finally, it made it. Worth the trouble? Yes. Having seen “Lord of the Dance” it was keen to […]

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12 December 2025

(seen at the afternoon performance on 11th December 2025) Last in a run of four pantos this year for the monkey, all of them very different in tone. This “Cinderella” is by far the gentlest. Gary Wilmot’s directorial touch is obvious throughout. Charlie Stemp (Buttons) is given Wilmot’s treasured “Buddy Holly” line, there are excellent […]

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