Over the past year and a half, with big releases held back and live performances disappearing completely, many of us have had a sneaking feeling that we’ve run out of new culture – and the Guardian’s critics are no exception. The music editor, Ben Beaumont-Thomas, could only dance around his living room to techno with a craft beer, TV writer Ammar Kalia dove into Neighbours and an 800-page history of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and Arifa Akbar has resorted to theatre in the bath.
Now things are opening up again – and the entertainment industry’s wheels are starting to turn. In this episode, Nosheen Iqbal speaks to Ben, Ammar and Arifa about what’s on offer across music, theatre and TV this autumn, from Abba to Lil Nas X, Succession to Starstruck, and Hamlet to Hairspray. Which should you get excited about?
Archive/discussed in this episode:
Music
Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits
The Weeknd – Take My Breath
Lil Nas X – Montero
Abba – I Still Have Faith In You/ Don’t Shut Me Down
Kanye West – Donda
Drake – Certified Lover Boy
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Olivia Rodrigo – Sour
Self Esteem – Prioritise Pleasure
Theatre
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella (Gillian Lynne Theatre)
Hairspray (London Coliseum)
Rockets and Blue Lights (National Theatre)
White Noise (Bridge Theatre)
Constellations (Vaudeville Theatre)
Under Milk Wood (National Theatre)
Paradise (National Theatre)
Hamlet (Young Vic)
Hamilton (Disney+)
TV and streaming
Succession (HBO)
Gossip Girl (HBO/ BBC)
Changing Rooms (Channel 4)
Back To Life (BBC)
Starstruck (BBC)
Feel Good (Netflix)
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
The Shrink Next Door (Apple TV+)
Photograph: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
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