North West Archives - Page 2 of 111

10Apr

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Kill Thy Neighbour – Theatr Clwyd

Opening their spring season of shows, we are introduced to their first made by Theatr Clwyd production of the year, Lucie Lovatt’s Kill Thy Neighbour. As the developmental work continues in the main building we are back in the Mix, and this is the biggest set we have seen in this space. The set takes over the full stage and completely transports you into the main house of the piece. I found it interesting how The Mix loses a lot of itself in this show, with the impressive set taking over it, meaning the use of all the usual lights and effects are unable to be used. The Mix is a great space for the time being, but I personally find it quite uncomfortable for lengthy periods of sitting, with the seats being quite close together and hard. Also, external noise unfortunately can be heard at...

The Rug of Identity – King’s Arms, Salford

9Apr

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

The Rug of Identity – King’s Arms, Salford

The origins of tonight’s play, a revival of a 40year old tale, by Jill Fleming, came from her time with the women’s theatre troupe, Hard Corps, whose aim at the time was described by website Unfinished Histories as ‘to perform lesbian soap operas at the London Palladium, overthrow the patriarchy and put tampons on the NHS’. In a time when moral panic around AIDS was at its peak, Fleming and other member’s works didn’t follow any expectations of handwringing apologies for queer characters being the way they were, instead creating anarchic, in-your-face plays where the delivery of familiar theatrical tropes came from characters who just happened to inhabit every colour of the LGBTQ+ rainbow and took tremendous pride in doing so. Best efforts aside though, works soon faded into obscuri...

9Apr

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Mousetrap – The Lowry

The Mousetrap’s 70th Anniversary Tour has arrived at The Lowry Theatre in Salford. ‘The Mousetrap’ is the longest running play in the world which first opened in London’s West End in 1952 and ran continuously until March 2020. After closing its doors for a short break due to the Covid-19 pandemic it reopened in May 2021. Being the longest running play in the world it is hard to bring anything new and insightful to a review of this timeless classic, even after 70 years (and counting) the play performs to packed audiences and The Lowry was no exception as the auditorium was full of Agatha Christie enthusiasts. I must be honest that I had not seen ‘The Mousetrap’ before and didn’t know the story but its one of those plays that everyone seems to have heard of and knows it’s a murder mys...

Nobuyuki Tsujii – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

9Apr

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

North West

Nobuyuki Tsujii – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

What amazed me about pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii’s concert at the Philharmonic Hall was not the virtuosic playing, the passion he brought out in the music, the meticulous attention to detail or even the width and depth of emotion wrung out of every last piece. In these days of music on demand, with Spotify, Apple Music, or BBC Radio 3 through BBC Sounds, it is easy to take for granted our ease of access to world class performances. And to think we can all access them via mobile devices which fit into the palm of our hand, even if the wireless headphones much in vogue these days make us look more like we’re in the US Secret Service on Presidential protection duty. Or perhaps that’s just my son. No, I was entranced by understanding the process by which Tsujii learns the rep...

6Apr

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

FADE – The Lowry

There is something beautiful and rather tribal in sibling relationships. Through good times and bad, the unconditional love and unity that conquers all ‘just because’ is difficult for us to explain, but a feeling many of us have for our brothers and sisters. The sibling relationship between Cassie and Rubin, following the death of their mother, forms the basis for Alice Christina-Corrigan’s one act play as the past and present collide. Exploring themes including mental health, death, grief, suggested parental abuse and suicide, this world premiere production of FADE is hard-hitting and extremely emotive. Christina-Corrigan’s script was beautiful and raw in equal measure. It introduces two characters, at different stages of their lives, navigating their way through the hardships of both...

Sheku Kanneh-Mason performs Weinberg – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

6Apr

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

North West

Sheku Kanneh-Mason performs Weinberg – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

I don’t know how many people my age will remember what they were doing on their 25th birthday. I certainly don’t – probably some real ale bar in Oxford with sticky floors and beer at £2 per pint. But Shekhu Kanneh-Mason, superstar cellist and the third of seven ridiculously talented musician siblings, may well remember the rapturous reception (and impromptu rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’) he received from the audience at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall last night on the occasion of his reaching a quarter-century. The curtain-raiser was Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade for Orchestra. Born in London in 1875 to an English mother and Sierra Leonean medical student father, Samuel was named after the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. When the Three Choirs Festival wished to...

King of Pop: The Legend Continues – Floral Pavilion

5Apr

By Emma LambeNo Comments

North West

King of Pop: The Legend Continues – Floral Pavilion

Navi has dedicated his career to being Michael Jackson’s greatest impersonator. Not only does he sing, dance and look like him, he used to act as a decoy for paparazzi for Michael and promote albums for him too. In this concert like show we see Michael Jackson’s legacy living on. I found the whole thing fascinating! If he gets Michael's seal of approval than that's good enough for me. His dedication was apparent from start to finish. He charmed the audience in between songs, making jokes with them and high fiving them when he came into the audience for his 'Black and White' number, which earned a big whoop and cheer from the audience. From early on some audience members went to the side aisles and started dancing, which the performer seemed to encourage. Featuring Michael Jackson’s big...

Treasure Island – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

4Apr

By Helen JonesNo Comments

North West

Treasure Island – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

As an Easter Holiday child friendly show, the Garrick has produced a version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island. This version adapted by the well-respected Bryony Lavery was first produced in 2014. The basic plot remains the same, but Lavery has taken liberties with both characters and sections of the story. Jim Hawkins is now female, Jim has a grandmother not parents, characters are missing, new characters are inserted, and the fate of several characters is altered. The problem with doing this is that while the play bears some resemblance to the original it should be referred to as the Alternative Treasure Island. Jim and her grandmother run the Admiral Benbow Inn in Black Cove. One night a man arrives with his sea chest and takes a...

3Apr

By Emma WildNo Comments

North West

Cluedo 2 – The Lowry

Cluedo, the family favourite board game, celebrates 75years since it was first produced in the UK and America. This enduring game is filled with intrigue, mystery and fun. Did this show live up to the appeal of this classic game? Cluedo 2, a sequel to the hugely popular first play, which toured the UK in 2022, has a host of re-invented characters, a different, intriguing storyline and is set in a whole new mansion. Cluedo 2 has all the potential to be a sure fire hit, with the hugely talented director, Mark Bell (best known for directing The Play That Goes Wrong) and successful stage and screen comedy writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. I was hoping for a night filled with laughter whilst acting the sleuth, however, I only chuckled a few times throughout the evening. Set in the...

3Apr

By Andrew LeeNo Comments

North West

2:22 A Ghost Story – Liverpool Empire

As Danny Robbins (writer) so accurately describes in his introduction in the programme, 2:22 has ghosts in it, and most of the text is about ghosts, but in reality, it is about trust. How would you as a believer react to a sceptically loved one, and vice versa? This play explores dynamics of relationships when your beliefs differ so widely, and this is what has truly made the play a success. When married couple and new parents Jenny (Fiona Wade) and Sam (George Rainsford) cannot agree on the cause of mysterious events in their new home, their trust in each other and strength of their relationship is stripped bare. Helped along by dinner guests Lauren (Vera Chok) and Ben (Jay McGuinness) the couple must prove (or disprove) the cause of the inexplicable happenings. Their beliefs differ o...