Abigail Pendlebury, Author at North West End UK

Heartfelt, Humorous, Honest The Octagon Theatre Bolton's production of Shirley Valentine offers a refreshing and deeply relatable take on Willy Russell's classic one-woman play. The Lancashire setting offers a subtle but effective change that makes Shirley’s story feel even more personal and relevant, infusing the narrative with local charm. Directed by Lotte Wakeham with warmth and sensitivity, the play follows Shirley Bradshaw (née Valentine), a middle-aged housewife who finds herself stuck in a monotonous routine of cooking tea for her unappreciative husband. As she reminisces about her younger, more adventurous self, she receives an unexpected opportunity to escape to Greece, where a simple holiday becomes a journey of self-discovery. Mina Anwar, best known for her work on tel...

On 27th January the AO Arena in Manchester welcomed back The National Lottery's Big Night of Musicals. Celebrating 30 years of National Lottery funding for theatre and performing arts across the UK, the event brought together an impressive lineup of West End and touring productions, as well as special guests, offering a night of unforgettable performances. Hosted by the comedic charm that is Jason Manford, the evening featured a series of show-stopping numbers that highlighted the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary musical theatre. The event opened with a ‘Supercalifragalistic’ performance from the current touring cast of Mary Poppins, setting an exhilarating tone for the night. Other show-stopping performances included a first look at Disney’s Hercules, where Luke Brady gave us a p...

Author: Abigail Pendlebury

Shirley Valentine – Octagon Theatre

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals – AO Arena