Brian Madden, Author at North West End UK

3Dec

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Freaky Friday – HOME Mcr

Disney’s Freaky Friday has had several incarnations over the decades, yet this musical version manages to feel lively, warm, and surprisingly moving. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, it approaches the familiar story with modern humour, heartfelt character work, and two central performances that elevate the entire production. At its heart are Katherine, played with effortless comedic timing by Rebecca Lock, as Ellie, portrayed with sharp wit and authentic teenage exasperation by Jena Pandya. Katherine is a single mum trying to hold together her business, her upcoming wedding, and a household on the brink of chaos. Ellie is equally overwhelmed, navigating friendship politics, crushes, and the intense importance of her school’s annual scavenger hunt. When a heated argument erupts between ...

29Nov

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Nativity! The Musical – Blackpool Grand

Blackpool Grand Theatre has launched its Christmas season with a sparkling, joy-filled production of Nativity! The Musical—a show that bursts with festive cheer from the very first moment. Adapted from Debbie Isitt’s much-loved 2009 film, this stage version manages to capture all the warmth and humour of the original while embracing the unique magic that only live theatre can bring. Film-to-stage adaptations can sometimes feel like carbon copies, but this one never does. Instead, it strikes a perfect balance between staying faithful to the beloved storyline and introducing theatrical touches that make it feel fresh, lively, and wonderfully immersive. It understands exactly why audiences love the film and elevates those moments with clever staging, expressive choreography, and infect...

13Oct

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Snake in the Grass – Octagon Theatre

Would Snake in the Grass go with a bump, a bang, or a flop? Definitely not the latter. The Octagon Theatre Bolton’s gripping production of Alan Ayckbourn’s darkly comic thriller delivers a night of theatre that is equal parts chilling, suspenseful, and wickedly funny. Performed in the Octagon’s intimate space, the audience is drawn straight into the heart of a decaying family garden where secrets fester and ghosts real or imagined seem to lurk in every shadow. The story centres on Annabel Chester (Sue Cleaver), who returns home after her abusive father’s death. She’s physically and emotionally fragile, her father’s cruelty still haunting her. But her uneasy homecoming takes a sinister turn when her father’s former nurse, Alice (Lisa Zahra), arrives with a blackmail scheme, claiming ...

30Sep

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

2:22 A Ghost Story – Regent Theatre

Danny Robins’ 2:22 A Ghost Story is a contemporary stage thriller built around one simple question: do ghosts exist? The story follows Jenny (Stacey Dooley), a new mother who becomes convinced that something unsettling happens in her home at exactly 2:22am. Her husband Sam (Kevin Clifton) is an outspoken sceptic, quick to dismiss her fears as irrational. Determined to prove her point, Jenny insists they stay awake with friends Lauren (Shvorne Marks) and Ben (Grant Kilburn) to see what occurs when the clock strikes. The staging sets the tone well: a stylish yet slightly oppressive kitchen-living area in a renovated London house, with French windows opening onto a garden glimpsed only when a motion-activated light clicks on. A digital clock is constantly visible, counting down the minu...

6Sep

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Yen – Octagon Theatre

Connor Goodwin’s production of Anna Jordan’s Yen at the Octagon Theatre is raw, tense, and painfully intimate. The play follows brothers Hench (Adam Owers) and Bobbie (Jonny Grogan), left to fend for themselves in a flat in Feltham while their mother drifts in and out of their lives. Their fragile existence is punctuated by pornography, video games, and a caged dog — numbing routines that barely cover their hunger for love and stability. The arrival of their neighbour Jennifer (Lucy Eve Mann) disrupts their chaotic balance. Her presence awakens a tenderness in Hench and a defiance in Bobbie but also exposes just how unprepared the boys are for connection. Vicky Binns, as their mother Maggie, delivers a performance that is both heartbreaking and infuriating — her fleeting warmth undermin...

13Aug

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – The Lowry

Attending The Addams Family at The Lowry in Salford is a curious experience—part charming gothic comedy, part family-friendly farce—but it never quite reaches the deliciously dark heights it hints at. It’s a pleasant night out, but one that fades quickly from memory. The cast is strong across the board. Morticia (Alexandra Burke) and Gomez (Ricardo Alfonso) share an easy chemistry, with their tango being the evening’s clear highlight—sultry, stylish, and perfectly timed. Alistair David’s choreography gives the undead ensemble moments of real flair, with slick formations and physical comedy that suit the show’s eccentric world. Diego Pitarch’s set design also deserves praise: grand, shadowy, and dripping with Addams-style atmosphere. Kara Lane steals scenes as Alice Beineke, bringing ...

When You Die – Anthony Burgess Foundation

23Jul

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

When You Die – Anthony Burgess Foundation

When You Die pitches itself as a Gothic horror comedy exploring the afterlife through the lens of undead housemates—but despite a promising concept, the show is let down by sluggish pacing, underwhelming humour, and several frustrating production choices. Finn, Yuri, Devon, and Boby are sharing a flat in death, trying to get along in the afterlife when their already turbulent dynamic is disturbed by the arrival of a mysterious briefcase. With the help of the cryptic Lazlo, they must uncover who—or what—is behind the growing sense of threat. It’s a quirky setup with potential, and the cast give it their all, but the execution falls flat. The first half drags considerably. There’s far too much time spent establishing the characters’ personalities and routines, with little dramatic ...

12Jun

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Pride and Prejudice – Octagon Theatre

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is celebrated for its wit and insight into gender and class. Kate Hamill’s stage adaptation reframes Austen’s story through a fast-paced, farcical lens — one that’s lively and inventive, if not always emotionally resonant. The plot is familiar: Elizabeth Bennet is one of four unmarried daughters in a financially precarious household. Her sharp wit and scepticism about marriage bring her into conflict — and ultimately connection — with the aloof but wealthy Mr. Darcy. Meanwhile, younger sister Lydia throws herself into romantic entanglement with the roguish Mr. Wickham, while Jane, the eldest, quietly pines for Mr. Bingley. Hamill’s script leans heavily into broad comedy and slapstick. Some choices are entertainingly bold; others verge on caricature. ...

Totally Improvised Musical – Greggs: The Great Takedown – King’s Arms, Salford

7Jun

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Totally Improvised Musical – Greggs: The Great Takedown – King’s Arms, Salford

Performed without a script and built entirely on audience suggestion, Totally Improvised Musical at the King’s Arms in Salford delivered an inventive and riotously funny 45-minute whirlwind of spontaneous storytelling, songs, and surreal humour. The night’s improvised show—brilliantly titled Greggs: The Great Takedown—centred around a dystopian northern England where the beloved high street bakery chain had collapsed, leaving the nation starved of sausage rolls, steak bakes, and purpose. What unfolded was a musical odyssey of longing, resistance, and puff pastry politics. Original numbers like the haunting The North Is Barren and the stirring anthem The Heart of England showcased the cast’s quick wit and vocal chops. Each song, conjured on the spot, was surprisingly tuneful, cleverly...

22May

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Little Shop of Horrors – The Met, Bury

Prestwich Amateur Dramatic & Operatic Society performed Little Shop of Horrors at The Met, Bury this May. The rock-horror musical’s dark humour and catchy songs make it a fun but challenging choice for an amateur company. While some performances stood out, the production as a whole felt uneven and lacking polish. Kit Phillips was among the stronger cast members as Seymour. He captured Seymour’s awkward charm well, delivering solid vocals and an emotional arc. His chemistry with Audrey felt sincere, and he navigated Seymour’s struggles with subtlety. Isobel Cunliffe played Audrey with warmth and vulnerability. Her rendition of “Suddenly Seymour” alongside Phillips was a highlight — emotional and well-sung. Izzi Smith voiced Audrey II, the man-eating plant, which was one of ...