Sunday, December 22

Author: Hannah Wilde

Curtain Up – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse
North West

Curtain Up – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Described on its promotional literature as “a celebratory evening of musical theatre”, Curtain Up at the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse certainly delivered this celebration in spades. As somewhat of a musical theatre aficionado, I have attended lots of musical medleys in my time – concerts, jukebox musicals, shows, and even films that are an ode to the not-so-humble, completely camp and over-the-top art form that is musical theatre. Anything that promises showtunes and jazz hands, I’ll be there. As a result, in my time I’ve witnessed musical theatre homages that really have ranged from the good, the bad, and the ugly.  However, this one was definitely not the latter – Curtain Up felt like it had something special. This show marks the first full-scale production in Altrincham Garri...
Everyone’s Talking About Musicals – Liverpool Theatre Festival
North West

Everyone’s Talking About Musicals – Liverpool Theatre Festival

If, like me, you’re mad about musicals, “Everyone’s Talking About Musicals” is the perfect antidote to the humdrum of everyday life, a feel-good elixir that lets you escape reality and become submerged in the wonderful world of musicals - if only for a brief interlude. Produced by Pearson Productions & Curtis Productions, this show is the second of 16 specifically curated shows that make up this year’s second annual Liverpool Theatre Festival. Designed to kick off the city’s autumnal live entertainment calendar (1st - 12th September 2021), this celebration of the regional arts was first put on in 2020 as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year’s offering was a 9-day festival of drama, comedy, musical theatre, opera and cabaret designed to give the stagnant performin...