Katie Leicester, Author at North West End UK

9Nov

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Wedding Singer – The Grange Theatre

The award-winning musical theatre group ‘The Zodiac’ presents its 102nd production, founded in 1968 they have been entertaining and wowing audiences for over five decades. ‘The Zodiac’ is a registered charity that aims to bring theatre and the arts to their local community making it accessible to all. I was delighted to meet Matt Weaver the Chairman of this superb theatre group who spent time explaining about ‘The Zodiac’ and their training programme. It was heart-warming to hear how the group had evolved and the way they pride themselves on the family ethos. There are honorary life members in the theatre group/cast including Valerie Ball who is the President of ‘The Zodiac’ and was also up on stage as the character Angie in ‘The Wedding Singer’! I had not seen a Zodiac production be...

Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Waterside Arts Centre

8Nov

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Waterside Arts Centre

Junior Stage 80 (JS80) presented their adaptation of the classic Rogers + Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ at the beautiful Waterside Arts Centre. It was clear from the buzzing audience that there were many family members and friends of the cast present for the opening night. I hadn’t heard of Junior Stage 80 before this evening, but I believe it to be a well-established group with over 37 previous productions dating from 1985. Julie Besbrode and Tanya Temkin are the JS80 producers who state in the brochure that: “Community is at the heart of JS80 and it always has been and will remain so. It is one of their key founding principles and what glues them together. Their rehearsals are a microcosm of the wider Jewish community where they gather twice weekly for 6 months of the year, as one big...

2Nov

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

9 to 5 – The Grange Theatre, Hartford

I had not seen a Salt & Pepper Production before tonight, however I can assure you this will not be my last visit, as this theatre company is most definitely a first-class polished group of exceptionally talented individuals. I was honoured enough to meet Sue Chatt the mother of the Artistic Director and Choreographer Joanna Milborne-Chatt, who passionately informed me of the creation of Salt & Pepper, which was born out of a personal tragedy and became Milborne-Chatt’s focus to produce on stage magic and support Headway’s charity. This is Salt & Pepper’s third stage production, the first being ‘Rock of Ages’ which was an award-winning success and the second being ‘Calendar Girls’ in 2021, both generating funds for Milborne-Chatt’s chosen charities Headway and Blood Cance...

The Addams Family – St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School

26Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School

Spooky season is upon us and what better production to stage than Addams Family, Newton Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (NADOS) just one week before Halloween have created the right amount of spookiness for this spectacular family musical comedy. Staged in a high school there was a huge buzz of families with their children dressed in Halloween outfits or as characters from the show, it was a delight to see the community spirit with front of house dressed in Halloween attire and all pulling together to ensure the audience was well catered for and able to find their seating. Addams Family has become enormously popular in the autumn months for many theatre companies, this being my third viewing of the show in less than a couple of months. The story is that of the kooky, upside-...

19Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Funny Girl – Northwich Memorial Court

Tonight, marked KMTC’s 126th production, it is hard to believe that this company began in 1943 as Knutsford Amateur Operatic Society (KAOS) as it is a company that has not been on my radar before this evening, but certainly will be from this day forward. KMTC is one of the leading community theatre companies in the North West of England, with a vision to bring a diverse and talented mix of performers together and to make theatre accessible and affordable to everyone. I was honoured enough to meet Lesley Reed KMTC’s President who informed me about her 40-year run involved with this magnificent theatre company, and how things have evolved over the years. There is clearly a family feel with this company with its resident Director Ben Ireson with his huge accolade of awards and vast experie...

11Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – Pendle Hippodrome

One of my absolute favourite theatre group’s Basics Junior Theatre School presents its 2023 annual production at the delightful Pendle Hippodrome! There is definitely nothing ‘Basic’ about this magnificent delivery of ‘The Addams Family’ with its £35,000 budget for its 35th year history of productions. The staging was tremendous with its grand staircase, living quarters, torture chamber and an impressive monumental spooky 14ft tree which provided the perfect space for the characters to sparkle like the shining stars they all are. One of the most striking elements of this incredible theatre school is that it is very much a family affair, from the chaperones, the dress maker Sally who alongside her late husband Dennis founded Basics, the resident musical director Andrew Mitchell who ha...

6Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Wizard of Oz – Z arts

The Manchester Musical Youth (MMY) production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ graces the Renaker Theatre, Z-Arts for 2 days only. This glorious rendition of L.Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y.Harburg is an adaptation of the 1900 children’s fantasy novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ which became the classic 1939’s film we all love and adore starring Judy Garland. MMY Apprentices Director Shannon Holland has done a sterling job on creating a magnificent production with the students, it is hard to believe that these talented youngsters on stage are aged 8 to 13 as they shown a maturity beyond their years. MMY has always prided themselves on igniting passion, nurturing talent and showcasing success and this is a prime example of their ethos as each, and every young person s...

6Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Kinky Boots – The Brindley Theatre

D&S Productions presented Kinky Boots at The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn. D&S Productions are an award-winning community theatre group based in Ellesmere Port/Chester who regularly perform at The Brindley Theatre. D&S is a company that took to the stage in 2021 and belong to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). D&S are passionate about creating quality theatre, they pride themselves on valuing people, they’re deliberately inclusive and are committed to raising money for good causes and charities close to their heart. Director Donna Dale is no novice when it comes to theatre being both on stage as a performer and as a fabulous director - she has been involved in performances since the age of 3. Kinky Boots is no easy task to produce as it requires both p...

25Aug

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Frozen Jr – Z-Arts

Z-arts Renaker Theatre hosted Manchester Musical Youth’s (MMY) latest production of Frozen Jr, the show is unfortunately only running tonight and tomorrow evening with a matinee in the middle as it is a show not to be missed. This Disney family favourite did not disappoint the audience, it is hard to believe that the cast only had four rehearsals following their weekend residential and junior festival earlier in the year to produce such a well-polished production. This is MMY’s third show in a space of a month and the standard never ceases to amaze me, it is evident that the production is a team effort involving many family members supporting the process with their super talented youngsters. The auditorium and front of house was a buzz of super proud relatives and friends rightful...

30Jul

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Top Hat & Heels – Pontins Southport

Wayne Billany (aka Miss Kitty) and JoJo the infamous duo from Newcastle Upon Tyne’s Pure Entertainment Group are on the road again to entertain thousands of holiday makers! Starting their lengthy summer tour in Southport Pontins, these two are no newbies to life on the road as they have become seasoned favourites on the holiday/club circuits with their high energy comedy drag act. This summer alone they have over 40 venues booked across the length and the breadth of the UK. For as long as I remember I have loved to watch drag performers, from the pantomime dames to Foo Foo Lammar, Dame Edna Everage, Lilly Savage, Betty Legs Diamond - this flamboyant world has always caught my attention. Remembering the drag performers in history that changed our world such as Coccinelle, Marsha P. Johns...