Luke Stephenson, Author at North West End UK

6Oct

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Macbeth – Epstein Theatre

Now I’ve never been a person to like Shakespeare or even understand it but the beauty about this job is my mind is open to all theatre. So, I went to watch Macbeth (otherwise known as the Scottish play) at Liverpool’s Epstein theatre. It was a Daniel Taylor productions piece directed by Daniel Taylor himself. With local Liverpool actors and actress’s making up the cast. In case you are not familiar with the story. Macbeth (Tomas Loftus) comes in to contact with 3 witches/weird sisters (Gillian Hardie, Kaitlin Howard and Helen Jeffery) who tells Macbeth that he is to be King. When his wife Lady Macbeth (Tracy Spencer) hears of this tale she encourages Macbeth to kill the current King Duncan so that the tale becomes a reality. Which almost gave the impression that lady Macbeth is the v...

YNWA – Let’s Talk About Six…Baby – Royal Court Liverpool

4Aug

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

YNWA – Let’s Talk About Six…Baby – Royal Court Liverpool

Now before I start this review, I must admit was a little nervous about reviewing at The Royal Court Liverpool’s show ‘Let’s Talk About Six….Baby’ by Nicky Allt. Mainly because I’m clueless about football. Instead of shouting go the night reds and boo the blues I normally shout go everybody. However, knowing I’ve never seen a bad show at the royal court I was excited to expand my knowledge and last night was no exception from the moment the lights went down, and Led Zeppelin came out the speakers. It started with Tommy (Jake Abraham) Paula (Lindzi Germain) Tia (Lydia Morales - Scully), Gerry (Mark Monaghan) and Kenny (Lenny Wood) walking on to the stage to say their final farewells to their dad and grandad. Once back at the pub Tia and Kenny got into an argument on who’s the biggest fan...

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em – St Helens Theatre Royal

3Aug

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em – St Helens Theatre Royal

Theatre Royal St Helens welcomed Frank Spencer and his chaos to the town last night in ‘Some Mothers do ‘Ave ‘Em a popular comedy in the 1970s with Michael Crawford. The same Michael Crawford who was phantom. This stage show was written and directed by Guy Unsworth. The leading man playing Frank Spencer was the hugely funny Joe Pasquale who can cause a riot of laughter just by walking on stage. Frank is currently out of work and in between jobs or as he puts it, he’s in between his old one and waiting for a new one. He has just received a letter from the BBC to say he has a audition for a top talent competition and will be over shortly to film his magic act. His wife Betty played by Sarah Earnshaw, has news of her own but is finding it hard to tell Frank. Frank and Betty are having a dinne...

25Jun

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Tick Tock – Hope Street Theatre

A new play was written and performed at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre called Tick Tock by Debbie Redcliffe (The Responder, Moving on). Before you ask, no I don’t mean the social media app where you can floss and lip Sync. This play Tick Tock, directed by Margaret Connell (Forgotten Voices and Blood Runs Deep). Follows the story of Sarah, Jenna and Pauline. Sarah (Debra Redcliffe) has dreams to be a mother, she was forever eating healthy, checking her temperature and when it was time to do the deed made sure her husband Danny knew about it. However, whilst trying it became clear that not all seemed right. The tests were negative, and hope was drifting away. Jenna’s life (Lisa McMahon) unfolded where she opened up about the miscarriages she had gone through. Whilst she had a family o...

Hey Bunny Get Loose – Liverpool’s Royal Court

13May

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Hey Bunny Get Loose – Liverpool’s Royal Court

A new play from the royal court theatre in the studio took place last night. Written by Wendy Dickinson, the play sees 30 something Gemma trying to write a blog. Her life has taken a bit of a downward turn. Her marriage is on ice and has unexpectedly been thrown in to caring for 3 rabbits Trent (Alexander Arnold), Mo (Salah) and Firmino. The show has occasional flashbacks in Gemma’s life that led her to this point in the present day. Her blog begins to take off and reaches the national press including the one show as people online want to know everything about her and her buns (bunnies) as well as Trent. Gemma was never one for children at least until Firmino (Robert Firmino) had a litter of bunnies. The show was full of comedy lines and indeed perfect comedy timing. But it also had a d...

5May

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Macca & Beth – Liverpool’s Royal Court

The Liverpool Royal Court Theatre took us on a trip to bonnie Scotland last night as Macca took his partner Beth to an old house up in the highlands full of secret passageways and mystery. Beth couldn’t believe her luck. Why on earth would Macca bring her to such a place, a place that had no Signal, running water or a toilet. But there was a valid reason. Macca had just been told that he was the last of the McMaccamac’s due to his Uncle McMaccamac’s death. He had to keep it a secret and pass a series of tests before he was to know what was left to him within his late uncles last will in testament. One of the tests being spending a night in the house. There were lots of weird and wonderful creatures within this house and I don’t just mean the taxidermy. Trouble was afoot in the Scottish ...

23Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Making It – Royal Court Studio

Last night was rather exciting when I took a trip to Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre, as this time I was in their studio, watching their latest production called Making It. Penned by Stephen Fletcher writer of Mam I’m Ere and Catherine Rice a Liverpool based writer and Comedienne with additional material by Andrew Schofield. Known for playing many shows at the Royal Court as well as being the narrator in Blood Brothers back in 1983. The story is about our Bev (Catherine Rice) as she tells us about her acting career. She is currently waiting for her agent to call, to say she has the role in the film but until then she was singing in the local club. Bev opened up about how she had agents who were not quite legitimate. Also, a photographer who took loads of photos of her to be used to said...

Jack and the Beanstalk – Epstein Theatre

18Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Epstein Theatre

I was invited to watch the Easter pantomime at the Epstein Theatre last night, from the get-go it was full of energy, participation and pyrotechnics. Jack (Timothy Lucas) really fancied this girl called Jill (Maddie Hope Coelho) and wanted to ask her out. Jill invites Jack to her party but sadly he had school. However, she agrees to go to his school as long as he came to the party. All was not right in the land, as the Flesh Creep (Abigail Middleton) was tasked by the giant to capture the princess and something to eat. So, with this in mind she comes up with a dastardly plan to buy Jack’s old milk Cow Doddy. So that Jack could have the money to keep the farm his mum Dame Trott (Mark Two) and his brother Simple Simon (Lewis Devine) owns. Want to know more then you’ll have to see it, no spoi...

9Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Me & Thee – Empty Space

Salford based theatre company Farewell Theatre opened their show Me & Thee at the Empty Space Theatre last night for a two-night run. The show was written by James Ward making his writing debut with this piece. Based on true events set in a flat after a night out. One played by Ross Thompson and Two played by Reece Hallam, had come home a bit worse for wear from a few cans of larger it also appeared after a few drinks they had become involved in a fight. Now we’ve all got friends who are a bit.. well.. eccentric and that was definitely Two. Two opened up about his past and the decisions he made, he wanted to see his son again, but he had to prove he had changed by going on the straight and narrow and not get involved with scams or drugs. Whilst One gave his account of what it was like ...

6Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Peter Pan – St Helens Theatre Royal

It was a great pleasure to see Peter Pan the pantomime in St Helens last night, by Regal Entertainments. The audience was full of families ready to boo and hiss whilst shouting he’s behind you. It’s worth noting if you see the show double check the start times as they are afternoon and teatime showings. Peter Pan (Harrison Vaughan) lives in Never-land. In Never-land it is a place full of lost boys. Where you can’t grow old. They all fight together against Captain Hook (Scott Gallagher) and his pirates. Peter had won the first fight against Hook by taking of one of his hands which was replaced by (you guessed it) a hook. However, Hook wasn’t going to lose the next time and plans to find his hideaway and poison Peter Pan whilst his cronies kidnapped the lost boys along with Wendy (Lauren ...