Leanne Rushton, Author at North West End UK

26Sep

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Regent Theatre, Stoke

Sister Act the musical tells the much-loved story of the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film of the same name. Many people young and old (including myself) adore this full of fun film. This was apparent as soon as you entered the auditorium with some audience members choosing to don their habits and wimples to join in the fun! The stage show is just as fun, just as bright and just as funny as the film it oozes joy from the get-go and continues building this throughout. On arriving at the theatre, the 70s era was alive with disco balls, amazing music and bright coloured lights. You feel as though you’ve stepped into a Time Machine as soon as you enter the auditorium. The music in the show is one of the catchiest theatrical scores around, I feel, from ‘Fabulous Baby’ to ‘Raise Your Voice.’ I ...

31May

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

North West

The King and I – Regent Theatre

The theatre was a buzz with people of all ages coming to see the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic The King and I. The show, which is currently touring the country, tells the story of a widowed woman who is employed by the King of Siam to be the royal school teacher. The show has many varying storylines following the lives of all that surround them including Princess Tuptim who is sent to be a wife to the king. The stage was set with regal jewel tones these colours made the richness of the show really shine. I was in awe of the costumes which portrayed the era beautifully but glistened so elegantly under the stage lighting. Truly a sight to behold. The set was extremely effective throughout. The scene changes were effortless being masked by dance numbers which were a marvel to watch as ...

Heathers the Musical – Regent Theatre, Stoke

12Apr

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

North West

Heathers the Musical – Regent Theatre, Stoke

Heathers the musical based on the cult classic film of the same name has hit Stoke-on-Trent. The show which has played packed out audiences in London is now touring the UK. The Regent Theatre is an extremely accommodating theatre for this even handing out iconic scrunchies to those of us lucky enough to review. The audience was packed out with a variety of ages, but a huge margin of the audience went to teens. It was so lovely to watch to see that shows like Heathers are keeping the audience engaged in the theatre. There were murmurs before the show of people excited to see the cult film brought to life. What can I say, brought to life it was. The show was mesmerising you couldn't take your eye off any of the action taking place on the stage. Everywhere you looked the ensemble was br...

Dianne Buswell is ready to Burn The Floor this summer

7Jun

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

Interviews

Dianne Buswell is ready to Burn The Floor this summer

The original Broadway production of Jason Gilkison’s BURN THE FLOOR is being recreated for a strictly limited tour in July 2022. THE REUNION features some of the most celebrated alumni of Burn the Floor including Strictly Come Dancing’s Aljaž Škorjanec, Kevin Clifton, Janette Manrara, Karen Hauer, Dianne Buswell, Joanne Clifton, Luba Mushtuk, Kai Widdrington & Robin Windsor, plus more cast just announced. Ahead of the tour hitting the road next month we sat down with one of its stars Dianne Buswell to talk all things dance. What is your favourite dance of the show? Although they’ve not started rehearsals Dianne said she’d been in the show for 8 years before Strictly! She said she really hopes that ‘Ballroom Beat’ is in the show again though as she says the music and choreography ...

13Dec

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Regent Theatre

The theatre is alive with the buzz of hundreds of people gathering together for a tradition that sadly had to be broken last year. The atmosphere in the auditorium was in a word electric. The Regent Theatre always go above and beyond with Panto, this one is no exception. For their 14th year together we have Jonathan Wilkes and Christian Patterson as Buttons and Baroness Heifer Hardup respectively. These two together is a match made in heaven. There is a reason they keep coming back, the people of Stoke adore them both. They’re regional treasures at this point frankly. We have a few more returning actors in Kai Owen, a massively watchable Dandini who gives off an air of Dad jokes coming to life in the best possible way. Naomi Slights as Cinderella was a perfect principal girl, she was ki...