Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

4Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Come From Away – The Lowry

Come From Away, is uplifting and heartwarming and now playing at The Lowry in Salford, the show takes audiences on a remarkable journey through the emotional and transformative events surrounding 9/11. Set in the small Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland, the show tells the true story of how the residents opened their hearts and homes to 7,000 stranded airline passengers and crew after their flights were grounded due to the terrorist attacks. From the moment the show begins, the energy is infectious. The ensemble cast, which is central to the musical’s success, effortlessly shifts between multiple characters, portraying both the bewildered passengers and the compassionate townspeople. The seamless transitions highlight the remarkable storytelling of Come From Away, where each cast mem...

14Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Grease the Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

Grease is traditionally a powerhouse show, and there is not much difference in this touring 2024 production. Nikolai Foster’s direction is astute, Arlene Phillip’s choreography expertly executed, and Jim Jacob’s and Warren Casey’s script is given just treatment by this large ensemble cast. However, it is not without its blemishes, and this interpretation of the classic 1950’s love story has lost some of its charm along the way owed to some slightly muddy performances and lackadaisical approach. Fortunately, it still just about holds up. This show is a spectacle, it has to be said. The set design is big and bold, the lighting design adventurous and loud. It is a treat for the eyes, complimented further by some stellar choreography perfectly executed by those on stage. There are true ...

Northern Ballet: A Christmas Carol – Sheffield Lyceum

9Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Northern Ballet: A Christmas Carol – Sheffield Lyceum

Northern Ballet’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ is infused with festive wonder and spectacle, but is ultimately haunted by ghosts of an unwillingly bygone era, suffering in real-time, solemnly foreboding a future of split community and chairs belonging, but not occupied. There is an abundance of talent on display in this show, with some excellent set pieces and performances. It works well between large and small scale, with seamless interplay between soloists and group dancers. Even its transitional qualities in and out of scenes is impressive. This piece is both large and small, but for all the right reasons, it usually feels large. The design of the show is fantastic, with an immensely adept understanding of transformative set design and utility. Wardrobe excels in many areas, with the Ghost...

23Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Art – Sheffield Lyceum

Yasmina Reza’s comedy Art is a renown work and this production shows than signs of downing tools and allowing its acidic wit to pale. Three friends Serge, Marc and Yvan deconstruct their own friendship whilst attempting to assimilate an objective verdict on Serge’s new £200,000 baby – a ‘blank’ white canvas. Or as Serge puts it, a canvas with shades of grey, thin lines and spots of red. This red is certainly not to be seen, nor is the profoundness of the work as Marc sardonically blasts the piece and Serge’s heinous modernist taste. This ignited the fuse between the two, catching the somewhat neglected Yvan in the process, who certainly tries his best to mediate. Seann Walsh, Chris Harper and Aden Gillett play masterfully across a majestical yet understated set design. While Wals...

3Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Heathers The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

Heathers: The Musical offers a darkly comic take on American high school culture, that whilst not asking to be taken too seriously successfully manages to dismantle the nihilistic allure of teenage angst with bopping, in-your-face musical numbers. Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s musical adaption of the 1989 film by Daniel Waters has impressed audiences initially in the mid to late 2010’s. This production demonstrates it has no signs of growing stale. Set in the misery-inspired yet typically relatable school of Westerberg, the plot follows new girl Veronica as she navigates numbskull jocks and the notorious ‘Heathers’ - three girls of the same name who offer very little in individuality but plenty in toxic reputation management. On her journey, Veronica runs into the mysterious JD, a...

20Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Made in Dagenham – Morley Town Hall

In the beautiful surroundings of Morley Town Hall, Morley Amateur Operatic Society brought Made in Dagenham to the stage, their last show in the venue for a while due to venue refurbishments. Judging by tonight’s performance they will be missed. Made in Dagenham is a fun musical that will have you laughing, crying and cheering – all in one unforgettable night! Based on the true story of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists' strike, Made in Dagenham is an emotional roller-coaster of a show that celebrates courage, unity and justice. After having their pay downgraded and deemed not to be skilled workers the ladies of Ford rebel against their employers and go out on strike with the aim of having their pay matched to sister factories, and in the end petitioning management for equal pay. Ha...

19Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

The Book of Mormon – Palace Theatre

The Book of Mormon rekindled its romance with Manchester and the Palace Theatre on Wednesday evening as it opened its 2nd UK tour in the city, as it did the first tour back in 2019. And as in 2019, a sold-out audience embraced the show cheering from the pre-show announcement to the curtain call. Not without controversy from the day it opened on Broadway in 2011 (where it is still running 23 years later) The Book of Mormon is one of, if not the funniest musical out there. Written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone alongside Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez the show pulls no punches laced with foul language and taboo subjects it is definitely not one for the kids. Adam Bailey and Sam Glen play Elders Price and Cunningham respectively in this latest production. They are a m...

5Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

SIX: Teen Edition – Heald Green Theatre

As a reviewer, I find it easier to write reviews of shows that do not quite hit the mark as you have something to criticise specifically, and harder to write glowing reviews without gushing too much over what you’ve just seen on a stage. This review is going to be VERY hard to write. SIX written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss began its life at the Edinburgh Fringe back in 2017. In just 7 short years it has arguably become one of the greatest success’ of the Fringe now being performed worldwide to sell out audiences by professionals and youth groups. I can best describe this show as the Tudor X-Factor. In a concert setting each of Henry 8th six wives compete to see who is the most popular each performing solo numbers to win over the audience’s vote. There is nowhere to hide in this s...

Ghost The Musical – Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

23Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Ghost The Musical – Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

The stunning Aylesbury Waterside Theatre last night hosted the opening night of the latest UK tour of Ghost the Musical which extends into 2025. This musical will forever be judged against the original production which began in Manchester in 2011. Sadly, in today’s climate it will never be possible to tour this show in that original format due to the ever-rising costs and the logistical complexities the show displayed. In this production, slightly updated from its last tour the set serves its purpose but no more and audiences need to accept that. Based on the hit movie Ghost is a story about Sam Wheat who is murdered on his way home from visiting his girlfriend Molly’s art exhibition and becomes trapped between this world and the next. His subsequent journey teaches him the circumsta...

Bonnie & Clyde – Knutsford Little Theatre

15Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Bonnie & Clyde – Knutsford Little Theatre

Tonight was my first visit to both Knutsford Little Theatre and Together For Theatre Productions to witness their latest offering Bonnie & Clyde. This is a musical rarely performed by amateur societies as it is tough to stage with the story moving so fast from one location to another and the underscore not allowing much wriggle room. The story of Bonnie & Clyde needs little explanation, bad boy meets good girl, and good girl turns bad due to the blindness of love. It doesn’t end well for our lead actors as is highlighted at the very start of the show. Together For Theatre have had no issues attracting a stellar cast to perform this gem of a musical which should be performed so much more. The score is stunning, the story compelling, everything points to a West End an...