Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

Have a theatrical staycation with Sunny Side Up

30Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Have a theatrical staycation with Sunny Side Up

Prolific playwright John Godber returns to Oldham from Tuesday 19th – Saturday 23rd October with his latest play, Sunny Side Up. Written, directed and starring John Godber, with Jane Thornton, from the West End hit Scary Bikers, Sunny Side Up is the hilarious and moving account of a struggling Yorkshire coast B&B and the people who run it. Join down to earth proprietors Barney, Cath and Tina as they share their stories of awkward clients, snooty relatives and eggs over easy, in this seaside feel good rollercoaster which digs into what ‘staycations’ are all about. If you’re thinking of holidaying at home this year, why not book into the Sunny Side boarding house soon? John Godber is one of Britain's most prolific playwrights, with hits including: Teechers, Bouncers, Up N Un...

Full casting announced for Mark Gatiss’ adaptation of A Christmas Carol

30Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Full casting announced for Mark Gatiss’ adaptation of A Christmas Carol

Producer Eleanor Lloyd and Nottingham Playhouse have today announced full casting for Mark Gatiss’ brand-new adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol directed by Adam Penford. Originally scheduled to open in 2020 the production will premiere at Nottingham Playhouse on 29th October, ahead of its London premiere at Alexandra Palace on 26th November. Olivier award-winner Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, The League of Gentlemen, Doctor Who) stars as Jacob Marley in his own retelling of Dickens’ classic winter ghost story alongside Nicholas Farrell (Chariots of Fire, The Crown, The Iron Lady and 37 Days) as Scrooge; James Backway (Holes, The Taming of the Shrew, War Horse) as Fred; Angelina Chudi (Dear Elizabeth, Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with the man that used to hit her)) as Caroline; Jo...

Arthur Smith: SYD coming to Waterside Arts in Sale

29Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Arthur Smith: SYD coming to Waterside Arts in Sale

Arthur Smith’s show SYD comes to Waterside Arts in Sale following highly successful season at Soho Theatre and a sell-out and critical acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Packed with big gags, hilarious stories and poignant reflections about an ordinary man who lived through extraordinary times; Arthur, accompanied by the mellifluous Kirsty Newton tells the story of his own father. Syd Smith fought at El Alamein, became a P.O.W., and ended the war in the notorious Colditz Castle in Germany. In the 1950s PC Syd patrolled London’s South Bank and met a gallery of characters, whom he tried his best not to arrest. Arthur tells this 20th century story with laughter and song and, quoting directly from his father’s hand-written journal, he splices time, memories and m...

The Greatest Love Of All Whitney Houston Tribute Comes To St Helens

27Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Greatest Love Of All Whitney Houston Tribute Comes To St Helens

The Australian producers of a Whitney Houston tribute concert bring their smash-hit show to St Helens Theatre Royal next week starring Britain’s Got Talent finalist Belinda Davids. The Greatest Love Of All starts its UK national tour in St Helens. The tour was originally planned to follow Belinda’s appearance in the BGT finals in September 2020 but was postponed due to pandemic restrictions. The Greatest Love Of All comes to St Helens Theatre Royal for one night only on Wednesday 6th October 2021, the show is at 7.30pm. St Helens Theatre Royal has been granted the use of the Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre’s ‘See It Safely’ mark. This certifies that the venue is complying with Government and industry Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of staff, perfo...

13Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

Musical Theatre Returns to Cheshire

Mid Cheshire Musical Theatre Company are back! After a 2-year enforced absence from the stage due to Covid restrictions, Sunshine on Leith is set to become one of the first full scale musicals to be produced in Cheshire. North West End UK spoke to director Louise Colohan ahead of the show to discuss, amongst other things the challenges they have faced bringing theatre back to Cheshire. You directed the last Mid Cheshire production of Evita which was an unbelievable two years ago. Are you glad to be back at the helm for Sunshine on Leith? Mid Cheshire are a fantastic society and under the chairmanship of Sarah Sherwood are looking to putting on some really exciting productions. It is great to have some of the same creative team and crew return once again and we hope to be able to repl...

Twice Nightly – Liverpool Theatre Festival

8Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Twice Nightly – Liverpool Theatre Festival

Liverpool Theatre Festival is about halfway through its run of nightly performances that boosts everything from music to drama, comedy and lots more. The same can be said for tonight’s performance ‘Twice Nightly’ which served up all of the above and more in one show! ‘Twice nightly’ is a 70-minute show which was not only written by and directed by Maria Lovelady and Michael Alan Bailey but it also stars these two talented performers as the double act Don & Madge. The show opens with Don & Madge singing a duet with the catchy words ‘what did we steal?’ This opening number leaves the audience wondering what they are in for, who are these pair? Is the show about mastermind criminals? is it all sung? and to add to the curiosity, Don’s moustache kept falling off- was this supposed to...

25th Anniversary – BURN THE FLOOR – The Reunion

3Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

25th Anniversary – BURN THE FLOOR – The Reunion

Strictly MEGASTARS join forces for reunion performances… The original Broadway production of Jason Gilkison’s BURN THE FLOOR is being recreated for a strictly limited tour in July 2022. “This Burn the Floor 25th anniversary will be such a one-time event for us - all our stars back on stage together again where they all began!” Jason Gilkison 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 and Robin Windsor, plus more names to be announced. “To get this ‘dream team' back together on stage for a Burn the Floor reunion will be an event not to be missed.” Jason Gilkison BURN THE FLOOR is a breathta...

3Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Noir Goes Stateside!

After a successful streaming run in the UK and Europe, the new play NOIR inspired by 40s and 50s black and white movies, will finally be available in America and the rest of the world as it joins the fantastic theatre streaming site OVERTURE+. Produced by the award-winning UK theatre company Vertigo Theatre Productions, NOIR tells the story of Veronica Smart (Emma Morgan), a beautiful 40-year-old woman with dreams of stardom and a 16-year marriage to Cliff Smart (John Tueart), a successful New York businessman. Now bored with life and the marriage decaying, she wants out, and she will do anything to make that happen. Meeting a group of teenagers at the local school where she works, including the rebellious but broken Jimmy Flynn (Richard Allen), sets in motion a plan that will include ...

Magic Goes Wrong at the Opera House Blackpool this November

29Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Magic Goes Wrong at the Opera House Blackpool this November

Olivier award-winning comedy favourites, Mischief, today announce hit comedy Magic Goes Wrong is set to head to the Opera House Blackpool this November from Wednesday 24th – Saturday 27th November 2021. Mischief’s biggest and most daring comedy catastrophe to date, Magic Goes Wrong follows a hapless gang of magicians as they stage an evening of grand illusion to raise cash for charity. As the magic turns to mayhem, accidents spiral out of control and so does their fundraising target! The show premiered in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre in December 2019 and is set to resume performances in London this October. Created with magic legends Penn & Teller, the touring cast presents: Daniel Anthony (Mickey), Valerie Cutko (Eugenia), Sam Hill (Sophisticato), Kiefer Moriarty (The ...

Rock of Ages opens UK Tour in Birmingham

26Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Rock of Ages opens UK Tour in Birmingham

Following a sell-out tour in 2018/2019, the producers of the smash-hit ROCK OF AGES are delighted to announce the cast and Kevin Clifton’s return in the role of Stacee Jaxx. The tour will open at The Alexandra, Birmingham from 9th September 2021. Full dates and casting can be found at the website www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk Kevin Clifton thrilled audiences as Stacee Jaxx on the 2018/2019 ‘Rock of Ages’ UK tour and he is so excited to be back, reprising the role in 2021. Kevin is best known for being a professional dancer on BBC1's 'Strictly Come Dancing’. In seven years on the show Kevin reached the final a record five times - winning four glitter balls including the main show Glitterball trophy in 2018 with Stacey Dooley - before leaving in 2019. Since then, Kevin has gone on to appear...