Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

10May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Chamber Orchestra return to the live stage to close its 2020-21 season

The Northern Chamber Orchestra will be joined by cellist and baritone Matthew Sharp to play works by Tchaikovsky and Mozart on Saturday 22nd May (5.30pm and 8.00pm) Matthew Sharp an award-winning, internationally recognised cellist, baritone, director, recording artist and educator. He is the NCO’s Artist in Association and has previously performed with Opera North, Manchester Camerata, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert includes Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme and Mozart’s Madamina from Don Giovanni, and socially distanced tickets for the concerts, along with online streaming passes, are available now from www.ncorch.co.uk. Matthew has worked with cultural leaders across music and the arts: in classical music, Sir John Tavener, Errollyn Wallen CBE; in...

Les Dennis joins the huge-hearted Hairspray at the London Coliseum

9May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Les Dennis joins the huge-hearted Hairspray at the London Coliseum

Entertainment legend Les Dennis is to join the huge-hearted new production of Hairspray the Musical which is set to play a limited season at the magnificent London Coliseum from Monday 21st June – Wednesday 29th September 2021. As a comedian, impressionist, game show host, reality TV star, soap, screen and stage actor, Les Dennis’ showbiz career has spanned 50 years. Now, he is to return to the West End in the multi-award-winning smash hit musical as Wilbur Turnblad having previously performed the role on tour. He stars alongside Michael Ball, who returns to his legendary, Olivier Award-winning role of Edna Turnblad. Les replaces Paul Merton in the role of Wilbur. Following the delay to the production because of the pandemic, Paul is unfortunately not able to join the company due to ...

9May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Celebrity chef James Martin is hitting the road with a brand-new tour for 2022

James Martin Live will visit 18 towns and cities across the UK including a entertaining audiences with live demonstrations, cooking tasks and featuring some very special guests. And the exciting and fast-moving show includes a date at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Sunday March 20th 2022. Tickets go on sale at 10am Friday May 7th from www.ticketmaster.co.uk James has been entertaining and educating the nation for almost three decades with his expert culinary skills both on screen and through his best-selling cookbooks. Following the phenomenal success of his previous tours, with James Martin Live audiences can expect to be dazzled as James rustles up mouth-watering dishes with complimentary courses of fun and laughter in this exclusive gastronomic experience. And he...

Manchester all-female play ‘Meet Me at Dawn’ among the first in country to re-open theatres

9May

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NEWS

Manchester all-female play ‘Meet Me at Dawn’ among the first in country to re-open theatres

One of the first plays in England to take to the stage after lockdown will be at a much-loved Manchester theatre. HER Productions is bringing all-female play ‘Meet Me at Dawn’ to Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, from May 25th – 29th, after seven months of closure. The Covid-compliant show stars local actors Helen O’Hara and Susan Jayne Robinson, who play a couple who wash up on a distant shore after a boating accident. The 80-minute show, full of fantasy and plot twists, will also be live streamed on May 26th for those unable to attend in person. HER Productions was set up in 2019 by Manchester-based actor Hannah Ellis-Ryan, best known for her role as Coronation Street baddie Hannah Gilmore, who pretended to be Liz McDonald’s dead daughter in the controversial storyline in 2018. ...

Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice – Him & Me dance into Blackpool at start of their UK Tour

8May

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Interviews

Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice – Him & Me dance into Blackpool at start of their UK Tour

Brace yourselves for THE best night out in 2021 when two of BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s best loved professional dancers team up for an unforgettable tour - ANTON DU BEKE and GIOVANNI PERNICE - HIM & ME! Joined by a world class cast of dancers and singers, ANTON and GIOVANNI are coming together to put on the show to end all shows - the ultimate entertaining night out! The Ballroom King and the Jive Master bring you HIM & ME! - a true dance extravaganza for all ages. HIM & ME! is produced by Strictly Theatre Co. and directed by West End star Alan Burkitt. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Blackpool! Anton - Ah yes, Blackpool Opera House..it’s huge! Giovanni - Oh, it’s tremendous, so beautiful. Anton - We can’t wait to bring our show to the home of dance...

Matilda The Musical returns to Cambridge Theatre from 16th September

7May

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NEWS

Matilda The Musical returns to Cambridge Theatre from 16th September

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s West End production of Matilda The Musical has announced that it will return to the Cambridge Theatre from 16th September 2021. Seen by more than 10 million people across more than 90 cities worldwide, this autumn marks 10 years since the multi-award-winning show opened in the West End. Matilda The Musical is now booking through to 13th February 2022. For further information visit www.matildathemusical.com Catherine Mallyon, RSC Executive Director said: “It is fantastic to see London’s West End re-opening and for our company, freelance colleagues, and creative team to be back at the Cambridge Theatre, preparing for performances in the autumn. We all know how challenging the past year has been, and that makes this moment even more special and import...

Treat for Spice Girls fans – Viva 4 Ever at DriveINSIDE Theatre

7May

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NEWS

Treat for Spice Girls fans – Viva 4 Ever at DriveINSIDE Theatre

We’ll tell you what the producers of hit touring concert show Viva 4 Ever want, what they really, really want. . . to thoroughly celebrate that the country appears to be well on the way along the Government’s Roadmap to Recovery. The Spice Girls tribute show will be rocking the DriveINSIDE Theatre at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, on Monday, May 24th. That is practically two years to the day since Scary, Baby, Sporty and Ginger Spice thrilled 450,000 Spice Girls fans over three days at the Etihad Stadium on their Spice World tour. The brand-new theatre at the Trafford Centre is the world’s first drive inside venue. Viva 4 Ever producer Adam Curtis says that concert show fans will be able to park up in their cars in the arena to safely enjoy the spectacle from their own private, soc...

The Addams Family invite you to dinner across the UK & Ireland

7May

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NEWS

The Addams Family invite you to dinner across the UK & Ireland

Following the UK Government shutdown of theatres in March 2020, the producers of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy, have rescheduled the new UK & Ireland Tour to dates in 2021. The Tour will now open in Woking at New Victoria Theatre on 17th August 2021. Samantha Womack and Cameron Blakely will revive their much loved roles as Morticia and Gomez Addams, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. Kingsley Morton will play Wednesday Addams, Grant McIntyre Pugsley Addams, Valda Aviks Grandma, Sean Kingsley Mal Beineke and Kara Lane Alice Beineke. Also in the cast will be Abigail Brodie, Sophie Hutchinson, Luke Byrne, Matthew Ives and Sean Lopeman. Further casting is to be announced. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up a...

Bolton Octagon announce reopening season

6May

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NEWS

Bolton Octagon announce reopening season

Bolton’s Octagon Theatre have announced their reopening season after a two year redevelopment programme that closed their stages and then more postponements due to Covid-19. Their opening show will be The Hound of the Baskervilles running from Thursday 1st July – Saturday 7th August as world renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr Watson unravel the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville in this brilliantly farcical adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic novel. It’s adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, and directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham. Ahead of the first production opening the venue will ‘warm up’ the new building with a number of events throughout May and June. Opening the Warm Up season is a p...

Mikron Theatre back on the water with Atalanta Forever celebrating the pioneers of women’s football

6May

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NEWS

Mikron Theatre back on the water with Atalanta Forever celebrating the pioneers of women’s football

Mikron Theatre back on the water with Atalanta Forever celebrating the pioneers of women’s football. Mikron Theatre celebrate their 49th year of touring on their narrowboat with the premiere of Atalanta Forever telling the story of pioneering women footballers in 1920. Amanda Whittingham has gone back to 1920 where women’s football teams are pulling in huge crowds for fund-raising games raising money for wounded soldiers. Huddersfield amateurs Ethel and Annie are teammates at Huddersfield’s Atalanta AFC who are tackling new football skills, mastering the offside rule and kicking back at the doubters. The play is based on the true story of one of three women’s football teams in Huddersfield in post war Britain. A measure of the popularity of the women’s game at that time ...