Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

26Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

All Shook Up – Daneside Theatre

For those who know me, know I am not the biggest fan of jukebox musicals, so would a trip to see the very same genre tonight in Congleton change my opinion? The short answer is no, however tonight was one of the best productions I have seen of the genre with powerhouse performances coming from the stage in rapid succession. I must start by mentioning the visuals created by Simon Matthews, who also directs the show. 8 video walls places across the stage left you in no doubt as to where the on-stage action was taking place. From an American street complete with moving bus to a disused fairground nothing on show tonight would have looked out of place on a West End Stage. Cleverly designed lighting from Nick Walker complemented the screens however at times a little more face light could hav...

20Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Home, I’m Darling! – Sheffield Lyceum

Clever, humorous, warm – Laura Wade’s Olivier-award winning comedy Home, I’m Darling! appropriately leans into the mythologised tonal tropes of the 1950’s. Jessica Ransom, Neil McDermott, Matthew Douglas, Cassie Bradley and Shanez Pattni all excel in this fun and fresh text.Despite its comedic sensibilities, oftentimes Wade’s piece translates better as a drama than a comedy. Of course, the two are not mutually exclusive, but Wade’s commentary is at its best and most biting when it’s polemical and astute. Feminism is often framed expertly against the backdrops of 1950’s nostalgic delusion, #MeToo, gender roles and even against itself when the validity of feminism is questioned (if feminism is about making choices, is the choice to play a role that supports patriarchy still feminism as it is...

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – The Zodiac, Frodsham Community Central

23Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – The Zodiac, Frodsham Community Central

If we ever needed a reminder of just how much the world of theatre was tipped on it’s head by Covid, then the fact that it’s taken three years for Zodiac’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to reach the milestone of opening night will do just that. Retaining many of the original cast, it’s clear from the opening number, Give Them What They Want, that the cast, under the direction of Neil Silcock, are thrilled to finally immerse the audience into the French Riviera, where we meet the debonair Lawrence (Seb Farrell), a sophisticated swindler who charms and disarms several of the female holidaymakers each year, aided by his ‘bodyguard’ (and the town’s Chief of Police), Andre (Phil Murray). He soon takes the vulgar, young upstart Freddy Benson (Chris Doyle) under his wing to teach hi...

Putin on the Ritz – Spitting Image is heading for the West End

23Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Putin on the Ritz – Spitting Image is heading for the West End

Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical written by a tour de force comedy team made up of Al Murray (The Pub Landlord) Matt Forde (The Political Party) and double Olivier award winner Sean Foley (The Upstart Crow, The Play What I Wrote) makes its West End Premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London. Critically acclaimed when it was developed at the Birmingham Rep earlier this year, the show is directed by the Rep's Artistic Director Sean Foley alongside a creative team spearheaded by the original Spitting Image co-creator, Roger Law. Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical will run from Wednesday 24th May to Saturday 26th August 2023 with a Press Performance on 14th June 2023 at 7pm. Tickets are now on sale from https://www.thephoenixtheatre.co.uk/s...

Let North West End UK promote your show!

17Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Let North West End UK promote your show!

At North West End UK we support many amateur productions and understand the need for full houses at your shows for the short periods they run for. We are reaching out to amateur societies until the end of April with an offer to promote your production free of charge on our website, www.northwestend.com To qualify for this offer please email a press release and suitable image to support your show to info@northwestend.co.uk before the 25th April 2023. Please include links to your social media pages within the email to allow us to tag you in the article. For clarification, your show can be staged at anytime in 2023, not only before the end of April, although submissions need to be sent by the 25th April. We will publish your press releases as soon as we can after receiving them, h...

Doncaster Stage Productions set the date

15Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Doncaster Stage Productions set the date

Following on from their sell our run of GREASE, Doncaster Stage Productions are pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for their second show of 2023, Calendar Girls the Musical. The death of a much loved husband prompts a group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women's Institute to do an extraordinary thing. Blasting away all preconceptions of what it is to be in a women's institute, they decide to do an artistic nude calendar to raise money for charity. Upturning preconceptions is a dangerous business and none of them expect the emotional and personal ramifications, but gradually the making of the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into flower. With unforgettable songs, every performance continues to add to the millions already rai...

Les Misérables extends booking period into 2024

15Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Les Misérables extends booking period into 2024

LES MISÉRABLES at the Sondheim Theatre announces today that booking is now extended until Saturday 2nd March 2024. LES MISÉRABLES currently stars Dean Chisnall as Jean Valjean, David Thaxton as Javert, Ava Brennan as Fantine Robert Tripolino as Marius, Nathania Ong as Éponine and Lulu-Mae Pears as Cosette, Gerard Carey as Thénardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier and Jordan Shaw as Enjolras. The company also includes Hazel Baldwin, Brad Barnley, Will Barratt, Cameron Burt, Natalie Chua, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Bryony Duncan, Louis Emmanuel, Sophie-May Feek, Melad Hamidi, Harry Jack, Christopher Jacobsen, Will Jennings, Benjamin Karran, Yazmin King, Bart Lambert, Sarah Lark, Adam Robert Lewis, Georgie Lovatt, Ellie Ann Lowe, Donald Craig Manuel, Jodie Nolan, Sam Peggs, J...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lands at the Grand Opera House York

14Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lands at the Grand Opera House York

Watch out! The most Fantasmagorical musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, lands at the Grand Opera House York this Easter. One of the world’s favourite musicals, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is set to have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, mayhem and magic! Can the loveable but whacky inventor, Potts, along with his two children and the gorgeous Truly Scrumptious outwit the bombastic Baron Bomburst who has decreed that all children be banished from his kingdom? What happens when the evil Childcatcher is sent out to capture the children? Will it all end happily-ever-after? Having broken all box office records in the West End, this fun-filled new production from York Stage, the team that brought you Elf and Shrek the Musical, promises laughs and magic galore – an...

Cast announced for the 1st London revival of Betty Blue Eyes

14Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Cast announced for the 1st London revival of Betty Blue Eyes

Premiering in 2011, ‘Betty Blue Eyes’, Book by Ron Cowen & Daniel Lipman, Music by George Stiles, Lyrics by Anthony Drewe based on the film ‘A Private Function’ by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray, received nominations for ‘Best New Musical’ in the Olivier Awards, The Evening Standard Awards and the WhatsOnStage.com Awards. It is 1947, war has ended but Britain’s citizens are suffering under the burden of food rationing, high unemployment and the coldest winter for decades. The only bright spark on the horizon is the impending marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Enter Betty, an adorable pig who is being illegally reared to ensure local dignitaries of a small community in Yorkshire can celebrate the Royal Wedding with a lavish banquet whilst the local population make...

Award-Winning play How Not to Drown comes to Oldham Coliseum

14Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Award-Winning play How Not to Drown comes to Oldham Coliseum

The award-winning Manchester based theatre company ThickSkin returns to the city for the Oldham dates of performer Dritan Kastrati’s real-life story. Set in 2002 at the end of the Kosovan War, this impactful andcompelling play follows Dritan as an 11-year-old who was sent on the notoriously perilous journey across the Adriatic accompanied by a gang of people smugglers to a new life in Europe. Relying on young wit and charm on his journey to the UK, Dritan’s fight for survival continues when he finds himself caught within the British care system, struggling to cling onto his identity and sense of self. Dritan plays himself at various points in the play which has been co-written with playwright Nicola McCartney, who is herself a foster carer, following 60 hours of recorded interviews betw...