Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

21Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Snow Queen – Iris Theatre

One of the post popular festive tales, Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, is brought into your homes from the Iris Theatre, in their first livestreamed production. We are trying to get to the right destination to begin the story Holly wants to read to Pip. The audience are asked to find magic ingredients, and to help thaw a frozen book. The story of the Snow Queen, left out in the cold by her sisters of the spring, summer and autumn, is well known. Stuck in her ice palace, her heart is frozen solid and closed to friendship or compassion. This is a complex story but has been adapted well for pre-schoolers. Leda Douglas keeps the interest throughout as she infuses the young audience with her joyful enthusiasm. Participation is requested at every turn, from changing the weathe...

A Christmas Carol, The Festive Audio Experience – Harrogate Theatre

20Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Christmas Carol, The Festive Audio Experience – Harrogate Theatre

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is as much a part of Christmas as tinsel and mince pies. A festive tale that people often forget is a ghost story, Adam Z Robinson’s adaptation, performed by him and Olivia Dowd, utilises Robinson’s expertise as a ghost story writer to bring the spirits and apparitions littering Dickens’ classic tale front and centre, creating a creepy and memorable version of this beloved tale of greed and redemption. Before the show starts, ominous ticking and a crackling fire create the atmosphere before the performance begins. The audio play has a very creepy opening, which makes it clear from the start the style that this version of A Christmas Carol is going to take. Robinson’s narration is warm and gives the story the feeling of an old friend you see every Ch...

20Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Scotland

Cosi fan Tutte – Scottish Opera

Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte is an ideal opera to be performed in today’s climate. A small leading cast, and a relatively light-hearted plot, Scottish Opera’s production, directed by Roxana Haines with musical direction by Stuart Stratford, brings the comedy into the modern world in a socially distanced performance exploiting the world of reality TV. The piece opens with exuberant music played by a masked orchestra behind screens, as the Chorus sit in the theatre’s boxes, making up the various audience members of the reality show which our couples find themselves competing in. The Chorus revel in their roles throughout the piece, creating some excellent emotional reactions from wistfulness, to excitement, to boredom, creating a real sense of a live studio audience to the television show we a...

20Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Snow Queen – New Wolsey Theatre

The New Wolsey Theatre has been producing a Rock and Roll panto for a number of years and they were not going to let this year stop them. This is a blended pantomime being performed live on stage to a reduced audience in the theatre and simultaneously live streamed to people’s homes. One of the benefits of this type of performance is that it makes it accessible to everyone. The show has captioning and audio description options for those at home and in the theatre and also one of the shows is being signed. The show is also suitable for those who may find a traditional performance challenging, there is an additional option of a special relaxed performance available. The Snow Queen is not one of the usual pantomimes, but the story of the evil Snow Queen, who tries to cover the world in ...

20Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Invisible Hand – Kiln Theatre

"Money is the opiate of the people." This is the over-arching theme of Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar's clever and thrilling play, The Invisible Hand. The hand in question is the international money market with the immense power of global finance and the machinations of futures trading. Caught up between this world and that of poverty, civil war and drone strikes is American banker, Nick Bright. He's being held for ransom in Pakistan, a ransom that his US bosses refuse to countenance paying under their policy of not negotiating with terrorists. Instead, Bright realises that he has a valuable asset for his kidnappers, his knowledge of the financial markets. The fate of journalist Daniel Pearl, who was beheaded by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002, is much in his mind. Frantic to...

We Need A Little Christmas – stream.theatre

18Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

We Need A Little Christmas – stream.theatre

With a massive part of the population currently unable to visit a theatre or concert venue, many charities that rely on Christmas donations are turning to the internet to spread some Christmassy joy while raising some much-needed funds. This particular concert is raising money for Shelter and Crisis at Christmas. Hosted by Denise Welch and Amy Hart, We Need A Little Christmas opens with the song of that name from the musical Mame, and then takes us on a Christmas journey from traditional offerings like Silent Night, to modern classics such as Mary, Did You Know? and newer Christmas music from Coldplay, and everything in between…finishing up with Lee Mead’s new Christmas single, In My Arms For Christmas. With direction by Michael Strassen and musical direction from George Carter, this on...

The Royal Court Selection Box – Royal Court, Liverpool

18Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

The Royal Court Selection Box – Royal Court, Liverpool

Last night i was in a magical theatre known as The Royal Court Theatre Liverpool. If you haven’t been to the Royal Court, then well where have you been? It’s a must thing to do in Liverpool. Supporting local Liverpool writers, directors and actors the whole 9 yards while indulging in a theatre style dining during experience whilst the show that’s being performed for you. Understandably there’s been a lack of anything this year especially theatre, so it was nice to be in a room where magic is happening. The show started with a montage of news clips, empty streets and old Royal Court show memories. It was a sad yet lovely way to begin the show. From then on it was non - stop laughter and entertainment. The cast walked on portraying their new day jobs ranging from Uber Eats to B&Q. The...

Hope Mill Theatre announce full programme for Turn On Fest 2021

18Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre announce full programme for Turn On Fest 2021

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announces today an exciting programme of live and online content for their annual LGBTQIA+ theatre festival Turn On Fest which will return between 18th and 31st January 2021. Headlining the festival will be an evening in conversation with Hope Mill Theatre patron Russell T Davies which will be streamed live on Saturday 23rd January 2021. The evening will be hosted by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh and will look at Davies’ incredible career writing for film and television, including the ground-breaking Queer As Folk, most recent Years and Years starring Russel Tovy and his newest Channel 4 drama, It’s A Sin which premieres on Friday 22nd January 2021. Another festival highlight will be Queer Musical Theatre Cabaret: All That Drag, a celebration of both Drag ...

Love is in the air as York Theatre Royal re-opens on Valentine’s Day

18Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Love is in the air as York Theatre Royal re-opens on Valentine’s Day

York Theatre Royal will open its doors again on Valentine’s Day 2021 with The Love Season, a season of plays from around the world embracing love in its many forms. Chief Executive Tom Bird said: “The Love Season is designed to remind us that human connection – love, sympathy, kindness, mutual understanding, warmth, equality – is what makes us the wonderful human beings we are. In 2021 we want to celebrate humanity, our own community and a sense of togetherness. We want to do that with words, music, dancing, film and even food! It’s going to be fun and we can’t wait.” The theatre will re-open on February 14th with a special event York in Love, currently being finalised. That will be followed by The Love Season (until April 21st) led by the debut tour of award-winning Coronation St...

Everyman & Playhouse look to 2021 as new shows announced for spring

18Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Everyman & Playhouse look to 2021 as new shows announced for spring

Bold, innovative and brave theatre is back at the Everyman & Playhouse in 2021, as the theatres announce six exciting projects for spring. Among the season are local treasures, multi award-winning visiting productions and a Young Everyman Playhouse takeover of the Everyman auditorium. One of the stand out success stories for the theatres during the pandemic, Love Liverpool: An A-Z of Hope moves from a podcast to the Playhouse stage in April. Threaded together with new writing by Chloë Moss and directed by Nathan Powell, Love Liverpool Live will bring the original commissioned letters and real life stories submitted by the public, and create an on-stage love letter to Liverpool. Nathan Powell said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be a part of this next chapter for Love Liverpool. Durin...