Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

Birmingham Hippodrome to extend Van Gogh Alive into January

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Birmingham Hippodrome to extend Van Gogh Alive into January

Following the huge success of hosting the UK premiere of Van Gogh Alive, Birmingham Hippodrome have announced they will be extending the experience until Sunday 31 January. Close to 30,000 attended in the opening few weeks after opening to the Public on Thursday 8th October. The Hippodrome was completely transformed to host the unique multisensory experience, extending the main stage an incredible 750sqm into the auditorium to create an open, immersive gallery space, giving the sensation of walking right into Van Gogh’s paintings. Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are of course disappointed our doors have to remain closed for a little longer whilst Birmingham is in Tier 3, as we have been so proud of the fantastic response Van Gogh ...

The Nutcracker at Birmingham Repertory Theatre to be Live Streamed

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Nutcracker at Birmingham Repertory Theatre to be Live Streamed

Following news of Birmingham’s Tier 3 status last week, and ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16th December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to move their 2020 adapted version of The Nutcracker online. The magical Christmas production will be streamed live from The Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 18th December at 7.30pm, giving audiences an experience as close to watching it live in the theatre as is possible. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The REP will be available to watch as a livestream event at 7.30pm on Friday 18th December. It will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December but can be viewe...

Production image released for A Christmas Carol at Leeds Playhouse

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Production image released for A Christmas Carol at Leeds Playhouse

New production images released today show the company of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, bringing to life Charles Dickens’ spine-tingling festive story. From ghost lights centre stage, the spirits emerge to share with miser Ebenezer Scrooge the true meaning of this festive time of year. It’s Christmas Eve in Victorian Leeds, but the cold-hearted Scrooge hasn’t shared an ounce of festive cheer. As the cold night draws in, four ghostly spirits take Ebenezer on a magical journey through his past, his present and his future, hoping to show him the error of his ways. With Christmas spirit, fun, music and magic at its heart, this timeless Charles Dickens tale is brought vividly to life. Adapted by award-winning, West Yorkshire born playwright Deborah McAndrew, A CHRISTMAS CAROL is directed by Leeds Pla...

Manchester theatre company releases 4 monologues celebrating diverse LGBTQ+ lives

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Manchester theatre company releases 4 monologues celebrating diverse LGBTQ+ lives

A sister remembers a fateful family game of UNO and an argument that can’t be taken back; a new father has the first day of school nerves; a woman must prove the thing she has had to hide to save herself; a prodigal son returns home for a family wedding, ready to reveal their true self. Green Carnation Company (The Pride, Hope Mill Theatre (2018); My Night with Reg, The Lowry (2020)) explore topics of HIV, fatherhood, asylum seekers, gender and faith in four monologues by emerging LGBTQ+ writers that shine a light on diverse LGBTQ+ experiences. Working with film-makers Bloody Bandit Production and local performers, Green Carnation have brought these stories to life through four powerful and moving short films. Inspired by Mark Gatiss’ 2017 Queers monologue series, commemorating 50 ye...

Joe Pasquale & Sarah Earnshaw to tour in John Godber’s April in Paris

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Joe Pasquale & Sarah Earnshaw to tour in John Godber’s April in Paris

Joe Pasquale and Sarah Earnshaw will star as Al and Bet in John Godber’s classic comedy, April in Paris, which will tour the country, opening in Wellingborough on 28th January 2021, and will be directed by Richard Lewis. Audiences will be socially distanced. In John Godber’s touching and hilarious classic, we go into the heart of one ordinary couple’s life as they go on both the journey of a lifetime and a journey into their relationship. Al and Bet are in a rut. Married for 26 years, their conversations are running dry and life has taken its toll. With his building work sparse and her shifts at the shoe shop getting few and far between there’s little to look forward to, apart from a possible ABBA tribute show in Wakefield and the odd trip to the pub. But Be...

Come From Away….comes back to the West End

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Come From Away….comes back to the West End

COME FROM AWAY: THE CONCERT will be staged from 10th – 27th February 2021 at the Phoenix Theatre, London. The specially adapted concert version with reduced audience capacity will allow for safe social distancing. The global hit musical tells a remarkable and inspiring true story of kindness and generosity shown to strangers under extraordinary circumstances. Tickets available via www.comefromawaylondon.co.uk from midday on Friday 11th December 2020. Multi award-winning, international hit musical Come From Away will make a welcomed return to the West End early next year with a very special staged concert version performed for a limited run at the Phoenix Theatre, London from 10th – 27th February 2021. Come From Away: The Concert will reunite cast, band and company with speciall...

Disney’s Classic Movie to Make World Stage Premiere in The UK

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Disney’s Classic Movie to Make World Stage Premiere in The UK

Today Michael Harrison announces that Disney’s Academy Award-winning movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks will make its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical. Performances begin at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Saturday 14th August 2021, before a UK Tour which includes a 5-week Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre. Tickets are on General Sale today, Friday 11th December. Please see www.bedknobsonstage.com Enter a world of magic and fantasy with Disney’s classic movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks. With the original songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), including Portobello Road, The Age Of Not Believing, The Beautiful Briny and new music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill, Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be b...

Christmas Music by Candlelight – The Shows Must Go On

10Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Christmas Music by Candlelight – The Shows Must Go On

I love a good carol concert. I’m no expert (or singer), but I love the songs and the feeling of Christmas. Online carol singing though, how’s that going to work? Well, it does, and it does it exceedingly well. Through the flickering candlelight at St Paul’s Church, Birmingham, conductor Jeffrey Skidmore takes Ex Cathedra through a range of carols old and new bringing joyous melodies and harmony to your home. I was astonished how in love with this show I became. And maybe it’s the power of the music and the beauty of the voices, but I found this performance a time to reflect. A time to step back and enjoy the wonder of the world. Visually, I felt I was there. The candlelight is so atmospheric you feel yourself drawn into the dancing lights reflecting off the church windows. ...

10Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

The Dumb Waiter – Hampstead Theatre

When watching a play written by Harold Pinter, I always feel as though the writer is asking the audience to help him to write the play. There is a feeling of inclusion as we follow the plot line, never really knowing what is coming next as we are still trying to puzzle out what just happened during the previous scene. Pinter wrote this short play in 1957 and it premiered at Hampstead Theatre Club (as it was known then) in 1960 after first being staged in Frankfurt in 1959. Pioneering his own style of writing; Pinter continues to fascinate 60 years later. The play begins with two men sitting in a shabby room with only two beds as furniture. In typical Pinter style there is no explanation as to why these men are in the room, we are supposed to pick up on clues i...

The Royal Variety Performance 2020 – Blackpool Opera House

9Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

The Royal Variety Performance 2020 – Blackpool Opera House

Well, it’s that time of year again! Christmas TV is well under way and so we are welcomed into the Blackpool Opera House (via our screens) for this year’s Royal Variety Performance. With the stage set, and the virtual audience in their seats, the night fulfilled the show’s yearly promise of talent and festive cheer. Jason Manford opened the show by journeying through the theatre to the stage, whilst singing Webber’s “As If We Never Said Goodbye”. A poignant and rousing start to the night. As Manford also hosted the Oliviers last month, it seems he is the voice of the theatre world at the moment. He used this position to present with humility, humour and class. The show was filled with its usual spectacular line-up of stars. From Gary Barlow singing his new hit “Incredible”, (an adjec...