Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

First Look – Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball at Turbine Theatre

4Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

First Look – Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball at Turbine Theatre

The Turbine Theatres reopens its doors with its first ever adult pantomime, Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball. This hilarious panto has been written by Jodie Prenger and Neil Hurst and is being directed by Lizzy Connolly. The cast are Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Rufus Hound, Debbie Kurup, Scott Paige, Sean Parkins and Daisy Wood Davis. Prepare to have your Christmas socks blown off with this all-star cast, celebrating theatre at its naughtiest. Glittery anti-bac will be at hand, and we promise to get home before midnight. Please note: This is not for the faint hearted or those easily offended by smut. Photo Credit: Mark Senior LISTINGS Paul Taylor-Mills presents Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Pantomime Dates: 3rd – 23rd December 2020 Address: The Tur...

The show will go on! National star-studded online pantomime being filmed at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre

4Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The show will go on! National star-studded online pantomime being filmed at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd is excited to reveal that a star-studded cast will be filming an exclusive online pantomime at Rhyl Pavilion that will be broadcast UK-wide this festive season. The stars will all be heading to the Rhyl Pavilion over a few weeks to ensure social distancing and will film at an undisclosed time and date to create this exciting digital production. 21 Celebrities from across the industry will be heading to Rhyl, including XFactor star Sam Bailey, ITV The Chase’s Mark Labbett and Anne Hegerty, Britain’s Got Talent Winners dog act Ashley and Sulley, I’m a Celebrity winner and Atomic Kitten member Kerry Katona, Phil Mealey star of Early Doors and a host of stars from TV such as Benidorm, Eastenders, Hollyoaks and the Bill. Once Upon A Pantomime is a traditional f...

Lee Mack to step into the role of narrator to replace Stephen Fry in The Understudy

4Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Lee Mack to step into the role of narrator to replace Stephen Fry in The Understudy

Everyone needs an understudy, right? Stepping into the role of narrator, replacing Stephen Fry, is BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning legend Lee Mack. The full cast of The Understudy, now includes Matthew Horne, Emily Atack, James Norton, Mina Anwar, Natalie Casey, Adelayo Adedayo, Lucy Briggs-Owen, Sasha Frost, Marie Lawrence, James McNicholas, Lizzie Muncey and Jake Ferretti. Stephen Fry comments: “Circumstances have forced me to be in the US from December 4th to late January which means, despite my highest hopes and confident promises, I won’t be able to be a part of The Understudy this year, as so fervently hoped. I am very, very sorry to let you down at the last minute. I am cheering you on from the side-lines.” A perfect pre-Christmas treat for theatre lovers, this exclusiv...

Sleeping Beauty Gets Enforced Lie-In in Manchester

3Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Sleeping Beauty Gets Enforced Lie-In in Manchester

Following the announcement that Manchester is in Tier 3 from Wednesday 2nd December, when the national lockdown was lifted, Manchester Opera House and Qdos Entertainment have announced that the opening of Sleeping Beauty will be delayed and will now begin on Thursday 24th December 2020 and run until Sunday 10th January 2021. Sheena Wrigley, Theatre Director of Manchester Palace & Opera House said: “Given the downward trend of the virus in the City, and the community’s campaign for the reduction of the Tier level at the next review, we continue to be hopeful that we can stage the show this Christmas, opening a little later than planned on 24th December. We thank all of our customers for their patience at this time as we work to get affected bookings rescheduled and are also gr...

3Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Jack and the Beanstalk – Panto Online

Produced by Jack Be Nimble and Everyman Cinema, Jack and the Beanstalk is uniquely, a garden pantomime! Filmed in the summer and featuring a talented cast, the production is being screened across 55 cinemas across the UK this December, providing a Covid-safe environment to enjoy our favourite festive tradition. It is difficult to get the balance quite right between stage style performing, and on screen acting, but generally the cast get it spot on. The use of the garden space is excellent, particularly the scenes in front of the large house, and the fairy scenes in amongst the greenery. There are also some hilarious tongue-in-cheek comments about the beanstalk! All the best aspects of panto are included - a slosh scene, ghost gag, full musical numbers and an excellent song sheet. The da...

1Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Red – The Shows Must Go On

A pretentious artist and his naïve assistant work away in a 1950’s New York studio. John Logan’s Tony award winning piece may not sound like the most exciting subject, but don’t let that deter you. It’s a deep-dive into the creative mind with thrilling performances. The play spans two whole years of an intense working relationship. Mark Rothko (Alfred Molina) is a celebrated artist who has been commissioned to create art for display at the new Four Seasons restaurant. He is assisted by “over-eager under-graduate" Ken (Alfred Enoch). Questioning opinions and confronting each other's weaknesses makes for an uneasy partnership but a riveting play. Enoch is charming as the assistant. The quirkiness of his movement and emotional openness are played expertly by someone in his Wes...

Gisburne Park Pop-up ‘socially distanced’ Christmas Festival opens on the 4th December

1Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Gisburne Park Pop-up ‘socially distanced’ Christmas Festival opens on the 4th December

The creators of Gisburne Park Pop Up, who this summer successfully hosted the UK's first socially distanced festival, are determined to bring some Christmas cheer to 2020 and on 4th December will open the gates to an action-packed Pop-up Christmas festival. This socially distanced Christmas extravaganza is one of its kind and will take place over a thousand acres at the stunning Gisburne Park located in the heart of the Lancashire countryside. The family-focused, action-packed event has got Christmas well and truly covered! At the heart of the event is a large traditional outdoor market home to craft stalls, food vendors and pockets of interactive socially distanced Christmas entertainment for all ages. As well as the UK's largest drive-in pantomime, the event boasts a Covid...

Plan to Create 1,000 Theatre Jobs in Manchester Unveiled

1Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Plan to Create 1,000 Theatre Jobs in Manchester Unveiled

Up to 1,000 jobs for people working in the theatre will be created in Manchester in the spring of 2021, when the world’s first DriveINSIDE Theatre opens at the Trafford Centre. The DriveINSIDE Theatre has been specifically designed to be COVID safe and has been approved for operation even at Tier 3 restrictions. The ingenious venue has a team of Theatrical Drive Jockeys, who welcome the audience in their cars and escort them to their unique space. Each vehicle has its own dedicated parking space under the 68,000 sq ft marquee – Europe’s largest. People are only allowed to exit their vehicles on the driver’s side and then sit outside of their cars in their own private socially distanced, isolated area. The organisers can then allow people to enjoy the thrill of real live entertainment, w...

The Legend of Moby Dick Whittington – Online

1Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Legend of Moby Dick Whittington – Online

If ever a Christmas show was so bang on trend, it’s ‘The Legend of Moby Dick Whittington’. Not only do Sleeping Trees manage to pull off a high quality production full of interactivity and fun – they do it from the confines of a small house using bundles of creative energy. It is this sense of the ‘make do and get on’ which is of huge appeal in this ‘living room adventure’ which is stuffed with Christmas cheer and puns a plenty. Interactivity is high on the agenda with easy screen prompts and many calls for you to get involved. The story is as follows: Mayor of London, Dick Whittington, is turning on the Christmas lights but then a giant whale appears and swallows Santa Claus whole. Dick, along with his trusty sidekick Cat, must embark on a quest to stop Christmas being ruined foreve...

Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball reopens Turbine Theatre

30Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball reopens Turbine Theatre

The Turbine Theatres reopens its doors with its first ever adult pantomime, Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball. This hilarious panto has been written by Jodie Prenger and Neil Hurst and is being directed by Lizzy Connolly. The cast are Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Rufus Hound, Debbie Kurup, Scott Paige, Sean Parkins and Daisy Wood Davis. Prepare to have your Christmas socks blown off with this all-star cast, celebrating theatre at its naughtiest. Glittery anti-bac will be at hand, and we promise to get home before midnight. Please note: This is not for the faint hearted or those easily offended by smut. LISTINGS Paul Taylor-Mills presents Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Pantomime Dates: 3rd – 23rd December 2020 Address: The Turbine Theatre, Arches Lane, Ci...