Wednesday, December 17

Author: Paul Downham

Virtual Viewing: Disney Cruise Line’s ‘Tangled: The Musical’
27Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Virtual Viewing: Disney Cruise Line’s ‘Tangled: The Musical’

I confess I am somewhat a Disney aficionado. From the heart-warming, family-friendly stories, to the toe-tappingly catchy songs, anything that bears the moniker ‘Walt Disney’ is almost guaranteed to be a winner for me. So, when the chance came to review Disney Cruise Line’s original stage production of Tangled: The Musical, I jumped at the chance. Being able to see a brand new Disney stage production in the inner sanctum of a Disney cruise ship – without having to shell out an eye-watering amount for the privilege – was too good of an opportunity for a Disneyphile like me to pass up. Cruises start from £1,078 for a 3-day excursion (yes, really!), so to be able to watch these once exclusive shows without winning the lottery is a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity (probably the same stati...
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The Sleeping Beauty – Royal Opera House
25Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
London

The Sleeping Beauty – Royal Opera House

‘I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream’. Most people will know the song from Disney’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ but how many people know that the music was actually written 70 years prior to the film’s release and the lyrics were added in 1959 for Disney? Tchaikovsky’s music for the ballet ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ was written in 1889. For anyone who may have never heard of any version of this fairytale before, it tells the story of Princess Aurora. Starting with her christening day, when Carabosse interrupts the ceremony and places a curse on the new princess, meaning she’ll prick her finger on her birthday and die. Luckily, the lilac fairy manages to lessen the curse, to put Aurora and the kingdom into a deep sleep for 100 years, only to be woken by true loves kiss. The ballet consists ...
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The Showstoppers (Socially Distanced) Improvised Musical
25Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

The Showstoppers (Socially Distanced) Improvised Musical

In this bizarre new world that we find ourselves in artists are being creative in finding a new way to perform to give the gift of entertainment to their audience.  The Showstoppers have been busy trying to keep going with such great shows as the ‘Alternative Eurovision Song Contest’ which saw The Showstoppers and guests represent a country, in a battle to win the Eurovision crown.  In a bid to move their show from online into more of a studio environment where they could all at least be in the same room albeit socially distanced and shielded behind plastic screens; The Showstoppers got together to do what they do best – improvise a musical. Tonight, the Showstopper team were Ruth Bratt, Adam Meggido, Justin Brett and Ali James, with Andrew Pugsley introducing and acting as...
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‘Cheap and Cheerful Outdoor Show’
24Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

‘Cheap and Cheerful Outdoor Show’

I am sure by now all theatre/entertainment lovers are in need of some much needed ‘Live’ performance.  A chance to enjoy the outdoors and to sit back and enjoy live cabaret to brighten up your Sunday afternoon. OPEN AIR THEATRE SHOW AT INGLENOOK FARM SUNDAY 30th AUGUST ‪2pm & 5pm showings (1hr) Bring your own picnic! Come rain or come shine! Its Tommy Cooper meets Bruce Forsyth in this brand new, jam packed cabaret show! Join double act Mr Mac Cheap and Mr Jerry Cheerful as they whirl through non-stop gags, routines and showbiz tunes from Gershwin and Fred Astaire to Frank Sinatra and Barry Manilow. All in the company of their live travelling band. Young or old, this charming homage to Vaudeville and Variety is bound to have your feet tapping and your belly laug...
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The Weir – Irish Repertory Theatre Online Series
24Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

The Weir – Irish Repertory Theatre Online Series

The Irish Rep was founded by Ciaran O’Reilly and Charlotte Moore and opened in 1988 with its first play Sean O’Casey’s ‘The Plough and the Stars’.  Thirty-one years later, it is still the only theatre in North America to bring Irish plays to New York. ‘The Weir’ was written by Conor McPherson and after seeing his adaptation of ‘Uncle Vanya’ in London, I was interested to see if he would lend his keen wit to this production.  Originally staged in 2013 and then re-staged in 2015, the play won an Olivier Award for Best Play and three of the original cast members (John Keating, Sean Gormley and Dan Butler) have returned for this digital version of the production. Set in 1997 in a country pub in Ireland, Brendan (Tim Ruddy) owns the local pub whilst also running his farm.  ...
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New 2021 Dates for UK and Ireland tour of Grease
22Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

New 2021 Dates for UK and Ireland tour of Grease

The producers of the first new production in 25 years of Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s iconic musical Grease, are delighted that the show will tour the UK and Ireland in 2021. The musical was due to tour in 2020 but had to be postponed due to COVID-19. The 2021 tour will begin at Theatre Royal Plymouth, running from 22nd – 30th January, and will then play Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff from 1st – 6th February, Bristol Hippodrome from 8th – 13th February, Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 16th – 20th February, Norwich Theatre Royal from 22nd – 27th February, Milton Keynes Theatre from 1st – 6th March, Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin from 16th – 27th March, The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford from 29th March – 3rd April, Liverpool Empire from 5th – 10th April, Sheffield Lyceum from 12th – 1...
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Pitlochry Festival Theatre launch four months of online premières
22Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Pitlochry Festival Theatre launch four months of online premières

As part of their response to lockdown Pitlochry Festival Theatre is launching four months of online premieres as part of its three-year Shades of Tay project, The series of new digitals works under the banner of A Love Letter to Scotland launch on August 7th and are written by an exciting line-up of British playwrights and poets including Timberlake Wertenbaker, Jo Clifford, Hannah Khalil, Peter Arnott, Abi Zakarian and Chinonyerem Odimba. They are being brought to life by the theatre’s 2020 Summer Season ensemble and form a vital part of the theatre’s tri-daily, digital series #PFTLightHopeJoy, which launched just before lockdown began. Inspired by the River Tay and its surrounding landscape the works will be performed as audio dramas, podcasts, short films. The cast will also pe...
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BAFTA-nominated Ruth Madeley leads cast for new season of monologues from Bolton Octagon
22Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

BAFTA-nominated Ruth Madeley leads cast for new season of monologues from Bolton Octagon

This summer Bolton Octagon are producing a season of 10 new audio recordings of monologues written by local writers. The monologues were penned by winners of the ‘One Night In Bolton’ writing competition inspired by the play which was due to be the opening performance at the theatre as it reopened after 2 years of construction. Due to the impact of COVID-19 the reopening of the theatre has been delayed, and instead the Octagon decided to inspire creativity in lockdown by running a creative writing competition. The monologues will be released online over the summer and a selection broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester. Bolton actor and BAFTA nominee Ruth Madeley, known for her role in the BBC’s critically acclaimed drama Years and Years, who will be performing The Queen of Bolton Baths...
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Mikron Theatre Company smash fundraising target in less than three weeks
22Jul By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Mikron Theatre Company smash fundraising target in less than three weeks

Mikron Theatre have smashed through their fundraising target of £48,337.49 in only three weeks which means they can stage their 50th year of touring in 2021.  That very specific target was the shortfall they calculated cancelling their entire 2020 season had cost the Yorkshire based company, but their incredibly loyal band of fans built up over the last 48 years rallied round to keep them afloat. The company have been touring the UK’s canals, rivers and roads onboard a vintage narrowboat putting on their shows in places that other theatre companies wouldn't even think about from a play about growing-your-own shown in allotments to a work about chips to audiences in a fish and chips restaurant. The runaway success of this appeal means Mikron can tour two brand new shows in...
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