Tracey Bell, Author at North West End UK

21Mar

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Toxic – Playhouse Theatre, Sheffield

Warning – Age guidance 18+ containing scenes of an adult nature that some may find distressing. A Powerful and evocative laying bare of relationships and individuals facing a world of stigma. A Dibby Theatre Production - Toxic written Nathaniel J Hall gives the audience a powerhouse portrayal of extreme emotions rather than pure toxicity in this tale of two queer and damaged individuals whose lives entwine. A stark and beautiful tale, Toxic is explosively semi-autobiographical and is Hall’s second instalment as a playwright, after the successful and award winning ‘First Time’ - the show about staying positive in a negative world. Toxic in the words of Hall is ‘the story of how we met, fell in love and f**ked up!’ It’s 2017 and in Manchester, two damaged 30 somethings set up a m...

19Mar

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Rock of Ages – Sheffield Lyceum

A Racy, raucous feast of Rock! Rocking its way to the Sheffield Lyceum, Croft House Theatre Company, who never fail to impress, catapult the comedy and rouse the raucous in the aptly named Rock of Ages. Book by Chris D’Arienzo and Musical arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp. Directed and choreographed with flair by Claire Harriott, this difficult script is given an energetic and racy outing, with a strong and able cast of principals and ensemble, filling the stage and creating the crazy hedonistic era. Matt Symonds does a superb job as Musical Director and Keys, he has his work cut out with the full on and complex score. Liam Stevenson on Lead Guitar plays some excellent guitar solo’s joined by Jeff Swift on Guitar two, Matt Jackson (great wig!) on Bass Guitar and the excellen...

A Streetcar Named Desire – Crucible Theatre

13Mar

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Streetcar Named Desire – Crucible Theatre

All that exceptional theatre should be. An A-Z of how it should be done! Tennesse Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning classic tale of emotional issues is given a splendidly simmering but still honest revival at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield this month. We are instantly transported to the heady, sultry streets of New Orleans in the 1940’s where a jadedly delicate and neurotic southern belle, Blanche Dubois seeks solace with her sister Stella and her brutish husband Stanley. As a battle for Stella’s heart is warred between Blanche and Stanley and the southern stifling heat is only matched by the intense heat of the futile feud. Blanche’s southern belle charm and airs and graces are transparent to Stanley and secrets of the past are unearthed, thus both sisters must choose between reality...

12Mar

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Ghost The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

We are all familiar with the 1990 film Ghost, with its iconic casting of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, the famous potter’s wheel scene and the soaring soundtrack of Unchained Melody – now this latest and slightly reworked touring production has manifested itself at the Sheffield Lyceum. This Bill Kenwright Ltd production with a masterful Book and Lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin and Music and Lyrics by Eurythmics Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard had is first stage opening in 2011 and all will forever by judged by that stunningly visual production. Unfortunately, I found myself having to ‘suspend my disbelief’ as this production as it left me sporadically underwhelmed and at times - disappointed. The title alone leads us to expect supernatural / unexplainable occurrences and the special...

Pig Heart Boy – Sheffield Theatres Playhouse

5Mar

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Pig Heart Boy – Sheffield Theatres Playhouse

This play with a big heart is based on the novel by Malorie Blackman and newly adapted by Winsome Pinnock, Pig Heart Boy is an emotive and thought-provoking stage play. With the just the right amount of suggestion opposed to detail, this educational production aimed at the young adult audience, provides plenty of room for discussion both before and after. As all good theatre in education, we are introduced to the moral dilemma and allowed to consider, ruminate and make up our own minds as to the ethical/moral issue. Cameron is awaiting a heart transplant after a childhood illness severely weaken his own. With the clock ticking and his life on hold, unable to do the things his friends do and live life to the full, he is offered a pioneering, top secret and some say - unethical option of ...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Sheffield Lyceum

20Feb

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Sheffield Lyceum

High Flying Fantasy with scrumptious special effects. With Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman the well-known 1968 children’s musical fantasy film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in its stage adaptation by Jeremy Sams soars into the Sheffield Lyceum. With the original book written by the Bond/007 creator Ian Fleming and direction by Thom Southerland, choreography by Karen Bruce and Morgan Large as Set and Costume Designer this production as all the elements to fly high… literally!! The eight piece orchestra sound ‘toot sweet’ under the baton of MD Jessica Viner filling the auditorium with the familiar and much loved tunes right from the opening Entr’Acte. The Story - Inventor Caractacus Potts transforms an old race car into a magical flying vehicle that transports hi...

12Feb

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Ghost Stories – Sheffield Lyceum

Psychological Horror with a twist! Tension… Suspense…Atmosphere… Imagination… Unsettling to say the least! Ghost Stories the theatrical experience has recently been made into a film but still remains something unique in its ‘here and now’ form on the stage. This One Act production was written 15 years ago by Jeremy Dyson (Co-writer of the much acclaimed League of Gentlemen) and Award winning Actor/Director Andy Nyman and has played in eight different far flung countries and now Ghost Stories is once again currently touring the UK. Reviewers of Ghost Stories are asked not to divulge the plot or secrets of the show, and I will certainly adhere to that. Thus, Ghost Stories remains a rare thing; in a world of information technology; a modern experience you have to see ‘spoiler free’. ...

Murder on The Orient Express – Sheffield Lyceum

6Feb

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Murder on The Orient Express – Sheffield Lyceum

Trains, tension and covered tracks! As Agatha Christie’s 1934, now famous novel steamed into the Sheffield Lyceum this week and it’s all aboard the Orient Express. Adapted by Ken Ludwig for the stage, this is the premier UK tour after its US launch in 2017. Directed by Lucy Bailey we travel with Christie’s famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot on the luxurious Orient Express in the Winter of 1934, as he makes his way back to England. The journey is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift and an American Tycoon is found violently murdered in his cabin, with the door locked from the inside. A myriad of suspects happen to adorn the first class carriages. Using his ‘little grey cells’ and forensic evidence, Poirot must solve his most difficult crime but, there is more at stake than just the ...

1Feb

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Robin Hood – The Montgomery Theatre

A sure-fire Hit – It’s a Bullseye! With a strong immersed cast of 40, Handsworth and Hallam Theatre Company hit the stage at the newly refurbished Montgomery Theatre in Sheffield and score a bullseye with their pantomime Robin Hood. The hilarious script is written by Tom Whalley and the cast make sure every arrow, although anything but straight and with plenty of quiver, hit their target audience! With traditional backdrops we are transported from village to woods and even ‘fungeons’. The story follows the well-known tale of Robin Hood and his love for Maid Marion pitted against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and his scheming for power and wealth. Add in in true pantomime tradition the very Merry Men, the obligatory Dame Nanny Fanny Flapjack and her hapless son Silly Willy (who is anyth...

29Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chicago – Sheffield Lyceum

Flawless flirtatious perfection! The Sheffield Lyceum hosts one of the biggest musical triumphs of all time, over 50 international awards – Grammy, Olivier, Tony, the longest running American Musical. We are greeted by a bare stage except a spot lit single chair and a Bowler hat, enter one performer, sassy, sexy, seductive, sensual, sinuous, sophisticated and slinky and so it begins… ‘Murder, Greed, Corruption, Exploitation, Adultery, Treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts… Thank you’. It could only be Kander and Ebb’s Chicago. Originally directed and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse in 1975, this UK touring production stays true to his genius giving us the instantly recognisable, classic tone and style. Based on the true story as reported in the C...