FEATURES Archives - Page 6 of 12

In defence of the weird and wonderful world of the theatre chat message boards

20Jan

By Craig HepworthNo Comments

Blogs

In defence of the weird and wonderful world of the theatre chat message boards

The simple thought of the theatre chat boards like BroadwayWorld or TheatreBoard is enough to send writers, directors, performers and producers running screaming into the night. Before the curtain drops on your first night performance, the message boards have already lit up with reviews, comments and thoughts on the latest show, and unlike paid critics, they don't hold back if they do not like something. If producers had magic powers, they would make these boards vanish, but why, why do they have such a bad rap? I have been a member of the Broadway World chat board for well over a decade, I have seen everything you can see from smartly written reviews, bitching and fighting, gossiping and paid shills (more on that later). Over the years my mind has flipped back and forth on the idea of ...

11Jan

By Craig HepworthNo Comments

Blogs

In The Spotlight

Hello North West End Welcome to my new weekly column here on the site, where I will talk all things theatre from local to touring, West End to Broadway and more. My name is Craig, and I am a playwright and director here in wonderful Manchester and also the co-owner of the long running theatre production company Vertigo. I am thrilled to be able to spend a little time with you each week with this column and share what's going on in the theatre world. So, with that said, I thought it might be best to bring you up to date with all that's going on around the world in theatre when it comes to everybody's least favourite party guest... Covid. It's been a dreadful two years for the theatre industry, and today we are still fighting to figure out a way to move forward in this new normal...

Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker, joint founders of ‘A Bit Lit’

7Jan

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

Interviews

Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker, joint founders of ‘A Bit Lit’

After hearing Andy Kesson speak at a Shakespeare Festival a couple of years ago, I was eager to find out more about the newly formed collaboration ‘A Bit Lit’. Founded by couple Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker, they are excited to share their passion for Shakespeare with others who wish to learn about the culture of the 1600’s. Using performance, this will be a truly interactive, inclusive way of learning. A Bit Lit’s A Day Out in Shakespeare’s Theatre will take place on Saturday 15th January 4pm–6pm, and will be followed by a longer course, How to Make an Elizabethan Theatre starting 14th February. To find out more and book tickets visit - https://abitlit.co/ Further courses and events will be announced soon. Your first course A Day Out in Shakespeare’s Theatre, offe...

Donald and Benoit will be enchanting Sound Stage audiences this Christmas

9Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Donald and Benoit will be enchanting Sound Stage audiences this Christmas

This Christmas Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Prime Theatre present a Sound Stage festive premiere of audio play Donald and Benoit, based on a children’s book created by legendary Scottish writer John Patrick Byrne, and adapted by the award-winning lighting designer Jeanine Byrne. For the uninitiated Sound Stage is an innovative audio-digital venture offering audiences a unique and engrossing online theatre experience of new plays from the best in British theatre. They are works that in the future Pitlochry hope to convert for the stage. Jeanine Byrne is best known for her lighting design, but her second cancer diagnosis means she dedicates all her spare energy to making work, including this family friendly adaptation of Benoit and Donald, which is available on Sound Stage from 17-19...

From Japan to Leeds Playhouse – Rupert Hands

2Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

From Japan to Leeds Playhouse – Rupert Hands

The annual festive shows at Leeds Playhouse have become must see spectaculars for theatre lovers across West Yorkshire and this year they recruited a massive cast to rethink the legend of Peter Pan Wendy & Peter offers a new spin on the JM Barrie classic as writer Ella Hickson has decided to tell the story through Wendy Darling's eyes, but audiences can rest assured it’s still going to be a rollicking tale of a battle in Neverland with the dastardly Captain Hook full of flying, fighting and fun. This version of the beloved tale of the boy who won’t grow up started life at the Royal Shakespeare Company and has just returned from a critically acclaimed run in Tokyo. There the creative team added an epic score by Japanese composer Shuhei Kamimura and added some Anime video design. ...

From Japan to Leeds Playhouse – Jonathan Munby

28Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

From Japan to Leeds Playhouse – Jonathan Munby

Peter Pan is one of our culture’s most enduring characters but a new festive production at Leeds Playhouse takes a fresh look at the boy who refuses to grow up. This time round in Wendy & Pan the endless child’s traditional sparring partner Wendy Darling takes centre stage in Ella Hickson’s adaption of JM Barrie’s classic, but you can still expect to see the dastardly Captain Hook, The Lost Boys, a pirate ship and a crocodile in the Playhouse’s festive spectacular. This production comes straight from a successful run in Tokyo during the Olympics, featuring input from Japanese creatives, and boasts a big cast who will fight and fly their way round the huge Quarry theatre. Jonathan Munby is co-directing Wendy and Peter, and in the first of a two part look at this show tells our ...

Dianne Pilkington flies into Leeds Grand with Bedknobs and Broomsticks

28Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Dianne Pilkington flies into Leeds Grand with Bedknobs and Broomsticks

When families settle down for a festive film one of the perineal favourites is BedKnobs and Broomsticks starring musical legends Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson. It’s a magical and often surreal tale of a trainee witch Eglantine Price who takes under her wing three orphans evacuated from the London blitz who fly an enchanted bed in a quest to find a spell helped by a dodgy professor of magic. The movie features some memorable songs from the pen of the Sherman Brothers and its cutting-edge animation combined with live action won the Disney team an Oscar for best Special Effects. Now it has been turned into a stage show with some new songs that comes to Leeds Grand from December 8th and plays into the new year. Dianne Pilkington plays the trainee witch on the show’s first UK tou...

Nana-Kofi Kufour talks about his debut play My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored

18Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Nana-Kofi Kufour talks about his debut play My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored

Black people in this country are nine times more likely to be stopped and searched and that is what happens to Reece in Nana-Kofi Kurfour’s debut play. In My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored the teenager appeals to his black teacher Gillian for help but she refuses leading to a tense standoff in their classroom the next day. No one can accuse this new writer of picking an easy topic for this tense two hander, but it’s a subject that impacts on all of us in modern Britain one way or another. It’s no surprise it’s being produced by Leeds based radical theatre company Red Ladder, who have a long history of taking on subjects no-one else wants to touch. As My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored gets its World Premiere at Leeds Playhouse our Yorkshire editor Paul Clarke caught up Nana...

Spotlight on Matthew Jeans – White Christmas The Musical

12Nov

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

Interviews

Spotlight on Matthew Jeans – White Christmas The Musical

Ahead of the White Christmas The Musical UK Tour, we caught up with Matthew Jeans who plays the role of Bob Wallace. If you would like to see something festive during this Winter season, that will truly put you in the mood for Christmas, then book tickets to see White Christmas at one of its four tour destinations. To book tickets go to - https://www.whitechristmasthemusical.co.uk/uk-tour/ For those who have never seen the movie, what can audiences expect to see when watching ‘White Christmas’? I think people can expect to see a truly beautiful show, with a heart-warming story and stunning musical score. The set and costumes are fantastic, and the dance numbers are unlike any I’ve seen in a good while. I really think it has got something for everyone and is a ...

Leeds Playhouse’s Rio Matchett talks about the return of their Furnace Festival after a two year break

8Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Leeds Playhouse’s Rio Matchett talks about the return of their Furnace Festival after a two year break

There is always a joy in watching fully formed work, but there is equal satisfaction being able to watch artists develop new pieces, which is where a safe space like the Furnace Festival at Leeds Playhouse comes in. Artists often talk about learning as much from failing as what works so Furnace offers them a year-round development programme which the Playhouse says is their development engine offering a place to play and learn as pieces come to life. The Playhouse use their Furnace brand to describe all of the work they do to generate and create new performance work that supports the local creative community Usually that work is showcased in an annual live programme where artists present their work in all sorts of stages of development but last year was cancelled for obvious reaso...