NEWS Archives - Page 11 of 79 - North West End UK

Centenary Theatre Company present Strictly Movie Musicals at The Brindley Theatre

26Apr

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Centenary Theatre Company present Strictly Movie Musicals at The Brindley Theatre

Following on from their sell out production of Elf the Musical in November 2022, Centenary Theatre Company complete their trilogy of revue shows showcasing some of the finest songs from the movies. This is one not to be missed. Strictly Movie Musicals features songs from MGM Classics, Oscar Winners and Animated Feature Films to name a few. Centenary have been working on the show since January, finessing the production to ensure they continue to perform to the highest standard for their audiences. Rehearsals are going brilliantly, with the cast learning some fantastic choreography to make the show a real crowd pleaser. Centenary Chairperson Ria Hall said: “We are so excited to be returning to the Brindley with a third and final ‘Strictly Musicals’ show. We’re all incredibly pr...

Exciting Line-up at the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden

26Apr

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

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Exciting Line-up at the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden

If, like me, you have never been to Prescot, it’s a sleepy historic town which now has at its heart a crown of glory – Shakespeare North Playhouse: a modern spacious complex that stands in the centre of the town by the church and gardens and it is a welcoming, beautiful space as soon as you enter. With gift shop, large airy coffee shop and three wonderful performance areas. This was well worth the wait! In the 1590s a remarkable theatre stood in Prescot: The Playhouse hosted performances made possible by the Earl of Derby and later the Cockpit Theatre was the inspiration for this contemporary building. Twenty years ago, conversations were had, and plans begun. Last year it opened to audiences, bringing live theatre to the heart of its community. In less than a year Shakespeare...

Sit down and stop rocking the boat at the Forum Theatre

23Apr

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Sit down and stop rocking the boat at the Forum Theatre

Returning to The Forum Theatre following their 'flawless' and 'incredible' 5-star production of 'Sister Act', the East Cheshire Musical Theatre Company are excited to bring you their spring 2023 production of the Broadway classic, 'Guys and Dolls'! With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows the show is directed by Thom Copestake, Musical Direction by Ed Nurse, and Choreography by Sally Hilliard and Heidi Fletcher. Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy featuring unforgettable songs such as ‘Luck Be A Lady Tonight’ and ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat’. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile...

Trinity AOS are back on stage, and this time they are All Shook Up!

23Apr

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Trinity AOS are back on stage, and this time they are All Shook Up!

Trinity AOS are back on stage, and this time they are All Shook Up! Returning to the Daneside Theatre in Congleton the show runs from Tuesday 25th April until Saturday 29th. Directed by Simon Matthews, with choreography by Helen Lilley and musical direction by Richard Tadman. Following an enforced break due to Covid 19 this is the first full scale musical the society have performed since The Full Monty in March 2020, one of the last shows to perform in the area before lockdown. The music of Elvis comes alive in All Shook Up. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, All Shook Up follows a small Midwestern town that is thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of Chad, a good-looking, motorcycle-riding roustabout, who rides from town to town with a guitar on his back, blue suede shoes...

Pitlochry Festival Theatre open 2023 Season with Gypsy

20Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

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Pitlochry Festival Theatre open 2023 Season with Gypsy

Pitlochry Festival Theatre opens their 2023 Season in May with the first staging in Scotland for nearly 20 years of Gypsy. Jule Styne, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim's iconic musical is based on the comedic memoirs of famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. It tells the amusing and sassy story of pushy showbiz mother Rose, who travels across America with her daughters, Baby June and Louise, in search of success with their homemade vaudeville act. When Baby June leaves the act to elope, Rose vows to make introverted Louise into a star, and will do almost anything to see her daughter break into the big time. Musical fans will know it features the iconic songs like Some People, Let Me Entertain You and the always show-stopping Everything’s Coming Up Roses. Pitlochry Festiv...

Leeds Playhouse stage Oliver! as their next festive extravaganza

19Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Leeds Playhouse stage Oliver! as their next festive extravaganza

Audiences are invited to consider themselves at home as Leeds Playhouse stages Lionel Bart's classic Oliver! as their next Christmas show. Bart’s masterpiece adapted from Charles Dickens' rich novel was turned into an Oscar winning movie that has become a TV family favourite especially at Christmas time. This stage version Is Directed by Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director and Chief Executive James Brining, who was at the helm for their last festive hit, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical. Oliver! is a rags to riches story but one that doesn’t pull its punches about the grim reality of poverty in Victorian London. Orphaned Oliver is a small boy with a big heart as sets out on a perilous journey from a desolate workhouse to the mean streets in search of love and a place to...

The Incident Room – Old Fruit Jar Productions

19Apr

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

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The Incident Room – Old Fruit Jar Productions

Sunday afternoons are for catching up with chums, so it was a real pleasure to drop in on rehearsals with the team at Old Fruit Jar Productions to learn more about their upcoming production of The Incident Room, with Olivia Hirst and David Byrne’s beautifully crafted script most definitely in safe hands judging by the treatment of the opening act that I was fortunate to observe. Now there’s a misguided, in my opinion, line of thought at present that says following the pandemic and other recent hardships, theatre should focus on making everybody smile and avoid anything dark and contentious. OFJP are of view that the purpose of theatre remains to inform as well as entertain, especially at a time when we seem to flip from one outrage to another, none more so than those arising from the M...

National Theatre Live: Good – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

18Apr

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

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National Theatre Live: Good – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

The latest offering from National Theatre Live arrives at Altrincham Garrick Playhouse on Saturday 29 April, offering northern audiences an unmissable opportunity to witness the CP Taylor play 'Good', filmed earlier this year at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London. David Tennant (Doctor Who) makes his return to the West End stage in this powerful political drama, playing John Halder, a 'good German' who gradually finds himself being drawn into the Nazi ideology in the years leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. His innate liberalism and tolerance is gradually corrupted, eventually leading to the betrayal of his Jewish best friend, Maurice (Elliot Levy), his embracing of fascism and facilitation of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. A show with such intensity and with a...

Star-studded West End Gala at London Palladium

15Apr

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Star-studded West End Gala at London Palladium

A star-studded company will appear on stage at the London Palladium in a West End Gala charity concert of a new musical, AT LAST, IT’S SUMMER by Clive Richard Davis. Directed by Ian Talbot, and with choreography from Jordan Langford, At Last It’s Summer will be staged at the London Palladium on Sunday 16th April at 7.30pm, with all ticket sales in aid of Parkinson’s UK. Louise Dearman will star as ‘Lady Serina Stanwick, Rob Houchen as ‘Count Orilov’, Joanna Riding as ‘Countess Orilov’, Gary Wilmot as ‘Mr Wellbeloved’, Gerard Carey as ‘Gerald’, Steve Fortune as ‘Sir Garfield Sykes’, Kelly Mathieson as ‘Lady Alice Stanwick’, Shannon Rewcroft as ‘Francesca’, and with Alan Titchmarsh as the Narrator. Larry Blank orchestrates a sumptuous score and will lead a 35-piece orchestra, alongsid...

Corrie legend Paula Lane takes a trip down Quality Street at Leeds Playhouse

11Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Corrie legend Paula Lane takes a trip down Quality Street at Leeds Playhouse

Coronation Street Paula Lane made her name playing tough nut with a soft centre Kylie Platt and takes the lead role of Phoebe Throssel as bittersweet musical Quality Street comes to Leeds Playhouse. The marvellously moreish show was created with a team of retired workers from the Halifax factory where Quality Street™ chocolates have been proudly made since 1936 as they wrap the action in their witty and outrageous observations. The story centres on the romantic entanglements of Phoebe Throssel who runs a school for unruly children on Quality Street, and ten years after a tearful goodbye an old flame returns from fighting Napoleon. But the look of disappointment on Captain Valentine’s face when he greets an older, less glamorous Phoebe, spurs our determined heroine into action...