NEWS Archives - Page 19 of 86 - North West End UK

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

NEWS

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 Me...

National Theatre Live: Good – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

18Apr

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

NEWS

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

By NewsdeskNo Comments

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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, alongside...

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....

Alan Bennett joins 1001 Stories at Leeds Playhouse

7Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Alan Bennett joins 1001 Stories at Leeds Playhouse

Local legend Alan Bennett makes a rare public appearance at Leeds Playhouse to join 1001 Stories that gives a voice to the pioneering generations who have lived life to the full and are still here to share their incredible stories. As part of this innovative two-week takeover from 24th April to May 4th, the multi award winning actor, author, playwright and screenwriter, best known for The Madness of King George, The History Boys and The Lady in the Van, will return to his home city just days before his 89th birthday on May 7th. 1001 Voices was originated by Leeds-based The Performance Ensemble, and developed with Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Older People’s Forum, Leeds Museums and Galleries and Leeds 2023 to give a voice to share incredible stories of love and family, of the everyday and t...

Peter Pan Goes Wrong flies into the West End for 7 ½ weeks only

26Mar

By NewsdeskNo Comments

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Peter Pan Goes Wrong flies into the West End for 7 ½ weeks only

Mischief, creators of the multi award-winning sell-out success The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery and the BBC TV comedy series The Goes Wrong Show, announce the return of Peter Pan Goes Wrong to the West End for 7 ½ weeks only at the Lyric Theatre this Christmas (Thursday 23rd November 2023 – Sunday 14th January 2024, with a Gala Performance on Tuesday 28th November). Tickets go on sale via Mischief and the Box Office at www.PeterPanGoesWrongLive.com at 10am on Monday 27th March. Full casting will be confirmed at a later date. Peter Pan Goes Wrong embarks on a UK tour from September 2023 and can currently be seen around the globe, with original members of the Mischief company now previewing on Broadway, officially opening on Wednesday 19th April. Kenny Wax, Pro...

Shrek The Musical set to embark on huge 31 venue UK and Ireland Tour

26Mar

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Shrek The Musical set to embark on huge 31 venue UK and Ireland Tour

Shrek-tastic images have been released today of some of the principal cast in character ahead of the upcoming Shrek The Musical UK and Ireland Tour. Previously announced by producers Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale, the Shrektacular principal cast line-up includes Antony Lawrence (Shrek), Joanne Clifton (Princess Fiona), James Gillan (Lord Farquaad) and Brandon Lee Sears (Donkey) in the brand-new production of Shrek the Musical. Opening at Theatre Royal Plymouth on 21st July 2023, the smash hit musical will tour through to April 2024 to a total of 31 venues. Antony Lawrence (Shrek) recently played Scar in The Lion King (International Tour) as well as performed in Mary Poppins (National Tour), Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre/RSC) and We Will Rock You (Internationa...

Frantic Assembly bring Metamorphosis to the Lowry

26Mar

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Frantic Assembly bring Metamorphosis to the Lowry

Full tour dates have been announced for Frantic Assembly’s new adaptation of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, a collaboration between internationally celebrated poet, playwright and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE and Frantic Assembly’s Artistic Director Scott Graham (Othello, Lovesong, Beautiful Burnout). The new production will premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 12th – 16th September 2023, before embarking on an extensive UK tour arriving at The Lowry, Salford from 14th – 18th November 2023. Further creative team are also announced. Metamorphosis will be adapted by Lemn Sissay, directed by Scott Graham, designed by Jon Bausor, with video design by Ian William Galloway, music composed by Stefan Janik and sound design by Helen Skiera. The associate director is David Gilbe...

Comedy Festival to celebrate Blackpool’s legacy of laughter

26Mar

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Comedy Festival to celebrate Blackpool’s legacy of laughter

Summer spectacular spearheaded by Eddie Izzard & Seann Walsh at the Winter Gardens Blackpool The Winter Gardens Blackpool has joined forces with the Comedy Station to deliver two high profile, side-splitting line-ups on 7 & 8th July 2023 as part of a weekend of entertainment as part of the Blackpool Comedy Festival which returns for the first time since 2019. Compere Ryan Gleeson will host Friday Night Laughs and Saturday Live! welcoming some of the best stand up and most celebrated comedians to the Opera House stage. Friday Night Live will feature MC Ryan Gleeson, Jojo Sutherland, Angelos Epithemiou, Tom Stade and Eddie Izzard. Eddie is one of the most celebrated comics of her generation since the early nineties and has an equally stellar reputation as a film, tele...