NEWS Archives - Page 72 of 86 - North West End UK

Rescheduled dates announced for Frank Skinner’s ‘Showbiz’ tour in 2021

23Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Rescheduled dates announced for Frank Skinner’s ‘Showbiz’ tour in 2021

At the start of 2020, Frank Skinner had been entertaining audiences at his completely sold out five-week run of Showbiz at the West End’s Garrick Theatre and was set to take his critically acclaimed show back on the road nationwide. But due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, his rescheduled January and February 2021 dates are now being moved to June and July 2021, kicking off on 3rd June at Leicester’s De Montfort Theatre, with two performances in his hometown Birmingham at The Alexandra Theatre on 22nd and 23rd July and ending on 25th July at The Liverpool Empire. A full list of Frank’s rescheduled dates can be found at www.frankskinnerlive.com Frank said, “I haven’t heard any proper applause since they stopped the NHS Thursdays. I’m desperate. Roll on June 3rd.” In 2019, Fran...

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe join forces for an album of festive classics

21Nov

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Michael Ball and Alfie Boe join forces for an album of festive classics

Christmas could be a bit grim this year so thankfully stage legends Michael Ball and Alfie Boeare joining forces again for a new festive album. Michael and Alfie have become some of a superstar duo and are using their powerhouse voices to bring some Xmas cheer on Together at Christmas after a long year of isolation and social distancing. The pair breathe new life into favourites such as It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, Silent Night and ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’. Jazz singer Gregory Porter joins them on The Christmas Song, and the duo even perform a brand new song, My Christmas Will Be Better Than Yours’. “Me and Alfie, together at Christmas, I can’t think of anything better In these strange times,” says Michael Ball. “We wanted to create an a...

Everyman transforms into cabaret space to celebrate local artists across two weeks of shows

21Nov

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Everyman transforms into cabaret space to celebrate local artists across two weeks of shows

This Christmas, the Everyman will be transformed into a lively cabaret space for two weeks of performance, songs and merriment, featuring local organisations and artists in the theatre’s main space. Split over two weeks from 10th – 24th December, the Everyman will showcase the talents of Liverpool through evenings of song and performance, in an Everyman auditorium designed with cabaret tables and intimate, socially distanced performances in mind. From 10th – 12th December, Everyman & Friends celebrates the rich tapestry of independent arts organisations from across Liverpool, and the diversity of theatre in our city. Everyman & Friends features performances from Everyman spoken word regulars A Lovely Word, the return of the sensational burlesque show DisabiliTease – hosted by...

The Royal Variety Performance 2020 Comes to Blackpool

18Nov

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The Royal Variety Performance 2020 Comes to Blackpool

The Royal Variety Charity is thrilled to announce that the Royal Variety Performance 2020 will take place at the Blackpool Opera House, within the Winter Gardens complex, on Sunday 29th November. This year, the charity has continued to support current members of the entertainment industry with our own nationwide grants scheme, assisting many people who have found this year a particularly difficult one. Before Covid-19, it was only the top 4.8% of those working in the entertainment industry who earned above the average UK wage. Sadly, theatres, music and other entertainment venues have mostly had to close, so many more people, including those who usually work ‘job-to-job’, have sought out our assistance. The Royal Variety Charity has also continued to manage its own care home...

17Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

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Compass Festival 2021 – First Projects Announced!

Compass announce their first projects for their live art festival running from 19th – 28th March 2021. This festival was postponed from November 2020 and will now aim to invigorate public spaces by staging its live art projects in Leeds. Using spaces such as shopping centres, markets, museums and the city streets. See below for the first project announcements: Museums In People’s Homes Would you like a visit from Joshua Sofaer and Museums in People’s Homes in your home during 2021? Joshua Sofaer has created a mobile museum comprising 14 artworks, each representing a collector in Leeds, telling the fascinating stories of the museums people keep in their homes. Book a tour to see objects from our portable museum – and you can even visit a fun size café and...

Why The Child Is Cooking In The Polenta – Free Streaming by the Romanian Cultural Institute

17Nov

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Why The Child Is Cooking In The Polenta – Free Streaming by the Romanian Cultural Institute

Written by Aglaja Veteranyi, and adapted and performed by Edith Alibec, this play is based on the autobiographical book of the same name. The book loosely reflects on Veteranyi’s own experiences of life on the road with her family, after leaving Romania under a cloud. This nomadic existence was necessary for this circus performing family as they moved from town to town, they were also running away; evading detection by the Romanian authorities for a crime that was committed whilst living in Romania. Alibec was inspired to adapt this play as it resonated with her after visiting refugee camps in Germany, she wanted to highlight the vulnerability of people forced to move from their country and seek refuge in an unfamiliar country. The play never really gives the narrator ...

Panto is back in Blackpool this Christmas… OH, YES IT IS!

17Nov

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Panto is back in Blackpool this Christmas… OH, YES IT IS!

For the first time in its 157-year history Blackpool’s famous North Pier will present a Christmas pantomime. The pier’s newly named Joe Longthorne Theatre will present Cinderella from Tuesday December 15th to Sunday December 27th. Starring Britain’s Got Talent winner and Scottish singer-songwriter Jai McDowall as Prince Charming tickets are on sale now from www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackpoolpiers The production of Cinderella is presented by Blackpool-based International Shows who already programme events in the unique venue. Managing Director Dominic Creighton was determined to see panto’ return to the resort this Christmas and, due to the vast size of The Joe Longthorne Theatre, the production can be staged with full social distancing in place. Dominic said: “We are absolutel...

M6 Theatre Company to Stream When We Started Singing

17Nov

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M6 Theatre Company to Stream When We Started Singing

M6 Theatre Company will be streaming a brand-new short film for families on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November 2020. When We Started Singing for ages 5+ and families tells the story of Mr Popple (Declan Wilson), an elderly man whose acts of kindness bring his community together during lockdown. Written by Mike Peacock, the film began life as one of the winning entries in M6’s lockdown monologue writing competition. The theatre company went on to work with film maker Nick Farrimond to develop the piece. M6's Artistic Director Gilly Baskeyfield said: "Usually at this time of year we’d be creating a performance for schools which would then be toured to venues across the country. This year we’ve had to do things a little differently. When We Started Singing reflects on a shared...

Freedom Studios looking for new Youth Theatre members

17Nov

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Freedom Studios looking for new Youth Theatre members

Award-winning Bradford theatre company Freedom Studios are looking for new members aged between 11-19 to join their Youth Theatre. Freedom Studios’ youth theatre continues to offer free weekly sessions and workshops creating a space where young people can connect, create, and express themselves. Some of the Youth Theatre members have formed a small film production company to make a short film. Not only will the film production team write and perform in the films, but they will be guided through a production process from fundraising and pitching to screening and dissemination. All sessions will be delivered through a combination of Zoom workshops and in-person, where possible, at Kala Sangam under the guidance of actor, film director and online content creator Tanya Vital, j...

Keeping A Christmas Carol safe at Leeds Playhouse

16Nov

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Keeping A Christmas Carol safe at Leeds Playhouse

It’s tough enough directing a big festive show but for Leeds Playhouse’s associate director Amy Leach she also needs to keep the cast and crew safe as they rehearse A Christmas Carol during a national lockdown. They are working in their own bubble where they regularly sanitise their hands, have daily temperature checks and the rehearsal room is fogged clean every weekend. This revival of Deborah McAndrew’s version of the Dickens classic began life at Hull Truck Theatre before becoming a hit in the Playhouse’s pop up theatre they used when the main stages closed for a multi-million refurb. And the need to perform safely has forced the creatives to offer their socially distanced audience a really different show when it opens on December 3 in the Quarry Theatre. “Myself and Hayley Gr...