REVIEWS Archives - North West End UK

22Dec

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Star of Wonder – Unity Theatre

This collaborative production from Theatre Porto and Teatro Pomodoro, originally performed at Theatre Porto in 2022, follows its own star as it travels from Ellesmere Port to arrive in Liverpool’s Unity Theatre where, under the direction of Nina Hajiyianni, it delights and enthrals in equal measure. In this modern take on the nativity tale, five friends (Carmen Arquelladas; Jordan Connerty, Miwa Nagai; Nikki Hill; Simone Tani) and a teddy bear set out to follow a star using a unique form of transport. Despite becoming separated, their journey continues including having to overcome the challenges of mirages, sandstorms, and quicksand, as well occasional attacks from a pair of shepherds and their flock of sheep. With the group eventually reunited, the question is whether they will finally...

21Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Aladdin – The Brindley

The atmosphere inside The Brindley last night was electric as scores of excited children (and some adults) took their seats in readiness to witness this year’s pantomime, Aladdin. This was my first time watching a Brindley pantomime produced in association with New Pantomime Productions Ltd and it definitely won’t be my last. I have seen over the years many versions of Aladdin; all slightly different and last night was no exception. The cast of 10 adults and dance troupe of 10 youngsters all shone from the opening Spice Girls inspired number until the colourful finale. Rubin Cavanagh as Aladdin is immediately likeable and has superb chemistry with Brindley regular Rebecca Lake who plays his love interest Princess Yasmin alongside her protective mother the Empress played by Traitors s...

21Dec

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Ballet Shoes – National Theatre

Based on the well-loved novel by Noel Streatfeild, Ballet Shoes is the heartwarming story of three orphans who, in twists of fate, find themselves as sisters with the unlikely but chosen surname of “Fossil”. Pauline, Petrova and Posy make a vow to put their name in the history books and make a living to support their unconventional but loving family. Before we meet the Fossils, we are told of Sylvia (Pearl Mackie), who finds herself orphaned and taken to live with her only living relative, Great Uncle Matthew (Philip Labey), or more affectionately known as “GUM”. GUM is a collector of fossils and a devoted geologist, who adventures around the world looking for the next gem. The three treasures he happens to bring home are the three orphan sisters, much to the dismay of Sylvia’s Nana (Je...

21Dec

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Cinderella – Kings Head Theatre

I had the luxury of seeing Cinderella in Pantomime at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington. They have 2 varieties of this performance with a family showing and an adults only showing. I had the pleasure of seeing the adults only showing with different guest performances throughout their running. A standout feature of this show is the inclusion of voiceovers by none other than Dame Judi Dench and Miriam Margolyes. Their iconic voices add an extra touch of magic and prestige to an already delightful production. True to pantomime tradition, the show is packed with audience participation, cheesy jokes, and a script that keeps the laughter rolling from start to finish. As an adults-only performance, it adds an extra layer of risqué humour and cheeky innuendos, making it an unforgettable ex...

Mrs Peacock’s Feathers – Alexander House, Auchterarder

21Dec

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

Scotland

Mrs Peacock’s Feathers – Alexander House, Auchterarder

In the depths of the Scottish countryside, I attended the birthday party celebrations of a close friend. Alexander House was the perfect setting to host such an event, and in the evening, it functioned as the stage for quite a different theatrical experience. The challenge for this company of actors, was to entertain the seventeen guests with a murder mystery evening, without prior knowledge that they were entertaining a theatre reviewer, and two police officers! The theatre company that was booked for the evening were ‘Can You Catch The Killer?’ a company specialising in staging murder mystery events at a location chosen by the client. Our remote house added another layer of eeriness to the proceedings, which were completely managed by the company. The evening c...

20Dec

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

A Christmas Carol – Norton Priory

Theres something so magical about seeing the Dickens masterpiece ‘A Christmas Carol’ played live around Christmas time. We are all drawn to watch a version of the story around the season whether it be the Alistair Sim black and white classic or the Muppet version, it is a tale that we all know and love. So, I have seen several short plays, shown in front of the iconic grand entrance to the priory and the huge double doors of the entrance are a magnificent backdrop – and for this play were used wonderfully being the entrance for each ghost to appear through billows of smoke. For tonight’s short rendition ( 1 hour) of the tale of reflection, anguish and remorse, there were just 5 cast members - the formidable Ebeneezer Scrooge , played superbly by &nb...

The King of Broken Things – Riverside Studios

20Dec

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

The King of Broken Things – Riverside Studios

At the start of The King of Broken Things, we enter into a space full of lost, discarded objects. We sit. We contemplate the items around us – well loved, full of potential. A young child arrives, fleeing bullies, and then, having pushed out their cruel, overwhelming voices, shares with us what it means to be broken, what it means to mend and what possibilities exist for us when we dream, imagine and believe. The King of Broken Things, written and directed by Michael Taylor-Broderick, who collaborated on the (lovely) design with Bryan Hiles and Darren Peens, is a delightful story for the whole family. Creatively textured and built out, and ever inviting the audience to join in on the fun, whimsy, and heart, the show offers adults and children alike a window into a more joyous, mor...

20Dec

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Almeida Theatre

Hot off two acclaimed productions of Tennessee Williams’s Summer and Smoke and A Streetcar Named Desire, Rebecca Frecknall and the Almeida Theatre are reunited once more in her new staging of three-act play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. But can she make it a hat trick? One of Williams’s most famous plays — and reportedly his favourite — Cat on a Hot Tin Roof tackles family dysfunction, falsehoods, and the fear of death. Gathering for patriarch Big Daddy’s (Lennie James) 65th birthday, alcoholic son Brick (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and rags-to-riches wife Maggie (Daisy Edgar-Jones) confront their crumbling relationship amid a web of lies about Big Daddy’s ailing health. Having undergone recent tests, Big Daddy and Big Mama (Clare Burt) have been told he’s in the clear. It’s only his children who know ...

18Dec

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

Cyrano – Park Theatre

Cyrano at the Park Theatre is an exceptionally entertaining evening out. Virginia Gay’s reworking of Edmond Rostand’s 19th century play is transformational, turning an old, ossified tragedy into an uplifting and heartfelt exploration of queerness and love. The play follows Cyrano, who has a brilliant mind but is deeply insecure in her body. She falls for the equally intelligent Roxanne, who instead falls for the handsome yet ineloquent Yan. Unable to express her love openly, Cyrano takes to seducing Roxanne through Yan, feeding him the right words. Through this tension, Cyrano explores unrequited love, self-hatred, arrogance, and manipulation. Virigina Gay and Jessica Whitehurst flourish as Cyrano and Roxanne respectively. Their chemistry is compelling as are the barriers to their ro...

Rodney Black: Who Cares? It’s Working – Lion & Unicorn

18Dec

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

Rodney Black: Who Cares? It’s Working – Lion & Unicorn

Most shows are interested primarily in being funny. But what happens when you try to go deeper than that? To cut beneath humour, to the blood and the violence? What happens when the line between a joke and the real-world dissolves, and collapses? These are the questions that the Full Frontal Theatre poses in its no-holds-barred production of Rodney Black: Who Cares? It’s Working. Following the story of an edgelord-misogynist comedian who doesn’t seem to believe in anything he says on stage, but whose career skyrockets as he pursues a darker routine with real world impacts, Rodney Black isn’t a pleasant show to watch, nor is it meant to be; playwright Sadie Pearson and director Hen Ryan force viewers to contend with a side of comedy that most probably don’t enjoy ruminating on, their...