North West Archives - Page 10 of 174

Di and Viv and Rose – Theatre by the Lake

24Sep

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

North West

Di and Viv and Rose – Theatre by the Lake

I was transported back to the 1980s and student life in a northern town at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick through Amelia Bullmore’s play Di and Viv and Rose. A story of three girls who meet for the first time in their student halls of residence, this play captures their lives and friendship over the following three decades. The minimal set brought back to life the decade of the gettoblaster, bright sportswear, and a time when students had grants and no free tuition. The three very different characters - Di, a working-class, northern lesbian, Rose, a middle-class, innocent and yet promiscuous southerner, and the more mysterious Viv, a feminist whose wardrobe came from the 1940s, and who was determined to work her way to the top of academia. This funny and moving play takes us...

A Taste of Honey – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

24Sep

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

A Taste of Honey – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Opening the Garrick Studio’s new season of Manchester based plays is the iconic A Taste of Honey. It’s hard to believe that Shelagh Delanay was just 19 years old when she wrote this funny yet furious piece which still manages to hit hard and square 65 years on from its first production. Set in Salford, in a damp and draughty bedsit, we meet Helen and her teenage daughter Jo mid moonlight flit as they decamp from one squalid living quarter to another. Described in the text as a ‘semi-whore’ Helen is a single mother, trying to make ends meet by whatever means she can and grasping on to whatever opportunities may come her way. Jo is weary of their lifestyle and is searching for love and security, for guidance and comfort, where none is likely to emerge. When her mother leaves her for Pe...

23Sep

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Buddy Holly Story – The Lowry

Written and produced by Alan Janes, The Buddy Holly Story has been delighting audiences worldwide since it first opened in 1989. Having toured across continents and played to more than 22 million people, the show has become a staple of jukebox theatre. Now, under the assured direction of Matt Salisbury, it arrives at The Lowry Theatre with a vibrant new cast who capture the energy, charm and tragedy of a legend of early rock ‘n’ roll. The production follows Buddy Holly’s short yet dazzling career between 1956 and 1959, classed as the golden years of rock ‘n’ roll. Starting out as a country musician in Lubbock, Texas, Buddy quickly realised his sound belonged to a new era. With The Crickets, he forged a distinctive style that blended country roots with rhythm and blues influences, produc...

20Sep

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Macbeth – The Grange Theatre

On a damp and dark evening in September, rather suitably, Macbeth is gracing the stage at The Grange Theatre in Hartford. Directed by Thomas Frith and assisted by Ben Simon, the performance of one of Shakespeare’s finest tragedy’s is always a brave undertaking by any company.With a simple setting consisting of the points of a very large, upturned crown as a backdrop, that at times also formed part of the woods and even the castle, the stage as a visual was extremely effective. Sound on entering the theatre enticed the audience with consistent sounds of a drum beating at regular intervals, setting the scene perfectly and heightened the anticipation of what was to follow. Emily Stone as Sound designer must be congratulated for this.Matt Concannon performed the part of Macbeth and did so to a...

Season Opening Concert: Dream Team at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

19Sep

By Johanna RobertsNo Comments

North West

Season Opening Concert: Dream Team at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s season began tonight with a bold statement of intent by conductor Domingo Hindoyan, who welcomed the audience to the new season by asking them to “Cheer new composers and composers you’ve never heard of before in your life” as well as enjoying old favourites, and it is a mark of Hindoyan’s talent that while new pieces are clearly exciting and innovative, he can make familiar pieces seem fresh and draw out new insights from the orchestra. Tonight’s concert was no exception, demonstrating an orchestra and conductor at the height of their powers. The programme was very similar to that of the orchestra’s offering at the BBC proms this year, with the one change being Roldán’s La Remambaramba as the opening piece. The work by the Afro-Cuban compose...

Derby Days – Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre

19Sep

By Bethany EastonNo Comments

North West

Derby Days – Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre

Not a football fan? Feel like maybe this show isn’t for you? Think again! ‘Derby Days’ at the Royal Court is one for all with its witty dialogue, engaging pace and strong cast. With only four cast members, the play relies on the excellent dynamic between them all, and they deliver as a fantastic foursome. The play follows married couple Dave Derby (Dominic Carter) and Debbie Day (Sarah White) who both support the ‘other side’. Dave’s a red and Debbie is a blue which inevitably causes a wealth of arguing in the Derby-Day house. The pair are used to this though as is their daughter Chloe (Ellie Clayton) who navigates the fighting by pretending not to like football at all. However, Chloe visits home with her new boyfriend Mark (Elliott Kingsley) who possesses a secret he has to try and kee...

19Sep

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Romeo & Juliet – Everyman Theatre

I’m a long-time fan of director Ellie Hurt – all the way back to The B Collective days – and was looking forward eagerly to her return to Liverpool Everyman with her contemporary take on Shakespeare, but I left with a heavy heart after this production which whilst showing glimpses of her talent, felt undermined by other factors which were perhaps beyond her control. With the cast performing minor ensemble roles in the opening brawl scene, primary roles soon come to the fore as Capulet (Joe Alessi) counsels nephew Tybalt (Milo McCarthy) whilst drawing upon the wisdom of Nurse (Ebony Feare) to communicate with daughter Juliet (Alicia Forde), whilst Benvolio (Kelise Gordon-Harrison) and Mercutio (Elliot Broadfoot) seek out their lovesick cousin Romeo (Zoe West), with the Friar (Eithne Brow...

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial – The Brindley

19Sep

By Sam JamesNo Comments

North West

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial – The Brindley

Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial is a comedic, dramatic and true to the fact play all about the trial and tribulations of the well known and strange showdown between Coleen Rooney and Rebecca Vardy back in 2022. The story being brought to the stage so quickly demonstrates it's bizarre yet gripping storyline. You are greeted to a basic but effective set (Mike Hall) which clearly sets the scene for what is about to unfold. You are eager to see the witnesses take the stand as each of the characters roles are clearly defined by the staging even before they are introduced. A clever comedic effect added was the detail of having the court room separated by a football pitch to throw you into the match between the two characters. The staging was flipped in the interval to provide the a...

Calendar Girls – Blackburn Empire Theatre

18Sep

By Emma WildNo Comments

North West

Calendar Girls – Blackburn Empire Theatre

What an absolute privilege and pleasure to return to beautiful, Blackburn Empire Theatre, for Blackburn Drama Club’s first play of the 2025/2026 season, and what a cracker of a show to kick off with! Calendar Girls, based on the true story of eleven members of the Rylstone and District Women’s Institute, who, back in 1998 came up with the somewhat shocking idea of posing nude for a charity calendar. W.I. member, Tricia Stewart, was inspired by her friend’s husband, John Baker, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and who sadly passed away aged just 54, to create an unconventional calendar to raise funds to buy a new sofa for visitors, at the local hospital where John was receiving treatment. John’s wife, Angela Baker, said they discussed the idea of the nude calendar with John b...

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – Liverpool Empire

18Sep

By Sam JamesNo Comments

North West

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – Liverpool Empire

The worldwide phenomena Percy Jackson (Joe Tracz) has hit the stage with a loud and rapturous bang. Enter monsters, a heroic adventure, catchy songs and a ferocious cast and you can easily see why this adaptation of the books, films and TV series shouldn't be anything but following in the success of its predecessors of Percy Jackson. Produced and directed by Bill Kenwright, Paul Taylor-Mills and Lizzie Gee) Packed with catchy, upbeat songs which will have you toe tapping along and singing as you leave, the musical score (Rob Rokicki, Will Joy and Jeremy Wootton) and vocals for this production are beautifully orchestrated. The set design (Ryan Dawson Laight) is simple, but a very detailed, effective and dynamic staging. Minimal pieces of movable platforms are utilised to adapt the sta...