North West Archives - Page 102 of 174

Family Tree – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

8May

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Family Tree – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Matthew Xia has produced an outstanding serving of unremembered history. A fascinating celebration of black life, past and present, and the importance of what connects us all in the human condition. Mojisola Adebayo’ s powerful words were tackled by the cast with sensitivity and flare, and a quick mention to Aminita Francis for handling the difficult poetic language of Henrietta Lacks with nuance and verve. This is a story that spans ninety minutes but captures centuries. A performance that does not shy from cultural celebration but shares the infectious energy of Diane Alison-Mitchell’s traditional dance and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers cultural song. It will definitely make you smile. It was evident that a lot of research has been put into this production. It is a searing lesson of...

5May

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

If You Fall – HOME, Manchester

So, what happens when you lose your independence, your voice, your mind – the essence of what makes you, you? This question is answered by Ad Infinitum, a multi award winning Bristol based theatre company directed by Helena Middleton, currently settling into a run at HOME as part of a UK tour. This is a collaborative piece of devised theatre which tells the stories of Margaret and Norson. A story about care, love and the end of our lives. Using personal testimony, the company ensemble has created an imaginative, real and compassionate piece of physical theatre. We first meet Margaret at her funeral objecting that her Eulogy appears to be focused on the end of her life rather than the sum of it. She does not want to be remembered as in a care home with vascular dementia but that she w...

5May

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

A Gen-Z Guide To Life – 53Two

53Two is a great little theatre venue, bar, café and overall cosy setting. Based under the iconic Manchester arches, 53Two was created by Manchester Actors' Platform, MAP, established to provide affordable, professional services for actors. In doing so, it plays home to new and emerging theatre such as this new play performed by graduating students from the Institute for Contemporary Theatre: the company ‘Groundwork’ present, A Gen-Z Guide To Life. As part of the ‘53New’, this show is at the beginning of its journey, performed in a safe and supportive space as the production starts to take shape. As stated by Groundwork at the end of their piece, they’re looking for feedback to improve and refine their performance to take forward as part of their dissertation. The short performanc...

5May

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Dirty Corset – Shakespeare North Playhouse

They say history has a way of repeating itself. Theatres may have been temporarily closed by covid in our lifetimes but, in 1642, it was the Puritan sensibilities that prompted a 20year ban on public acting. And so tonight, we are immersed into the end of that period, in the company of Bang Tidy Theatre, whose three performers are embracing the new style of Restoration theatre, a much more vulgar and libertine style than audiences were used to. Directed by Helen Tennison, it’s a chaotic, bawdy affair, melding 21st century and Restoration language (reminding all that spectacular swearing isn’t a modern invention). We meet Neil Hasbeen (Laurie Coldwell), Mary Moralless (Chloe Darke) and Isabinda McLovealot (Susannah Scott) seemingly happy to be back on stage with their play “A Lord Nam...

5May

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

UKRLAND – Unity, Liverpool

An aesthetically outstanding performance sharing the untold stories of survival, strength and determination of ordinary women living in Ukraine. Their endurance in maintaining the idea of hope and love in the face of fear, death and hate is powerful and poignant in this mesmerising and incredible show. Following its acclaimed UK tour, this breath taking one woman show arrives in Liverpool as part of ‘A Place of Hope’, a two-week long free programme celebrating Ukraine with an incredible schedule of music, dance, movement and poetry. UKRLAND, a combination of ‘Ukraine’ and ‘land’, documents 8 stories written by Ukrainian playwrights and the unique perspectives from women experiencing the horrors of war first hand. Created by theatre makers Yurii Radionov and Shor...

4May

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Unexpected Twist – The Lowry

Michael Rosen is a British children's author, poet, presenter, political columnist, broadcaster, and activist who has written 140 books. Rosen wrote ‘Unexpected Twist’ in 2018 which is the re-telling of the Charles Dickens classic ‘Oliver Twist’ - Michael Rosen has combined the two stories into one, with his modern story ‘Unexpected Twist’ and the 1838 Dickens classic that he states inspired it. The two stories allegedly twist together unexpectedly, set in modern-day, teenager Shona (Drew Hylton) lives with her single dad (Thomas Vernal) and relies on benefits to survive. They have been forced to move due to a familiar cycle of debt of her unemployed father following the death of her beloved mother - moving means yet another school to attend an all too cyclic event f...

3May

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Sucker Punch – The Lowry

Set in London during the 1980s Sucker Punch follows the relationship of Leon and Troy, two young black men who have been caught breaking into a local boxing gym and are now paying penance to, gym owner, Charlie (Liam Smith) in exchange for him not involving the police in their misdemeanors. Why these two young men break into the gym in the first place was not clear, it does not matter. What does matter is that the middle-aged Charlie is white, racist, sexist and homophobic and these two young men are at his mercy. On entering the theatre it is 1981. Ska music plays. Charlie and protégé Tommy (John Rogers) are warming up and then training in the ring as the audience settle. Sandra Falase’s set very successfully creates the back street gym typified in the East End of London; the boxing...

The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Liverpool Empire

3May

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Liverpool Empire

A celebration of the worlds possible to create onstage. Katy Rudd and Joel Horwood, along with their creative teams have transformed Neil Gaiman’s story into a masterclass of theatre making. The attention to detail and appreciation for the magical realism of the world in and around the Hempstock’s farm, did not go unnoticed. The slick choreography and complicated set changes proved part of the magic and kept the audience gasping and giggling at just how they did it. Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg Standout aspects were Ian Dickinson’s sound design and Samuel Wyer’s puppets. With delicate power, these aspects of the performance brought more life and atmosphere to the stage than any other. A perfect accompaniment to the actor’s performances, that kept us believing in the world onstage a...

All England Theatre Festival Northern Semi-Final 2023 – Valley Community Theatre

2May

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

All England Theatre Festival Northern Semi-Final 2023 – Valley Community Theatre

The northern semi - final proudly showcases its dramatic offerings in this penultimate round of the All England Theatre Festival with the north proving its standard of community theatre has the potential to be a strong contender to win, as groups battle for a spot in the final. The Valley Theatre Netherley, known as the ‘little theatre with a big heart’, serves as host for this weekend of local theatrical talent in a diverse programme of one act plays under the watchful eye of adjudicator Christopher Baglin. The Valley Theatre is spacious and adaptable, just right for this type of event. The following review covers the first day of the semi-finals and judging by the standard of the performances, it looks to be a weekend of fabulous theatre. Saltburn ’53 Drama Group...

Betty Legs Diamond Show – Stockport Plaza

2May

By Philip EdwardsNo Comments

North West

Betty Legs Diamond Show – Stockport Plaza

Tonight was a night at the theatre for enjoyment, not to write reviews, yet here I am clacking the keyboard at 11am!!!! Fact is, I want to share news about the confection of a show I have just seen at the always lovely Plaza Theatre, Stockport. Drag is being, pardon the pun, dragged through the hedge backwards by right wing politicians who find it, well, subversive I guess, but as has always been the case, subversion can be a power for good. That is exactly the case with The Betty Legs Diamond show, currently touring. Betty was the legendary host of Funny Girls club in Blackpool and, cutting a long story short, she/he/they are now taking the show on the road. With a talented cast of six dancers Ms Diamond has filled the stage with movement and comedy that remind us that the...