North West Archives - Page 105 of 174

12Apr

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Richard III – Liverpool Playhouse

This production from Rose Theatre and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres in association with Swinging the Lens sees director Adjoa Andoh take the treacherous tale of Richard III and reset it in the Cotswolds of her youth, complete with Maypole and Morris Dancing, and with the emphasis in line with more modern re-interpretations of Richard as a much-maligned character who having been punched down all of his life, decides to punch back. And Richard (Andoh) certainly punches above his weight dispatching all those with greater right to the throne including brother Clarence (Oliver Ryan), the young Prince Edward (Joshua Day) and others who oppose him including Rivers (Robin Morrissey) and Hastings (Harriett O’Grady), and whilst aided throughout by Gatesby (Harry Clarke) and Ratcliff...

Heathers the Musical – Regent Theatre, Stoke

12Apr

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

North West

Heathers the Musical – Regent Theatre, Stoke

Heathers the musical based on the cult classic film of the same name has hit Stoke-on-Trent. The show which has played packed out audiences in London is now touring the UK. The Regent Theatre is an extremely accommodating theatre for this even handing out iconic scrunchies to those of us lucky enough to review. The audience was packed out with a variety of ages, but a huge margin of the audience went to teens. It was so lovely to watch to see that shows like Heathers are keeping the audience engaged in the theatre. There were murmurs before the show of people excited to see the cult film brought to life. What can I say, brought to life it was. The show was mesmerising you couldn't take your eye off any of the action taking place on the stage. Everywhere you looked the ensemble was br...

11Apr

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

Sleeping Beauty – Epstein Theatre

It felt unusual travelling to the theatre on a very sunny and reasonably warm day to see a pantomime, but everyone’s favourite Christmas activity is making a nationwide spring comeback, with theatres around the UK, resurrecting the festive tradition for the Easter season. The Epstein Theatre’s offering is Sleeping Beauty, the traditional story of a beautiful princess who pricks her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel on her birthday, falling asleep for one hundred years until awoken by True Love’s Kiss. Written by Liam Mellor and directed by Chantelle Nolan, this fun jukebox musical pantomime features all of the traditional elements with lots of opportunity for audience participation. The pantomime is opened by our narrator, Fairy Sparkle (Katy Mac) who lives up to her glittering ...

Beauty and the Beast – St Helens Theatre Royal

8Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Beauty and the Beast – St Helens Theatre Royal

It’s time for a seasonal pantomime in St Helens and this spring offering is a Regal Entertainment’s version of Beauty and the Beast written by Liam Mellor and directed by Chantelle Nolan. As with all pantomimes here at Theatre Royal and I’ve reviewed many here it was full of audience interactions, audience participation and the odd on the fence joke with an audience member or two getting involved on stage. So, to the story, Fairy Rose (Maria Lovelady) came on to the stage to tell us all about the little town of petit pois. Gaston (Auguste Voulton) with his big muscles and charisma wanted to take Belle (Lauren McCrory) as his bride but she wasn’t interested and definitely didn’t want to marry him, so Gaston and his mother Madame Botox (Abigail Middleton) hatched a plan by slipping a poti...

8Apr

By Andrew LeeNo Comments

North West

Barely Visible – Unity Theatre

Unity theatre continues to offer a space for important and thought-provoking theatre to the city of Liverpool, and Barely Visible is no different. The venue is unique because whenever you attend the theatre, you feel that the audience invariably are on the side of the performers, they are there to learn as much as to be entertained, and performer Rowena Gander certainly achieved this. Barely Visible is a piece of physical theatre, including movement and dance around primarily pole work. It highlights social attitudes towards the lesbian community and tackles the lasting effects of some of the key difficulties lesbian women face. Quite often the phrase thought-provoking is banded around, but it is safe to say that many members of the audience left Unity this evening having learned som...

Bach St Matthew’s Passion – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

8Apr

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

North West

Bach St Matthew’s Passion – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Revered as one of the greatest choral works ever composed, Bach's St Matthew's Passion is a timeless classic. This performance is to Mendelssohn's arrangement and is sung in German. An emotional, complex and challenging work - a challenge which the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir rise to. The stage is packed and the anticipation is palpable. With a quick nod to the audience, conductor Andrew Manze is keen to get going and promptly launches the room into the evening. Dark, throbbing chords echo like a pulse as the opening chorus of The Passion begins. As well as the full Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, the Youth Choir are present for the opening chorus with chorale. The sound is alarmingly mournful. Carrying an edge of dystopia with it, the layers of the choir ring a...

Around the World in 80 Days – Theatre by the Lake

7Apr

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

North West

Around the World in 80 Days – Theatre by the Lake

The new season at Theatre by the Lake has kicked off with a classic production of Around the World in 80 Days which surprises, delights and has audiences in hysterics. Like the ticking clock timing Phileas Fogg’s journey to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days or less, the timing of the action is precise. From the opening scenes, depicting Fogg’s meticulous daily routine, the choreography of this piece of theatre is set high and is delivered with style and humour. This hilarious production is nothing like the recent TV adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic book. This is the story of a man’s wager that he could travel around the world in 80 days - and failure would mean a loss of his colossal personal wealth. Stefan Adegbola is so perfectly cast as Fogg, combining the high-handed, aloofn...

6Apr

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Mother Goose – The Lowry

Most people are introduced to the world of live theatre through the medium of pantomime, my own 1970's childhood is littered with memories of Anita Harris and Cilla Black slapping their thighs as Dandini, or John Inman in high camp mode as The Dame, household names at the time that are now consigned to occasional appearances on UK Gold. Maybe these somewhat confusing memories slightly put me off, as in the interests of full disclosure I should confess that despite spending large amounts of my time in the theatre, I don't really like pantomime! However, the opportunity to see Sir Ian McKellen live on stage is a chance any self respecting theatre buff is never going to turn down, so I duly took my seat in a packed Lyric Theatre, prepared for a couple of hours of indulgent, farcical nonsen...

6Apr

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Shrek The Musical – Blackpool Grand

On a wet and windy night in Blackpool the quest for a fairytale happy ending has taken on extra meaning. Forced to postpone from 2020 (a cruel two weeks before opening night), Blackpool Operatic Players have clearly put everything into finally bringing Shrek The Musical to the stage. And, with an outstanding professional set and wardrobe, tonight is a vibrant, visual delight, faithfully translating the hit animation into live action success. Under the assured direction of Neil Townsend, cast and audience alike have a hugely enjoyable show loaded with slapstick, sarcasm and fart jokes to thrill kids and parents alike. And, at the heart of it, a riotous send-up of the classic ‘damsel in distress’ fairytale narrative. For those who have spent any of the past 22 years living under ...

National Theatre Live: Life of Pi – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

5Apr

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

National Theatre Live: Life of Pi – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

In the week that 'Standing at the Sky's Edge' deservedly won the Olivier award for Best New Musical, another show that started life at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, then went on to win Olivier's galore and wow the West End and Broadway. premiered on the National Theatre's streaming service. If 'Edge' has half the success that this beautiful metaphorical production has so far achieved, the producers will be well rewarded for their risk. Based on the best selling novel by Yann Martel and adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabati, 'Life Of Pi' tells the extraordinary story of 17 year old Piscine Molitor (Hiran Abeysekera) and his survival for 227 days in the Pacific Ocean, after a shipwreck which killed his entire family and everyone on board. Following his rescue, he is questioned as to ...