North West Archives - Page 107 of 178

Twice Nightly – Royal Court Studio Liverpool

30Apr

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Twice Nightly – Royal Court Studio Liverpool

‘We do it twice nightly, it’s exhausting quite frankly.’ With a name like Twice Nightly, this was a show that needed to live up to the double entendre suggested from the title and it sure didn’t let us down! Showing us Liverpool’s variety theatre scene in 1931, Don and Madge, a comedy song and dance double act are loving their lives, until things suddenly take a drastic turn. They need to remember, and alcohol fueled evening to allow them to get to the theatre in time for their second show of the night, but that is proving more difficult than it sounds. Will they make it in time? Written by and starring Michael Alan Bailey and Maria Lovelady as Don and Madge, it is clear that these two really get on, as the best friend energy coming from the characters is obviously evident. They’ve w...

David Walliams’ Demon Dentist – Liverpool Empire

28Apr

By Anne PritchardNo Comments

North West

David Walliams’ Demon Dentist – Liverpool Empire

David Walliams is now a well-known author and his children’s books have become infamous for their comedy and down-to-earth themes; he is probably classed as one of the most contemporary influential writers of children’s books at the present time, his characters are both endearing and outrageous whilst he also touches on the plights of unhappy and unloved children and their escapades. Demon Dentist is a stage adaptation of his latest book following on from Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy. This production is directed and adapted by Neal Foster of the Birmingham Stage Company. This story centres on Alfie (Sam Varley), a boy who has cared for his disabled dad since his mum passed away. After an unpleasant experience at the dentist six years prior to where this story ...

28Apr

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

The Witches – The Brindley, Runcorn

With the storyline hinging on magic, mayhem and turning children into mice, I wasn’t sure how Roald Dahl’s much-loved classic The Witches would translate onstage, especially when performed by an amateur dramatic group whose budget wouldn’t stretch to fancy pyrotechnics and feats of theatrical excellence. The staging was simple, to be sure - perhaps a little too simplistic to really set the scene - but most of the ensemble within Encore Productions were strong enough to cast and maintain the spell over the audience for most of the performance. For me, the standout performers were Alfie Okell as the pre-pubescent protagonist The Boy and Julie Lord’s striking portrayal of The Grand High Witch. Special mention should also be given to Hannah Smith as Mrs Jenkins, whose deliberate o...

27Apr

By Emma WildNo Comments

North West

School of Rock – The Met, Bury

Without doubt The School of Rock is directorial triumph for Mark Rosenthal! Starting with the perfect casting of Alex Cohen in the lead role as dreamer, wannabe rock star, Dewey Finn. Once Cohen appeared, with the mannerisms and facial expressions of Jack Black (who starred in the 2003 film) down to a T, the audience knew they were in for a fun-filled night. Cohen’s energy, spectacular vocals and comic timing were superb throughout. Cohen’s acting was wholly believable as the unconventional rebel, who eventually changes attitudes in the prestigious Horace Green School. Tracey Dawson, as the Head Teacher of the elite, $50,000 a year school, perfectly contrasted Cohen’s anarchic character of Dewey Finn. Clearly a gifted actor, Dawson portrayed the different characteristics of Rosali...

26Apr

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

Macbeth – Liverpool Playhouse

An explosive fusion of live action and multimedia technology pops off the stage and saturates the senses, with this self-described ‘neon noir thriller’ styled interpretation of the Bard’s ‘Scottish Play’. Technical theatrical ground breakers, Andrew Quick, Pete Brooks and Simon Wainwright, otherwise known as Imitating the Dog, produce and direct this postmodernist retelling of Shakespeare’s “Wonder Boy”, Macbeth, brilliantly portrayed by Benjamin Westerby. The multiple layers of this clever production really do test the senses with various points of action taking place simultaneously, taking us on a rapid adventure through this tragic tale of the psychological and physical effects that come with the pursuit of power. If you’re familiar with the aesthetic of DC’s Got...

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead – The Lowry

26Apr

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead – The Lowry

Based on a 2018 novel which won the author Olga Tokarczuk the Nobel Prize for Literature, 'Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead' certainly takes the award for the most intriguing title to arrive at The Lowry in 2023. When you add leading actress Kathryn Hunter to the mix, spearheading a Complicite production, then theatrical mouths start to water at the prospect of these quality ingredients being brought together. However, despite an astonishing central performance as well as inventive and arresting visuals, by the conclusion I was left slightly confused and personally slightly underwhelmed. The production takes its name from a line in William Blake poem 'Proverbs of Hell' and the 19th Century romantic poet is at the heart of this layered and dark story, combining e...

26Apr

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Pronoun – Altrincham Garrick Studio

Evan Placey’s Pronoun is the fourth production in Altrincham Garrick’s LGBTQ+ themed season and was written as one of ten plays for the NT Connections 2014 programme. Inspired by a homophobic encounter, Placey wrote the pieces as honest plays for teenage audiences to help them make their own minds up about the world. The audience last night certainly appreciated his efforts as this snappy, witty and quick paced piece worked its magic in this very enjoyable production. The young cast worked as a strong ensemble to tell the story of Dean (Portia Dodds) a transgender teenager transitioning from female to male during his A Level years. Despite being supported by family and friends, their pre-conceptions, constant questions and well intended care do not hide the difficulties they experience ...

26Apr

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

North West

Guys & Dolls – Forum Theatre, Romiley

This production is based on the stories and characters from the 1950 books written by Damon Runyon. These stories centred on the underground crime scene of the 1920s and 1930s and was written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows around the already established music and lyrics of Frank Loesser. The original Broadway production premiered in 1950 and has enjoyed numerous revivals over the years. The show is set in Times Square in New York City but moves along to Havana in Cuba and eventually into the underground sewers of New York, but by the end everybody ends up where they belong. The show was complimented with a live band conducted by the excellent Ed Nurse as Musical Director with, for me, a particularly impressive female reed section, although all the musicians played their parts to perfection...

26Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

All Shook Up – Daneside Theatre

For those who know me, know I am not the biggest fan of jukebox musicals, so would a trip to see the very same genre tonight in Congleton change my opinion? The short answer is no, however tonight was one of the best productions I have seen of the genre with powerhouse performances coming from the stage in rapid succession. I must start by mentioning the visuals created by Simon Matthews, who also directs the show. 8 video walls places across the stage left you in no doubt as to where the on-stage action was taking place. From an American street complete with moving bus to a disused fairground nothing on show tonight would have looked out of place on a West End Stage. Cleverly designed lighting from Nick Walker complemented the screens however at times a little more face light could hav...

The Bridges of Madison County – George Lawton Hall, Mossley

25Apr

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

The Bridges of Madison County – George Lawton Hall, Mossley

I have long since been a fan of amateur dramatics, so when the chance came to review The Bridges of Madison County by the Mossley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (MAODS), I approached the performance with a healthy mix of trepidation and anticipation. The story has multiple points of reference from its many adaptations – firstly the 1992 novel by Robert James Waller, closely followed a few years later by the 1995 motion picture starting Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, finally being adapted as a stage musical in 2013. And it’s easy to see why there has been multiple iterations of this story across the years that have captured the hearts and minds of audiences and performers alike. For those unfamiliar with the story of The Bridges of Madison County, it’s about an Italian expat ...