North West Archives - Page 152 of 173

9Dec

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Oliver Twist – Storyhouse Chester

The Christmas season is back and with it brings the next instalment in the ever-popular Storyhouse Originals, Oliver Twist. Adapted by Alex Clifton, Storyhouse have worked their magic once again to bring this classic story to Chester with the added extra something special that Storyhouse always manage to inject. With the auditorium set out in the thrust configuration, the intimate setting it perfect to transport us to the streets of London, with a huge house at the back of the stage as the focal point. The use of the space is creative and transitions from scene to scene with such ease that you go from a London Street to Fagin’s Lair to Mr Brownlow’s House in a blink of an eye. With pieces opening out in to shop fronts, to secret ‘entrances’ for Fagin, including tiny details like a life ...

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart – Royal Exchange

9Dec

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart – Royal Exchange

At Christmas the Royal Exchange usually stages a classic musical to bring us some festive cheer with Sweet Charity, Guys and Dolls and Gypsy being recent successful offerings. It is therefore something of a radical departure this year to find the new team of Artistic Directors (Bryony Shanahan and Roy Weise), plumping for a play based around Scottish folk ballads to entice theatregoers away from pantomime, hearth and home. As I made my way to my favourite theatre, braving monsoon conditions, drunken office parties and the questionable attractions of the Manchester markets, I was intrigued by this quirky choice. I left three hours later, exhilarated, charmed and slightly confused by this uneven but undeniably captivating piece of theatre. We are presented with the eponymous Prudencia Har...

Tom’s Midnight Garden – Theatre by the Lake

8Dec

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

North West

Tom’s Midnight Garden – Theatre by the Lake

Nothing heralds the start of Christmas like the family production at Theatre by the Lake - and this year they added some festive sparkle to the children's classic Tom's Midnight Garden, writes Karen Morley-Chesworth. Not a traditional Christmas story, but one loved by all ages, making this the ideal family visit to the theatre. Director Liz Stevenson has brought some real drama to this tale, where time past and present come together on the stroke of 13 from the grandfather clock in the hall. The characters from across time create an eerie image in a beautifully choreographed scene at the opening of the production. The minimalist set crates the moves through time and into the midnight garden with flying flowers and a greenhouse. However, it is the snowfall in the second part of thi...

7Dec

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Eric and Ern – The Lowry

Anytime there is a poll on the public’s favourite comedy act, or a look back at the TV of yesteryear, one double act will feature, without fail – Morecambe and Wise. Icons of their era, they’ve left a legacy of classic comedy that is adored to this day. So, whilst modern-day comedians may attempt to push boundaries with their material, it’s a brave soul that attempts to re-visit the most-loved sketches of these titans of British comedy. Ian Ashpitel (as Ernie) and Jonty Stephens (as Eric) are those souls, having developed tonight’s variety show from their stage play of the duo’s enduring partnership. But it is quickly obvious that even the most die-hard fans will be breathing a big sigh of relief that the material is in very safe, and very funny hands. Soaking the audience with a ...

The Rocky Horror Show – Blackpool Winter Gardens

7Dec

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

The Rocky Horror Show – Blackpool Winter Gardens

The theatre is packed full of eager visitors in corsets and gold hats, ready for the madness to ensue. The Rocky Horror Show has its fanbase hooked, and now, I finally understand why. The cult-classic hit takes hints of sci-fi, gothic horror and rock n' roll to create an utterly fantastical show. With such a reputation, the stage production has a lot to live up to. An all-American couple stumble upon a castle inhabited by a multitude of weird and wild characters. Their innocence is lost as they succumb to the allure of the sensual scientist, Frank N Furter, and the characters sing and dance their way through a naughty, frivolous romp. In this production, the high heels of Frank N Furter are filled by Stephen Webb (Jersey Boys), who struts onto the stage with sass and a smirk. Webb...

7Dec

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Winter Wonderland – Event City

As we count down to Christmas and the Big day; it’s the season for festive fun and feeling merry - and a recent trip to Silcock’s Winter Wonderland did all this and more, delivering the ultimate family festive outing! The UK’s largest indoor Christmas Theme Park has returned to Event City near the Trafford Centre and its bigger and better than ever! It’s jam packed with funfair rides, circus shows, Panto shows, ice Princess performances and has over 50 rides and attractions on site all included in the ticket price. Walking in; you are immediately transported to a Winter Wonderland with Christmas Trees and artificial snow falling from the roof; giving you the feeling that you’re starting in your very own Christmas movie! The Kids (and ‘Kids at Heart’) really loved the family rid...

6Dec

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Beauty and the Beast – Floral Pavillion

The festive season has started in New Brighton with the opening of Beauty and the Beast. Now when I review a show usually review it alone, but this seemed like too good of a chance to share the experience so I took along my god son because I could also get a child’s point of view on what the show was like. More on his thoughts later but first the story. It was set in the lovely French town of Camembert. Where Fairy Bon Bon played by (Melanie Walters from Gavin & Stacey). Told us the story of the Beast’s (Shaun Dalton) unfortunate event that had kept him hidden away in a dark castle in the woods. Within minutes of the first note being plucked we were mesmerised by the lights and magic beginning to unfold. We then met the wonderful Belle (Milkshakes Olivia Birchenough). Where she woul...

6Dec

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

The Drunks – Hope Street Theatre

Off the Ground Theatre’s The Drunks, directed by Dan Meigh, is a darkly comic political satire, exploring themes of incompetent politicians, mental health issues and the impact that self-interested motives can have on your relationships with the people around you. Utilising surreal comedy and loud, brash personalities, this story of a small Russian town mirrors the wider world overrun with fake news, bumbling politicians and forgetting your worries in a heavy and mindless binge drinking session. The play opens with the ensemble cast entering in monochrome costumes and drinking greedily from silver hip flasks. The uniform effect of the costumes is dampened slightly by a pair of oxblood shoes worn by one of the actors as black shoes for all cast members would have emphasised the fixed fat...

6Dec

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Destiny the Panto –The Black-E

The year is 2034 and we start this panto with Time (Leanne Cooney) bringing us up to speed on the quantum X 5000 experiment which saw a group of elite scientists led by Dr Destiny Sinclair (Holly Murphy) and Fate Lewis (Victoria Leopold) looking to develop this top-secret time travel project further. But things don’t always go according to plan and Destiny soon finds herself in the past suffering from partial amnesia and facing a mirror image that is not her own. With only Fate, in the form of a hologram, and an App (Jess Connor) to guide her, Destiny finds herself leaping through time righting wrongs before landing up in 1706 where she is paired up with Jack (Shaun Herr) of beanstalk fame and his entourage of a family: Dame Velma (Peter Sebastian); Dougal (Johnny Sedgwick-Davies); and ...

The Scouse Sleeping Beauty – Liverpool’s Royal Court

4Dec

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

The Scouse Sleeping Beauty – Liverpool’s Royal Court

Coming to the Royal Court Liverpool is always a delight and tonight I had the privilege of seeing ‘The Scouse Sleeping Beauty’ in all its glory. Liverpool’s Royal Court host their annual pantomime which emphasises ‘don’t bring the kids!’ as it loosely uses a panto storyline to create their usual crazy, amusing and fun night of adult entertainment. As I left the theatre tonight, there was no denying the extraordinary atmosphere of Christmas merriment and good humour and it was clear that this theatre company really know how to throw a party! We first meet Maleffluent (Lindzi Germain) and her trusty sidekick Crow (Andrew Schofield) who nastily cast a spell on baby Ora (Jamie Clarke). Ora’s father is the King of Poundland (Liam Tobin) and he promises to protect young Ora from any ‘pricks’ ...