North West Archives - Page 2 of 179

Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes – Liverpool Empire

25Feb

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes – Liverpool Empire

A dancer enters the stage wearing vibrant red ballet shoes, the lighting renders her faceless, the music boldly proclaims that there is drama ahead… I am already hooked. A timeless tale of love, passion and conflict perfectly plays out from start to finish. A ensemble dancer is discovered by a ballet impresario, but are his obsession and her desires compatible? This tour of The Red Shoes celebrates the tenth anniversary of its original production and is a celebration of art and performance. The beautiful score originally composed by Bernard Herrmann is beautifully orchestrated for this company by Terry Davies. The visual identity of the piece is beyond description, and, quite simply, begs to be seen. Lez Brotherston’s set, with its grand moving proscenium arch and clever use of material...

The Woman in Black – Liverpool Playhouse

25Feb

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

The Woman in Black – Liverpool Playhouse

Step back in time with one of the most popular and spine-tingling tales in the history of London’s West End, 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill. Currently touring the UK after its successful long reign in London, I had the absolute pleasure of witnessing last night’s production in Liverpool’s very own Playhouse. The playwright for this production was Stephen Mallatratt and it was directed by Robin Herford. The tale of the Woman in Black has had audiences gripped for over 30 years, it’s legacy and accomplishments have led it to become an equally prosperous film franchise starring Daniel Radcliffe. A macabre tale of one Mr Arthur Kripps (Philip Stewart), a young and carefree solicitor who has his future mapped out with his soon-to-be-wife, is sent to an unsettling and ominous estate to fi...

25Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Operation Mincemeat – The Lowry

Back in April 2023, my daughter and I were in London’s theatre-land, seeking something cheerful and light after enduring a four-hour production of A Little Life — a play that had left us both in a numbly depressed state. A tiny show had just opened at the Fortune Theatre, just off Covent Garden, and we decided to take a risk on some cheap, last-minute tickets. It turned out to be a very wise decision. The show was Operation Mincemeat and, in the ensuing three years, it has garnered universal audience adoration, five-star reviews galore, continued success in the West End, and a Broadway transfer with resulting Tony and Olivier Awards recognition. The next step in its seemingly inexorable rise is a world tour, which kicks off with a glitzy “yellow carpet” premiere in Salford — cementing i...

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Palace Theatre

24Feb

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Palace Theatre

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert first frolicked onto the big screen back in 1994, bringing a queer tale of friendship, drag and disco to audiences around the world. With a sequel on the way, what better time to board the lavender bus and relive this musical road trip all over again? Sydney-based drag queen Tick/Mitzi (Kevin Clifton) agrees to perform at his estranged wife’s resort on the other side of the country. Recruiting fellow performers Bernadette (Adele Anderson) and Felicia (Nick Hayes), the trio take a journey through the Outback, stumbling upon a host of beguiling folk along the way. The three leads typify the queens and their distinctive personalities: Clifton offers a level-headed yet anxious Mitzi, Anderson charms while calling the shots as Bernadette, a...

The Mirror Crack’d – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

24Feb

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Mirror Crack’d – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Directed by Mike Shaw, The Mirror Crack’d graced the stage at the beautiful Altrincham Garrick Playhouse. Opening night played to an almost full auditorium, a testament to the theatre’s enduring reputation for quality productions. Under the assured direction of Mike Shaw, and in Rachel Wagstaff’s faithful and fluid adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, The Mirror Crack’d proved to be an absorbing and richly layered evening of classic mystery. Set in the village of St Mary Mead, the drama begins with the arrival of glamorous Hollywood actress Marina Gregg, who has purchased Gossington Hall. To mark the occasion, she hosts an elegant evening of cocktails, inviting the local community into her glittering world. During the party, a guest suddenly collapses af...

20Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Road – Royal Exchange

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Exchange Theatre, an occasion celebrated with a season of productions entitled 'A Homecoming', welcoming artistic alumni back to direct and perform in the Levitt Bernstein-designed "spaceship" nestled within the Victorian splendour of the old Exchange building. New Artistic Director Selina Cartmell launches the programme in strong style with a revival of Jim Cartwright's seminal 'Road', boasting a star-studded cast, astonishing design, and an unfortunate modern relevance forty years after its premiere. When the Royal Court Theatre first staged Road in 1986, Margaret Thatcher was at the height of her power and British society was beginning to see the effects of her political credo. While some prospered in this new "Gordon Gekko...

The Wizard of Oz – Northwich Memorial Court

20Feb

By Dan GrimesNo Comments

North West

The Wizard of Oz – Northwich Memorial Court

In recent years, and thanks largely to the popularity of its spin-off cousin Wicked, it feels like the whole world has contracted Oz-mania. So, I was very much looking forward to this trip to Northwich to revisit the original tale. I also have fond memories of playing the cowardly lion in my final year at high school approximately one hundred thousand years ago. I can’t believe there is a person in the Western Hemisphere who needs the story setting out for them but briefly The Wizard of Oz tells how young Dorothy Gale (Sidney Causer) and her little dog Toto (Jess Hazel) is swept from her farm in Kansas to a magical faraway place – the land of Oz. Guided by Good Witch Glinda (Amy Rattenbury) and tormented by the Wicked Witch of the West (Laura Slater-Hatton) Dorothy follows the Yel...

20Feb

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

The Last Picture – HOME Mcr

This may be a tale told by a dog, but it isn’t a shaggy dog story. It is a moving and perceptive tale about hate, shame, pain and ultimately humanity. In dangerous times, amidst the mess of human existence, light can shine, and there is hope. Storyteller Robin Simpson bounds onto the stage and tells us he is Sam, an emotional support dog trained to look after us all. He has been assigned to a Year 9 class, which means children aged 13 to 14. Catherine Dyson’s script is structured through a series of pictures described by Sam. We are invited to imagine these images sometimes from the kids' perspective, at times from our own, and even to envision how the people in those photos might have been feeling at the time. A swastika has been drawn on a locker, and even though the children mi...

18Feb

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

Single White Female – Blackpool Grand

Nineties nostalgia arrives in Blackpool this week, in the shape of the new stage version of John Lutz’s psychological thriller Single White Female, made famous by the 1992 movie starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Adapted by Rebecca Reid, the story is updated to the present day and relocated to the UK. Whilst many aspects are in keeping with the original, this stage adaptation certainly attempts to reinvent itself somewhat. The plot centres around Allie, following the breakdown of her marriage. As she moves into her own apartment, struggling for money, she advertises for a lodger. In an interesting twist to the original, Allie now has angsty teenage daughter, Bella instead of a dog (thank goodness no labrador puppies are harmed in this production!). When Hedy takes up the o...

16Feb

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

Slamchester – 53two

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the past 24 hours, it’s that Manchester has an absolutely electric slam poetry scene - not only Slamchester where I was lucky enough to be a guest last night, but also through the many, many, many dates of events that charismatic host, Kieren King peppered through the night. Slamchester itself is a passionate evening of competitive poetry, where 8 incredible poets have 2 rounds of 3 minutes each to show off their spoken-word work to a raucous crowd and 5 judges. It was amazing to see how full the venue was on a rainy Sunday in February, and the atmosphere was really supportive. The night kicked off with Kieren King explaining the rules and warming up the mic with one of his own poems about his wife. Kieren was a warm host, who clearly cares a l...