North West Archives - Page 2 of 191

16Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

North West

Team Viking – HOME Mcr

SPOILER ALERT – the main character in this funny and profoundly moving monologue dies. Most of us when we shuffle off this mortal coil can expect a short eulogy, and possibly some curled up sandwiches at the wake, but not Tom who got a full fiery Viking Funeral thanks to his two best friends. One of them was James Rowland who in a one-hour monologue took the audience through an intense childhood friendship with Tom and his neighbour Sarah. They became a close knit team as their childhood games revolved around the classic 1958 Norse melodrama, The Vikings, starring Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis as they acted out different roles from the movie. They agreed to a pact where when one of them snuffed it they would each get a Viking funeral where they floated away on a fiery longboat, whi...

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) – Liverpool Playhouse

14Oct

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) – Liverpool Playhouse

Pride, Prejudice and a party like no other. Isobel McArthur’s interpretation of the Austen classic is equal parts ingenious and impressive; taking the fan-favourite story and giving it a life of its own with a clever, impactful spin on things. It’s no surprise that this production is delighting audiences all over the country, after an Olivier award winning run in London’s West End. Whether a passionate Janeite or someone who’s only seen the infamous “Wet Shirt Lake Scene” (no judgement here), you are guaranteed to have a jolly, good evening at the theatre. From the get-go, the maids of the house run around the auditorium causing mayhem, joking with the audience and setting the tone - you’re here to have a good time. Writer and Director McArthur, establishes the piece very well; i...

14Oct

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

The Choir of Man – The Lowry

Every so often, a show comes along which reminds you that theatre doesn’t need elaborate scenery, spectacular special effects or a complicated storyline to leave an audience completely captivated. Sometimes all it takes is nine incredibly talented performers, a few pints and some fantastic music. The Choir of Man, currently playing at The Lowry as part of its first UK tour, delivers exactly that; an uplifting, energetic and surprisingly moving celebration of music, friendship and the importance of having somewhere to belong. Set inside a working pub called The Jungle, the show welcomes the audience into a world where everybody knows your name, the beer flows freely and the regulars just happen to possess extraordinary musical talent. From the moment the cast take to the stage, the...

Sweeney Todd: A Legacy of Blood – The Studio, Widnes

12Oct

By Grace LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Sweeney Todd: A Legacy of Blood – The Studio, Widnes

There is something particularly refreshing about seeing original writing brought to life on stage, especially when a familiar story is reimagined from a different perspective. Sweeney Todd: A Legacy of Blood, presented by Warrington-based SOUP Productions at The Studio, delivers a dark, Gothic and blood-soaked evening of theatre, blending murder, companionship, madness and meat pies with a heavy-rock edge. Making his debut as both writer and director for SOUP Productions, Marcus Cameron has taken inspiration from the original Gothic tale, Sweeney Todd: A String of Pearls, creating his own distinctive interpretation of the infamous demon barber of Fleet Street and his accomplice, Mrs Lovett. Rather than simply retelling the story audiences may recognise from previous stage productions...

10Oct

By Abigail PendleburyNo Comments

North West

Calendar Girls – Octagon Theatre

Calendar Girls is a beautifully uplifting and heartfelt production that all audiences relate to. The show radiates warmth, humour and a humanity which created an atmosphere that felt both intimate and uplifting. It’s one of those rare productions where you laugh freely, feel deeply, and leave the theatre with a renewed sense of connection and optimism. It just shows why this story has resonated with audiences for so many years. What makes the production so special is the sheer authenticity of the cast. Every performer brings sincerity to their role, portraying the friendships, frustrations and quiet bravery of these women with a real emotional depth. The camaraderie between them is so effortless, you can feel and believe the friendships, and grief, and the courage it takes each of them ...

Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr – Z-arts

10Oct

By Grace LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr – Z-arts

There is something truly special about watching young talent take to the stage with confidence, enthusiasm and a genuine love of theatre, and Manchester Musical Youth’s Apprentices production of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR delivered all this and more during its opening night at Z-arts, Manchester. Featuring a cast of 36 talented young performers aged between 8 and 13, this vibrant production was a wonderful showcase of the passion, dedication and creativity at the heart of Manchester Musical Youth. Directed by Shannon Holland, with producers Dave and Kimberly Holden, musical direction by Kimberly Holden, and assistant choreography by Rose Warburton and Amelie Hassouna-Smith, the production brought Wonderland to life with colour, character and theatrical charm. Following he...

9Oct

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

King Lear – Royal Exchange

To mark its landmark 50th anniversary, Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre offers an extraordinary, electrifying staging of King Lear. Adapted and directed by Matthew Dunster, this gripping production brings two titan creative forces back to the in-the-round stage: Dunster, in his sixth engagement with the venue, and screen icon David Threlfall, returning to the Exchange after a 27-year absence. The result is a searing, unmissable theatrical event that reinvents Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy for a modern audience without losing an ounce of its power. At the epicenter of this storm is Threlfall’s remarkable performance. Playing a monarch whose vanity blindfolds him to genuine affection, Threlfall portrays Lear’s descent into madness not merely as a loss of reason, but as a total collaps...

8Oct

By Dan GrimesNo Comments

North West

Rent – 53two

Set in New York’s East Village, Rent follows a group of young artists and friends as they deal with love, friendship, poverty and illness. The characters struggle to balance their creative ambitions and relationships with the realities of their financial pressures, housing insecurity and the impact of HIV/AIDS on their community. As time passes and their circumstances change, tensions grow between their personal choices, responsibilities, relationships and ideas about how they want to live. The themes at the heart of Rent are particularly significant when you consider the story behind the show itself. Jonathan Larson drew on the realities of the world around him when writing the musical, exploring HIV/AIDS, poverty, addiction, relationships and loss at a time whe...

8Oct

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

The Last Laugh – Floral Pavilion

Humour being universal, maybe one of the worst insults is to accuse somebody of not having a GSOH – GOSH that would most certainly be true if you failed to find this show amusing. How could it not be, featuring Tommy Cooper, the surreal clown and shambolic magician who knew his audience so well he was damn near physic, whereas Bob Monkhouse could almost be psychotic, so obsessive, perpetually in search of perfection, maybe because of the tragedies in his personal life. And probably better known as a chat show host; the marmite comic, loved and hated in equal measure. As for Eric Morecambe, what more need be said. How about his being multi-talented, an actor, a musician (over half a dozen instruments) and a writer (over 30 books), including new TV series The Reluctant Vampire. All the mo...

8Oct

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Lord of the Dance – Liverpool Empire

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance has been entertaining audiences around the world for an incredible 30 years and three decades on, this spectacular show proves it has certainly lost none of its magic. Since opening in Dublin in 1996, Lord of the Dance has become a worldwide phenomenon, playing to more than 60 million people across 70 countries, and now the show is back with a special 30th Anniversary Tour celebrating its incredible history. Ive seen the show in various forms over the years and I again got the pleasure of watching the show at the Liverpool Empire as part of this tour and from the moment the curtain went up, this was a fantastic night of pure entertainment. Lord of the Dance has always been much more than simply an Irish dancing show. There is a story, fantastic ...