North West Archives - Page 21 of 177

Mitch Benn: The Tom Lehrer Effect – The Anthony Burgess Foundation

11Jul

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Mitch Benn: The Tom Lehrer Effect – The Anthony Burgess Foundation

The task of a comedy songwriter is a tough one. There’s deciding whether you want to simply write funny songs were the humour may come from precarious stunt-rhyming or mocking a popular musical style, through to packing lyrics with biting satire and political observations. Before the likes of Weird Al Yankovich, Bill Bailey and Tim Minchin there was Tom Lehrer, a 1950s/60s musician who later turned mathematician, noted amongst other things for singing the periodic table to the tune of ‘Modern Major General’ and writing music for the cast of the US version of That Was The Week That Was (never getting to perform the songs himself much to his annoyance). If he was raised on a diet of Radio 4 classic comedies, British cynicism and been handed a loop pedal, you’d end up with something...

10Jul

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Wannabe – The King’s Arms

Following on from Amy Webber’s awarding winning show ‘No Previous Experience’, Wannabe is an autobiographical exploration of her lifelong desire to be famous in the form of a one woman opera -standup - spoken word- pop song. Webber is extremely warm and welcoming to her audience, immediately putting them at their ease and instantly engaging them with her funny, quirky, humble and open style. From the moment she enters the space in the wonderful Kings Arms, she owns it and shares it in equal measure. Inspired by a visit home during which her mother ‘sorts out’ some of her childhood memorabilia, Webber uses her box of ‘junk’ - the trinkets, mementos, diaries, letters, poems and songs of her childhood, to shape a hilarious tale of longing, searching and learning that is utterly enga...

8Jul

By Abigail PendleburyNo Comments

North West

Sounds of the East – Bridgewater Hall

Under the baton of Principal Conductor Kahchun Wong, Sounds of the East at Bridgewater Hall offered a thrilling musical journey that blended tradition, and innovation with striking cohesion. Featuring the Hallé Orchestra and guest musicians from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, the program offered a wide range of musical magic that could be enjoyed by all. The evening started with a wonderful pre-concert talk with conductor Kahchun Wong and composer Chinary Ung, which featured in great detail how both Wong and Ung create their masterpieces. Particular attention was on Chinary Ung’s Grand Spiral (Desert Flowers Bloom), a piece that was having its European Premiere at the Bridgewater Hall. It was particularly interesting to hear how he named the piece, and also how he created such a beaut...

Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You – Unity Theatre

8Jul

By Clare ChandlerNo Comments

North West

Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You – Unity Theatre

RAWD began over a decade ago as a disability drama group, meeting weekly in a church hall. Since then, it has grown into an arts organisation with a mission to tackle inequality and celebrate disabled creativity. Previous projects include Boards Are Boring, which challenged governance structures; Creative Wellness, exploring inclusive wellbeing; and their ongoing Facilitator Training Programme, which empowers the next generation of practitioners. Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You is part of a broad programme of creative offerings for Disability Pride Month, as RAWD celebrates the next step in their journey - their official launch as a charity. It’s a timely reminder of the company’s commitment to making space for disabled voices: on stage, in leadership, and beyond. RAWD have partnered w...

Checkout – St John’s United Reformed Church Hall

6Jul

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Checkout – St John’s United Reformed Church Hall

Soup Productions presented ‘Checkout’ staged in St John’s United Reformed Church Hall, Warrington. Set in the bustling aisles of the fictional discount store Super Save, ‘Checkout’ written by the fabulous Mike Pirks and Sam Duxbury is a warm-hearted yet emotionally resonant play skilfully blending comedy with timely social commentary. Featuring initially a core trio of supermarket workers navigating daily life, difficult customers, however, this production delivers more than just laughs. The story centres on three colleagues: Tracy (Karen Hewitt) with leadership, calming qualities and compassion, Marlena (Lisa Rhodes) a brilliant boisterous bold sharp witted flirtatious singleton and Molly (Louise Wright) in a touching, vulnerable but hilarious performance. The chemistry is palpable ...

Phil Green: A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others – Seven Oaks Pub

6Jul

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Phil Green: A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others – Seven Oaks Pub

At one stage in A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others, Phil Green acknowledges that he could spend an hour talking about the shocking rates of male suicide. However, he tells his Greater Manchester Fringe audience he has had another, tonally different, idea on how to fill the show. The good news: it is a great idea. Complete with a genuinely funny PowerPoint-style presentation, Green outlines his plan on how to save middle-aged men from themselves. It is something he has experience of. Partly because of his own breakdown (although he is fine now by the way - totally fine, actually) and partly because he’s had to help a few of his mates who’ve ended up in need themselves. There’s a really endearing opening section about luring these troubled men away from danger with trails of ...

Let The People Sing! Les Misérables – Liverpool Empire

5Jul

By Kevin EcclestonNo Comments

North West

Let The People Sing! Les Misérables – Liverpool Empire

In 2025, Les Misérables, the world-famous Cameron Mackintosh musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel, celebrates its 40th anniversary. To mark this Ruby Anniversary, eleven amateur theatre groups across the UK were invited to stage their own productions, bringing the musical to life in their local communities. This is the first time in four decades that Les Misérables has been licensed for production by amateur theatre groups in the UK, and what a wonderful job they did for this project at the Liverpool Empire Theatre. Alongside Liverpool Empire Creative Learning, BOST Musicals, Romily Operatic Society and Tip Top Productions put on a truly professional performance at the Empire Theatre. It was better than some of the touring theatre shows I’ve seen, and the talent on display would not ...

One Hundred Percent – The King’s Arms, Salford

4Jul

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

One Hundred Percent – The King’s Arms, Salford

In a claustrophobic apartment, an actor confronts the examiner who once gave him a perfect score in an acting exam. On the wall, the certificate which validates his perfect score is proudly framed and the actor, who believed he was destined for greatness, faces the consequences of his misplaced hope and the harsh truth of what it is to build a career in his chosen profession. Now I have to disclose that for 20 plus years I worked as an examiner for both GCSE Drama and A Level Theatre Studies and the premise of this darkly comedic piece of theatre directly addresses something that I had never thought about before but have significant experience of. What is the impact of a perfect score on the recipient? In this case, the actor has believed that he has a profound talent and as such has pu...

3Jul

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

A Single Man – Aviva Studios

Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 study of grief, A Single Man, is a recognition of the complexities of our inner thoughts at a time of crisis. When fashion designer Tom Ford adapted the book for his 2009 movie of the same name, he chose to round off some of lead character George’s rougher edges. Ford also concluded the story more decisively. In this contemporary ballet, Jonathan Watkins appears to have returned to the original source material, in terms of George's complicated nature. Watkins has, however, been both more definitive and more hopeful about George's future. With mixed results. A Single Man is at times heartbreakingly emotional and tearjerkingly beautiful. But it is also, on occasion, slightly impenetrable. That being said, this Factory International a...

A Play About a Dragon – Thingwall Community Hall

3Jul

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

A Play About a Dragon – Thingwall Community Hall

A brilliantly directed (Paul Arends) comedy caper of family fun set in the middle ages, a band of outlandish and peculiar players, down on their luck and needing a break, happen upon a seemingly remarkable opportunity from the dithery and doddery Lord Mollymop (Zoran Blackie) and his overly controlling Queen Lady Dottie (Samra Uddin), to perform for one King Stanley (Carl Latham). How could they resist! Off the group set on their treacherous journey only to discover all is not what it seems... Their journey is coloured with a variety of characters they acquire on the way, whilst also in search of a replacement for their obnoxiously dramatic Lady Gwen (Chrysanthi Fergani). They meet the trickster Meg (Meredith Clayton) who isn't what she seems. The enigmatic and bold Bud (Da...