North West Archives - Page 21 of 183

29Aug

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr – Z-Arts

Manchester Musical Youth once again proved why they have built such a strong reputation for delivering high-quality family entertainment with their latest production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. With music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, and adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, this classic tale was given a fresh, imaginative twist by producers Dave and Kimberly Holden. The story follows eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts and his two children, Jeremy and Jemimah, who, with the help of the spirited Truly Scrumptious, transform an old racing car into the magical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Together, they embark on a fantastical adventure to the land of Vulgaria, ruled by the bumbling Baron and Baroness, encountering spies, danger, and laughter along the way. ...

Electric Dreams – Shakespeare North Playhouse

28Aug

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Electric Dreams – Shakespeare North Playhouse

Welcome to the 1980s; to Athens, where four young lovers and a group of oddball actors come together in a fairy forest and find themselves at the mercy of mischievous spirits. Sound familiar? Well maybe not the 1980’s part, but the rest, of course, is that much loved comedy of Mr William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream presented to us at the beautiful Shakespeare North Playhouse. What unfolded over the next two hours I can only describe as a joy. As an 80’s child myself, and a massive Human League fan, I actually found myself quite giddy at the thought of the night ahead, and a little nervous that I could be very disappointed if my favourite Shakespeare play, studied and loved at O Level, and the music of my teenage years did not merge well. I was not disappointed. Not for one mo...

The Addams Family – Blackpool Winter Gardens

27Aug

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – Blackpool Winter Gardens

The infamous family are back with a spooky spectacular show to delight audiences all over the UK. This musical comedy from Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is guaranteed to have you howling with laughter, as the beloved kooky clan come to life on stage. Princess of doom and gloom, Wednesday Addams, is all grown up, and much to her own despair, is in love. With a plan to introduce the families and announce their engagement, Wednesday and her sweet-natured betrothed, Lucas, are asking for just “one normal night”. But an Addams Family dinner can’t go by without mischief, betrayal, and more twists and turns than Gomez and Morticia on the dancefloor. Join Pugsley, Lurch, Fester, Grandma and their ancestors, for an evening of freaky family fun. With a score from Tony award winning co...

The Tempest – Immersion at Norton Priory & Gardens, Runcorn

25Aug

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Tempest – Immersion at Norton Priory & Gardens, Runcorn

Often played as tragedy with revenge at its heart, director James Tobias has opted to play this adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest more for laughs which means that this tale of forgiveness, generosity, and enlightenment has more of a pantomime feel to it than the supernatural and mysterious. Opening to the travails of a ship at sea, we meet Prospero (Andrew Pearson-Wright) and his daughter Miranda (Katie Hamilton), and learn how 12 years ago his brother, with assistance from Naples, had usurped him as Duke of Milan. Put to sea in a rotten boat, they washed up on a distant island inhabited only by the son of a witch, Caliban (Lee Birnie), and a spirit, Ariel (Carlotte Balls). Since then, Prospero has ruled the island and its two inhabitants using magic arts and having di...

Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Palace Theatre

22Aug

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Palace Theatre

Step inside Manchester’s Palace Theatre this month and you are no longer in the North West of England - you are transported straight into the beating heart of Montmartre. For its UK tour, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has transformed the venue into a lush Parisian nightspot; its boxes crowned with the glittering red windmill and a striking blue elephant symbolising Satine’s dressing room. Even before the first note is sung, the effect is spellbinding, and the theatre itself is part of the spectacle. Directed by Alex Timbers with a book by John Logan, the musical reimagines Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film for the stage. At its core lies the romance between Christian (Josh Rose), a wide-eyed, penniless songwriter, and Satine (Verity Thompson), the glamorous star of the Moulin Rouge. Christian dreams...

20Aug

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

The Diana Mixtape – The Lowry

Succeeding a world premiere in London, The Diana Mixtape makes a Royal Visit to the North for a limited, three-day run. This concert-style jukebox of a Di-opic declares a need “to set the record straight”, centring on the People’s Princess’ turbulent relationship with Charles the Third. Five drag queens share the titular role as they blast through a contemporary pop playlist of female anthems. Photo: Harry Elletson It starts out strong with the queens delivering fast-paced, irreverent comedy as a lovestruck Lady Di meets her future husband for the first time. Well-chosen songs promptly introduce the audience to other characters: Elizabeth II- played by Keala Settle- rules the stage with Commander. Meanwhile, the sensational Lucinda Lawrence demands undivided attention as Camilla s...

Don Giovanni – Flat Pack Music at Thirsk Hall

18Aug

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Don Giovanni – Flat Pack Music at Thirsk Hall

Sarah Helsby-Hughes’ direction is inspired as we embrace La Dolce Vita of 1960’s Italy in Flat Pack Music’s ingenious and comic interpretation of one of Mozart’s most complete operas as part of the De Mowbray Music Festival in Thirsk. Don Giovanni (Richard Walshe) has seduced over two thousand women, all catalogued by servant Leporello (Hamish Garrity), and he is looking to add another name with his attempted rape of Donna Anna (Carrie-Ann Williams) that results in him killing her father, the Commendatore (George Elson), and which her fiancé Don Ottavio (Joseph Buckmaster) swears to revenge. Donna Elvira (Helsby-Hughes), an earlier conquest, has come in search of Don Giovanni, although he is now trying to seduce peasant girl Zerlina (Heather Buckmaster) on her wedding day to Mase...

The Wind in the Willows – Blackpool Grand

17Aug

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

The Wind in the Willows – Blackpool Grand

A lovely evening at Blackpool Grand Theatre supporting the summer youth production, this year’s performance is ‘The Wind in the Willows.’ The Kenneth Grahame’s best-selling classic book and songs by Olivier Award-winning composers and lyricists George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The performance was accompanied by a 9-piece live band, led by Ash Goodinson. The show was vocally and musically very clean throughout. The harmonies were tight and well-polished. The team led by the director Mykey J Young and Choreographer Holly Rostron, know exactly what they’re doing. An immersive Creative very well put together performance, with every detail thought out from the scenery and props right the way down to the accessories for the costumes. Performed entirely by young local performers, 50 of t...

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Liverpool Empire

15Aug

By Abigail PendleburyNo Comments

North West

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Liverpool Empire

From the opening notes of ‘Simply the Best’ and the curtain rising into the sky, you know you’re in for a rollercoaster of a night. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical delivers a powerful evening of storytelling and soul, bringing the extraordinary yet deeply intense life of Tina Turner to life. This heart-wrenching yet highly energetic performance had audiences cheering Tina on her journey from the very start. Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi sensationally portrays the role of Tina, embodying her every move and likeness to a tea. Her vocal prowess is something to be rivalled; she really brought Tina’s vulnerability and powerful nature to the audience. Her ability to maintain vocal composure whilst depicting the raw and emotional scenes of the domestic violence Tina went through really allows for audienc...

School of Rock – Northwich Memorial Court

14Aug

By Dan GrimesNo Comments

North West

School of Rock – Northwich Memorial Court

It was a pleasure to be invited, along with my 13-year-old son, Sam, to Northwich on this warm August evening to see Together For Theatre's School of Rock. This was my first time watching this Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation although, like many people, I'm a big fan of the original 2003 film that inspired it. For those not familiar, the musical tells the story of Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck rock musician who has been thrown out of his band and is overdue on his rent. An intercepted call meant for his flatmate, Ned Schneebly, gives him the opportunity to earn a quick buck by posing as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green School. High expectations set by Principal Rosalie Mullins fall on deaf ears and "Mr Schneebly" has every intention of putting the privileged kid...