North West Archives - Page 25 of 178

Only Fools and Horses the Musical – Liverpool Empire

11Jun

By Kevin EcclestonNo Comments

North West

Only Fools and Horses the Musical – Liverpool Empire

From the creative minds of Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan emerges a vibrant musical adaptation of the beloved classic TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses. This production is packed with clever humour, nostalgic charm, and entertaining performances and opened at Liverpool Empire on 9th June to a packed audience and runs until Friday 21st June. Under the adept direction of Caroline Jay Ranger, the show boasts a charming cast that forms a solid foundation for the narrative. The central trio is particularly well-cast, embodying the quintessential Cockney charm that fans adore. Sam Lupton shines as Del Boy, effortlessly channelling his character's cheeky wit and relentless ambition. Tom Major portrays the endearing and somewhat hapless Rodney, injecting delightful warmth into the role, while P...

11Jun

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Scouts! The Musical – Hope Mill Theatre

Scouts! The Musical returns to the beautiful Hope Mill Theatre in the heart of Ancoats, after its huge successful tour in 2023 its back even bigger and better! Scouts! The Musical is the creation of Sam Cochrane and David Fallon of Gigglemug Theatre in partnership with The Scouts. Sam Cochrane wrote the book and lyrics, directed the show, and provides the musical direction. David Fallon provided the music and lyrics, Rob Gathercole serves as the musical director all creating a magnificent family musical for all ages. Gigglemug was established in 2018 by a group of Warwick university students, and as a company their aim is to create entertainment which will leave audiences grinning for the rest of the day! Their goal has certainly been achieved with this wonderful creation of Scouts! ...

7Jun

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

Improv on Demand – The King’s Arms

The second show of the evening for me was Improv on Demand, another short-form game-based show, using various television show formats as a vehicle for classic games. This was a really fun take on classic games, many of which played on nostalgia to their success. We were led through the games by the captivating hosting of James Monaghan who kept the show’s pace, gathered ideas from the audience, and added in dry wit and humour between each game. He really was a very likeable and watchable host. Many of the shows were based on familiar games, interspersed by theme music (thanks to Kath Marvelle on tech), and with a well-thought-out TV twist. For example, the Alphabet Game (where each sentence had to start with the next letter of the alphabet) being the game for Sesame Street, teach...

7Jun

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

Ladies Who Improv – The King’s Arms

This weekend (6th - 8th June) marks the very first Greater Manchester Improv Festival, running at the Kings Arms, Salford. To open up the weekend of improv shows and workshops was the wonderful Ladies Who Improv, an all-female troupe consisting of Millie Thorne, Ieva Bockute-Losjuk, Ursy Ambrose-Simpson and Ocean Cohen. This was a short-form game-based show, which included many improv favourites such as Pillars, Four Corners and New Choice, as well as their own creation Father Tom. The group were genuinely a joy to watch and worked well together and were very quick-witted even during a game of pillars with an audience member who seemed only to have one thing on his mind… As anyone who has played the game with an audience pillar will know, a lot rests on the suggestions they give you. Fo...

Totally Improvised Musical – Greggs: The Great Takedown – King’s Arms, Salford

7Jun

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Totally Improvised Musical – Greggs: The Great Takedown – King’s Arms, Salford

Performed without a script and built entirely on audience suggestion, Totally Improvised Musical at the King’s Arms in Salford delivered an inventive and riotously funny 45-minute whirlwind of spontaneous storytelling, songs, and surreal humour. The night’s improvised show—brilliantly titled Greggs: The Great Takedown—centred around a dystopian northern England where the beloved high street bakery chain had collapsed, leaving the nation starved of sausage rolls, steak bakes, and purpose. What unfolded was a musical odyssey of longing, resistance, and puff pastry politics. Original numbers like the haunting The North Is Barren and the stirring anthem The Heart of England showcased the cast’s quick wit and vocal chops. Each song, conjured on the spot, was surprisingly tuneful, cleverly...

7Jun

By Helen JonesNo Comments

North West

Liz Richardson: Local – The Lowry

As the deviser, writer and performer of Local, Liz Richardson, takes the audience on a very personal trip into her own past. A forty something mum living in the Peak District, the announcement by her parents that they are putting the family home in West Cumbria up for sale, prompts a trip back and a reflection on who she was and how living there shaped her. Examining how it feels to be local and how it changes when you move away, Liz Richardson catches up with her old headmaster and a couple of friends to explore their thoughts and experiences as well. Her arrival back at the family home and being back in her childhood bedroom with its view of the hills of the Lake District, triggers memories and emotions that are normally suppressed in the practicality of everyday life, but...

Terminal 2 – Shakespeare North Playhouse

7Jun

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Terminal 2 – Shakespeare North Playhouse

Terminal 2, is a short play written by the very talented writer and director David Payne. It explores the very important topics of sexuality, grief, life and death, but don't be fooled into thinking you're in for a hard hitting evening, I can guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised. Taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, this performance had me laughing and crying all the way through. Terminal 2 explores the topics in a sensitive but light hearted way which equally gives you time to soak up every emotion and leaves you thinking about what really matters. Two strong characters lead you for the entire journey. Lynda (played by Janice Fryett) was a bubbly, lovable character who exudes care, love and compassion. Fryett portrayed Lynda brilliantly with excellent comedic timing and tone, g...

7Jun

By NewsdeskNo Comments

North West

Scratch Night – Arts Bar, Liverpool

Following on from the success of their inaugural event in April, the Arts Bar on Hope Street returned with their second Scratch Night and an opportunity for emerging and less established artists or companies to test their work before a welcoming audience, with much of the work performed for the first time. An eclectic evening commenced with Cuts, Scratches, & China Plates written by Adam Hancox and directed by Connor Mullan. Featuring Hancox, Jack Coley, Ethan Shortt, and Jonny murphy, it is about a group of men united through football until the unimaginable happens. An interesting exploration on why some men resort to violence as a first means and how their friends should hold them accountable for their actions. In a slight change to the scheduled order, Charlie’s Release, w...

Inside Giovanni’s Room – Liverpool Playhouse

6Jun

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

Inside Giovanni’s Room – Liverpool Playhouse

Inside Giovanni’s Room by Phoenix Dance Theatre at Liverpool’s Playhouse was close to a five-star night out at the theatre. For the majority of the audience, the tale of Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin’s 50s literary classic – was familiar. They knew the story of David (played here by Phikolwethu Luke), a young American torn between the world’s expectation of him and his own desires. The audience members who might have been unfamiliar with the book were enlightened with less of the facts and more of the feelings: which, in my opinion, made for an emotional and gripping story of sexuality and shame. Where certain details are lost – David’s relationship with his aunt and father – others are found: Giovanni’s inner world is lit up in a nightmarish dance at the start of the second act, wher...

6Jun

By Abigail PendleburyNo Comments

North West

Grease The Musical – Blackpool Grand

Grease is back in Blackpool, and it's bringing all the nostalgic charm and infectious energy that fans adore. This co-production between Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Blackpool Grand Theatre delivers a fresh take on the classic, blending dynamic performances with a live on-stage band to create an immersive experience. From the very first announcement the audience were transported back to the 1950s world of Rydell High. The cast's enthusiasm is obvious from their smiles and energy as they take the stage, with standout performances that breathe new life into beloved characters. Blythe Jandoo shines as Sandy, showcasing the character’s innocence throughout the show, delivering a beautiful and heartfelt rendition of "Hopelessly Devoted to You," while Alexander Service's portrayal of Danny ...