North West Archives - Page 29 of 174

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) – Floral Pavilion

10Apr

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) – Floral Pavilion

Think you know Pride and Prejudice? Think again. Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is the story you know and love, told through the eyes of the people who know the characters the best, the servants. With the characters you know and love but told in a more up-to-date way with modern language for a more modern audience. It also includes some belters of tunes, including You’re So Vain, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Holding Out For a Hero and more! It was so much fun from a completely unexpected evening. If you’re going expecting an evening dedicated to Jane Austen’s most famous work, then you will be disappointed, but with an open mind, then evening will be one of the most fun you’ve had for a while. It is a small cast of five and there is not a weak link in any of the girls. Emma Ro...

10Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Abigail’s Party – Royal Exchange

Most of the packed press night audience will have arrived in the Victorian splendour of the Royal Exchange thinking they had a firm idea of what to expect from their evening’s entertainment. This suburban satire is firmly fixed in the collective theatrical imagination, chiefly thanks to the 1977 televised ‘Play For Today’, which confirmed Mike Leigh as a theatrical auteur and launched the stellar acting career of (his then wife) Alison Steadman. However, with this new production, the Royal Exchange has succeeded in demonstrating the bitter and caustic underbelly of this ‘puckish satire on contemporary mores’ without losing the humour at its heart. Director Natalie Abrahami decides to transpose the action in place but not in time, so we are presented with our Richmond Road setting in sub...

9Apr

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

War Horse – Liverpool Empire

When a National Theatre production goes on tour, audiences expect a high calibre performance. That expectation increases two-fold when a production has such a celebratory history like War Horse has. Due to its longstanding repertoire, audiences know what to expect when they see this show; the puppets, the story, the wartime setting. However, one only feels the true essence of the performance when it is seen it live. Descriptions won’t do the creative work justice, but one word to describe this production: magic. Considering the tour after tour it has been through, this cast held that sense of first-time performance quality that this show needs to succeed. Like so many reviewers before me, I thought the puppetry was out of this world. Each performer, led expertly by Tom Sturgess as...

9Apr

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Little Women – The Lowry

The novel 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott is still amongst one of the most popular novels today. Following the incredible success of the Greta Gerwig film in recent years, it’s safe to say that a stage version of Little Women would have a lot to live up to. Adapted by Anne-Marie Casey and directed by Loveday Ingram, taking on the March Sisters and their story was a brave undertaking. For those unfamiliar with the story, it centres around the March Sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy and takes place around the civil war. It tells the tale of their life with their mother at the helm as they are together at home and how at some point they all realise that nothing ever stays the same. With Jo March as the central character, the story moves on to highlight her own challenges about bein...

9Apr

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

The Koala Who Could – The Lowry

"In a wonderful place, at the breaking of dawn, where the breezes were soft and the sunshine was warm, a place where the creatures ran wild and played free ... A Koala called Kevin clung to a tree." As a family, we are big fans of going to see our favourite bedtime books on stage (Mog the Forgetful Cat, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, The Tiger who Came to Tea), and Rachel Bright & Jim Field write the most wonderful modern books with positive messages and catchy rhymes, so we knew we were in for a treat. Our story follows Kevin, the clingy Koala and “King of the staying-still-Kings!”, as he sits in the safety of his eucalyptus tree and watches his friends enjoy playing in the outback. Kevin is played flawlessly by Christopher Finn, who also takes on several other characters, includin...

7Apr

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – St Helens Theatre Royal

We all know the tale of Cinderella. Well, add a little sparkle and magic and you will find the cast of St Helens Theatre Royal and their portrayal. A wonderfully staged production which is bound to bring joy to many children and families over this Easter holiday. The cast is comprised of Coronation Streets Kimberly Hart-Simpson who plays the wonderfully sweet and fun Cinderella, Ben Keith as the very handsome and wholesome Prince Charming. Back by popular demand as always with his high energy as Buttons, Lewis Devine. The fabulously funny, and gruesome twosome ugly sisters portrayed by Shania Pain and Richard Aucott. Conor Barrie as the lively and cheeky Dandini and finally Rachael Wood as the glittering and captivating Fairy Godmother. This pantomime showcases some beautiful vocal t...

7Apr

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Scratch Night – Arts Bar, Liverpool

A new scratch night has opened its doors at the Arts Bar on Hope Street in Liverpool, offering a dynamic platform for writers to assess the reactions from a live (and lively) audience. This evocative and interesting evening highlights a variety of themes and gives sharp focus to emerging and significant talent. More than anything else I do believe that scratch night events like this really does support new writing and provides a platform for further exploration and development. Well done to the Arts Bar and organiser/curator Francesca Hill for presenting the audience with a diverse and often challenging selection. I only hope that this will be a regular event. Tonight’s showcase featured six short extracts from plays that are either at a developmental stage or almost oven re...

The Story Forge: Make Your Own Myth – Unity Theatre

5Apr

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

The Story Forge: Make Your Own Myth – Unity Theatre

Creative, fun and delightfully unique. If you are looking for a family fun show to suit all ages and really get yourself immersed into a show then look no further, the Rubbish Shakespeare Company has you covered with their hilarious and eccentric performance 'The Story Forge; Make your own Myth. As the title suggests, you the audience are involved in the creativity of what you see in front of you. Every person in the theatre was engaged, laughing and left with a smile. Two very talented actors with fantastic improvisation skills, comedy and physical theatre will immerse you, and especially those children in the audience in an engrossingly lively story using information, props and input from the audience. The show could go in any direction and trust me it does, this certainly isn't a sho...

The Worst Witch – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

5Apr

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

The Worst Witch – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Before JK Rowling launched Harry Potter on the world there was Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch. A series of books which delighted young readers who fell in love with the goings on in Miss Cackles Academy for young witches. Initially adapted from the books for television and then for theatre this musical production offers everything a young audience might enjoy with its pantomime style and magical narrative. The drama presents as a play within a play. A group of trainee witches perform their story as a school production, and it is to their credit that this young cast grab the material with energy and spirit. Characters that have been well written are very well performed and the rapport amongst the cast shone through. Megan Sorrel as Mildred Hubble, the hapless new girl who doesn’t fit in, ...

Do I Love You – Shakespeare North Playhouse

5Apr

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Do I Love You – Shakespeare North Playhouse

A love letter to Northern Soul from the witty playwright John Godber tours the UK this year, and it’s guaranteed to tug at a few heartstrings and give us all the nostalgia kick we crave. Three twenty-somethings from Hull contemplate life, friendship and the state of the world in this delightful comedy. Finding an appreciation for Northern Soul, the friends explore why this phenomenon was so popular, and how we’re all just wishing for the simple joys of the old days. With dreams paused because of Covid, and a feeling of helplessness and resentment in their working-class roots, the trio find their solace in the discovery of Northern Soul dancing. Sally’s gran has a load of vinyl in the attic, the song “Do I Love You” is constantly played at their work (a drive through takeaway, which m...