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Liverpool Improvisation Festival 2025 – Unity Theatre

4May

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Liverpool Improvisation Festival 2025 – Unity Theatre

As the dust settles, and the individual show reviews have now been written, it seems like a good time to take a step back and reflect on last weekend’s improvisation festival. The four-day event consisted of three days of improvised shows, and the final day was workshops aimed at fellow improvisers. The Unity Theatre offered two good sized spaces, so it was easy to move between the two theatres whilst the organisers set up the next act. The vibe of the event was one of community, and inclusivity, and a warm welcome was given to all who came to the event. I attended one whole day on the Saturday, which offered a varied schedule, beginning with a charming family show, ‘Jungle of Emotions’ which encouraged children to join in, by making their own suggestions, and th...

The School Of Night – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

4May

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

The School Of Night – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

Twenty years ago, under the stewardship of Ken Campbell, ‘The School of Night’ was formed and made its first appearance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. It is interesting to note that the original members of the Elizabethan version of The School of Night, were such luminaries as Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Harriot, Christopher Marlowe et al, who may very well have frequented the original Globe Theatre, which was built in 1599, which makes The School’s anniversary feel significant. It is thought that the name ‘The School of Night’ came from a line in Shakespeare’s play ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost,’ but there were other possibilities for the original name of this group of radical freethinkers. These include ‘The School of Atheism,’ and the ‘Durham House Set’ named after Sir Walter Raleig...

2May

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Takeaway – Liverpool Everyman

Watching a premiere is an exciting privilege, and Nathan Powell’s scouse adaptation of what once was a Brixton-based story intrigued me, but I questioned if it would be believable. There aren’t as many Caribbean restaurants in Toxteth compared to Greater London, for a start. But immediately, from the music to the warm hues of the Hylton restaurant set, the world invited us in with warm arms. The characters, Phina Oruche’s Carol and Wayne Rollins’ chef giving it the swagger and tenacity the drama needed from the go to dash any doubts about the story. Keeping an entire play in one location is a challenge, but I did not miss a change of scenery as the fresh witty banter, freedom of movement in the space and comic timing, kept eyes from wandering. Moreover, the performances were mostly f...

A Knight’s Tale – Opera House, Manchester

1May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

A Knight’s Tale – Opera House, Manchester

Manchester’s famous Opera House had hosted multiple productions beginning their theatrical journey as part of ATG’s ‘Manchester Gets It First’ programme with many going on to the West End and Broadway. Ghost the Musical, Bat Out Of Hell, &Juliet, Mrs Doubtfire and who could forget Covid hit Back To The Future? Each one of these productions has a ‘Made in Manchester’ tag securely attached to them and continue to thrive playing to packed houses across the globe. Now there is a new pretender to the crown, A Knight’s Tale had its World Premiere tonight and judging by the audience reaction the producers will need to find a West End venue pretty quick. Based on the 2001 cult film A Knight’s Tale follows William Thatcher, a 14th century peasant squire who breaks all the rules when he pa...

1May

By Emma WildNo Comments

North West

North by NorthWest – HOME Mcr

Adapting a film for the stage is no mean feat, especially if the film is an MGM blockbuster of its time, by hugely successful, iconic director and producer, Sir Alfred Hitchcock. These are certainly big shoes to fill. A challenge taken on by multi-award winning director, Emma Rice, in the world première adaptation of North by Northwest. How would Rice’s theatre company, Wise Children, translate Hitchcock’s use of masterful focus, suspense and tongue-in-cheek humour to the stage? Well, the resulting show did not disappoint and was an absolute joy to behold! Visiting HOME in central Manchester was a privilege and a pleasure, vibrant and buzzing with energy on the outside, and, as the name suggests, warm and welcoming on the inside. A comfortable, modern, spacious auditorium, the perfect s...

1May

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Vignettes – Hope Mill Theatre

HER Productions and Alex Keelan presented six short plays under the umbrella of ‘Six letters to the NHS’. The first presentation was titled ‘Day One’ by Clara Darcy and Directed by Martha Simon, starring Erin Riley and Sarah White featuring voice overs by Leah Marks, Joel Parry and Charlotte Faragher. The play depicts the journey of an ambulance call centre worker’s first day on the job. The play was funny and witty but also displayed the seriousness and high pressure of this difficult role. Fresh eyed and eager to help, the new employee soon realises with guidance and advice of her established supervisor that the job isn’t easy to navigate with a high burnout rate of two years. Two thirds of their calls are falls from the elderly and a high level of mental health crises with little res...

1May

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – The Forum Theatre

The programme describes this production as a musical comedy and there was certainly plenty of both on show at this performance presented by the East Cheshire Musical Theatre Company, who can always be relied upon to put on a first class and highly entertaining show. I cannot remember ever seeing a production with so many one-liners on the comedy front that had myself and the rest of the audience in absolute stiches throughout the whole of the show’s duration. I have to say right from the start that every single member of the cast on stage did an absolutely superb job, not just the main characters but also the members of the company (The Ancestors) who’s singing and dancing, choreographed superbly by Sally Hilliard, brought the whole production to life (or death, if you prefer!) The ...

Allegory of the Cave – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

30Apr

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Allegory of the Cave – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

Mythical tales re-telling the story of people’s lives is enchanting, and Allegory of the Cave excel at making the tradition of storytelling delightful in their presentation with an improvised show which also incorporates puppetry. Grandma is always good to have on hand to read these mythical tales, and in this instance, she is a G&T drinking Granny. She asks her grandchild to ask her imaginary friend what fear she had when she was a child, and of course the imaginary friend is us, the audience. Brave audience member Mark recounted his recurring bad dream of being chased by bees, and so the troupe would weave Mark’s fear of bees into the story. Photo: Andrew AB The story centres around the battle between nature and the destructive force that are humans. ...

Box of Frogs – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

30Apr

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Box of Frogs – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

This show is a fast-paced style of improvisation, for those of us who are old enough to remember ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’, you will get the idea of how this works. No Clive Anderson, but they do short-form gymnastics in the same way as the ‘Whose Line…’ crew. They begin by asking for suggestions from the audience, and poor Robert Wilson whoever you are, you were the choice of child that someone didn’t like at school, and they played a game of ‘Story, Story, Die!’, where three of the company must keep a story going or die, a bit like it’s a knockout improv. This is a good game to warm up the audience, as it shows off the skills of the improvisers and the speed of their reflexes. To show off their improvised music, the ensemble pulled together a song about scabies c...

30Apr

By Harry AltyNo Comments

North West

Death of a Salesman – The Lowry

Despite Arthur Miller’s classic play Death of a Salesman first debuting on stage over 75 years ago, this Trafalgar Theatre and Raw Material production at The Lowry helps to demonstrate how the themes of the piece still resonate with a modern audience. This slick interpretation boasts a stellar cast, combined with effective staging, light production and set design resulted in audiences being transported to 1940s Brooklyn. Our story focussed on the Loman family, led by patriarch Willie who is expertly portrayed by David Hayman as the titular salesman. David Hayman expertly traverses this complex role and when combined with Andy Arnold’s meticulous direction and staging, creates a seamless demonstration of a deteriorating man. The piece presents Willie as a character of duality, wit...