North West Archives - Page 41 of 174

29Nov

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Spend Spend Spend – Royal Exchange

Viv Nicholson is a pretty obscure name in British popular culture nowadays, perhaps the odd fan of 80’s indie darlings The Smiths would recognise her as the brassy blonde staring out aggressively from the front cover of ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’, her real claim to fame having been gradually consigned to the dustbin of history. However, back in 1964, when she and her husband Keith won £152,319 (the equivalent of £4.3 million today) on the football pools, she could reasonable lay claim to have been as famous in the UK as The Beatles or Harold Wilson. This festive season, The Royal Exchange have mounted a joyous revival of ‘Spend Spend Spend’ the 1998 musical by the late Steve Brown and Justin Greene, exploring Viv’s rise, fall and redemption, and in a cracking return to...

Alice in Wonderland – Shakespeare North Playhouse

27Nov

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Alice in Wonderland – Shakespeare North Playhouse

A fabulous theatre, a story of marvel and magic, at a pantomime time of year and excitement in bucket loads, this being the ingredients to the opening night for the journey into fantasy, written with brilliance by Nick Land and directed with creativity by Nathan Powell that greeted the packed theatre this evening. To greet the full house, there were children dancing in the foyer and magical colour-changing potions to add to orange juice with the famous quote from the book itself ‘drink me’ (now pour me), that had us all entwined in the world of Lewis Carroll from the onset. As the play started, the playing cards greeted the crowd, waving excitedly at children dressed as Alice in pale blue dresses or as Mad Hatters who all waved back with beaming smiles. The 4 cards on stage realis...

Here You Come Again – Blackpool Grand Theatre

27Nov

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

Here You Come Again – Blackpool Grand Theatre

They say you should never meet your heroes. Kevin, a gay, forty-something year old, failing comedian, does just that in this new Dolly Parton musical. With his career at a standstill, living in the attic of his parent’s house during the Covid pandemic and his relationship coming to an end, Kevin’s life can’t seem to get any worse. Not knowing where to turn, he seeks support from his icon, Dolly Parton. Right on cue, she appears and offers him the advice he needs to get his life back on track. Having heard very little about this brand-new show, with a transfer to the West End imminent, I was excited to see how Dolly’s iconic numbers could be brought to life. However, it was certainly not what I expected. No large-scale cast, dance routines or set changes as we are so often familiar with ...

27Nov

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Jungle Book – Octagon Theatre

When Walt Disney was contemplating adapting Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’ stories, he gave his writing staff a copy with the instruction ‘The first thing to do is NOT to read it’. The resultant movie, released in 1968, bore only a passing resemblance to the source material, but still became one of the best love films in the Disney canon. For this adaptation, writer Andrew Pollard has stuck closer to the source material and whilst the result is an engaging retelling of the tale with some excellent, original songs, it still sits in the shadow of its more famous celluloid cousin. Mowgli (Kiara Nicole Piliai) and his adventures as an abandoned baby growing up in the Indian jungle in the company of wolves, bears and panthers, pursued by the menacing Shere Khan (Rachel Marwood), is a fantas...

27Nov

By Anne PritchardNo Comments

North West

The Signalman – Thingwall Hall

ArtsGroupie CIC presents this retelling of Charles Dickens’s classic ghost story which was written after Dickens himself survived a train crash; adapted and directed by David Griffiths, it is performed by John Maguire and Zoran Blackie. This haunting story is performed in almost total blackness, the only lights being the signalman’s two signal lamps which are used throughout, sometimes blinding the audience and at other times utilised to uplight the performers faces or to help portray large shadows on the stage backdrop. The only other lighting is a red coloured lamp depicting a fire in the corner of the signalman’s hut. The production opens with the stage in pitch darkness, eerie background music playing with a stark set consisting of two wooden boxes serving as seating for the play...

26Nov

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Chicago – Regent Theatre

If you’re a fan of musical theatre, Chicago at the Regent Theatre in Stoke is an absolute must-see. This iconic production, currently on tour, is nothing short of sensational. From the moment the overture begins, the packed theatre buzzes with excitement, setting the stage for a night of pure theatrical magic. Set in the roaring 1920s, Chicago plunges audiences into a world of jazz, scandal, and sensationalism. Against the backdrop of Prohibition and a media frenzy that transforms criminals into celebrities, we follow Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly—two women locked up for murdering their lovers. The show’s gritty glamour, sharp wit, and intoxicating music transport you straight to the heart of Jazz Age Chicago. A minimalist yet striking set design instantly captures attention. A lone cha...

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 2024: Rapunzel – Everyman Theatre

22Nov

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 2024: Rapunzel – Everyman Theatre

Especially at this time of year, you can’t beat a panto. The beauty of this kind of theatre is that you always know what you’re going to get: tongue-in-cheek jokes, slapstick humour, outlandish costumes… and of course, the token “man in drag”. There is an element of the formulaic about pantomimes - something familiar, something comforting, something inherently festive. However, this particular show was different. Yes, it still had all the hallmarks one comes to expect from a panto - but in this case, it had something unique. Over the years, we’ve all seen hundreds of pantomimic retellings of classic stories like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, with only small deviations from the main story we all know and love. But Rock ’n’ Roll Rapunzel was a version of the fairytale as we ...

It’s a Wonderful Life – St Mary’s Creative Space

22Nov

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

It’s a Wonderful Life – St Mary’s Creative Space

Disley Theatrical Productions return to St Mary’s Creative Space with the Christmas Classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. Directed by Gail Young, we are taken along the journey of George Bailey and his life from one of his lowest points, right back to when he was a child, up to present day, and even how life would have been if he had never been born. This is all played out so Bailey’s Guardian Angel, Clarissa, can get to know who she is going to help and hopefully get her wings along with it. George Bailey is brought to life by Rob Lyon and what a role! Barely leaving the stage and so integral to the story. Lyon is great in the role, giving all the emotions needed to take us on this rollercoaster of a ride that Bailey goes on. Clarissa is played by Hilary Wiseman and brings a warmth to the...

It’s a Wonderful Life – Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio

21Nov

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

It’s a Wonderful Life – Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio

I was glad to see how busy it was in the Studio for this production. Sometimes one feels slightly exposed and as though they should fear the worst sitting in a sparsely filled audience. Old Fruit Jar Productions is beginning to build up a solid reputation for bringing trustworthy and impactful theatre to the local area and I must say they continue that trend with this staging of It’s a Wonderful Life. Firstly, if you have yet to feel Christmassy then seeing a show like this will at once change that. The wholesome and honest story is a classic for a reason, that said, a classic on screen and so I was curious to see what it could be on stage. Due to the small space, they had to be economical and efficient with set and frills; not even the most high-tech theatres can jump from an off...

20Nov

By Amanda HodgsonNo Comments

North West

That Love Thing – HOME Mcr

This moving and entertaining piece follows the inner life of Peter, a man living with cerebral palsy, and his companion Michael, as they narrate the ups and downs of life with a serious disability. All the touchstones of Peter’s life – including his love of music and Shakespeare, his relationships with his unseen mother and brother, the travails of sex and dating, and his love/hate relationships with his various wheelchairs – are covered with wry humour. Just enough detail is given in each vignette for the audience to feel that the sketch is authentic and serious without overpowering the momentum of the show. Gradually we are introduced to main characters in Peter’s life – some real, some fictional, some perhaps both, including the Satanic Mr C.P., who appears to mock and torment...