North West Archives - Page 50 of 174

The Musicals in Concert – Floral Pavilion

26Aug

By Katy GilroyNo Comments

North West

The Musicals in Concert – Floral Pavilion

Musicals hold a certain kind of magic, and there’s always that one particular song that sticks in your mind as the highlight of the show – so a whole night of those songs could only be spectacular, and this absolutely was. Hosted by the ever charming and incredibly charismatic (and, whether he thinks so or not, very funny) Robert Daws, this was a memorable night celebrating the best of the best musical theatre tunes. Alongside Bob, we were joined by an incredibly talented live band and a cast of West End stars: Amy Robbins, Sabrina Carter, Gemma Atkins, Gerard Bentall, Chris Holland and Stephen Palfreman. Dressed to the nines in glamorous outfits, the six singers took us on a powerful journey through some of the most famous musicals, cherry picking songs that are packed full of emotion ...

26Aug

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Coming Home – King’s Arms, Salford

The link between a football fan and their team can often be like the relationship between a man and a woman. First, there is deep passion which means the supporter can love and hate his club simultaneously. Secondly, there is a lot of shouting involved, some kissing, a bit of singing and every now and then feelings of pure ecstasy. Regretfully, some people's passion for their football team surpasses their love for their significant other. If that team is the England football team you can introduce layers of hope, desire, frustration, and as we all know, ultimately disappointment. When similar emotions are applied to the romance between Jack (Christopher Wollaton) and Suzie (Lucy Farrar), you have a hilarious drama that is just as dramatic and emotional as any penalty shootout. Ja...

23Aug

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Lost Soul 2 – Liverpool’s Royal Court

Although the title might make some presume this to be a connected sequel to a show they should watch first, they needn’t worry. I was five when the first Lost Soul took to the same stage in 2007 and so there was no chance of me having any accurate grounds for comparison, but, from what I have read, that show was electric with scouse humour, a laugh-a-minute kind of affair and I took those expectations with me into Lost Soul 2. You’re never far away from a laugh in the Royal Court and this show was no different. Straight away it’s adult content and unapologetic farce gives you a flavour of the rest of the evening and that doesn’t let up, I was pleasantly surprised to see. The comedy was well-balanced and well-timed. Though sometimes predictable, it genuinely had people rolling around ...

My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – HOME Mcr

21Aug

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – HOME Mcr

Multi-talented, social media sensation Rob Madge brings their award-winning production of My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) to HOME in Manchester and tonight the audience welcomed them with open arms and a double standing ovation. Starting during lock down with Twitter posts and home videos of Rob attempting to stage a full-blown Disney parade at home for their grandma, with costumes going awry, Rob’s Mum mixing up characters and Rob’s Dad missing cues as Stage Manager as well as many other roles, Rob is here to tell the story from birth to finally completing this parade live for us this evening. Written by Madge and directed by Luke Sheppard, My Son’s A Queer is going from strength to strength, originating at the Turbine Theatre in 2021, it has had two seasons at the Edinburgh...

20Aug

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

North West

Diary of a Magician – C Arts, C Aquila

In my years on this planet, I have discovered people fall into two categories - those who love magic and those who loathe it. Magic at the Edinburgh festival falls into two categories - vibrant, exciting and interesting and pretty poor. I was delighted to find out this production at C Arts Aquila falls into the former category. It is an intriguing, exciting mix of magic some parts have never been seen before. I've been watching magic for a long time now and I continue to be beguiled and enchanted but there were tricks and turns in this piece, which I've never encountered before, which I'd never known of so was delighted to see. It’s certainly not the best venue at Edinburgh. It’s a rather damp, dark day, but the sun shines as soon as our magician comes onto stage and intrigues us...

Anthony and Cleopatra – Shakespeare North Playhouse

18Aug

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Anthony and Cleopatra – Shakespeare North Playhouse

‘Anthony and Cleopatra’ is not an easy play to get right. William Shakespeare took the story of political intrigue, family jealousy, and blinding love right from the pages of ancient history, and wove a tale that is dramatic, tragic and loving in equal measure. It is an even harder play to get right when you are a company of only seven players, each permitted to learn only your own lines and cues, thrust onto an unfamiliar stage with no rehearsal. That said, the talented company from Shake-Scene Shakespeare did just that… performing Anthony and Cleopatra as the second play in their mini repertory residency at the Shakespeare North Playhouse this week with resounding success. Opening with ‘As You Like It’ yesterday (the review of that show can be found here: https://northwestend.c...

17Aug

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Bring It On – Liverpool Empire Youth

It's all happening as the Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre return with another triumphant musical offering. Inspired by the noughties film which then went on to more success with multiple sequels, this Broadway hit takes the usual trope of high school romances and rivalries and adds a lot of cheer. The show focuses on Campbell, a seventeen-year-old cheerleader, who's world turns upside down as she changes school after finally achieving her dream of becoming captain. Not only is this school completely different, but it also doesn’t have a cheer squad! High- energy and relevant, this musical feels like a great choice for this talented group of youngsters. How refreshing to see teenagers actually playing teenagers! From the get-go, the show relies on its leading lady to guide it onwards. ...

The Hound of the Baskervilles – Theatre by the Lake

17Aug

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

North West

The Hound of the Baskervilles – Theatre by the Lake

The audience at Theatre by the Lake are howling with delight at the new production of the Sherlock Holmes classic The Hound of the Baskervilles, writes Karen Morley-Chesworth. This three-person production is a complete retake on the detective novel by Arthur Conan Doyle. The fourth wall isn’t broken, it is demolished in this hilarious retelling of the popular tale. Adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, this hit West End production captures all the elements of British comedy - farce, physical humour and clever witty lines. This is a fast moving play that all the family can enjoy together. Sherlock is called in to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville, who died on the moors, after what is believed to have been an attack by a giant dog. Sir Henry has inherited the ti...

As You Like It – Shakespeare North Playhouse

16Aug

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

As You Like It – Shakespeare North Playhouse

'As You Like It' - one of William Shakespeare's many comedies - is ultimately a story of love: what it means to be in love and how to find your true love. Of course, as in many of the Bard's works, the course of true love never runs smooth, and this play is no different. The lovers here have to navigate banishment from their homes, hidden identities and burning jealousy in order to see the way through the trees and find their way to what they really want. In this particular production, the players also had to battle through the lack of rehearsal, the absence of a set, and minimal props and costumes, as well as the elements in the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden; with only the support of the book-holder to prompt lines and missed cues. For this is Shakespeare, but not as you know ...

15Aug

By Miranda GreenNo Comments

North West

Legally Blonde – Floral Pavilion

Omigod you guys! I didn’t realise I was coming to see an amateur production of Legally Blonde the Musical at the Floral last night and, were it not for a couple of tiny microphone glitches, I’d have been none the wiser. From crowd-rousing curtain-up to fabulous finale, it was as polished and perfect a gem of a show as you’d pay top dollar to see. Running until Saturday, there’s still time to nab some seats for this Wallasey Musical Theatre Company production. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll know that it’s a piece of fairytale froth as a story, where the assertion is that you can be both brainy and blonde, principled and a princess. Elle Woods, a lethal combination of girlish naivety and steely determination, applies for Harvard Law School (despite having majored in Fashion Merchan...