North West Archives - Page 51 of 174

Bonnie & Clyde – Knutsford Little Theatre

15Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Bonnie & Clyde – Knutsford Little Theatre

Tonight was my first visit to both Knutsford Little Theatre and Together For Theatre Productions to witness their latest offering Bonnie & Clyde. This is a musical rarely performed by amateur societies as it is tough to stage with the story moving so fast from one location to another and the underscore not allowing much wriggle room. The story of Bonnie & Clyde needs little explanation, bad boy meets good girl, and good girl turns bad due to the blindness of love. It doesn’t end well for our lead actors as is highlighted at the very start of the show. Together For Theatre have had no issues attracting a stellar cast to perform this gem of a musical which should be performed so much more. The score is stunning, the story compelling, everything points to a West End an...

The Grill (Jokes about ovens) – The King’s Arms

14Aug

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

The Grill (Jokes about ovens) – The King’s Arms

In the small studio theatre above a Manchester pub, the pressure is on. Two chefs, drafted into a prison kitchen due to a staff strike to cook the Death Row inmates’ final meals. Welcome to The Grill where the stakes are high and the steaks are non-existent, our soon-to-be-deceased favouring garden salads and soup instead before they depart this plane of existence. Directed by Adam Cachia, our two chefs Tom and Wally filet and flambé their way through a blackly funny script that explores everything from class wars, culinary memories and how to fleece a Tesco meal deal. There are some spicy one liners, lovely wordplay, and great blocking of the two main actors that builds in some enjoyable physicality. There are a few fluffed lines here and there but both cope marvellously with the...

14Aug

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Lord of the Dance – Palace Theatre

Since its premiere in Dublin on July 2nd, 1996, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance has captivated over 60 million people worldwide. On Tuesday night, a packed Manchester Palace Theatre became the latest audience to experience the magic as Lord of the Dance: A Lifetime of Standing Ovations took the stage. I had the privilege of reviewing the 25th-anniversary show in 2022, which left me "astounded" and "mesmerized." Naturally, I was eager to see if this 2024 revival could match that experience. The answer is an emphatic yes—if not more so. Just as in 2022, the performance opens and closes with on-screen appearances from Flatley himself, who remains the undisputed Lord of the Dance. Throughout the show, a massive video screen plays a key role, displaying breathtaking scenes of nature a...

Spring Awakening – Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre

10Aug

By Andrew LeeNo Comments

North West

Spring Awakening – Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre

Spring Awakening is a story of how sexual desires take hold of teenagers as they reach the precipice between childhood and adulthood. It is an exploration of the potential dangers of oppressing these desires, and of improper education about them. First hitting Broadway in 2006 after several years of previews and concerts, the importance of the show's theme is not to be understated and is as relevant in the 21st century as ever. The juxtaposition of alternative rock set against a religious, conservative backdrop is a real interesting concept. Over the last few years, I have seen lots of productions by Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre and have always found their ambition to be their greatest strength. Their production of ‘Chess’ a couple of years ago was particularly terrific, and Spring Aw...

The Ultimate Classic Rock Show – Floral Pavilion

3Aug

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

The Ultimate Classic Rock Show – Floral Pavilion

Can’t hope to please all of the people all of the time, but you can have a damn good go; it’s not too difficult with a huge amount of remarkable material to draw upon. And I like the way they’ve juxtaposed Ultimate and Classic when basically either would do, but that suggests it doesn’t get better than this. They may well be right. Only a couple of my personal favourites tonight, however, the packed audience was thrilled to bits, and dancing in the aisles. Well, I say dancing - too energetic a term for the kind of ubiquitous left shoe/right shoe shuffle people of a certain age indulge in. The good humoured atmosphere was because of the band’s badinage, with the audience and with each other. And each member had their place in the sun, even just to deliver a line or a riff. Lead singer an...

The Merry Wives of Windsor – Shakespeare North Playhouse

2Aug

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Merry Wives of Windsor – Shakespeare North Playhouse

If Shakespeare chose a modern company to perform his work then it would undoubtedly be The Pantaloons; I’m equally sure he would be thrilled with director Steve Purcell’s adaptation of a play that had The Pantaloons stamped all over it when it was first written. Roguish knight Falstaff (Alex Rivers) is down on his luck and reliant on the good will of the Host (William Ross-Fawcett) of his local tavern to keep him in good spirits of any kind! When he informs servants Nym (Jodie Micciche) and Pistol (Andrew Armfield) that he intends to seduce Mistress Ford (Micciche) and Mistress Page (Armfield) they refuse to deliver his letters, so he throws them out. When the letters eventually arrive via Mistress Quigley (Micciche) the two ladies laugh over their similarity and decide to get their rev...

Much Ado About Nothing – St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Liverpool

2Aug

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Much Ado About Nothing – St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Liverpool

It’s almost thirty years since Dan Meigh got Off The Ground Theatre, well, up and running, and there is much to be excited about with this production of one of Shakespeare’s funniest pieces, full of delightful word play and it is often wondered whether it is the missing Love’s Labour’s Won, the latter half of a comic double bill with Love’s Labour Lost. In post-war Messina, the home of Leonato (Ben Currie) with daughter Hero (Sarah Elise France) and cousin Beatrice (Kathy McGurk) ever present, Prince Don Pedro (Phil Rayner) leads the returning soldiers which include his illegitimate brother Don John (Chloe Hughes), Claudio (Tyler Clark), and Benedick (Connor Wray), and it is with some inevitability that Claudio is drawn to Hero as much as Benedick and Beatrice are apparently not. But th...

1Aug

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

101 Dalmatians – Palace Theatre

Another Disney classic has been brought to the stage; and 101 Dalmatians - The Musical is a delightful reimagining of the beloved classic, bringing together a talented cast and a visually captivating production. The show blends the timeless story with fresh energy and charm and is currently at Manchester Palace Theatre as part of its UK Tour starring Kym Marsh as the iconic Cruella De Vil. Kym Marsh delivers a standout performance as Cruella, embodying the villain with a perfect mix of menace and camp. Her presence on stage is both commanding and entertaining, adding a unique flair to the role. Samuel Thomas as Tom and Jessie Elland as Danielle bring warmth and earnestness to their roles, making the audience root for the beloved dalmatians’ safe return. The show shines in its comedic...

31Jul

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

In The Sick of It – Unity Theatre

‘In the Sick of It’, at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool, was an evening of highly enjoyable verbatim theatre and top-notch storytelling. Devised and acted by Adam McGuigan and Antonia Kemi Coker of Wake the Beast Theatre Company, Liverpool was treated to an intimate preview before the company head to Edinburgh for a hefty Fringe run. ‘In the Sick of It’ is a compilation of stories from NHS and healthcare workers who worked tirelessly through COVID and continue to work post-pandemic. Wake the Beast have been working on this show for four years, with the intention of bringing it to care homes and hospitals as an offering of catharsis for those working in healthcare. While I imagine it was a huge success in those specific sites, I’m so glad the company have decided to share this brilliant w...

A Caravan Named Desire – Shakespeare North Playhouse

31Jul

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

A Caravan Named Desire – Shakespeare North Playhouse

I am an avid SNP goer and am always intrigued by the unique plays that are on shown there whether in the main ‘globe like’ arena, the upstairs small studio or the outside ‘Sir Ken Dodd’ space, each performance is memorable, worth my 12-mile journey to see ‘what’s on offer’. I am never disappointed. I was hoping that tonight was no exception. Tonight, I entered the intimate studio to a scene that showed a messy area of clothes, tippled-over chairs and strewn bottles of water. A couple were in the space looking frantic and tense and the woman was constantly checking her phone. The couple were arguing about whether the show should go ahead as the main female cast member had not attended. The man stated that the female had to step in and although she initially refused, she played the ...