North West Archives - Page 52 of 179

7Oct

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

WRESTLELADSWRESTLE – HOME Mcr

While you might not think Judo and racism are the easiest go-tos for a (sort-of) one-woman show, Jenni Jackson’s expert weaving of personal experience with community accountability in WRESTLELADSWRESTLE cracks the subject matter wide-open in an approachable way, inviting us in to listen and learn. The piece, at its core, is built off the universal desire we have as humans to assert ownership over our own pain: at least if we can decide when and how it happens, we can be somewhat prepared. Out of this, we learn anecdotal stories, as well as news snippets of traumas that have occurred to women when they simply weren’t prepared. So: Jenni prepares us. What we learn, among other things, is how to get people out of our house when they start to act aggressive. Bringing her ‘girl gang’ onstage...

The Salon: The Sequel! – St Helens Theatre Royal

6Oct

By Anne PritchardNo Comments

North West

The Salon: The Sequel! – St Helens Theatre Royal

This adult comedy show, written by Drew Quayle, follows the antics and everyday life of salon manager, Carol, played by radio and stage star Leanne Campbell. It’s predecessor show, The Salon originally played at St Helens Theatre Royal in 2009, playing again in 2011 and 2017, before transferring to Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre in 2018. This stand-alone sequel has been updated to reflect current local Liverpool culture and is awash with Scouse over-the-top caricatures and Scouse humour which had the hyped-up audience showing their appreciation with boisterous whoops and piercing squeals of laughter amid noisy excitement. Carol (Leanne Campbell) is orchestrator of the story, managing the salon staff and trying to keep her family life in control. Her staff of two, be...

Girls Don’t Play Guitars – Liverpool’s Royal Court

5Oct

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Girls Don’t Play Guitars – Liverpool’s Royal Court

Reading the 2019 reviews of this show it was natural that I took my seat at its revival with high expectations. The story is undoubtably inspiring and it feels right at home in this theatre, however, as a stage show this lacked depth for me. With an 80:20 ratio of music to dialogue, albeit good music, it was difficult to feel much emotional pull towards these characters. As characters themselves, I imagine it was difficult to ascertain much difference between them for the actors as their personalities were as similar as their costumes in most parts of the script, noticeably different only by which love interest they had. Nothing can be said of the talent of the cast though. Their skills as musicians were undeniably central to the success of this show’s success; I just wish they were ...

5Oct

By Eleanor HallNo Comments

North West

The Lodger – Unity Theatre

From the creator of ADHD: The Musical comes a semi-hallucinogenic exploration of belonging. After an unsettling welcome paired with deadpan humour, the nameless lodger takes the dust sheets from the objects strewn around the stage and orchestrates the story. I was lost for the few minutes during the lodger’s own initial perspective, but the story soon developed into a compelling journey through place and possession. Dora Colquhoun plays 5 characters and gifts each one their own physicality. Most impressive was her representation of the unspeaking female deer, which was an impressive feat of physical storytelling. Furthermore, the play-world that is conveyed through The Lodger is theatrically inventive and unique. Through the recurring props and reappearing characters - all fighting to s...

Blue Man Group: Bluevolution World Tour – The Lowry

3Oct

By Nicky LambertNo Comments

North West

Blue Man Group: Bluevolution World Tour – The Lowry

Blue Man Group are a long established (since 1987) group of performers with their own unique brand of entertainment, the main feature of which is their phenomenal drumming. They always appear as a trio and are completely silent, in that they do not speak a word throughout the whole performance. Their current world tour, “Bluevolution” features a female drummer who provides them with excellent support but also gets her moment in the spotlight. I have seen Blue Man Group on the television and I wasn’t really sure how they could make their act stretch to a full ninety minute show (there is no interval) but they have crafted a wonderful evening’s entertainment, full of fun and joy and I was so sorry when it came to an end. The Blue Men mingled with the audience before the ...

3Oct

By Katy GilroyNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Liverpool Empire

Disco nuns and mobster boyfriends – Sister Act is an iconic film, and Alan Menken’s musical adaptation turns it into a glitzy stage production with plenty of fun. Starring Coronation Street’s Wendi Peters as the disapproving Mother Superior and West End star Landi Oshinowo, this was set to be a sparkling show. When disco singer Deloris witnesses her boyfriend murder one of his cronies, she is put into protection at a convent – the last place she would ever have expected to end up. From not knowing anything about life as a nun to transforming the church choir and finding a sisterhood she never knew she needed, Deloris’ life takes a massive turn. Landi’s voice and incredible acting skills brought this sassy character to fruition in an amazing way, allowing the audience to truly connect wi...

The Lieutenant of Inishmore – Liverpool Everyman

28Sep

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Lieutenant of Inishmore – Liverpool Everyman

Martin McDonagh’s darkly satirical exploration of violence, extremism, and the cyclical nature of retribution resonates as much with today’s challenges of nationalism, radicalism, and unchecked ideology as it did to Ireland’s troubled past when, having been written in 1994, it eventually premiered in 2001. For all the talk of good luck when a black cat crosses your path, Donny (Alan Turkington), Davey (Taylor McClaine) and wayward Republicans Christy (Cameron McKendrick), Brendan (Michael Tient), and Joey (Jason Kelly) are about to discover what ensues when you cross a black cat belonging to Donny’s son, Padraic (Julian Moore-Cook) – a man so mad that much to his chagrin, most mainstream terrorist organisations won’t have him as a member. Throw in a wannabee rebel in Davey’s sister, Mai...

28Sep

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Wonder Boy – Liverpool Playhouse

Wonder Boy is a beautifully written piece of theatre which gives the audience a real insight into the struggles of living with a stammer. Following the character of Sonny and following his journey from frustration to freedom. Written by Ross Willis and directed by Sally Cookson with thought, precision and an excellent and imaginative portrayal of the frustration and expression of speaking with a stammer. A beautifully put together play which captivates you from the beginning, you are immediately drawn and sympathetic to the main character of Sonny, who was performed by Hilson Agbangbe who produced a strong and diverse performance and helped you to warm easily to the character and depicted Sonny's difficulties within the real world. Sonny's character cannot be mentioned without the excel...

28Sep

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Two of Us – HOME Mcr

It seems somehow apposite that this play about the last meeting of Paul McCartney and John Lennon should be staged just as a certain well-known group from Manchester is about to reunite. Not just because of the massive debt that Oasis owed the Beatles but because Lennon and McCartney were in some ways like a pair of warring brothers only with more wit and talent. Throughout the seventies, until John Lennon was murdered, they would both be constantly asked if The Beatles were going to reunite. There is a story that even after Lennon’s death the remaining three were offered a fortune to get back together but they all turned it down as they said without John it wouldn’t be The Beatles. On an April night in 1976, Paul makes a surprise visit to John’s apartment in New York. Lenn...

28Sep

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

Bowie Experience – Floral Pavilion

With a thirty-song, two-and-a-half hour set with a tight band and charismatic performers, Bowie Experience is a real triumph. The tone is set immediately, as the Bowie impersonator asserts that we, the audience, can take photos, sing along, even get up and dance. This breaking of regular expectations works excellently to get the audience even more excited for what’s to come. While it takes us the first half to get confident enough to rise to our feet, by the second half most of the audience are on their feet and swaying along in pure nostalgic glee. The show opens with Space Oddity, and while you can tell lead singer Oliver Slee is a natural Bowie, it takes him a minute to really ease into that Bowie-charisma. The negative space onstage ate him up a bit for the first few tunes, u...