North West Archives - Page 54 of 174

Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare North Playhouse

17Jul

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare North Playhouse

I have seen the famous Shakesperean comedy “Midsummer Night’s Dream” numerous times, several of these in the wonderful Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot. Every time I have seen this play it has been delivered with a different view, a different perspective – in a different way. Although the story remains the same, the journey and the players take on various routes. I have also seen the amateur touring group the Handlebards do this very play, at this very theatre, before in 2023 but knew by seeing this innovative and unpredictable group, that the journey this evening would be unique and refreshing. And it was!! The cast consisted of four females, which in itself was a unique stance in theatre. The cast intermingled with the audience (which disappointingly was only around 60 peo...

16Jul

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Blackpool Opera House

Grab your habits and rush down to the Opera House, because the nuns are in town! Based on the Whoopi Goldberg classic from 1992, the musical version of Sister Act largely stays true to the movie plot. The story follows wannabe singer Deloris Van Cartier’s escape from her gangster boyfriend, as she inadvertently witnesses a murder. Where does she go? Into hiding, as a nun, in a Philadelphia convent – of course! When she struggles to adapt, annoying Mother Superior in the process as she leads her fellow sisters astray, she is tasked with improving the woeful convent choir. Wonderful music from composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast), and lyrics by Glenn Slater (School of Rock, Love Never Dies), breathe fresh life and vibrancy to the story. The production boaste...

14Jul

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Dear Eliza – The King’s Arms, Salford

Barbara Diesel’s Dear Eliza, currently touring UK fringe festivals, is a powerful and raw piece of theatre that explores the fear of the effects of mental ill health upon friendship and delves into the conversations that most people find too difficult, too upsetting, too challenging to have. This one woman show presents as a live video recording of responses to letters from one friend to another. Except the letters were never sent; never received. The letters are found hidden away following the suicide of the sender. The impact on Eliza, the recipient, is recorded in response; ironically, never to be received by its intended beneficiary and cleverly pulling the audience into that role. The structure of the piece allows a linear narrative which depicts the friendship between the two y...

Fine Line: A GreySpace Production – The Fitzgerald

13Jul

By Amelia PhillpottsNo Comments

North West

Fine Line: A GreySpace Production – The Fitzgerald

When the stylistic choice is made to produce a play with minimal set, a small cast and a character driven storyline, the pressure of the show falls almost solely on the actors’ ability to work realistically within the space and present a believable yet fascinating relationship to entice the audience. Fine Line: A GreySpace Production manages to excel in its stylistic choice and create a realistic dynamic without crutches of realistic set. The play follows teenager Mil and her counsellor Josie reconnecting by chance after 2 years. This rekindling is inter-spliced with flashbacks to their initial relationship, which constantly blurs the lines between a professional relationship and a deeper emotional connection. As they reminisce about the past, you watch how thei...

13Jul

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

& Juliet – Opera House, Manchester

When this Musical first debuted in Manchester in 2019; I became an immediate fan and I was over the moon when &Juliet announced a UK Tour this year with its first stop at the Manchester Opera House. The vibrant reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic is such a feel good musical, you can’t help but love it as it takes you on an exhilarating journey that is both uplifting and deeply entertaining, powered by an incredible back catalogue of hits penned by the legendary Max Martin. From the opening number to the final curtain and cancelling to Justin Timberlake hit ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’, & Juliet is a joyous celebration of self-discovery and empowerment throughout! This new tour features a brand new cast; with Matt Cardle as the Bard himself and the sensational Gerardine Sacdal...

13Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar – The King’s Arms, Salford

In a packed-out King’s Arms, musical stand-up Holly Redford Jones’ tuneful contribution to Greater Manchester Fringe seeks to answer the question: where have all the lesbian bars gone? Redford Jones instantly draws the audience in with a reassuring stage presence, achieving many laughs through the sardonic delivery of her musings. Social critique remains sharp as well as facetious throughout. The show’s description promises many things- including a celebration of queer women of the past, present and future. It was therefore a missed opportunity for the piece to be noticeably light on sapphic content. Where did all the lesbian bars go? A brief history of the country’s venues- from the 1930s’ Gateways Club to London’s newest joint La Camionera- would have been a welcome inclusion. ...

12Jul

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

The Giant Killers – Royal Court Studio

Leaving behind them a trail of raving reviews as they travel around the country, it is no surprise that Long Lane Theatre keeps impressing. The story is simple enough, but it is brought to us in a way that is both remarkably efficient, funny and educational. Though it is set in the 1800s, something that may put theatregoers off, may they be assured that this production feels as present as the day itself. Each performance has tenacity, complexity and human value and will keep audiences, whether they’re football fans or not, entertained throughout. The studio at Liverpool Royal Court is not a massive space, and noticing the compact nature of The Giant Killers set, neither were any of the touring show’s previous venues. It is testament to the quality of the cast of four per...

12Jul

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Dead Dad Show – 53two

I read an article by the comedian Cariad Lloyd about the death of her father. In particular, she wanted to give advice to people on how to approach someone dealing with grief. Her favourite reaction, she said, came from the comic actor Ken Campbell who asked if her dad was going to come and see the show they were performing and she explained he had died and he replied, “Huh, yeah, they have a habit of doing that, dads.” Humour, as opposed to sentimentality or the stock phrase, was, as always, the best policy. Which is the attitude of this rip-roaring, full-on, no-holds barred of a show which is not averse to the odd profanity, contains nudity, cross-dressing but also has a cool satirical edge. It is brash, cocksure you might say, cheeky, confident and it certainly has plenty of s...

12Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Rumours – Thingwall Community Centre

Under the capable direction of Paul Arends, Thingwall Players excel in their Anglified delivery of one of Neil Simon’s most farcical of plays where the humour comes thick and fast and the only risk of missing a gag is that you’re still in fits of laughter from the previous one. This 1980’s tale reset to London involves a 10th wedding anniversary party to which the first couple, the Bevans (Charlotte Holguin; Zoran Blackie) arrive only to find the wife and servants missing and the husband doped up on painkillers with a gunshot wound through one of his earlobes. Desperate to avoid any scandal for the wounded man, who happens to be the assistant deputy minister of finance, the first couple, both lawyers, try to cover up the incident from the second couple, the Cummings (Kate Mulvi...

Amy Webber: No Previous Experience – The King’s Arms

12Jul

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Amy Webber: No Previous Experience – The King’s Arms

Ambitious opera graduate Amy Webber brings a delightful blend of music, role-play, and a hint of job-hunting to the King’s Arms theatre with her stand-up routine. Webber opens with a playful sing-through of her CV, interspersed with anecdotes that keep the audience laughing throughout. Her ad-libbed lyrics and charming fumbles on her mini keyboard are reminiscent of a genre-bending act you’d see at Eurovision, mixing humour and talent seamlessly. With an energetic and quick-witted persona, Webber enacts various occupations, from teacher to therapist, and engages in tongue-in-cheek audience interaction. Among the interesting careers in the audience were an engineer and a skyscraper window cleaner, to whom she offered some frivolous networking pointers. A humorous stint with a volu...