North West Archives - Page 56 of 179

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...

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...