North West Archives - Page 6 of 179

12Dec

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Beauty and the Beast – Storyhouse

The festive season has returned and Storyhouse have treated us to a spectacular original version of Beauty and the Beast, full of beautiful scenery, fantastic costumes, songs to please all ages and a stellar cast who put their all in to bring us joy and cheer. Written by Anne Odeke with her debut panto, there are some strong messages throughout about treating people with respect, being kind to others and understanding that everyone deserves happiness. There are plenty of laughs, lots of joy but a lot of heart that will leave you feeling warm inside and maybe shed a little tear or two. Set and costumes, designed by Amy Jane Cook, are beautiful, extremely colourful, especially in Fromageville, shown off in all its glory by the wonderful lighting, designed by Aaron J Dootson. The set is...

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

12Dec

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Altrincham Garrick’s ethos of offering ‘something for everyone’ was certainly present tonight as I caught a mid-week performance of their annual Christmas pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Not everyone is a fan of pantomime, myself included, and ultimately it is about children, families and friends coming together to have fun and silliness during the festive period and it was wonderful to see such evident joy and participation in the faces of young ones and the adults having a much needed and very welcome laugh. Set in Dame Gertie’s circus, hard up business owner Dame Gertie (Joseph Meighan) and her useless son, Silly Billy (Daniel Ellis) desperately need to pay their overdue ground rent to local landowner, Baron Wasteland (Mark Watkins), father of Goldilocks (Elise Evans). ...

12Dec

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

Sleeping Beauty – Floral Pavilion

As we enter the theatre, a giant replica of the infamous spinning wheel dominates the auditorium, instantly setting the tone for the magic, mischief, and marathon-length storytelling to come. A classic telling of Sleeping Beauty is served up but not without a generous haul of bonus material. And at nearly three hours long (interval included), there is a lot to be squeezed in. The production leans heavily into its storyline, sometimes to the point of slowing the pace, as we’re guided through the well-known tale of Sleeping Beauty. Interestingly, the familiar plot becomes almost a subplot within a larger narrative that repositions our heroine as a brave adventurer rather than a passive, snoozing princess. The Floral seems determined to give audiences both versions: the classic romance com...

11Dec

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Epstein Theatre

Panto has returned to the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool. This year’s offering is Cinderella by Regal Entertainment who also have Dick Whittington in St Helens Theatre Royal. This production was under the direction of Kay Nicholson and is fronted by Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actress Katie McGlynn playing the title role. Cinderella lives at home with her two step sisters Mounjaro Hardup (Shania Pain) and Ozempic Hardup (Brenda LaBeau) who are evil and quite frankly horrid to poor Cinderella. On the other side of the town The Prince known as Prince Charming (Micheal Nelson) and his faithful assistant Dandini are looking for a wife for the prince. However, worried people wouldn’t treat him like a normal human being he and dandini swap roles and then they go out to the town to find the bri...

10Dec

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Robin Hood – Opera House, Manchester

It’s pantomime season once again, that magical time of year when theatres fill with laughter, music, mischief, and festive cheer. Robin Hood is my second pantomime of the season, and it captures everything that makes panto such a cherished Christmas tradition for families. It remains the perfect introduction to musical theatre for children as it’s colourful, silly, interactive, and bursting with joy. But make no mistake, the adults were laughing just as much as the kids. Jason Manford leads the show as Robin Hood, the familiar hero of Sherwood Forest who steals from the rich to give to the poor, all while hopelessly smitten with Maid Marion, played delightfully by Sarah Vaughan. Manford’s ease with an audience and natural stand-up rhythm makes his Robin warm, nimble, and consistently fu...

8Dec

By Anna SmithNo Comments

North West

Peter Pan – Gladstone Theatre

What a great way for families to start the Christmas Panto season with The Pantomine Adventures of Peter Pan written by Fortina Stone, directed by Laura Newnes and produced by Dreamworld Entertainments. The Gladstone Theatre is transformed into Neverland and Dreamworld Entertainments bring J M Barrie's magical tale about the boy who never grew up to life delivering traditional family entertainment. The story starts with Peter (Lewis Pryor) entering the nursery at the Darling household where Wendy (Darcey Blake), Joan and Michael are going to bed. Peter has visited before and is looking for his shadow which he had left behind and Tink (Tasha Rowson) the mischievous fairy has accompanied him. Peter tells them that he lives in Neverland as Captain of the lost boys and persua...

6Dec

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Pantoville – St Thomas’s Church Hall

Written & directed by Michael Pirks Returning once again to review a Michael Pirks Soup Production feels less like an assignment and more like coming home. Since first meeting Pirks in 2024, I’ve been hooked on his brilliantly spirited writing, and Pantoville - my fifth of his shows, proves yet again that his creative well runs deep and delightfully wild. While his previous works I’ve seen have been plays, this venture into pantomime is nothing short of a triumphant stroke of genius. With all the essential ingredients of a classic panto - singing, dancing, audience participation and of course the timeless cries of “He’s behind you!” and “Oh no you didn’t!”, Pirks not only honours the tradition but elevates it. The script is enriched with beloved Disney and storybook characters, g...

Young Frankenstein – Liverpool Playhouse

5Dec

By Emma LambeNo Comments

North West

Young Frankenstein – Liverpool Playhouse

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein has tickled the funny bone of many over the years. It's no wonder it works so well on stage in this fantastic musical adaptation. The show was packed with energy from all of the cast, right down to the versatile ensemble who played a range of different characters. Each actor brought the silly comedy you expect from a piece like this. The songs were all witty and gave great context for each scene and character. I cannot begin to express how special this cast was. There was no weak unit at all. Coronation Street's star Daniel Brocklebank leads the cast as Dr Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced Frankensteen) He keeps the memento going from start to finish and sets the tone of each scene. Jessica Martin is brilliant as Frau Blucher. The scene where she steps...

5Dec

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Singin’ in the Rain – Royal Exchange

We all know that Manchester has a reputation for enjoying a drop of rain, so it was entirely apt that a downpour greeted ‘Singin in the Rain’ as it landed in the Victorian splendour of the Royal Exchange for the festive period. The weather did nothing to dampen the palpable sense of excitement of the packed press night audience and were not to be disappointed. This is a show with the high quality production values, a great ensemble, superb leads and a beautifully orchestrated score, that left me walking through soggy St Anne’s Square singing 'do de do do, do de do de do do do, I'm singin' in the rain, just.......', into the Mancunian night. The plot, charting the demise of silent pictures and the rise of the 'Golden Age' of 1920s Hollywood 'talkies', is well known, less so is the fact t...

A Christmas Carol – Thingwall Community Centre

5Dec

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

A Christmas Carol – Thingwall Community Centre

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and what a better way to get yourself into the Christmas spirit than immersing yourself in one of the best loved Christmas tales which has stood the test of time, Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Wonderfully produced and directed by Charlotte Holguin. Thingwall Players have yet again produced a magical and captivating show that will engage adults and children alike. This company really do prove that you don't need the grand sets and huge venues to produce excellent theatre. Their set (Robert Bowes) was a simple yet multifunctional space. Props (Caroline Doyle, Hayley Jeffrey and Laura Powell) were adaptable and reused for many different purposes. A cast of dynamic and versatile characters take you on this journey through London i...