North West Archives - Page 65 of 174

Nielsen’s Violin Concerto – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

12Apr

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

North West

Nielsen’s Violin Concerto – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Let me let you into a little secret. When soloists embark on their concerto cadenza (an extended, elaborate virtuosic solo segment where the orchestra stops playing and the soloist takes centre stage) I stop watching what they are doing and ‘people-watch’ the orchestra and conductor. For there are few things better than watching professionals acknowledge professionals – putting their own instruments down, enrapt, leaning forward for a better look at the action, smiling and even nodding in appreciation at the skill of their fellow performer. So, it was last night with Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene, the RLPO Young Artist in Residence who was last seen here performing the Korngold Violin Concerto. The Neilsen Violin Concerto affords not one but two opportuniti...

11Apr

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

North West

Rock of Ages – New Mills Art Theatre

As NK Theatre Arts still do not currently have access to their home venue at the Romiley Forum, this production was staged at the 500-seat capacity New Mills Art Theatre, which is a considerable distance from their usual venue, but thanks go to them for accommodating this performance directed by Paul Wilson. Before the show even started many cast members took to the stage, which created a superb atmosphere at the “Bourbon Club” in downtown LA. The show was enhanced by the use of live musicians who were ably directed by Ceri Graves. All the action took place in the club, and it was non-stop right from the word go, with superb choreography from Dawn Wrigley and Rivkah Kneen which contributed hugely to the show’s success. One classic song after another, mainly originating from 80’s Amer...

10Apr

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Bouncers – Octagon Theatre

Since its debut at the 1977 Edinburgh Festival, Bouncers has enjoyed countless revivals and tours. To a first-time viewer, though, this iteration of the classic, northern nightclub comedy suggests that last orders were called a long while ago. An interchangeable quartet of mostly-like-minded bouncers work the doors of Mr Cinders: their interactions and observations are interspersed with the activities of different sets of partygoers, from celebrating girls to pseudo-alpha males. Under the direction of Jane Thornton, the piece promptly establishes exactly who its target audience is, as the doormen proudly declare that, in their pocket of the 1980s, “nothing is woke”. The uttering of this tiresome phrase lays the foundation for the humour that is to follow: fat jokes, gay jokes, women ...

10Apr

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Kill Thy Neighbour – Theatr Clwyd

Opening their spring season of shows, we are introduced to their first made by Theatr Clwyd production of the year, Lucie Lovatt’s Kill Thy Neighbour. As the developmental work continues in the main building we are back in the Mix, and this is the biggest set we have seen in this space. The set takes over the full stage and completely transports you into the main house of the piece. I found it interesting how The Mix loses a lot of itself in this show, with the impressive set taking over it, meaning the use of all the usual lights and effects are unable to be used. The Mix is a great space for the time being, but I personally find it quite uncomfortable for lengthy periods of sitting, with the seats being quite close together and hard. Also, external noise unfortunately can be heard at ...

The Rug of Identity – King’s Arms, Salford

9Apr

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

The Rug of Identity – King’s Arms, Salford

The origins of tonight’s play, a revival of a 40year old tale, by Jill Fleming, came from her time with the women’s theatre troupe, Hard Corps, whose aim at the time was described by website Unfinished Histories as ‘to perform lesbian soap operas at the London Palladium, overthrow the patriarchy and put tampons on the NHS’. In a time when moral panic around AIDS was at its peak, Fleming and other member’s works didn’t follow any expectations of handwringing apologies for queer characters being the way they were, instead creating anarchic, in-your-face plays where the delivery of familiar theatrical tropes came from characters who just happened to inhabit every colour of the LGBTQ+ rainbow and took tremendous pride in doing so. Best efforts aside though, works soon faded into obscurit...

9Apr

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Mousetrap – The Lowry

The Mousetrap’s 70th Anniversary Tour has arrived at The Lowry Theatre in Salford. ‘The Mousetrap’ is the longest running play in the world which first opened in London’s West End in 1952 and ran continuously until March 2020. After closing its doors for a short break due to the Covid-19 pandemic it reopened in May 2021. Being the longest running play in the world it is hard to bring anything new and insightful to a review of this timeless classic, even after 70 years (and counting) the play performs to packed audiences and The Lowry was no exception as the auditorium was full of Agatha Christie enthusiasts. I must be honest that I had not seen ‘The Mousetrap’ before and didn’t know the story but its one of those plays that everyone seems to have heard of and knows it’s a murder myst...

Nobuyuki Tsujii – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

9Apr

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

North West

Nobuyuki Tsujii – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

What amazed me about pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii’s concert at the Philharmonic Hall was not the virtuosic playing, the passion he brought out in the music, the meticulous attention to detail or even the width and depth of emotion wrung out of every last piece. In these days of music on demand, with Spotify, Apple Music, or BBC Radio 3 through BBC Sounds, it is easy to take for granted our ease of access to world class performances. And to think we can all access them via mobile devices which fit into the palm of our hand, even if the wireless headphones much in vogue these days make us look more like we’re in the US Secret Service on Presidential protection duty. Or perhaps that’s just my son. No, I was entranced by understanding the process by which Tsujii learns the repe...

6Apr

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

FADE – The Lowry

There is something beautiful and rather tribal in sibling relationships. Through good times and bad, the unconditional love and unity that conquers all ‘just because’ is difficult for us to explain, but a feeling many of us have for our brothers and sisters. The sibling relationship between Cassie and Rubin, following the death of their mother, forms the basis for Alice Christina-Corrigan’s one act play as the past and present collide. Exploring themes including mental health, death, grief, suggested parental abuse and suicide, this world premiere production of FADE is hard-hitting and extremely emotive. Christina-Corrigan’s script was beautiful and raw in equal measure. It introduces two characters, at different stages of their lives, navigating their way through the hardships of both ...

Sheku Kanneh-Mason performs Weinberg – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

6Apr

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

North West

Sheku Kanneh-Mason performs Weinberg – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

I don’t know how many people my age will remember what they were doing on their 25th birthday. I certainly don’t – probably some real ale bar in Oxford with sticky floors and beer at £2 per pint. But Shekhu Kanneh-Mason, superstar cellist and the third of seven ridiculously talented musician siblings, may well remember the rapturous reception (and impromptu rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’) he received from the audience at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall last night on the occasion of his reaching a quarter-century. The curtain-raiser was Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade for Orchestra. Born in London in 1875 to an English mother and Sierra Leonean medical student father, Samuel was named after the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. When the Three Choirs Festival wished to ...

King of Pop: The Legend Continues – Floral Pavilion

5Apr

By Emma LambeNo Comments

North West

King of Pop: The Legend Continues – Floral Pavilion

Navi has dedicated his career to being Michael Jackson’s greatest impersonator. Not only does he sing, dance and look like him, he used to act as a decoy for paparazzi for Michael and promote albums for him too. In this concert like show we see Michael Jackson’s legacy living on. I found the whole thing fascinating! If he gets Michael's seal of approval than that's good enough for me. His dedication was apparent from start to finish. He charmed the audience in between songs, making jokes with them and high fiving them when he came into the audience for his 'Black and White' number, which earned a big whoop and cheer from the audience. From early on some audience members went to the side aisles and started dancing, which the performer seemed to encourage. Featuring Michael Jackson’s bigg...