REVIEWS Archives - Page 146 of 339

7Feb

By Daniel CoxNo Comments

North West

Bugsy Malone – Liverpool Empire

Bugsy Malone tells the story of a battle for power between Fat Sam & Dandy Dan based in New York City. Its story is loosely taken from gang events during the Prohibition era but this musical changes 'machine guns' for 'splurge guns' in order to make it more appropriate for family friendly audiences mixing in slapstick musical comedy whilst following the storyline of Bugsy and his new love Blousey alongside the hilarious chaos. Bugsy Malone is taking a Charleston Step out on tour for the very first time, touring the UK following its Christmas Season at Alexandra Palace in London treating audiences to this energetic revival of the acclaimed Lyric Hammersmith Theatre production. It's a production that showcases both child and adult actors and they do deliver with a BANG (and a crack of t...

Motionhouse: Starchitects – Birmingham Hippodrome

6Feb

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Motionhouse: Starchitects – Birmingham Hippodrome

The Hippodrome is awash with young, vibrant faces each peering curiously into the gaping chasm of the empty auditorium daunted by its size unaware what they are about to see will blow their minds. Louise Richards and Kevin Finnan founded MotionHouse in 1988 and since its inception it has created an array of world-class, breath-taking circus-danced productions which have toured the globe integrating physicality, acrobatics, strong story and dynamic sound. “Starchitects” is no exception. Opening in a child’s bedroom, young buoyant dancers, each clad in child-like pyjamas, strive try to stave off their night time boredom by inventing games using cardboard boxes to create cars, tricks and, more importantly, a space rocket. So far, so predictable. Many kids shows employ cardboard boxes e...

<strong>Alpine Symphony – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall</strong>

6Feb

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

North East

Alpine Symphony – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

As the lights dim and the chatter quietens, conductor and violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider takes his place at the front of the stage. The orchestra sits poised for action. The first note is played and so begins an adventurous musical journey. The concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall is comprised of two halves; the first is a relatively short rendition of Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No.1, Op.26, and the second is the more epic Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. Embraced by a full orchestra, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider doubles-up on his role for the first half, participating as the solo violinist and intermittently conducting the ensemble. Opening with delicate drama and tension, the room is quickly captivated. Seamlessly, Szeps-Znaider draws spectators into a sound bubble with him and th...

Husbands and Sons – Manchester School of Theatre

3Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Husbands and Sons – Manchester School of Theatre

DH Lawrence called success 'the bitch goddess', during his lifetime he suffered constant vilification with his work dismissed as little more than pornography, dying before he could see his vindication as one of the most important writers of the 20th century. His depiction of the details of working-class life in Nottinghamshire in the years before and after the first World War finds its apogee in 'Sons and Lovers' and 'Women in Love', but it is a 2015 condensing of three of his short plays, adapted by Ben Power, that Manchester School of Theatre present this evening. Despite some excellent central performances and innovative direction, the piece never wholly manages to satisfy as a single entity. We begin with 'A Collier's Friday Night' exploring the simple lives and loves of the Lamber...

September In The Rain – Little Theatre, Birkenhead

3Feb

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

September In The Rain – Little Theatre, Birkenhead

A charming, funny piece of nostalgia. The Carlton Players continue their season with Godber’s nostalgic and gentle comedy, loosely based on the writer’s own grandparents. Liz and Jack have holidayed in Blackpool from newlyweds in the 1950s until old age in the 1990s. Never missing a year, they’d make their way from Yorkshire across the A59 to the seaside resort with its boarding houses, fun fair, deckchairs and donkeys. Originally written as a radio play, this has been a popular choice for theatre groups over the past forty years. A two-hander, where both characters speak to the audience and take on the roles of other characters to recall their stories: some sentimental or amusing, others laugh-out-loud funny. Liz and Jack certainly have their spats and shouting matches ...

Titus Andronicus – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

2Feb

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Titus Andronicus – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

The Globe’s winter fest comes to its closing but not before tackling Shakespeare’s most gruesome tragedy directed by Jude Christian, with an all-female cast bringing us the horror tale without an ounce of blood spilling. Knowing it to be the bloodiest tale, I sat down with sight swell of excitement to how they might butcher each other on stage but what I received was quite the opposite and I don’t think I was too mad about it. Our two opposing leaders, Titus and Saturninus played by Katy Stephens and Lucy McCormick bring a delightful contrast between power and how to use it. McCormick utterly rocks the stage, stealing more than a glance at every moment they perform with force, making a parody of every male leader as we know them in classics creating a clown of who we should respect the mo...

2Feb

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

Mamma Mia – Opera House, Manchester

Mamma Mia! The smash hit jukebox musical opened tonight to a raving full house of ABBA fanatics and theatre enthusiasts, all head- bopping to the renowned hits from the overture to finale. As soon as the band began taking us through a medley of ABBA’s greatest hits during the overture, I could feel the electric energy and could tell this would be an unforgettable night of musical theatre. The creative team is comprised of highly acclaimed and accomplished theatre professionals. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, choreographed by Anthony Van Laast and musically directed by Carlton Edwards - this collective is a powerhouse, creating a truly triple-theatre piece of theatre right from the get-go. During the show we were greeted by a simplistic set. This was used to created a multitude of...

<strong>Vix & Helen – Vault Festival</strong>

2Feb

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Vix & Helen – Vault Festival

Performed in a small brick theatre in the vault located under waterloo station creating an atmosphere; an intimate feeling of being alone with the characters. The stage set out to replicate a school locker room, simplistic but instantly recognisable. The play centred on a bemusing incident involving Vix played by Heloise Spring and Helen (Lucy Sherraft) younger siblings. Vix and Helen are friends however their friendship is intertwined with complexities of family life, their friendship and feelings of how they are perceived by each other as well as the outside world. Their story is peppered with confliction and expression of thoughts created by the turmoil they feel about themselves and how they are perceived by others. Helen is tall and effervescent in her approach to life unlike ...

My Son’s a Queer (But what can you do?) – Ambassadors Theatre

2Feb

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

My Son’s a Queer (But what can you do?) – Ambassadors Theatre

My Son’s a Queer (But what can you do?) is a fabulous solo show that sets out to educate the audience and re-claim the word Queer as something to be celebrated! Rob Madge has successfully crafted a piece of theatre that is heart-warmingly hilarious and poignantly moving. The message is obvious, yet powerful: you should let everyone be who they are. Rob openly shares the highs and lows of their magical childhood and explains how Rob’s family encourage them to shine. The structure of the show itself is powerful: 7 steps of putting on a Disney Parade in your living room. Using clips from their family video archive, Rob explains how we can make life magical just by using our imaginations. Rob’s ode to Disney encapsulates the joy and relatable challenges of childhood. The show is written as...

2Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Head Over Heels – Hope Mill Theatre

Musical theatre productions that challenge conceived norms and push back the boundaries are nothing new for Hope Mill Theatre, their latest offering gives a European premiere to this 2015 'queer jukebox musical' and is thoroughly vindicated with a hugely entertaining spectacle that poses pertinent questions around love and acceptance in the modern world. There is no denying that the genesis of 'Head Over Heels' is an oddity. Not many people would have thought of making a Broadway musical based on 'The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia', a prose romance written by Sir Philip Sidney in 1593; still fewer would have then decided to add in songs from late 1980's indie-punk popsters, The Go Go's. Then again, not everyone is the iconoclastic figure of Jeff Whitty, the writer of Avenue Q, who onc...