REVIEWS Archives - Page 244 of 551

Street Magic Masterclass with Cameron Gibson – Wonder & Co. Edinburgh

2Jan

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Street Magic Masterclass with Cameron Gibson – Wonder & Co. Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s only Magic shop, Wonder & Co, near Haymarket Station, only opened its doors a few months ago, but the youthful ambition of owner/host, Cameron Gibson is clear to see. Looking like a mixture between Wonka and Potter, the charismatic Gibson seeks to induce magic and wonder to all, and certainly succeeds to some extent. The first wonder is the hidden magic room accessed via a small stair and a hinged bookcase; I feel like I’m in an episode of Mr Ben! Providing a deck of cards and a coin to the twelve seated guests, Gibson explains some simple card tricks and touches on the art of misdirection, in an almost scholastic setting. It is perhaps testimony to the success of the Edinburgh Magic Festival, now in its 14th year, and the health of the ‘Magic’ genre in general, that all...

Robin Hood and his Merry Men – Sheffield City Hall

28Dec

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Robin Hood and his Merry Men – Sheffield City Hall

Merry Mayhem hits the bullseye! The City Hall, Sheffield hosted the opening night of Manor Operatic Society’s Robin Hood and His Merry Men last night to a lively and packed family audience. Reputed to be the largest amateur pantomime in the country, Manor yet again did not disappoint. With a strong cast of over fifty, they filled the City Hall stage to the brim with laughter and pantomime traditions in their ‘bucket’ load! Unlike other pantomimes I have reviewed this year, this one really is immersive and not one expected ‘pantomime must have’ is missing. From the birthday shout outs, the messing baking scene, the children invited on stage, the ‘it’s behind you’ in the scary woods mayhem to the audience participation – retorts filled the auditorium and MOS gave the audience what they wa...

The Motive and The Cue – Noël Coward Theatre

23Dec

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

The Motive and The Cue – Noël Coward Theatre

The Motive and the Cue takes a moment in theatrical history that might only appeal to academics or utter luvvies and transforms it into a gripping meditation on fame, ego, art and the power of the stage. The play is a multi-dimensional window onto a 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet, directed by Sir John Gielgud and starring Richard Burton. The personal dynamics between the two actors were at best complex and often toxic. Burton was a global star of stage and screen, at the peak of his career when he asked Gielgud to direct him. Gielgud’s star was on the wane, rendered unfashionable by 1960s modernism and experimental performance. Jack Thorne’s writing is sharp, witty and peppered with metaphors. What makes this show so thrilling to watch is that a tight and clever script is in t...

23Dec

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Cinderella – Edinburgh People’s Theatre

It’s that time of the year again and Edinburgh People’s Theatre’s panto this season is Cinderella. It’s the classic story, but with a few extra characters so that as many company members as possible can get their moment in the spotlight. The show opens with a reminder that we can boo, cheer, and shout out because this is a pantomime. This helps the audience to overcome any initial shyness and participate right from the start. Little reminders of theatre etiquette, done humorously, are a great way of getting the audience on side. Cinderella’s stepsisters, Mattie and Hattie, played by Mandy Black and Gemma Dutton, are a lot of fun in their garish costumes and wigs. The shameless man-chasers enter through the auditorium, all the better to trade insults across, and with...

23Dec

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

Sleeping Beauty – M&S Bank Arena

On 20th December I had the pleasure of watching ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the M&S Bank Arena Auditorium, which turned out to be a truly wonderful evening of seasonal entertainment for an audience of all ages. The abundance of customary double-entendre did not fail to provoke giggles from the adults without detracting from the traditional family-friendly format of the great British institution of Christmas panto. The eclectic mix of popular music was adapted perfectly to the storyline with some notable pieces perfectly showcasing the beautiful vocal ability of Lucy Kay, playing The Fairy in our tale. Audience members, young and old, thoroughly enjoyed clapping and dancing along to the well-known songs throughout. A particular highlight and example of this was the ever-popular ‘YMCA’ which...

Kevin Quantum – Waldorf Astoria (The Caledonian Hotel), Edinburgh

23Dec

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Kevin Quantum – Waldorf Astoria (The Caledonian Hotel), Edinburgh

A fantastic and intimate performance in front of an audience of just 30, by one of Edinburgh’s finest magicians kicks off this year’s Edinburgh Magicfest 2023, now in its 14th year. On top of the multiple shows involving Kevin and many other talented magicians over the next eleven days, he is also the programme director for Magicfest and recently a father as well! He is certainly juggling quite a few balls. Kevin Quatum, once described by David Williams on Britain’s Got Talent, as ‘like a sexy Dr Who’ has come a long way from the Channel 4 show ‘faking It’ that launched his career in magic in 2006. An inexplicable an unexplainable levitation trick involving a dollar bill floating in midair is the undoubted star of the show tonight. A t...

A Town Called Christmas – Sheffield Theatres Playhouse

18Dec

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Town Called Christmas – Sheffield Theatres Playhouse

‘Wrongsemble’ bring an intimate theatre experience for young children to the Playhouse at Sheffield Theatres. A Town called Christmas tells the story of the decline of Christmas Spirit. Clementine (Eve Tucker) is left a Christmas Ornament from her much loved Aunt and memories abound of a wonderful place called Christmas. Armed with her suitcase, some Christmas Cracker jokes and the precious ornament, Clementine boards a train in Sheffield to find the town she has heard so much about. On arrival the only inhabitants are a ‘glitchy’ Robot guide aptly named Glitch (Florence Poskitt) and a miserable Caretaker (Terence Rae). The town is run down, broken and no longer used. Together the three find that warm, fond memories and Christmas spirit will bring the town back to its form sparkly, heart-w...

18Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cinderella – Hull New Theatre

I don’t know what panto favourite, Neil Hurst, had eaten before taking to the Hull New Theatre stage on Sunday evening, but whatever it was had really oiled his make-‘em-laugh muscles - he was in top comedic form. As Buttons, in the age-old favourite, Cinderella, Hurst was on stage for most of the evening, delighting what looked like a sell-out theatre, from curtain up. And what a curtain! Featuring just one word - the panto’s title - dripping in glitter, bedazzling and making us impatient for what was to come, as did the images swirling around the walls and ceiling. The plot of this fairytale needs no explanation, so I’ll keep it short - poor girl, Cinderella or “Cinders” (Rebekah Lowings), mistreated by her two Ugly Sisters, Hernia (Peter Peverley) and Verruca (Jack Land Noble),...

18Dec

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Buxton Opera House

Buxton Opera House's annual pantomime is always a highlight in the festive calendar and this year’s production of Cinderella might be the very best one yet! Directed by Paul Kerryson and produced by Sarah Kell, this year’s pantomime is an enchanting spectacle that has all the ingredients of the perfect panto! The star-studded cast, featuring the hilarious James Holmes as Tess (returning due to phenomenal demand), larger than life David Dale as Claudia, the talented Georgia Gallagher as Cinderella, the charming Ross Clifton as Prince, Charlotte Hannah Jones delivering powerhouse vocals as the fairy godmother, and the loveable Aidan Bailey as Buttons, all delivering a performance that was nothing short of magical, backed by an incredible ensemble of dancers, Buns the Rabbit played by F...

18Dec

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

Stranger Sings – Southwark Playhouse

Stranger Sings bursts back onto stage at the Southwark Playhouse this winter. This is an incredibly funny spoof of Netflix favourite Stranger Things that promises audiences a night of adventure, musical ear worms and non-stop laughter! This cast of incredibly talented performers use their captivating energy and beautifully blended voices to make this a musical that you will want to see over and over. Stranger Sings returns to the Southwark Playhouse for a second run, after a sell-out season in the vaults last Christmas and a tour around the country that has excited audiences night after night. Jonathan House’s script is a love letter to the 80s, with lots of musical theatre jokes that are entertaining if you’ve not managed to binge the Netflix series before seeing the show. The songs ar...