REVIEWS Archives - Page 318 of 549

31May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Calamity Jane – Blackburn Empire

Ever since the fateful day that ol’ Doris put on her spurs and marched onto the film set, Calamity Jane has been a well-loved fan favourite, both on the screen and on the stage. Celebrating 70 years of the classical movie, Blackburn Musical Theatre Company provided a week of nostalgic Wild West magic at the start of May 2023. Amateur drama can often struggle to find a foothold in the community, with more and more choosing to turn to streaming services, or to travel further afield to see professional shows in Manchester, Liverpool etc. However, with a packed auditorium on a Friday night, I can safely say that the people in Lancashire either love the local theatre or are all massive Doris Day fans! For those who aren't familiar with the film or show (looking at the under 50's here!)...

31May

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

North West

The King and I – Regent Theatre

The theatre was a buzz with people of all ages coming to see the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic The King and I. The show, which is currently touring the country, tells the story of a widowed woman who is employed by the King of Siam to be the royal school teacher. The show has many varying storylines following the lives of all that surround them including Princess Tuptim who is sent to be a wife to the king. The stage was set with regal jewel tones these colours made the richness of the show really shine. I was in awe of the costumes which portrayed the era beautifully but glistened so elegantly under the stage lighting. Truly a sight to behold. The set was extremely effective throughout. The scene changes were effortless being masked by dance numbers which were a marvel to watch as ...

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come – Soho Theatre

31May

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come – Soho Theatre

“What does it mean to be ‘brown’?” Based on the multi award-winning BBC Sounds podcast (‘Best Podcast of the Year’ at the British Podcast Awards 2020 and Asian Media Awards 2021), this production is a whirlwind of slapstick comedy, emotion and discovery. Starring Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani, this performance is an honest and true representation of second-generation Asian women growing up in Britain. As well as exploring their many fantasies and sexpectations, these women discuss their battle with wanting to be ‘white’ and embracing their ‘brown’ culture simultaneously. Set to a backdrop of 90s and 2000s nostalgia, including poster artwork of iconic films such as Bend It Like Beckham and 10 Things I Hate About You, the audience is completely transported into the bedroom of a teenage g...

Under the Kundé Tree – Southwark Playhouse Borough

31May

By Gonzalo SentanaNo Comments

London

Under the Kundé Tree – Southwark Playhouse Borough

Important topics and neglected topics are both amongst the main raw materials that theatre brings forth to create and look at reality. In the case of Under the Kundé Tree, it is both. This play, written by Clarisse Makundul and director Ebenezer Bamgboye, takes us back to the times of the Cameroonian independence conflicts, with an interesting emphasis on the role women had during these times. Throughout the story the audience will be following Sara, played by Selina Jones, who will be having encounters with Jean, his suitor, played by Fode Simbo; Nadia, her cousin, played by Amma-Afi Osei; and his father Pa, played by Yinka Awoni. Finally, Makundul herself plays an uncredited role. The play starts with a short section of dance. Beautiful short choreographies will be seen the rest of...

The Lost Spells – Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

30May

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

North West

The Lost Spells – Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

A magical spell has been cast across Theatre by the Lake in Keswick with the opening of the new musical The Lost Spells writes Karen Morley-Chesworth. Adapted from the book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris this playful, lively production takes the audience on a journey through the wild world, which is endangered as names are lost and animals become extinct. The amazing cast of actor-musicians creates a magical world with a brilliant score of catchy themes that get the toes tapping. Mary Erskin and Will Dollard's music and lyrics capture the spirit of the wildlife and have create a score that takes the audience along a special journey. Schoolgirl Jay is lost in her new school, and when she discovers the book of lost spells falls into the wild wildness that exists within he...

30May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Titanic The Musical – Hull New Theatre

Within minutes of the cast of Titanic the Musical gathering on the Hull New Theatre stage, on Monday night, I was sucked into the story and found myself wondering who would live and who would die. There can’t be a soul on Earth who hasn’t heard of the 1912 tragedy involving the RMS Titanic, billed as the “unsinkable, largest moving object in the world”; so, me questioning who survives and who pops their clogs in the icy cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, is no spoiler. At “curtain up” the quayside of Southampton bustled with tradesmen carrying their wares on to the ship, which was on its maiden voyage, heading for New York. Two such individuals ran off the stage and past us in the audience, carrying crates of oranges and cauliflowers. What a clever move - it felt as if we were act...

30May

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Rose – Ambassadors Theatre

"The bullet hit her in the forehead. It caught her in the middle of a thought." An 80-year-old Jewish woman sits shiva on a wooden bench and talks about her life. That, in a nutshell, is Martin Sherman's play, Rose. But that is so far from doing it justice. It is very much more in its depth and breadth. As Rose reminisces about her life, her journey to that point in time, to that bench, she wonders whether she actually believes in God, whether her recollections are correct, whether she's remembering a movie. It's clear though that these were her true experiences. From a childhood in a shtetl in Ukraine (at that time part of Russia), to joining her brother in Poland to escape the Cossacks and the pogroms, falling in love, then suffering the trauma and horror of the Warsaw Ghetto, the Naz...

Carrie Hope Fletcher: An Open Book – The Lowry

30May

By Helen JonesNo Comments

North West

Carrie Hope Fletcher: An Open Book – The Lowry

Carrie Hope Fletcher started her career in musical theatre at the grand old age of nine, playing the young Eponine in Les Misérables. Since then she has played a large number of roles in various musicals including the adult Eponine and Fantine and the first UK Veronica in Heathers The Musical. Here in An Open Book she takes a retrospective look at her career and her life through anecdote and song. Taking the order of story and song seemingly from an online source, for each anecdote she ‘reads’ from a different book. Stories of her childhood, adulthood and from various shows are followed by a relevant track. After her opening song Another Chapter, she goes into There Are Worse Things I Could Do from Grease. Her songs range from Les Misérables, He...

The Woman Who Crossed the Road – Toxteth Library

27May

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Woman Who Crossed the Road – Toxteth Library

Performed as part of WoWFEST23, The Woman Who Crossed the Road is a piece of contemporary theatre created by Najmeh Shoara and Kevin Dyer about a woman who bears the marks of being displaced but who, because of her courage and intelligence, is kicking back as hard as she can. The performance is based on the true stories of the many women forced to leave places and start over again and whilst pre-dating the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in Iran in September 2022, it was updated to more strongly reflect its Iranian origins and alignment with the current protests there. Narrated by Shoara, courtesy of a Zoom link, the words are transformed through physical performance from Stephanie Greer. Whilst this is Shoara’s story, it is more than that. Her experiences resonate with those protesting ...

27May

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

Invisible – Bush Theatre

Invisible by Nikhil Parmar is a one man show centring on the life of Zayan. The play explores what leads Zayan to feel invisible, as he is outcast by his loved ones and wider society. Nikhil has crafted a piece of theatre that deals with racism, Islamophobia in a powerful and thought-provoking way. Zayan is a struggling actor who is trying to navigate co-parenting with his ex’s new partner. In the play, Nikhil takes the audience through a series of events that lead Zayan to having destructive violent thoughts. It’s easy to see how small moments can build up and have dire consequences. Zayan is also grappling with the death of his sister. Nikhil is a captivating performer and holds the space and audience’s attention throughout the piece. Nikhil quickly sets the tone of the piece an...