REVIEWS Archives - Page 325 of 551

18May

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Sweeney Todd – Northwich Memorial Court

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. After a warm welcome from the team at KMTC (Knutsford Musical Theatre Company) this is exactly what I did this evening. The auditorium has been transformed to take you into the creepy, dark, eerie world of Sweeney Todd, with blood splattered posters all over the walls, razors hanging from the ceiling above us and sounds from the streets of London being played to transport us into this dark story of revenge and love. Director Ben Ireson has taken on a huge task bringing this piece to life and has done a fantastic job, especially with changing the space to include an immersive area and the brilliant use of such a large set piece that takes over the centre of the stage. The immersive section has numerous cast members tr...

17May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Rock of Ages – Hull New Theatre

“Are you ready to have your face mel-ted?” is the unusual question we in the Hull New Theatre audience were asked, on Tuesday evening, when Rock of Ages erupted on to the stage. Shouted out by the show’s narrator, Lonny Barnet (Tim Oxbrow), before I could make up my mind, yes or no, he had already moved on to other madcap musings - a theme he never wavered from throughout the ear-splitting show. I’ve enjoyed watching many a shake, rattle and roll rock band in my time, but this is the first time my bones have involuntarily rattled and rolled - so piercing and loud was the drumbeat. Even my theatre seat on Row O juddered. I kid you not. The story, set in 1987 Hollywood, centres around The Bourbon Room, a bar/club owned by Dennis Dupree (Kevin Kennedy - Curly Watts of Coronation Stre...

16May

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

SHEWOLVES – Shakespeare North Playhouse

A call to action for the youth of today who may feel unseen, unheard and misunderstood. An uplifting coming-of-age comedy lovingly created for and made in collaboration with, young people. Derby teenagers Priya (Gurjot Dhaliwal) and Lou (Harriet Waters), the self-entitled Shewolves, are females surviving in the wild. After donning their retro ski suits, they attempt to break free and run away together from the constraints of their school and the disdain with their home lives, to find some freedom in the remoteness of the Peak District until Lou’s creative 3D printer design gets them hunted down. An unlikely friendship forms between the two girls both from different backgrounds, with Lou more financially privileged than Priya. Priya play’s up to her lack of...

Murder at Cadberry Manor – Hope Street Theatre

12May

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Murder at Cadberry Manor – Hope Street Theatre

A murder has taken place at the Cadberry Manor in Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre. A 4am production directed by Phil Halfpenny. I was excited to see this show as it was completely sold out and of course like most people I do love a bit of true crime. The story consists of Detective Harrie Bo (Rafaela Dias) arrived at the scene to investigate the murder of Toby Le Rone (Phil Halfpenny) who at the time was hosting a dinner party which included guests such as his son Captain Robert Le Rone (Sab Muthusamy), his ex-wife Veronica Viscount (Kristin Jaap), Dr Whispa (Adam Titchmarsh), Friar Tuckshop (Tristan Harper), Felicity Flake (Rosie Bennett) Lord and Lady Thornton (Alan Kenny and Lisa Morgan). They were all enjoying a few social wines when Tony Le Rone announces a change to his last will ...

11May

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Stars – Contact Theatre

Performed by one woman and a live DJ, this Afrofuturistic Space Odyssey uses music, drama and projected animations to tell us the story of a woman in search of her lost orgasm. Sprinkled with dustings of African mythology and folklore, this queer, feminist rallying call took the audience on a journey which explored desire, touch and reclaiming your pleasure. We meet Mrs (Debra Michaels), an elderly woman looking back with some frustration that her orgasm has never really emerged, and she does not know where to find it. Naturally, she embarks on a space odyssey to remedy the situation. She tells the story of her disappointing marriage to a disappointing man and the opportunities that have slipped by her or never materialized. She experiences rejection and judgement from the memb...

Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Edinburgh Playhouse

11May

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Edinburgh Playhouse

Based on Baz Luhrmann’s Australian 1992 award-winning worldwide film phenomenon, the show adapted for the stage is currently touring the UK and Ireland till July 2023. It lands in Edinburgh with a star-studded cast, including Kevin Clifton of BBCs Strictly Come Dancing fame and Faye Brooks of ITVs Coronation Street and Dancing on Ice, in the lead roles. If you are a fan of Strictly I expect you are going to enjoy this show (whatever I say) for Kevin, for the expert dancing, outrageous and pretty revealing costumes and heaps of glitz and glam. The bright and cheesy glamour of the ladies’ sequin and feather costumes marries up nicely to the intentionally badly made and hideously fitted wigs adorning most of the cast. The wigs take a bit of getting used to but are all part of setting the a...

11May

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

RENT – The Brindley Theatre

Directed and Choreographed by Donna Dale, Assistant Director Charlotte Allmand, Assistant Choreographer John Sprung-Murphy and Musical Director Craig Price have produced the latest D&S Production of ‘Rent’. Set in the East Village of New York City, 'Rent' is about falling in love, finding your voice, and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 'Rent' has become a pop culture phenomenon. 'Rent' follows a year in the life of a group of penniless young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Johnathon Larson’s 1996 rock musical focus is around the interconnected lives of three couples: Roger (Elliott Tutt) and Mimi (Sara Haynes), Maureen (Francesca Forbes...

11May

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Grease – Sheffield City Hall

This show just ‘gels’ as only ‘Grease’ can do! It’s electrifying! Manor Operatic Society hit the Sheffield City Hall with the musical ‘Grease’ to packed audiences and with all the frenzy the original 1978 film created. With an audience full of Pink Ladies and T Birds, I anticipated a night of raucous sing-a-long, but on the whole the audience were too invested by the performances they were witnessing to join in, until invited to on the Grease Mega Mix. Only then were the whole audience on its feet raising the roof and loving every moment. Directed by Richard Bradford and his partner Linda Kelly who also choreographs the production with help from their daughter Evie May Bradford as dance Captain – it really is a family affair! Musical Direction from Andrew Collis completes the team an...

The Bodyguard – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

10May

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

East Midlands

The Bodyguard – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

It’s been over a decade since the tragic death of Whitney Houston, but that voice remains unmistakable. Setting a new standard for female vocalists, Houston in her prime was an effortless yet formidable force that dominated the charts in the 80s and 90s and became an idol to millions. The 1992 film “The Bodyguard” captured her at arguably the peak of her power and gave the world a soundtrack that remains the highest-selling film soundtrack of all time. Combining that soundtrack with Houston’s own classic back catalogue of hits, the stage adaption of “The Bodyguard” fleshes out the romantic thriller as a musical, and plays at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this week, with former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton as its lead. Rachel Marron (Thornton) is one of the biggest s...

10May

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

Annie – Regent Theatre

Annie, a classic musical adaptation much loved by global audiences. I had the privilege of watching the musical adaptation of this classic film on its UK Tour, in the large-scale Stoke Regent Stage. With countless revivals, I was intrigued to see how this show has evolved and adapted since the last time I watched this production, many years ago. The tone was set from the beginning, by our 7 main orphanage residents rushing onto stage, before the show had even begun, immersing our audience in their harsh reality from the outset and creating an electric build-up within the theatre. With direction from Nikolai Foster and choreography from Nick Winston, I knew before the show begun, that we were in the comfortable hands of true professionals. Having been many years since visiting the gra...