REVIEWS Archives - Page 480 of 550

Sh!t Theatre Drink Rum With Expats – Unity Theatre

17Oct

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Sh!t Theatre Drink Rum With Expats – Unity Theatre

A man walks into a ‘bar’. He’s given a free foamy cup of lager and a lump of cheese. The punchline is 75 minutes of meta-theatre; a show about a show, ‘Lost in La Mancha’ style, packed with singing, sparklers and the eponymous rum of the title. Created by Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit, ‘Drink Rum…’ takes us through their pre-pandemic journey to Malta, where they’ve been commissioned by a friend to produce a fringe show in Valetta, in celebration of its year as European Capital of Culture. The base of operations, which is recreated as our set for tonight’s proceedings, is The Pub (its actual name), a small hostelry favoured by the late, great Sir Oliver Reed, as his drinking den of choice during the filming of Gladiator. Famously, it’s where he also breathed his last and a shr...

16Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Sister Act Jr – Z-Arts

It has been a long time since Manchester Musical Youth’s (MMY) apprentices got to shine on the Z-Arts stage, so tonight was a personal joy to be back in the auditorium to witness a triumphant return with their latest production of Sister Act Jr. Sometimes, for me junior versions of full-scale shows seem cut too short and the story suffers because of this. I get the idea behind these versions and the opportunities it gives young performers, but tonight’s version of Sister Act did not seem to suffer from this, albeit some of the story was rushed. One thing MMY does better than most is find and cultivate young talent, many of which in previous years have gone on to some of the best theatre schools in the country and even the West End. Tonight, was no different as two young actors shone ...

Ladies Down Under – Rainhill Village Hall

15Oct

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

Ladies Down Under – Rainhill Village Hall

In May 2018, Rainhill Garrick Society brought us ‘Ladies Day’ and now, over two years later they are back with a vengeance to bring us the follow-on show “Ladies Down Under”. Written by Amanda Whittington, ‘Ladies down under’ follows the story of four unlikely friends who find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime to Australia after their big win at the races. We meet Pearl (Lynn Aconley) and Jan (Linda Saavedra) at the airport whose lifelong friendship is clear from the start. These two perform in a believable and likable fashion with Pearl “mothering” the fearful Jan as she embarks on the long journey abroad. Soon Shelley (Jo Webster) makes her elaborate entrance, followed by the more timid Linda (Jen Martindale). I particularly enjoyed Jo’s performance as we see a range of ...

What’s Love Got To Do With It? – Blackpool Winter Gardens

15Oct

By Anne PritchardNo Comments

North West

What’s Love Got To Do With It? – Blackpool Winter Gardens

The theatre was packed to capacity; ages ranged from 20+ years upwards although I did see some mums with young children aged about 8 and 10 years old. All eyes were on the stage in anticipation of the show, ‘What's Love Got to Do With It’, a joyous musical show celebrating the music of the incredible Tina Turner. The curtain rose and Elesha Paul Moses bounded onto the stage resplendent in an over-the-top blonde wig and dazzling sequinned outfit. Elesha has previously appeared on X Factor and The Voice; I had not seen her on either before and was immediately impressed. She has perfected iconic Turner’s accent and gestures along with mastering her voice’s timbre and excellence. The set was simple with raised platforms for the musicians; two guitarists, a drummer, a keybo...

15Oct

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

SKANK – Pleasance Theatre

After a sellout Edinburgh Fringe run, The Times Critics Choice comedy drama SKANK returns to the stage at the Pleasance Theatre in London. Written and performed by Clementine Bogg-Hargroves and directed by Zoey Barnes, SKANK explores the life of Kate, a young woman just trying to get through life whilst battling anxiety and insecurities. The one-woman show explores sex, worries, job dissatisfaction and health concerns in a fifty-five-minute performance. Bogg-Hargroves truly commands the stage as Kate, as she struggles to make sense of the world around her. Feeling completely lost at her boring temp job with hopes of pursuing writing, Kate uses sex, partying and recycling to try and keep her worries at bay. The representation of the crippling impact that anxieties can have weaves through...

15Oct

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Shrek the Musical – Brindley Theatre

Well, what a stimulating night I have just had! Returning back to my favourite local theatre – the gorgeous Brindley Theatre in Runcorn- the long absence of attending live theatre has had its toll on me and to be back to see live theatre feels like Christmas has come early! To see an amateur theatre company, who I have never seen before- “D & S productions”, turn a masterpiece of theatre into a phenomenal piece of theatre and to see such amazing costumes, stage sets and pure talent on stage has been a fulfilling dream come true. “D & S Productions” is a company founded by two inspirational friends Donna Dale and Sasha Edge and as the audience slowly filled, they were around ensuring that ever last detail was met meticulously and to motivate and support their production team. ...

Lone Flyer: The Last Flight Of Amy Johnson – Hull Truck Theatre

15Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Lone Flyer: The Last Flight Of Amy Johnson – Hull Truck Theatre

I came away from the Hull Truck Theatre on Thursday night, full of admiration for all involved in The Lone Flyer - The Last Flight Of Amy Johnson. How on earth could just two people create so many different atmospheres - happy, sad, scary - that kept us theatregoers hooked for almost two hours. Admittedly, the two - Louise Willoughby as Amy Johnson, and Benedict Salter as every other character on the night - were aided and abetted by suitable lighting, music, background sounds and the odd cloud of steam. I’m not downplaying in any way the importance of such effects; this production would have obviously been greatly diminished without any of them. But from “curtain up” it was the two actors who commanded the audience’s complete attention. Hull-born Willoughby was perfect as A...

Out of the Narrow Place: A Ritual for Black Descendants of Slaves – Unity Theatre

15Oct

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

North West

Out of the Narrow Place: A Ritual for Black Descendants of Slaves – Unity Theatre

Out of the Narrow Place is an invitation. It may not seem it from the title if you are not descended from a slave, but from start to finish the audience are invited to engage with - and celebrate - black history, black culture and black Britishness. The only pre-requisite is the ability to think. Using the ability to think is a choice. Garnering a standing ovation and very positive comments from a diverse audience, this was an evening to remember. Unity Theatre has given a gem its debut. The most striking thing about Out of the Narrow Place is it traverses being both a story and a statement; both entertainment and a lesson. If theatre is deemed an opportunity to bring people together, an opportunity for sharing, connecting and collective experience, this does it. The audience member ...

15Oct

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Screen 9 – The Pleasance Theatre

Making any artistic project that deals with someone’s lived experience is a challenging endeavour, especially when it touches upon trauma and hurt that one continues to live with every single day. Between remaining true to the testimonies that drive the story and holding a safe space for an audience to explore the subject area, it calls for a dramaturgy of care and empathy. Piccolo Theatre’s new verbatim show Screen 9 succeeds in doing precisely that. Based on the 2012 mass shooting incident that occurred in a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, the show uses the real-life testimonies and interviews of survivors to reconstruct the gruesome July night which left 12 dead and over 70 injured. Focusing on the life of these survivors in the years since the shooting and their attempts to deal wit...

The Beauty Queen of Leenane – Lyric Hammersmith

15Oct

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

The Beauty Queen of Leenane – Lyric Hammersmith

The current revival of Martin McDonagh's 1996 play, "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" recently completed a successful run at Chichester and has now transferred to the Lyric Hammersmith. Mag, a mean elderly woman, is being looked after by her daughter, Maureen, an equally mean middle-aged woman who yearns to get away from the stifling and constricted life she leads looking after her demanding and manipulative mother in the isolation of a Connemara cottage. The unexpected return of an old friend, Pato, offers Maureen the chance of escape but Mag is determined to scupper her daughter's chance of a new life, which would leave her alone and without her carer. These are two women who are deeply flawed and unable to tell each other the truth - Mag hiding the fact that she doesn't need to rely e...