REVIEWS Archives - Page 5 of 548

4Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Miss Saigon – Leeds Grand

When I was a student in London I saw all the big musicals, but for some reason I missed Miss Saigon which was smashing box office records at the time. Thankfully legendary impresario Cameron Mackintosh and Michael Harrison have joined forces to bring this sung through musical about the Vietnam war back on the road, exactly 50 years after that bloody conflict ended. Given the perilous state of the world reviving a musical based on Puccini’s Madame Butterfly about the cost of war is really timely. Like most musicals the narrative is driven by a love story, but the tale of GI Chris falling in love with a seventeen-year-old bargirl Kim being exploited by an odious pimp The Engineer in war torn Saigon is far, far gritter than most musicals. Years later Chris finds out his lost love has ha...

4Dec

By Bethany EastonNo Comments

North West

Matilda The Musical – Liverpool Empire

Roald Dahl’s classic Matilda, turned into a musical by scriptwriter Dennis Kelly and Songwriter Tim Minchin, arrived at the Empire this week to great applause from the Liverpool audience. This nostalgic journey back into a well-known children’s book was a fun filled and laugh out loud exploration of the story. Many may have seen the film version out in 2022 and the hype around this musical continues. Having spent over a decade in London, this touring production offers the rest of the UK the opportunity to delve into Matilda’s world. And no wonder it has proved so popular, the show is a gift where theatrics and cinematography combine and you’ll be questioning – how did they do that effect? The main cast are child actors, and all are incredible, showcasing their multi-talents and maki...

Tannhäuser – Sofia Opera and Ballet, Bulgaria

3Dec

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Tannhäuser – Sofia Opera and Ballet, Bulgaria

This summer’s Sofia Opera Wagner Festival was bookended by performances of Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser so it was fitting to see a winter revival from director Plamen Kartaloff and a lovely prelude to next summer’s Wagner Festival where it will once again feature alongside Der Ring des Nibelungen. Tannhäuser (Martin Iliev) awakens in Venus’ (Radostina Nikolaeva) embrace at her cave where she reveals to him the wonders of her kingdom, but when he utters the name of the Holy Mary, her spell is broken. The pilgrims’ hymns echo through the valley of Wartburg as the men travel towards Rome and Tannhäuser decides to join them and beg for forgiveness for his sins. Herman (Petar Buchkov), the landgrave of Thuringia, arrives accompanied by many of the most famous minnesängers. Wolfram (Ventses...

3Dec

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Freaky Friday – HOME Mcr

Disney’s Freaky Friday has had several incarnations over the decades, yet this musical version manages to feel lively, warm, and surprisingly moving. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, it approaches the familiar story with modern humour, heartfelt character work, and two central performances that elevate the entire production. At its heart are Katherine, played with effortless comedic timing by Rebecca Lock, as Ellie, portrayed with sharp wit and authentic teenage exasperation by Jena Pandya. Katherine is a single mum trying to hold together her business, her upcoming wedding, and a household on the brink of chaos. Ellie is equally overwhelmed, navigating friendship politics, crushes, and the intense importance of her school’s annual scavenger hunt. When a heated argument erupts between ...

2Dec

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Beyond Monet – Royal Highland Centre

There’s something delightfully odd about stepping into one of the colossal cattle halls of the Royal Highland Centre and finding yourself transported into Monet’s luminous world of haystacks, lily ponds, and steam trains. Edinburgh’s Beyond Monet is the smaller sibling of last year’s Glasgow Beyond Van Gogh installation, but size, as it turns out, is only part of the story. The Royal Highland Centre, by contrast, offers a more contained, unified volume. Here, the projections encircle you on all four walls with complete synchronicity, transforming the experience into something more cohesive. Instead of moving through fragments and competing tableaux, you sink into a single visual world. Oddly enough, the smaller building produces a bigger emotional effect. The room becomes womb-like, dar...

2Dec

By Susan CohenNo Comments

Scotland

Baltic – Cumbernauld Theatre

Well, this is a panto full of creative Christmas joy! The word BALTIC is the jokey Scottish colloquialism for the word FROZEN, so the audience arrived in anticipation of being treated to a narrative which involved at least some of the much-loved characters of the Disney movie. It turns out that they weren’t to be disappointed. According to the promo blurb, brave young Elspeth, with magical powers still to be unleashed, lives in the snowy village of Glenfrost. When her brother Kai is kidnapped by the wicked Snow Queen Chilblain and her slippery sidekick Jack Frost, she sets off on a daring rescue mission. She’s joined by her hilariously cheeky pal Sammy the Slush, her snow-stopping mammy Dame Agnes Avalunch, and a whole host of frosty new friends, including a talkin...

2Dec

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Bee Asha – Traverse Theatre

As part of The Soundhouse Winter Festival we’re treated to a vibrant set from poet, spoken-word, rap, jazz, dance, multi-faceted artist Bee Asha, but more of that in a minute… Support is no less than erstwhile keys player for The Vaselines, Carla J Easton, playing a clutch of songs from a forthcoming album that started life in a small recording booth in Nashville. With Brett. Dignifying a Fender Mustang (ok, could’ve been a Jaguar or Jazzmaster), peppering the set with anecdotes ranging from buying said guitar from Glasgow’s salubrious West End, to adventures halfway up a Norwegian glacier with Mr Hefner himself, Darren Hayman, she’s accompanied by ‘the best-dressed man in music’, Paul Kelly on acoustic. He was well-attired but a touch of glitter wouldn’t have gone amiss. What reall...

Cinderella: A Fairytale – Royal Lyceum Theatre

2Dec

By Dylan MooneyNo Comments

Scotland

Cinderella: A Fairytale – Royal Lyceum Theatre

Deck those halls as it’s Christmas time once again in Edinburgh with Royal Lyceum Theatre’s annual festive show, this year Sally Cookson’s and Adam Peck’s Cinderella: A Fairytale. A classic story known and loved by many, holding on to its original charm alongside modernisation, making this play a stand-out for family festive fun. We follow Ella (Olivia Hemmati), recently orphaned and ‘looked after’ by her stepmother (Nicole Cooper) and tormented by her wicked stepsiblings (Christina Gordon and Matthew Forbes). In this production, Ella has a deep connection with birds and, when finding some needed solace from her awful living conditions, she meets a fellow bird enthusiast (Sam Stopford), who just so happens to be a prince. As the story goes, Ella is invited to a royal ball but will every...

Jack and the Beanstalk Adult Pantomime – Kings Head Theatre

2Dec

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Jack and the Beanstalk Adult Pantomime – Kings Head Theatre

As the festive season approaches, so does the beloved tradition of pantomimes, and this year the King’s Head Theatre adds its own cheeky twist with Jack and the Beanstalk. The production offers two versions, one family-friendly and one strictly for adults, and it was the adults-only performance that truly pushed the boundaries in the most hilarious way. This late-night rendition revels in adult humour, packed with innuendos and outrageous character names including the wonderfully provocative Fairy Flick My Bean. Elliott Backer-Costello as Jack and Joseph Lukehurst as the villainous Nightshade showcased brilliant chemistry throughout, especially during their more risqué physical comedy moments. Their playful, exaggerated antics, sometimes ending up in hilariously compromising positions, ...

Cinderella: The Rock n Roll Panto – Theatr Clwyd

2Dec

By Gill LewisNo Comments

Wales

Cinderella: The Rock n Roll Panto – Theatr Clwyd

Snowflakes tumble across a freshly snow-drenched stage as Theatr Clwyd unveils its first-ever panto production inside the brand-new Theatr Moondance — a beautifully refurbishment of the old Anthony Hopkins Theatre with new plush seating and glorious legroom. It’s a grand, sparkling space, ideal for a show bringing plenty of festive magical moments to Mold, serving up wonders for audiences of all ages. What continues to set Theatr Clwyd’s pantomime apart is the depth of panto experience and expertise of its creative team. Writer Christian Patterson, back for his eighth outing, once again fires out rapid-fire gags, cheeky innuendos, and that unmistakable Clwyd charm. Daniel Lloyd returns to direct, pulling together a production that shows off the artistic muscle of everyone involved. And,...