Yorkshire & Humber Archives - Page 2 of 43

20Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A is for Arsenic – Bilton Theatre

The snow lay inches deep in Bilton, near Hull, on Wednesday evening, but that didn’t deter theatregoers from making their way to the Bilton Amateur Dramatics Society’s (BADS) theatre to watch the comedy murder mystery, A is for Arsenic. Written by David Pemberton and directed by Carol Hawxwell, the play is performed by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts. But there was nothing lazy about the six actors who brought the play to life - I really do think it was one of the best this small, talented company has brought to the stage so far. The curtain opens on a brick-walled basement room - table, chairs, bookcase, white board with stand and little else. Over time, members of a crime writing group - yoga teacher Sally (Mandy Grimston), housewife Fay (Helen Davison), and Brian, insuranc...

13Nov

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Band – Sheffield Lyceum

The Cast ‘Shine’ with a heart of pure gold! A STOS production worthy of its 125 years anniversary! With title changes including ‘The Official Take That Musical - Greatest Days’ and a TV talent show, a UK tour and finally the result of these changes, what you see today – as STOS Theatre Company bring - The Band A new musical by Tim Firth with the music of Take That - to the Sheffield Lyceum in their 125th anniversary year. And what a fitting celebration of a show it is to mark this milestone! I was fully invested and smiled from the very first scene to the final crowd pleasing medley. It was warm, it was nostalgic and it was thought provoking what more can you ask for from a night at the theatre! But let’s consider why all the changes before this production? It would seem people were expect...

1Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Matilda – Alhambra Bradford

Many parents would have brought their precious ones along tonight expecting a jolly night out, but Matilda is based on a Roald Dahl classic so there’s a welcome darkness to this mega hit musical they might not have been expecting. It’s a tale of five-year-old child genius Matilda Wormwood who not only ends up in the family from hell, but then comes under the tutelage of monstrous headmistress Miss Trunchbull before using her formidable powers to take the tyrant down. Matilda is a subtly challenging but always entertaining piece that works for young minds, and for big kids like me who were huge Dahl fans back in the day, who can appreciate themes like how abuse impacts adult life like for Matilda’s teacher, the saintly Miss Honey. Dennis Kelly’s intelligent and funny adaptation kee...

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts – Sheffield Lyceum

30Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts – Sheffield Lyceum

Billed as a ‘thrilling murder mystery featuring the iconic Inspector Morse’, House of Ghosts arrives in Sheffield to fulfil the gap the much missed TV Series left, 25 years ago. Based on Colin Dexter’s characters and written by Morse scriptwriter Alma Cullen the production goes some way towards filling the void Jon Thaw left and is a must experience for bereft Morse fans. The house of Ghosts refers to Morse’s past rather than the ghoulish variety as we are transported back to 1987 to the City of Oxford. The play opens as a play within a play, as we are greeted with a rather amateur stage version of Hamlet (Spin Glancy) and it is as Ophelia (Eliza Teale) enters the scene we witness her stutter, raise her hand to her mouth as blood falls onto her white gown and within seconds she is dead....

24Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

EXXY – Leeds Playhouse

Dan Daw is described as a queer, crippled dance artist and EXXY traces his journey from a disabled working class kid deep in the Australian outbreak to international touring performer. EXXY is Aussie slang for ‘that’s expensive, mate’, and It’s a deeply personal response to the success of his last self titled show that left Daw with the sort of imposter syndrome that most working class artists will recognise. The good news is that EXXY on the whole works as Daw uses spoken word and dance to reflect on his life and work. This show is presented as part of the Leeds based Transform Festival that brings challenging international acts to the city, and they have a proud record of supporting disabled led theatre companies. As does Leeds Playhouse, and this is a really inclusive production w...

23Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Outlawed – Hull Truck Theatre

I might possibly need counselling after sitting through a performance of Outlawed, at the Hull Truck Theatre, on Wednesday night. And I’ve only myself to blame for breaking my own lifetime golden rule and willingly “audience participating”. I’ll never know what possessed me to roll a chunk of dry bread up into a ball and throw it at Robin Hood performing a heartfelt ballad on the stage. Poor thing didn’t deserve it. Mind you, it’s a good job my theatre buddy sister, Chrissy, was more restrained and didn’t throw a large potato gifted earlier to her by the balladeer - now that would have hurt. On second thoughts, I’m putting all the blame on my demise on to the four madcap performers acting out a night of burlesque, drag and comedy. The intimate Godber Studio at Hull Truck was...

The Shawshank Redemption – Hull New Theatre

23Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Shawshank Redemption – Hull New Theatre

At precisely 7.30pm on Tuesday evening, the chatter among the Hull New Theatre audience quieted as the curtain rose on a production of The Shawshank Redemption. Seconds later the chatter resumed - the curtain having changed course and descended downwards. An apology resounded around the theatre. However, it was only another few seconds before the curtain rose again; and the aforementioned chatter ceased once more. That damn curtain seemed to have a life of its own as it descended once again; this time joined by its accomplice in crime, the fire safety curtain. Ten minutes after the scheduled start time, both barriers to the stage rose revealing the grey, grim interior of the Shawshank Maximum Security Penitentiary, in Maine, US. At first I thought I was watching The Full ...

22Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dear England – Sheffield Lyceum

Brought by the National Theatre, this production covers the sporting tale of near-missing, culture-creating half-darling of the English eye Gareth Southgate, and his impactful tenure as manager of the England men’s national football team. Whilst it flirts with the bluster of testosterone fuelled dressing rooms, it brings with it a very deliberate and in-your-face softness that is credited as being part of the winning formula for Southgate and the England team. Except they didn’t win. So why are we hearing this story? The first thing that needs to be said is Es Devlin’s set design is sensational. Slick, bold and powerful, it is alive and breathing and extremely well utilised. Jon Clark’s lighting design accompanied with Ash J Woodward’s video design make the piece a pleasant feast ...

Black Is the Colour of My Voice – Crucible Theatre

20Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Black Is the Colour of My Voice – Crucible Theatre

‘Black is the Colour of My Voice’ takes on the phenomenon of gospel, jazz and blues icon Nina Simone, and her activism leading up to and during the height of the civil rights movement in the United States. Fictionalising events and names so that it serves more of an ‘inspired by’ or a ‘representation of’ the life of Simone, there is a shared understanding of this unofficial autobiography being that of Simone. This solo show stars Florence Odumosu as Mina Bordeaux, unpacking her life in the wake of her father’s death. Odumosu navigates Bordeaux’s early years - wowing her family with her piano playing abilities at the age of 3 reciting her mother’s favourite hymns, through to unresolved youthful crushes and turbulent, violent relationships with men, before climaxing with the death of Doct...

Gwenda’s Garage The Musical – Sheffield Playhouse

19Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Gwenda’s Garage The Musical – Sheffield Playhouse

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, a Lesbian run garage named after the 1930’s racing driver Gwenda Stewart, three female mechanics and an apprentice, 1980’s Thatcher’s Britain, a time of protest and strikes and a time of a vibrant women’s movement. The controversial Section 28 of the local government act to prevent the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ as a ‘pretended family relationship’ empower the women through activism, solidarity and sheer hope to strive for a better future. This Out of Archive in association with Sheffield Theatres production with an onstage band of five, and written by Nicky Hallett with musical numbers by Val Regan, Gwenda’s Garage is an excitingly raw and exuberant episode taking the stories of local women and placing them into the iconic location. Directed by Jelena Budi...