Yorkshire & Humber Archives - Page 23 of 33

The Play That Goes Wrong – Hull New Theatre

19Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Play That Goes Wrong – Hull New Theatre

The last time I saw The Play That Goes Wrong, presented by the Cornley Drama Society, Winston the dog (an integral prop in the production) had done a runner then, too. It was the same on Monday evening at the Hull New Theatre, meaning Trevor, the society’s lighting and sound operator (Gabriel Paul), had to ask for our help in finding, or even replacing, the errant mutt. The stage setting for the society’s production of Murder At Haversham Manor was not quite ready at “curtain up”, so chaos ensued immediately, with a hapless audience member (or was he a stooge?) having to help out. The setting is a 1920s manor house, home to Charles Haversham (Steven Rostance), on the occasion of his engagement to Florence Colleymore (Aisha Numah). Unfortunately, Charles is discovered dead as a ...

16Jul

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Wilde Life – Workshop Theatre, Leeds

Tonight, I was fortunate enough to see the opening preview of Chevron Theatre production of 'A Wilde Life' in Leeds, prior to dates in Cambridge and culminating at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. A musical based on the rise and fall of literary giant Oscar Wilde, upon initial viewing I am in little doubt that if the audience seek out this gem of a production in the plethora of offerings in Edinburgh, then this Leeds based company will have a hit on their hands. Running at just under an hour, the show opens in a seedy 'fin de siècle' Parisian café, populated with debauched alcoholics and prostitutes that form the ensemble during the scene setting opening (Oscar in Paris). Following his ostentatious entrance, Wilde (Jake Glantz) then proceeds to illustrate his rise and fall by transf...

14Jul

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Wedding Singer – Montgomery Theatre

After three long years and three cancelled shows Woodseats Musical Theatre Company finally and joyously make it back to the stage with their production of The Musical Comedy, The Wedding Singer. . so get ready to party like it’s 1985! With the Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Harlihy, Music by Matthew Sklar and Lyrics by Chad Beguelin, this production is directed by Ian Walker, and I particularly liked the breaking of the 4th wall as the performers used the space on the steps and in the audience – nice touch. The Choreography is by Amber Parry and Lilly Abram and the Musical direction by Dominic Ridler. The 8 strong band sounded great, and the balance of their sound was good. I must note that Ridler is unusually an MD who plays drums, his performance in the pits in itself is very flambo...

The Play That Goes Wrong – Sheffield Lyceum

12Jul

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Play That Goes Wrong – Sheffield Lyceum

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society cordially invites you to enjoy its production of ‘The Murder at Haversham Manor’, a witty, dramatic retelling of a classic murder mystery… until it all goes a bit wrong. Disasters with the set, actors who can’t remember their lines, accidents incapacitating members of the company… Nothing goes right for this daring troop of amateur actors. But we all know that that’s not the real synopsis of this brilliant play. Mischief Theatre created the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as a vehicle for their particular brand of comedy, with every actor essentially playing two roles: their Cornley persona and then the character played by that persona in the production of the day. In today’s theatre landscape of nuanced drama and technological wizardry, thi...

6Jul

By Morgan EvansNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chicago – Sheffield Lyceum

At its best, Chicago is a biting, hilarious and glamorous satire. This production demonstrates a great balance of all the razzle-dazzle you would expect with this show whilst possessing a very welcome comedic humility. The cast of performers are fit for their respective roles. The ensemble was worked astutely and intelligently and lent themselves tremendously to many of the set pieces of the show, and all were at the level set by their main roster counterparts. Faye Brookes’ portrayal of Roxie Hart is brilliantly devious and glamorous, yet refreshingly is a portrayal possessing fantastic comedic sensibilities. Jamie Baughan’s Amos Hart almost steals the show, a performance rich in pathos. Michelle Andrews stepped into the role of Mama Morton with an equally admirable poise. One of th...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hull Truck Theatre

5Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hull Truck Theatre

The only puck I have ever had dealings with was the one that landed in my lap during my days as an avid follower of the Humberside Seahawks ice hockey team, in Hull. In other words, I’m no fan of anything William Shakespeare wrote. So, reviewing A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the Bard was never going to be on my bucket list. But, not one to shirk my theatre duty, I went along to the Hull Truck Theatre on Monday evening. Well, bloomin’ ‘eck, as Shakespeare wouldn’t say, I really enjoyed watching a talented group from the community bring that very play to life. The opening stage setting was very sparse, consisting of just a metal park bench. However, the most dazzling costumes soon emerged and from then on it was colour all the way. As well as the psychedelic costumes, fairy lig...

24Jun

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dreamgirls – Leeds Grand Theatre

The tough world of showbiz has always been fertile ground for musical theatre and Dreamgirls puts the spotlight on the ruthless music industry. It’s a story as long as recorded music has been around when three young black women form a vocal harmony group performing in 1960s Detroit, and thanks to a ruthless manager find success before their friendship implodes as the money rolls in. If that sounds familiar it might be based on a certain girl group who reigned supreme in the 60s as the sound of young America. Effie White has the biggest voice and attitude in The Dreams, but shy bandmate Deena has the right image that hard charging former mechanic turned manager Curtis Taylor Jr sees has the biggest potential to cross over from soul to pop. He forces the vulnerable Effie out as t...

18Jun

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Les Misérables – Hull New Theatre

I was not surprised when the applause rang out at the Hull New Theatre on Friday evening for the spectacular that is Les Misérables. What did surprise me, however, was that the applause from the audience in the jam-packed theatre started before the show had even begun after a disembodied voice reminded us to turn off our phones and enjoy the show. Let me start my review by showing my appreciation for the amazing stage setting which brought to life the uprising by the poor of Paris, in 1832. Marvellous costumes, dramatic lighting, sounds and rousing music from talented musicians conducted by Ben Ferguson, all helped to create a production that took my breath away. But all the above would be nothing without actors who, to a man, woman and child (or children in this case, stars of...

Teechers Leavers ’22 – Hull Truck Theatre

25May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Teechers Leavers ’22 – Hull Truck Theatre

Zoom, Netflix, Wordle, Covid 19, sanitising, face masks, Til Tok were all clues that playwright John Godber’s production Teechers, first performed in 1987, had been brought up to date with his re-imagined version - Teechers Leavers ’22. The Hull Truck Theatre was very well attended on Tuesday evening, as theatregoers not only looked forward to watching this rewrite, but also to the fact that Godber had been honoured with having the theatre’s Studio space renamed the Godber Studio. I arrived early on the night so I could be privy to the, admittedly short and sweet, speeches by the production’s director, Mark Babych, and Godber, in what is this popular theatre’s 50th anniversary year. Then it was showtime. As the lights dimmed, the deliberately unfussy stage setting came into view, ...

24May

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cluedo – Sheffield Lyceum

The maid, in the hall, with the champagne! That is how Wadsworth the butler greets us, and the six guests who each received a mysterious invitation, as we enter Boddy Manor. Most, if not all of us, will be familiar with Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Reverend Green, Mrs. White and Colonel Mustard, the protagonists of the now 70-year-old board game, Cluedo, on which this play is based; and now we get to meet them in the flesh. They arrive in time for dinner, but the staff are acting strangely, and the evening soon comes to an unforeseen halt, as a body is discovered in the study. But… who was it that brought the evening to its arresting conclusion? The script by Sandy Rustin, based on Jonathan Lynn’s original screenplay, is full of clever nods to the board game, snappy...