Yorkshire & Humber Archives - Page 27 of 44

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...

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...

Around The World in 80 Days – Hull Truck Theatre

10May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Around The World in 80 Days – Hull Truck Theatre

Note to self: Be sure to wear waterproof mascara when you next review anything at Hull Truck Theatre in case it turns out to be as funny as Around The World In 80 Days was on Tuesday evening. Having never read the Jules Verne novel, first published in French in1872, all I knew was that a hot air balloon was involved in one man’s endeavour to travel around the globe in 80 days. The intrepid adventurer, a Mr Phileas Fogg (Stefan Adegbola) accepted a wager of £20,000 with fellow Reform Club members, that he could undertake such a journey. That sum is half of Fogg’s fortune, but he leads such a monotonous life in London - his daily habits being carried out with mathematical precision - the thought of such a journey excites him. Having fired his valet for some minor misdeed, he empl...

10May

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

An Inspector Calls – Alhambra Bradford

A few hundred feet from this theatre stands a statue of Bradford’s favourite son J B Priestley, so it was fitting this perfectly realised revival of his enduring drama was coming home after becoming a worldwide hit. On one level it is a clever thriller with a smart twist, but on a deeper level it remains a searing condemnation of the cult of the individual - which is the essence of capitalism - written by a lifelong socialist who survived the horrors of the trenches in the First World War. Some theatre goers might find the political undercurrent a turnoff, so can just enjoy a mysterious police inspector calling on the well to do Birling family in their mansion where he strips bare their Edwardian hypocrisy as he reveals their culpability in the suicide of a destitute young working-cl...

The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Sheffield Lyceum

10May

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Sheffield Lyceum

This tour-de-force piece of theatre launches the entire theatrical arsenal at the audience. In fact, every trick in the book is used to keep the audience on the edge of their seats by the unexpected and stunning theatrical magic. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, adapted by Joel Horwood and directed by Katy Rudd, the National Theatre’s acclaimed The Ocean at the end of the Lane delivers a terrifying theatrical thump as we journey to a long forgotten childhood and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it. With the collaboration of Gaiman whose other novels include Coraline, Stardust and The Sandman and the National Theatre who are responsible for the Curious Incident of the Dog – this allegorical production was always going to be cutting edge storytelling that is unafraid to...

5May

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Wish You Were Dead – Leeds Grand

One of the less appealing gigs for critics was watching creaky touring versions of Agatha Christie novels, so thank god best-selling crime author Peter James spotted a gap in the middle market for stage versions of his work. Wish You Were Dead features his most famous creation, the deep-thinking Brighton detective Roy Grace, and many of the audience will have been attracted by the popular ITV series. This play is based on a quick read novel as Grace takes a much-needed break in France with his pathologist wife Cleo and baby son Noah. Along with their American nanny Kaitlynn they tip up at a run-down French chateau to be met by a surly maid and there's a missing copper. As is tradition in crime capers nothing is as it seems, so can the wily Grace talk his way out of some se...

3May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The King and I – Hull New Theatre

I start this review with an apology to anyone involved with the production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I, which came to Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening. I apologise because there simply aren’t enough words in the English - or any other - language, to describe just how good it is. The King and I comes to the city following a sold-out season at the London Palladium, bringing with it the West End’s Annalene Beechey as Anna, and Broadway’s Darren Lee as the King of Siam. Before curtain up, we in the packed theatre enjoyed snippets of some of the show’s well-known tunes, played by a full-scale orchestra whose musical talents were an integral part of proceedings. We knew we would be treated to the complete versions of unforgettable tunes such as Shall We Dance?, Whi...

3May

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Julius Caesar – Alhambra Bradford

Many moons ago the RSC came to my small northern town putting on a production of Henry IV, Part One which blew my teenage mind, and one can only hope that the school group waiting patiently in the foyer to see this challenging version tale of the price of power would have the same transformative experience. It’s a coup for the Alhambra to bring this production from Strafford as Atri Banerjee is one of the new breed of RSC directors determined to make the Bard’s words resonate with new audiences, so no togas or laurel wreaths as the big cast wander around in dress shirts, vests and sweatpants. This version which takes some risks has divided audiences, which all good theatre should do. The long first half starts with the cast moving as one to symbolise the mob that will ultimately decide ...

26Apr

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Blood Brothers – Sheffield Lyceum

The ‘Liverpudlian folk opera’ known as Blood Brothers has been a theatrical success since its inception by Willy Russell, winning the 1983 Laurence Olivier Award as Best New Musical. Its 1987 revival saw 10,000 consecutive performances in its 24-year run in the West End. With a two year run on Broadway and UK and International touring productions, Blood Brothers has earned its place as a firm favourite of our time with its strong book, it has a tale to tell and is a musical that is loved by people who hate musicals! Blood Brothers is a very simple story but everything about it screams EPIC. The present touring production is directed by long associates of the musical - Bob Thomson and Bill Kenwright, designed by Adam Walmsley with lighting and sound design by Nick Richings and Dan ...

Pride & Prejudice *(*sort of) – Leeds Grand Theatre

25Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Pride & Prejudice (sort of) – Leeds Grand Theatre

There have been plenty of versions in every medium of Jane Austen’s biting satire on the absurd manners in 19th century England, but none quite like this irrelevant romp through one of the greatest novels ever written. This is a world where women had less rights than children, sadly still true in some parts of the world, but Austen lays down a subtle challenge to that established order. That’s the trigger for a hard-working, five strong female cast to let rip as the ludicrous Mrs Bennet ruthlessly tries to marry off one of her five daughters before they end up in the poor house, as none of them can legally inherit their father’s estate. The distinctive thing about this part farce, part panto, but always on point, production is we hear from the servants who are bit players in the nove...