Yorkshire & Humber Archives - Page 27 of 43

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...

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Hull Truck Theatre

22Apr

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Hull Truck Theatre

I set off for Hull Truck Theatre, on Friday evening, knowing my worst nightmare - audience participation - is probably about to come true. Showstopper! The Improvised Musical invites audience members to create a musical comedy by shouting out their suggestions - suggestions the cast will endeavour to act out. My seat on the front row meant there was no hiding place. So, I determined not to make eye contact with anyone on the stage; keep my head down, be invisible and leave the suggestion-making to anybody - just not me. Billed as a “must-see”, this improvised comedy came to Hull Truck for one night only, as part of a nationwide tour (visit www.showstopperthemusical.com for future venues). Well, dear reader, my “keeping schtum” resolution lasted approximately 30 seconds - that’s...

20Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Home, I’m Darling! – Sheffield Lyceum

Clever, humorous, warm – Laura Wade’s Olivier-award winning comedy Home, I’m Darling! appropriately leans into the mythologised tonal tropes of the 1950’s. Jessica Ransom, Neil McDermott, Matthew Douglas, Cassie Bradley and Shanez Pattni all excel in this fun and fresh text.Despite its comedic sensibilities, oftentimes Wade’s piece translates better as a drama than a comedy. Of course, the two are not mutually exclusive, but Wade’s commentary is at its best and most biting when it’s polemical and astute. Feminism is often framed expertly against the backdrops of 1950’s nostalgic delusion, #MeToo, gender roles and even against itself when the validity of feminism is questioned (if feminism is about making choices, is the choice to play a role that supports patriarchy still feminism as it is...

19Apr

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Our House – Hull New Theatre

Hull New Theatre was very well-attended on Tuesday night, in anticipation of Hessle Theatre Company’s production of Our House. I know from past experience this amateur company can produce some very professional work; and I gladly gave top marks to their versions of Shrek the Musical and Made In Dagenham. Would Our House elicit the same response from my reviewer’s pen? This award-winning West End musical featuring hit songs from the band Madness, begins with Kath Casey (Katherine Fitzgerald) informing her boyfriend (Neal Edlin) that she is pregnant. Fast forward 16 years and their boy, Joe (Connor Wilson) is at a crossroads in his young life. On the one hand he wants to make something of his life and not end up like his good-for-nothing (in his eyes) Dad; but on the other, he is...

Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice – Hull New Theatre

8Apr

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice – Hull New Theatre

Hull New Theatre was far from full on Friday evening, when the UK premiere of Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice took to its stage. The fact it was Good Friday and potential theatregoers might have had other plans may have accounted for the empty seats. But the lengthy applause from an appreciative audience for all on stage, at the show’s end, showed that those who did take up the seats were heartily glad they made the effort. First to appear on the stage - whose backdrop of bare tree branches hardly changed throughout - were three very talented musicians playing keyboards, violin and a most unusual array of instruments that made sounds I simply cannot describe. And I don’t mean that in a negative way. Award-winning choreographer, Masilo, hails from South Africa, so she is more than q...

6Apr

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Sister Act – Sheffield Lyceum

'Sister Act – A Divine Musical Comedy' based on the 1992 smash hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith featuring original music by Alan Menken. Produced by Jamie Wilson, with the book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner and Lyrics by Glenn Slater the dazzling dance routines and music inspired by Motown, soul and disco is finally brought to the stage at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre after two years delay due to the pandemic. For those of you who haven’t seen the film - 'Sister Act' is the story of a nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier who witnesses a murder at the hands of her married lover and is taken under protective custody to hide in a convent. Here she learns life lessons and helps her 'Sister's' to find their voice and save their convent whilst Deloris herself finds friends...

Ocean At The End Of The Lane – Bradford Alhambra

5Apr

By Bo WarnerNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Ocean At The End Of The Lane – Bradford Alhambra

“Somehow it was personal for them as well… people who, when they were children, found books safer than other people…” – Neil Gaiman Ocean at the End of the Lane was adapted for the stage by the National Theatre from the magical, surrealist book by acclaimed fantasy author Neil Gaiman, reaching the West End in 2021. After its critically-acclaimed run in the West End, Ocean is now on its first national tour around the UK, and I was privileged to catch it at the Bradford Alhambra. This is a story following a Boy’s relationship with the three strange women that have occupied Hempstock farm for as long as anyone can remember. He encounters strange creatures on the edges of reality, and soon finds that he can no longer tell where imagination stops and real life begins as an intruder begins...

31Mar

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Opera North: Tosca – Hull New Theatre

It was drama from curtain up, on Thursday evening at the Hull New Theatre, when Opera North’s Tosca came to town, thrilling us with the sight of escaped political prisoner, Cesare Angelotti (a very brave Callum Thorpe), dropping from on high via a rope, on to the stage and, with split-second timing, the rope falling unattached to the floor. Phew! Aided and abetted by wonderfully atmospheric music played by the talented members of the Orchestra of Opera North, the drama never let up throughout a longish evening of opera. Angelotti’s entrance, through a beautifully decorated cupola in a family chapel, finds him in the company of his friend, artist, Mario Cavaradossi (Mykhailo Malafii), who gives him food and the key to his villa, advising him to hide in a secret chamber down a well in ...