Yorkshire & Humber Archives - Page 30 of 44

<strong>Girl from the North Country – Sheffield Lyceum</strong>

18Jan

By Zara OdetundeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Girl from the North Country – Sheffield Lyceum

For Bob Dylan fans this production is a delight. Boldly written and directed by Conor McPherson this powerful production uses Dylan’s back catalogue ranging from 1965 to the present day. With songs such as ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ and ‘Make You Feel My Love’ (recently covered my Adele) sitting alongside less obvious choices, Dylan’s music is used not to progress the storyline as in most musical theatre but to give the story an ambience, a mood, a feel. The lyrics are not used to tentatively tie the plot together but instead almost transcend it and have an almost supernatural feel to them. The cast do much to aid this by singing directly to the audience into a microphone, breaking down the 4th wall and giving the audience a real insight into the characters private and internal thoughts and st...

<strong>The Varna International Ballet & Orchestra: Coppélia – Hull New Theatre</strong>

18Jan

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Varna International Ballet & Orchestra: Coppélia – Hull New Theatre

Thank you Hull New Theatre for starting your 2023 theatre programme with one of my favourite genres - ballet. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Varna International Ballet Company brought Coppélia to the stage, to delight and cheer us on a cold, icy night. Performing in the UK for the first time, Coppélia heralds the start of a week of ballet by this Bulgarian company, who will also perform Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Giselle. The theatre was far from full - maybe ballet fans had opted to buy tickets for the more well-known productions there later in the week. At curtain-up, the stage backdrop looked very muted colour-wise, but it soon became obvious the hues were purposefully chosen so as not to clash with the gloriously colourful costumes worn by all and sundry on stage....

DeathDrop: Back in the Habit – Sheffield Lyceum

11Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

DeathDrop: Back in the Habit – Sheffield Lyceum

Directed by Jesse Jones, created by Christopher D Clegg, written by Bob Evans and brought to the stage by Tuckshop; who have become engrained in the West End, bringing true Drag to the mainstream; and Trafalgar Theatre Productions, DeathDrop – Back in the Habit is the second instalment from Death Drop Cinema Universe (DDCU) proving there is an audience for this madcap drag escapism. Described by its creator as a ‘horror-murder-slasher-religious-comedy’ this production is by no means the usual second-rate sister to its 2020 predecessor. This second instalment may be charmingly and intentionally basic, but it doesn’t DRAG-its-heels and goes to show things improve as they grow! The production is a homage to drag gone by, of panto dames, the roster of Drag legends, queer bars and performanc...

<strong>Standing at the Sky’s Edge – Crucible Theatre</strong>

29Dec

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Standing at the Sky’s Edge – Crucible Theatre

Some books you only ever want to read once, some films do not stand up to the scrutiny of a second watch, and some plays you will try to forget before you even leave the theatre foyer. I reviewed 'Standing at the Sky's Edge' in its original incarnation at the Crucible Theatre back in March 2019, when I had no hesitation in naming it amongst my top five shows of that year. I'm delighted to say that this revival matches the original production in every way, my love affair with this superb production was rekindled and London audiences are in for an invigorating blast from the north when it transfers to the National Theatre early in 2023. Retaining eight of the original cast of nineteen, including the core of the lead performers, allows these actors to revisit and more fully explore their c...

<strong>The Nutcracker – Leeds Grand Theatre</strong>

21Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Nutcracker – Leeds Grand Theatre

Northern Ballet’s festive spectacular is their annual thank you to the city which they call home and has supported them to become a world class company. It’s also had the feel of an onstage office Xmas do where the dancers, creatives, musicians and technical teams really let rip in a production that is always epic in scale, and often gloriously over the top. The Nutcracker with its surreal, dreamy narrative, and Tchaikovsky’s familiar score, is the perfect vehicle as naïve young rich girl Clara is given an introduction into another world by a mysterious magician Drosselmeyer, who gives her a toy nutcracker that in classic fairy tale fashion turns into a handsome prince. Charles Cusick Smith’s massive sets from an opulent country house to a wonderfully realised winter fantasy...

<strong>Jack And The Beanstalk – Hull New Theatre</strong>

13Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Jack And The Beanstalk – Hull New Theatre

I hate audience participation of any kind but found myself “booing” at the top of my lungs within two minutes of Hull New Theatre’s pantomime, Jack And The Beanstalk, starting. The object of my, and the rest of the fullish theatre’s vocal disapproval on Sunday evening, was Mrs Blunderbore (well done to local girl Chelsea Hall on a memorable panto debut), wife of the fearsome giant who lives at the top of the beanstalk. This age-old fairytale tells the story of simple farmers Jack Trot (Gareth Gates), his brother Silly Simon (Neil Hurst), their mum Dame Trot (Jack Land Noble), and Jack’s love interest Princess Jill (Allana Taylor). Under severe financial pressure and threats from the evil giant and Mrs Blunderbore, the Trots sadly decide to sell their cow Daisy - hopefully to a kin...

<strong>Dick Whittington: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto – Leeds City Varieties</strong>

2Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dick Whittington: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto – Leeds City Varieties

The festive period for theatre critics is an odd one as this week started with Gallic misery fest Les Misérables and finished with this classic example of what is a quintessentially British art form that has even survived into the digital age. Pantos work (oh yes, they do) because they are plain daft, and everyone in the family can enjoy them. Whole families are out tonight as pantos don’t get any sillier than the Rock ‘N’ Roll brand, which had been offering music and fun in this historic venue for over a decade. There is something undeniably surreal and utterly joyous watching a six-foot Brummer rat belting out Pretty Vacant for reasons that weren’t entirely clear. And let’s be honest Dick Whittington is a gift that keeps giving (oh yes, it is) for any decent panto writer. Pet...

<strong>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical – Leeds Playhouse</strong>

1Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical – Leeds Playhouse

Every festive season Leeds Playhouse tick off the work of a brilliant children’s writer and this time it’s the undisputed master of devilish delights Roald Dahl. It’s a doubly bold move taking on his most beloved book that had already spawned West End and Broadway versions of this production, two film versions, and Gene Wilder’s cinematic take on mysterious sweet factory owner Willy Wonka is rightly seen as the definitive version. Wonka launches a worldwide competition for five kids to visit his factory if they can find a golden ticket in one of his chocolate bars, and among the loathsome children who win is Charlie Bucket. He’s a decent kid full of ideas living in grinding poverty with his single mum, and four grandparents who share a bed in the attic. Once inside the factory ...

<strong>The Nutcracker – Hull New Theatre</strong>

1Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Nutcracker – Hull New Theatre

My favourite ballet, The Nutcracker, came to the Hull New Theatre stage on Wednesday evening, bathing us all in a welcome festive glow. And, to my untrained eye, the Northern Ballet company performed this wintry tale to perfection. Even before a ballet pump had performed one relevé (I Googled) on the stage, we in the packed theatre got into the Christmas spirit just my looking at the wonderful stage setting - huge, many-paned windows, warmly lit from within and laden with snow. Set on Christmas Eve, the Edwards family are excitedly preparing for Christmas. Clara (Rachael Gillespie), her sister Louise (Saeka Shirai) and brother Frederick (Filippo Di Vilio) are all enjoying themselves with typical sibling shenanigans, which includes Frederick’s teasing of Clara. Uncle Drosselmeye...

<strong>Les Misérables – Leeds Grand Theatre</strong>

30Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Les Misérables – Leeds Grand Theatre

An expectant audience finally sat down after a two year wait for this musical juggernaut, and any fears that this wouldn't be the full West End experience were dashed from the first chord as massive sets rumbled on and off this vast stage. Les Misérables is an epic in every sense, based on Victor Hugo's sprawling novel of redemption and obsession set against the backdrop of a France riven by poverty and doomed petit bourgeois revolutionaries. It is perfect fodder for a sung through piece that sits somewhere between musical theatre and opera as reformed convict Jean Valjean seeks redemption after breaking his parole after stealing bread for his sick nephew, but is pursued over decades by implacable lawman Javert, who loses his reason as he tries to bring his quarry to justice. i...