Latest Articles - North West End UK

Catch Me If You Can – Northwich Memorial Court

23Oct

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Catch Me If You Can – Northwich Memorial Court

Catch Me If You Can follows the story of Frank Abagnale Jr as he runs away from an unhappy home life, reinventing himself as many characters, including a pilot, a doctor and even a lawyer, forging millions of dollars in cheques and staying one step ahead of the FBI. All while being chased by FBI Agent Carl Hanratty. The staging is fantastic with a runway style rostra that comes out from the main stage and surrounds a centre section of seating, making us all feel involved. The use of this extra staging is genius as it helps take the attention from the main stage so scene changes can take place. All of which are seemless and slick and, as with the main character, keeps on the move throughout. This brings the vision of director Ben Ireson to life, allowing the lead character, Frank Jr, to ...

23Oct

By Prateek SonnyNo Comments

London

him. – The Union Theatre

Fun. Flamboyant. Fantastic. Written by Natalie Ekberg and directed by Simon Fielding, him. follows Jane (Hannah Chalmers), her gay best friend Charlie (Niall Sheehy), and his husband, Osmond (Gary Tushaw). Through a non-linear narrative, the play explores love, friendship, sexuality, marriage, and individuality. As we enter, Osmond is preparing for a party. The party is for Charlie’s fortieth birthday, and everything seems well until an unexpected guest arrives. Jane, whom they haven’t seen in sixteen years, walks through the door, much to Osmond’s dismay. What follows is a story that moves between the present and the past, slowly revealing why Jane left and what brought her back. Through flashbacks, we see Jane and Charlie’s younger days in London, where the two were inseparable...

23Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The 39 Steps – Hull Truck Theatre

Early on, when watching The 39 Steps at Hull Truck Theatre on Thursday night, I began to wonder how much more of the production I could take, as I’d laughed so much and so hard. I was on the front row, so escape for some respite would have been noticed by the incorrigible actors responsible for my near demise - James Keningale, Kathryn Perkins, Sophie Bloor and the rather dishy Ryan Starling. Understudy Tom Mitchell was the “invisible” scene shifter. Dressed in a dark, tightly fitted onesie-type outfit, he removed and installed furniture, often at the wrong times, finally, briefly emerging onesie-free as Chief Inspector Albright - to huge cheers from the audience. At “curtain up”, to the left on the raised stage was a red leather armchair, side table holding an old-fashioned d...

Is a Drag Act Suitable for the Role of Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical

22Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Is a Drag Act Suitable for the Role of Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical

The casting of Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical raises interesting questions about character authenticity, theatrical tradition, audience expectations and the distinction between artistic freedom and suitability for a particular role. While drag performers have demonstrated considerable talent across musical theatre, comedy and live entertainment, there are arguments for why casting a drag act as Mother Superior (Craig Revel Horwood) may not always be the most appropriate creative decision for this particular production. At the heart of the debate is the nature of the character, the dramatic purpose she serves and the delicate balance between comedy and sincerity that makes Sister Act such an enduringly popular musical. Mother Superior is not simply a comic authority fi...

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

22Oct

By Grace LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Go, go, Joseph! The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse has struck theatrical gold with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, delivering a dazzling production that proves this much-loved musical still has the power to bring generations together. Directed by Joseph Meighan, this is a fabulous production bursting with colour, energy, humour and heart. From the opening number to the final curtain, there is something to delight everyone, making it the perfect family-friendly night out and a wonderful reminder of why this musical has remained such a firm favourite for decades. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat tells the biblical story of Joseph, his jealous brothers, his extraordinary coat and his journey from betrayal t...

Life Would be Pretty Dull Without Sex, Raves and MDMA – Bread and Roses Theatre

22Oct

By Holly LilyNo Comments

London

Life Would be Pretty Dull Without Sex, Raves and MDMA – Bread and Roses Theatre

After debuting in Edinburgh in 2025, winning the Keep It Fringe Award, and then appearing as part of Brighton Fringe, Life Would be Pretty Dull Without Sex, Raves and MDMA has found its way back to writer Bex Wall’s home: London. With bright lights, loud music and some funky dance moves (and yes, make sure you’ve got your own ones ready too), this play is guaranteed to have you laughing out loud and then shedding a tear, all within the space of 60 minutes. Writer Sarah Asante Gregory and co-writer/performer Bex Wall have written a play about grief and the fact that there is no correct way to deal with it. We see Bex deal with the loss of her brother and receiving her cancer diagnosis by embracing 90s rave culture, having lots of sex and dabbling in a few drugs… maybe more than...

English National Ballet: Romeo & Juliet – Palace Theatre

22Oct

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

English National Ballet: Romeo & Juliet – Palace Theatre

Few stories have endured quite like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and in English National Ballet’s sumptuous production, Rudolf Nureyev’s choreography proves every bit as timeless as the tragedy itself. Rich in theatricality, romance and dramatic tension, this is a production that wears its classical heritage proudly whilst demonstrating ballet’s extraordinary capacity for storytelling. Across three acts, Nureyev’s choreography brings lovely clarity to the familiar narrative. From the bustling streets of Verona to the intimacy of the lovers’ encounters and the devastation of their final moments, the storytelling remains assured and accessible. Prokofiev’s magnificent score provides the emotional heartbeat, its familiar, rousing passages lending grandeur to the action whilst its quiete...

22Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cats – Hull New Theatre

After watching Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical, Cats, at the Hull New Theatre on Wednesday night, it finally became clear why our cat, Bill, stayed out just the one night of the year, usually in October, for 18 years without fail. He was at the Jellicle Ball - the focal point of this production. The concept for Cats came from renowned poet T.S.Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, a book of playful poems enjoyed by Lloyd Webber as a child. As an adult, he set some of the poems to music and the rest, as they say, is history. As the curtain rose, we theatregoers in the jam-packed venue were treated to the sight of dancers in the most glorious cat costumes. Against the background of a huge full moon encased in a crusted, glittery crescent, they creep out of the shadow...

Dear Evan Hansen – The Montgomery Theatre

21Oct

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dear Evan Hansen – The Montgomery Theatre

Quiet sniffling could be heard from across the audience nearing the end of Splinters Theatre Group’s performance of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at the Montgomery Theatre. Despite persistent technical difficulties, the show came together quite nicely, with plenty of pleasing vocals from the cast. Director Kate Parkin has tackled Steven Levenson’s book with grace, ensuring scenes do not just disappear into memory. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s music was in good hands with Musical Director Adam Walker, and Aggie Gryszel’s choreography was satisfactory and suited the musical itself but felt slightly uninspired. ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is a musical about 17-year-old high schooler, Evan Hansen, who is learning to cope with depression and anxiety by writing letters to himself as per his therapist’s advice. C...

21Oct

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Moment By Moment – Genesis Cinema

First performed as a concert in 2013, Alexander Sage Oyen's song cycle Moment By Moment has made it to the big screen courtesy of director Louis Rayneau. Following ten different characters in New York City, Moment By Moment explores universal experiences including love, loss, and self-discovery through Oyen’s eclectic score. The movie features a stellar cast, including Cassidy Janson, Chloe Saracco, and Cleve September, and it starts strong by introducing the ten characters via the titular group number. Featuring frenetic shots of the iconic New York cityscape interspersed between scenes of the characters interacting and dancing, it’s an energetic opening that seems to set the movie up for success. Starting in black and white, moments of colour gradually emerge, and this is a ...