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15Jan

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Carmen – Liverpool Empire

Director and Producer Ellen Kent’s Carmen is carnal, captivating, and carefree in equal measure and with the close camaraderie of the company clear to see on stage, it is a joy to behold. Set in early 19th Century Seville, Carmen tells the story of the downfall of Don José (Davit Sumbadze) a naïve corporal who falls head over heels in love with Carmen (Natalia Matveeva), a seductive, free-spirited gypsy girl. The infatuated Don José abandons his childhood sweetheart, Micaela (Elena Dee), and neglects his military duties much to the annoyance of his senior officer Zuniga (Valeriu Cojocaru), only to lose the fickle Carmen to the glamorous toreador Escamillio (Iurie Gisca). Sung in its original French, with English surtitles provided by Victoria Bazalinchuk, the unfolding action on stag...

Dick Whittington and the Pirates – Waterside Arts

14Jan

By Emma WildNo Comments

North West

Dick Whittington and the Pirates – Waterside Arts

On arrival, a buzz of excitement filled the air as the welcoming volunteers enthusiastically encouraged the young pirates in the audience to wear hats and eye patches. I was slightly concerned at this point that this panto was going to be aimed solely at the younger audience members, however, myself and my slightly cool teenage son, laughed, shouted “behind you” and found ourselves joining in with the actions to the pirate song! With a cleverly written script by Terry Hollinshead (updated by Ross Douglas), there were cheeky innuendos and political jokes for the adults whilst plenty of slapstick kept the younger audience members chuckling. Truly something for everyone to enjoy. This joyous, colourful, rags to riches tale filled with pirates, mermaids, a hairy fairy, talking animals an...

TV and stage star Daniel Taylor fronts the biopic tribute show Something About George

14Jan

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

TV and stage star Daniel Taylor fronts the biopic tribute show Something About George

An acclaimed show highlighting the incredible talent of the late Beatle George Harrison embarks on a UK and Ireland next month, it follows a successful run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and sell out shows in 2023. Something About George – The George Harrison Story, pays tribute to the man dubbed the “quiet Beatle” it will visit 31 venues across England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, its biggest tour to date. It will open with two shows at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on Sat 3 February and ends at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway, Ireland on Fri 29 March. West End performer and musician Daniel Taylor, fresh from his recent TV and media appearance with partner Shirley Ballas (head judge from Strictly Come Dancing), front’s the band of five and tells the fascinating ...

Casting announced for imitating the dog’s Frankenstein

14Jan

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Casting announced for imitating the dog’s Frankenstein

imitating the dog’s two-handed version of Frankenstein will feature RSC actor Georgia-Mae Myers and Nedum Okonyia. This time Co-Artistic Directors Pete Brooks, Andrew Quick and Simon Wainwright offer their trademark multimedia exploration of Mary Shelley’s timeless classic novel as a psychological thriller asks the eternal question – what is it to be human? In this version a couple confront their own fears about impending parenthood as they recreate a version of Frankenstein that erupts into life as everyday objects are transformed into glaciers, a ship at sea, a dissecting room, and a house on fire. Set and Costume Designer Hayley Grindle has created a transformative space j housing the digital tricks and video-mapping t...

New show BI-TOPIA explores LGBTQ+ issues and male identity

14Jan

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

New show BI-TOPIA explores LGBTQ+ issues and male identity

Sam Danson’s new semi-autographical one man show BI-TOPIA takes a candid look at under-represented links between battling with poor mental health and the highs and lows of the bi-sexual experience. When performer Danson was growing up his perceptions of manhood and the ideal male identity were influenced by the generations of men in his family who served in the military, and the war movies he was obsessed with. He wanted to be Ben Affleck in Pearl Harbour, Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan and sometimes even Rambo when he was angry. Then as a young adult still grappling with his male identity he suffered a brutal homophobic attack which left him reeling with shock and shame. That left him asking himself the burning question – how can you call yourself an honourable man when you have b...

Northern Ballet take Tortoise & The Hare on tour

14Jan

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Ballet take Tortoise & The Hare on tour

Northern Ballet are taking their children’s ballet Tortoise & The Hare on the road kicking off at The Linbury theatre in London’s Royal Opera House from 27th – 29th January before embarking on an extensive UK tour. Tortoise & the Hare is a child friendly re-imagining of Aesop’s much-loved fable of a Tortoise who tired of being teased for his slowness challenges a speedy Hare to a race with unexpected results. Choreographed by former Northern Ballet dancers Dreda Blow and Sebastian Loe, Tortoise & the Hare premiered in 2015 and was the second children’s ballet by the pair. The production includes an original score composed by Bruno Merz, colourful set designs by Ali Allen and live music performed by members of the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. It’s a short ballet running ...

Madama Butterfly – Opera House, Manchester

13Jan

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Madama Butterfly – Opera House, Manchester

The heartbreaking beauty of this opera is perfectly presented by Director and Producer Ellen Kent in this sensitive and moving portrayal which captures passing moments of innocence and naïve humour but whose final scene touched me deeply. Marriage broker Goro (Yevhenii Vaskiv) shows US naval lieutenant Pinkerton (Giorgi Meladze) around the home he will share with his bride-to-be in Nagasaki, although American Consul Sharpless (Iurie Gisca) warns him of the tragic consequences that may follow. The Butterfly duly lands in the form of young Japanese girl Cio-Cio-San (Elena Dee) supported by maid Suzuki (Natalia Matveeva), and they are married by the Commissioner (Vitalii Cebotari). Her love makes her willing to sacrifice everything which sees her disowned by her uncle, a Bonze (Valeriu Coj...

EGTG celebrates 70 years of amateur theatre in Edinburgh

13Jan

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

EGTG celebrates 70 years of amateur theatre in Edinburgh

Local amateur theatre company, Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group (EGTG), will celebrate 70 years of producing theatre in 2024, with a bumper season of theatrical productions, drama workshops, and more. EGTG was first started in 1954 by alumni of the Edinburgh University Dramatic Society, and has gone on to become one of Edinburgh’s most respected amateur theatre companies, presenting a versatile catalogue of challenging contemporary work through to crowd-pleasing classics. In 2024 the group will celebrate its 70th anniversary with the staging of six plays and an exciting calendar of events to run throughout the year. EGTG kicks off its season at the SCDA One Act Festival with Martin Foreman’s Taiwan, directed by Claire Morand. It’s a question of survival. Welcome to Scotland in the ne...

12Jan

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Exhibitionists – King’s Head Theatre

The King’s Head Theatre holds a special place in my heart, as it was the scene of my first ever written review. In 1986, as coursework for my Drama ‘O’ Level, I travelled from the depths of sleepy Surrey to lively Islington for an experimental interpretation of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit. The production was less memorable than the concept of being squidged in a room at the back of a pub with an audience brought together by existential angst. I’d not only found my people, but learned that theatre could be uncomfortably intimate, messy and weird. In 2015, I played a sexual health and drugs counsellor, in a production of The Clinic at The King’s Head. My character was based on renowned ‘chemsex’ expert David Stuart (RIP) who was also one of the show’s producers. It was a thrill to perform ...

12Jan

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Swan Lake – Richmond Theatre

The brand new (2023 founded) Mergaliev Classical Ballet brings to Richmond’s now 125-year-old theatre a tame and traditional rendition of the tragic classic best suited for young audiences. Swan Lake is one of the dance world’s most famous ballets and for good reason. Tchaikovsky’s score is compelling and engaging and the story is simple and accessible. It follows Prince Siegfried (Azamat Askarov), a young man upon whom tragedy suddenly strikes. Urged to choose a bride he spurns the seductive court and ambles into the woods alone. Followed into the woods by the ominous and treacherous sorcerer Rothbart (Jackson Stewart), whose menacing musical motif is no less satisfying for its ubiquity, Siegfried is shocked to discover that the swans he hoped to spear are in fact beautiful maidens tem...