Latest Articles - Page 268 of 675

Domingo Hindoyan’s Bruckner – Liverpool Philharmonic

1Mar

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

North West

Domingo Hindoyan’s Bruckner – Liverpool Philharmonic

This week, Liverpool’s famous youthful talent took to a prestigious stage and celebrated great success with a charismatic grey-haired leader. No, not Carabao Cup-winning Liverpool FC with their academy starlets under Jurgen Klopp, but the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra under former percussionist and ‘the scouser in our team’ Sir Simon Rattle. But on Thursday night it was the seasoned pros of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra who celebrated the music of two composers who showed that talent can materialise at either end of the age spectrum. On the one hand, the Violin Concerto by prodigious child prodigy-turned-Hollywood-star-composer Erich Korngold, and on the other the monumental Seventh Symphony by Anton Bruckner, who was in his late 50s by the time he bega...

1Mar

By Eleanor HallNo Comments

London

Lucy and Friends – Soho Theatre

Dressed as a tree, Lucy McCormick takes the mic aside the tech box. She tells us that there’s a problem with the tech and that the show can’t go on. “Only joking!” she shouts. The fun has only just begun. ‘Lucy and Friends’ is an expectation-defying, fluid-splattering bonanza that leaves you gasping and giggling on repeat. It is a high camp meta-theatrical treasure. But heed the age rating and content warnings… this show is not one to see with the parents! McCormick is an outstanding performer and knows her audience well. Jokes about Arts Council funding requirements were met with bouts of laughter, as she asserted her ultimate goal: to create a community of ‘friends’ within the theatre. From here onwards, audience members were asked to represent people in her life, throw confetti wh...

Beautiful The Carole King Musical – Grange Theatre

29Feb

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Beautiful The Carole King Musical – Grange Theatre

This evening, I was lucky enough to visit The Grange Theatre in Hartford where The Zodiac are performing Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, the Northwest amateur premier, directed very well by Valarie Ball. After a wonderful greeting by the company and made to feel very welcome (thank you to Jude and Jessica), we take our seats ready for the show. The stage is set with a grand piano in the centre, with a spotlight on it. As the curtain goes up, we see the huge structure that is used to break the stage up, giving the piece levels and the 10-piece on stage band a home throughout the show. Beautiful follows the story of Carole Joan Klein, who takes on the stage name of Carole King at 16 when she pitches her first song ‘It might as rain well until September’, to meeting her future husband...

The Tina Turner Musical embarks on first ever UK tour

29Feb

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

The Tina Turner Musical embarks on first ever UK tour

The producers of the hit West End production, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL are delighted to announce the first ever UK and Ireland tour, opening at Curve Leicester from Thursday 6th March 2025. The show then embarks on a full UK tour. www.tinathemusical.com/uktour TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL continues to run in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre, where it has played for over 5 years following its world premiere, receiving critical acclaim, and breaking all Box Office records at the venue. It is currently booking until 31st May 2025, making it the longest running show to ever run at the Aldwych. The production is also a global success, with 8 productions having opened worldwide since 2018, including on Broadway and across North America, Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Australia. Th...

Tickets to be released for The Paddington Bear™ Experience

29Feb

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Tickets to be released for The Paddington Bear™ Experience

Tickets will go on sale to the general public for The Paddington Bear™ Experience at 10am on 4th March 2024 at www.paddingtonbearexperience.com Created by The Path Entertainment Group in collaboration with The Copyrights Group (a STUDIOCANAL company) and Lionsgate, Copyrights’ agent for experiences, this unique and fun-filled interactive experience inspired by the nation’s favourite bear will open on Friday 31st May 2024. The Paddington Bear™ Experience will span more than 26,000 square feet of London’s iconic County Hall on the riverside of the Southbank. Visitors are invited to step into Paddington’s world and embark on an exciting immersive adventure through some of the most memorable locations from the Paddington stories. Starting with the hustle and bustle of Paddington Station,...

29Feb

By Andrew LeeNo Comments

North West

The Drifters Girl – Liverpool Empire

The Drifters Girl is the story of the R&B vocal group The Drifters, and the remarkable woman behind their success. The story follows the ever-changing line up of lead singers, backing singers, promoters, writers, and producers, with the one constant being the group’s robust manager, Faye Treadwell. It narrates how so many tried to cash in on The Drifters name, yet there can only ever really be one true ‘The Drifters.’ If, like me, you love going to the theatre to listen to great music, sang by quality singers, supported by a superb live band, with glamourous lighting and costumes, then this show is perfect for you. The singing was great throughout, and the inclusion of all of our favourite Drifters hits such as ‘Save the last dance for me’, ‘Saturday night at the moves’, and ‘Under ...

29Feb

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Cyprus Avenue – Glasgow Pavilion

Eric’s greatest fear is losing his identity as an Ulster Unionist. The world has changed since his youth during the Troubles, but he can’t move on. When Eric (David Hayman) suffers a mental health crisis, this fear affects his whole family. Eric is convinced that his newborn granddaughter is, in fact, the former Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams. No, she doesn’t have a beard, but apart from that, she looks just like him. However, nobody else can see the resemblance. Eric holds some unpalatable views. His sectarian statements and language are shocking, bringing gasps of horror from the audience. Glaswegians are familiar with sectarianism. The play is also very funny. Every performance in this play was superb, and Hayman is extraordinary. This character says and does awful things, b...

Peter Pan Goes gnorW – Edinburgh Playhouse

29Feb

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Peter Pan Goes gnorW – Edinburgh Playhouse

Mischief (here working with Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd) is the multi award-winning company responsible for the very popular The Play That Goes Wrong, and its many conceptual spin-offs. These include the BBC One television series The Goes Wrong Show, Mind Mangler - Member of the Tragic Circle, Magic Goes Wrong, Mischief Movie Night and, of course, this evening's Peter Pan Goes Wrong, which was directed by Adam Meggido, with help from Associate Director Fred Gray. Like many of their shows, the concept is as complicated as the title. The ‘Cornley Drama Society’ Jake Burgum (Trevor the Stage Manager ), Jean-Luke Worrell (Francis the Narrator), Ciara Morris (Sandra / Wendy), Theo Toksvig-Stewart (Max / Michael), Clark Devlin (Dennis / John), Jamie Birkett (Annie / Tinkerbell), Gare...

28Feb

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Twelve Angry Men – The Lowry

The production of "Twelve Angry Men" at The Lowry Theatre in Salford, directed by Christopher Haydon, delivers a captivating and thought-provoking theatrical experience, earning a solid four-star rating. Adapted from Reginald Rose’s classic screenplay, the narrative unfolds in the intense setting of a New York jury room, where twelve jurors must decide the fate of a 16-year-old boy accused of murdering his father. While the overall production impresses with its compelling narrative and masterful direction by Haydon, there were occasional instances of overacting from some cast members. While overacting can be forgiven if emotionally connected to the character, there were moments where believability faltered, and made some of the stronger characters appear like they were crazy. Despite...

28Feb

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

Nachtland – Young Vic

This play by Marius von Mayenberg presented in a translation by Maja Zade sells itself as “a jagged new satire” and is set in modern-day Germany. Siblings Nicola (Dorothea Myar-Bennett) and Philipp (a nervously downtrodden John Heffernan) are clearing out their late father's house. Curiously most of his goods are being cleared from the stage as the audience file in, leaving one item wrapped in brown paper, found in the attic. It’s a painting of a church, a simple piece, but the signature is of the most interest. Is it indeed a painting by Hitler, and if so how did it find its way here? There is plenty of mileage here for black humour or satire, but the pacing feels off and some segues are either head-scratching (Nicola’s husband Fabian (Gunnar Cauthery)’s behaviour takes ...