Latest Articles - Page 361 of 645

24Mar

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

How Not To Drown – Oldham Coliseum

'STOP THE BOATS’ is an easy phrase parrotted by politicians seeking the quick dopamine rush of an approving headline in the Daily Mail or Express. In the rush to demonise immigrants as criminals and scroungers, what is lost is the individual stories of struggle, heartbreak and loss that each one of the statistics actually represents. Writer Dritan Kastrati and ThickSkin Theatre attempt to redress this imbalance in perception, resulting in an authentic voice exploring the journey of one young boy through the asylum and care system in 21st century Britain. Dritan Kastrati was an 11-year-old Kosovan Albanian, when his parents made the decision to remove him from the chaotic aftermath of the Balkan war and send him to the supposed safety and security of the UK. Kasrati told his story to Nic...

23Mar

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

Wales

Little Women – Theatr Clwyd

And there they all are on the programme cover: hot headed Jo, thoughtful Meg, quiet Beth at her beloved piano, and spoilt brat Amy…wait a minute – it’s the same actress, Hannah Churchill. And what fun she has playing every character, and how extremely well she does it. But you’ll never guess when it was created; oh ok, you probably will since Jo is stuck in her attic, struggling to write. And we’re in the studio, on quite frankly not very comfortable seats with a howling gale rocking the building and tumultuous rain drilling the roof. Not the only things with which our heroine has to contend; it does get confusing at times, and a little contrived because it can be distracting as she has to rapidly change positions, up and down by the minute, to try and make it abundantly clear which sis...

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – The Zodiac, Frodsham Community Central

23Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – The Zodiac, Frodsham Community Central

If we ever needed a reminder of just how much the world of theatre was tipped on it’s head by Covid, then the fact that it’s taken three years for Zodiac’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to reach the milestone of opening night will do just that. Retaining many of the original cast, it’s clear from the opening number, Give Them What They Want, that the cast, under the direction of Neil Silcock, are thrilled to finally immerse the audience into the French Riviera, where we meet the debonair Lawrence (Seb Farrell), a sophisticated swindler who charms and disarms several of the female holidaymakers each year, aided by his ‘bodyguard’ (and the town’s Chief of Police), Andre (Phil Murray). He soon takes the vulgar, young upstart Freddy Benson (Chris Doyle) under his wing to teach hi...

School of Rock – The Forum Theatre, Romiley

23Mar

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

North West

School of Rock – The Forum Theatre, Romiley

Based on the film written by Mike White. Directed by Dominic Stannage. For those few who don’t already know the story of School of Rock, the show follows Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who longs to be a rock star. After being kicked out of his own band, Dewey is penniless and jobless. To meet his rent obligations, he disguises himself as a substitute teacher and lands a job at a prestigious private school. Totally out of his depth, Dewey ignores the usual curriculum and focuses on developing the musically talented children. He forms a rock band with the 10-year-olds in the hope of winning the upcoming Battle of the Bands competition – all the while attempting to hide his true identity. There was a considerable buzz in the foyer in anticipation of the start of the show, a very nice...

Putin on the Ritz – Spitting Image is heading for the West End

23Mar

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Putin on the Ritz – Spitting Image is heading for the West End

Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical written by a tour de force comedy team made up of Al Murray (The Pub Landlord) Matt Forde (The Political Party) and double Olivier award winner Sean Foley (The Upstart Crow, The Play What I Wrote) makes its West End Premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London. Critically acclaimed when it was developed at the Birmingham Rep earlier this year, the show is directed by the Rep's Artistic Director Sean Foley alongside a creative team spearheaded by the original Spitting Image co-creator, Roger Law. Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical will run from Wednesday 24th May to Saturday 26th August 2023 with a Press Performance on 14th June 2023 at 7pm. Tickets are now on sale from https://www.thephoenixtheatre.co.uk/s...

Puccini’s Il trittico – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

23Mar

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Puccini’s Il trittico – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Puccini’s Il trittico is part of Scottish Opera’s 60th Anniversary programme. The company aims is “to lay the treasures of opera at the feet of the people of Scotland”. It certainly succeeds with this triple treasure of shorts. Death unites this triptych, but the mood of each showcases Puccini’s inventive mind and creative breadth: aching thwarted love (Il Tabarro); misguided penance and cruel inhumanity (Suor Angelica); the delicious absurdity of human relationships (Gianni Schicchi). If one piece doesn’t touch your sensibility, then the others must, surely. This Scottish Opera team is creative. Director, Sir David McVicar, houses Puccini’s music in stunning sets (designers Charles Edwards), costumes to delight (Hannah Clark), perfect lighting (Ben Pickersgill) and a fantastic orche...

23Mar

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

London

Turandot – The Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House’s latest revival under director Jack Furness of Andrei Serban’s 1984 production is an epic on every scale and a true delight for all of the senses as it delivers the perfect synthesis of music and drama. In legendary Peking, a Mandarin (Blaise Malaba) advises that any prince seeking to marry Princess Turandot (Anna Pirozzi) must answer three riddles: if he fails, he will die. Among the crowd Calàf (Yonghoon Lee) discovers his long-lost father, Timur (Vitalij Kowaljow). As the latest failed suitor goes to his death, the crowd implore the princess to spare him, but she orders the execution to proceed. Calàf is transfixed by her beauty and decides to win her heart. Timor and the slave girl Liù (Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha) as well as the ministers Ping (Hansung Yoo),...

Charlotte and Theodore – Richmond Theatre

22Mar

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Charlotte and Theodore – Richmond Theatre

‘Is this so bad if they see their mother succeed?’ – Charlotte In the wake of movements related to feminism, LGBTQIA+, disabled bodies, protected groups, hegemonies and systematic inherited structures, Charlotte and Theodore written by Ryan Craig, directed by Terry Johnson, performed by Kris Marshall (Theodore) and Eve Ponsonby (Charlotte) addresses the intricating and the strenuous gaps, that exist between people of different identities and age when talking about inclusivity, gender, pronouns, dilemmas of cancel culture, and dominant groups, etc. The 90 minutes long play proposes solutions, perhaps? Not in the same way Billy Wilder did in Some like it Hot but rather by following the evolution of conversation between two lovers and two professors, at different points in their lives. ...

22Mar

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Great Gatsby – Sheffield Lyceum

The Sheffield Lyceum hosts former Artistic Director of the Northern Ballet, David Nixon’s, The Great Gatsby this week. Nixon’s creation, with his responsibility for the Choreography, Direction, Scenario and Costume Design, co-directed by Patricia Doyle, has been ten years since its premier in 2013. With its lavish sets and its Chanel inspired sumptuous costumes you are transported back into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz era, the Roaring 20’s and his thematic novel of human follies, love, desire, hope and the struggle with time and fate. And for those unfamiliar with the 1925 novel or the cinematic version starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the story is told from the unreliable narrative viewpoint of Nick Carraway (Daisy’s Cousin) danced superbly by Filippo Di Vilio. We follow the protagonist Jay ...

22Mar

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Annie – Edinburgh Playhouse

What a show! The sun may come out tomorrow, but you should go see ‘Annie’ today! It follows the story of an optimistic young orphan trying to find her way in New York’s Great Depression. Based on a 1924 comic script “little orphan Annie” by Harold Gray, the Ambassador Theatre Group really brought the performance to life with catchy songs, cheeky humour and captivating choreography. All performers had a lot of chemistry and really brought the characters to life - we all had a particular sweet spot for the kind Mr Warbucks whose kindness really moved the audience. Paul O’Grady was captivating as Miss Hannigan with sass and his own particular brand of humour. All the child actors were extremely talented and surely have a bright future ahead of them and hit all the complicated choreography. Ho...