Latest Articles - Page 363 of 645

21Mar

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

So Lucky Manchester Gets It First Again

Ambassador Theatre Group Productions are delighted to announce the World Premiere of the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY. Written and directed by Debbie Isitt and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, the show will open at the Manchester Opera House on 1st November 2023 and play the Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House from 12th – 30th December 2023 as part of a UK tour. Tour schedule below with further dates to be announced soon. www.soluckymusical.com @Soluckymusical Mike Stock said today “We have been approached many times over the years to authorise a musical using the songs from the Stock Aitken Waterman catalogue and have always resisted, until now! What Debbie, Jason and the team behind the show have created is a truly original and sham...

21Mar

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Hamlet – National Theatre

Shakespeare’s much-loved and much-performed tragedy is back with a neo classical adaptation for young audiences by Jude Christian, directed by Ellie Hurt. This energetic and funny show has the little ones completely enthralled, right from the pre-show crowd work that the actors employ to draw in the audience to the many moments of utter shock and surprise throughout the 65-minute performance. The audience is even asked to actively contribute to the play within the play by creating sounds and chanting ‘mur-der-er’ to shame and chase actors off stage. The play opens with a scene showing the funeral of Hamlet’s father; ‘dad’ and ‘king’ are spelt out in floral tribunals making the event very clear and this intentional clarity is evident throughout the play, making it easy for young audience...

Kiln Sparks offers a chance for backstage talent chance to work in-the-round at New Vic Theatre

20Mar

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Kiln Sparks offers a chance for backstage talent chance to work in-the-round at New Vic Theatre

Kiln Sparks is a new one-week course offering emerging and entry-level theatre personnel from under-represented groups to get experience working in-the-round at Staffordshire’s New Vic Theatre. The one-week residential course, in conjunction with New Earth Theatre and tiata fahodzi, is led by the New Vic’s Associate Director Vicki Dela Amedume MBE and is designed for entry level sound and lighting technicians. So, the programme could support company stage managers wishing to expand their knowledge of technical processes, emerging production managers who would like to expand their technical knowledge or emerging sound and lighting designers who have not yet worked in-the-round. The project aims to expand the industry’s knowledge base about making theatre in-the-round and diversify ...

Lohengrin – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

20Mar

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Lohengrin – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

After nine years of peace, the enemies from the East are threatening again and King Heinrich (Günther Groissböck) arrives in Brabant to understand why it is in such strife and not providing the necessary support. Telramund (Evgeny Nikitin) accuses Elsa (Tamara Wilson) of the heinous crime of having murdered her brother, Gottfried, heir to the Brabant throne, and has also shunned her betrothal to him in favour of Ortrud (Christine Goerke). Elsa recalls a dream of a knight in shining armour who will come to save her and when the Herald (Brian Mulligan) calls for someone to defend her honour, the mysterious knight (Piotr Beczała) appears on the back of a swan. He pledges his troth to her on condition that she never asks his name or origin to which she agrees, and he duly defeats Telramund in ...

The Cheshire Drama Festival 2023 – Storyhouse, Chester

20Mar

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

The Cheshire Drama Festival 2023 – Storyhouse, Chester

What thespian dreams are made of, an opportunity to serve up an enthusiastic repertoire of theatrical genres and styles in The Cheshire Drama Festival 2023. Taking place over the weekend of the 18th/19th March, this is its fourth year celebrating North West talent. The festival provides a unique opportunity for seven 'amateur' groups from across the Cheshire and Merseyside region to flex their creative muscles to compete for a place in the grand final of the All England Theatre Festival. With 6 out of the 7 one act plays made up of original writing, they are marked on all technical aspects of stagecraft, with awards up for presentation, direction, acting and dramatic achievement under the watchful eye of adjudicator Sandra Wynne. Hosted by D.T.A.T, the first day of the programm...

20Mar

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Burnout – Vault Festival

Burnout starts with tackling the impact of flooding in a northern town, the effects of climate change, on the local people, the environment and the activists vying for solutions. The characters Bridgette (Bridge) an activist and Amara a 16yr old girl who pops out to get milk quickly finds she is enthralled and curious about the activist (Bridge). Amara is keen to share her thoughts and feelings of the impact of activism on the cause and herself. The play focuses on the call to action from audience participation which is encouraged and the carefully provoking dialogue. Photo: Tom Johnson Written by Nicole Acquah and directed by Caitlin Evans, this short play is about activism, and the reality of climate justice, the show exposes the burnout of the planet and burnout of the acti...

20Mar

By Khushboo ShahNo Comments

London

Swim – Omnibus Theatre

Swim is a warm, tender, and humbling story, based on true events, written and performed by Liz Richardson. In an hour-long performance, she encapsulates her journey of moving out of London’s anonymity with her family and settling into a village up north amidst nature and within a community where everyone knows everyone’s business. Of course, at the centre of it, is the experience of swimming in natural water bodies, like she did in her childhood, and how it affects this community at different phases in their lives, particularly her best friend whose sisters have lost their children. The metallic backdrop and oval flooring with blurry visuals shifting in tandem with the story, invite the audience to experience this tale which opens casually with Richardson talking about why she wanted to...

Accidental Death of an Anarchist – Lyric Hammersmith

20Mar

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Accidental Death of an Anarchist – Lyric Hammersmith

Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist is justifiably championed as a paragon of political theatre. It’s a satirical farce, focussed on police corruption and collusion with right-wing agitators. The play premiered in 1970 and was inspired by the 1969 Piazza Fontana bombing and the very suspicious death of Giuseppe Pinelli, while being interrogated by the police. Why would a 50-year-old Italian comedy still have relevance today? Hmmm. Well, Lord Scarman’s 1981 report into the Met’s handling of the Brixton riots recommended major changes to police training and law enforcement. In ’93, after the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the Macpherson Report found the Met’s investigation was “marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership”. Th...

Titanic The Musical – Churchill Theatre, Bromley

20Mar

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Titanic The Musical – Churchill Theatre, Bromley

This captivating moving production directed by Thom Southerland, story by Peter Stone with lyrics by Maury Yeston starts with the story of inspiration, a yearning for the American dream for the third class immigrants’; an opportunity, for the voyeuristic second class passengers to rub elbows and be socially accepted amongst their first class peers; a rite of passage for the first class to be a part of this historic moment and immerse themselves in the expected decadence and privileges. To the contrast of excitement and gayety from the young galley boys and girls, crew, and engine room men facing a voyage of toil and longing to be home once again. The company’s ensemble of ‘Godspeed Titanic’ was heart rendering and powerful. This set the scene of what was to be a dignified, emotional and...

Further than the Furthest Thing – Young Vic

18Mar

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

Further than the Furthest Thing – Young Vic

Further than the Furthest Thing is a play in two acts by the Scottish playwright Zinnie Harris, set in 1961 on a remote island based loosely on Tristan da Cunha in the first act and in an industry in England in the second act. The play opens with Bill Laverello, played by Cyril Nri, swimming in the volcano's lake, which dominates the island; he leaves the water as tremors rise. The play then moves to Mill Laverello, played by Jenna Russell, where Francis Swain, played by Archie Madekwe, the nephew of Mill and Bill, meets Mill, having left the island for roughly a year. Francis reveals that he has invited Mr Hansen, a factory owner he introduces as his friend, to the island. The play is staged in an arena with seating that looks like marble slabs transporting us to a remote island awa...