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West End superstars heading to Milton Keynes for 1 night only!

7Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

West End superstars heading to Milton Keynes for 1 night only!

West End superstars: Lucie Jones, Ben Forster, Matt Henry MBE and Louise Dearman are part of the stunning cast line-up of this musical spectacular of the year, performing alongside a musical theatre orchestra conducted by the phenomenal John Quirk. This vibrant West End spectacular will cover the breadth of musical theatre from classic hits to ground-breaking new musicals including Chicago, Wicked, Cats, The Lion King, Waitress, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman, The Phantom of the Opera and many more! As a prolific supporter of the West End for several years, the Alpha Family are thrilled to be bringing their uplifting and celebratory show direct from the best theatre district in the world to their home-city of Milton Keynes, showcasing the biggest, best and mos...

Shakespeare in Love – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

7Feb

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Shakespeare in Love – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

With numerous accolades, including an Oscar Winning film performance and the acquisition of seven Academy awards, ‘Shakespeare in Love’ is performed this week at The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse. Based upon the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard and adapted for stage by Lee Hall, this popular romantic comedy performed by the Garrick Ensemble is produced and directed by Joseph Meighan. For those who have not seen the film, the story is essentially about a certain young playwright, ‘Will Shakespeare’ (Loui Quelcutti) who meets the wealthy ‘Violet de Lesseps’ (Ciara- Alexandra Booker) who dreams of becoming an actor. The two fall deeply in love, however Violet's father, ‘Sir Robert de Lesseps’ (Paul O’Dwyer) insisted she married Lord Wessex (Tom Broughton) and so a love affair betw...

7Feb

By Daniel CoxNo Comments

North West

Bugsy Malone – Liverpool Empire

Bugsy Malone tells the story of a battle for power between Fat Sam & Dandy Dan based in New York City. Its story is loosely taken from gang events during the Prohibition era but this musical changes 'machine guns' for 'splurge guns' in order to make it more appropriate for family friendly audiences mixing in slapstick musical comedy whilst following the storyline of Bugsy and his new love Blousey alongside the hilarious chaos. Bugsy Malone is taking a Charleston Step out on tour for the very first time, touring the UK following its Christmas Season at Alexandra Palace in London treating audiences to this energetic revival of the acclaimed Lyric Hammersmith Theatre production. It's a production that showcases both child and adult actors and they do deliver with a BANG (and a crack of th...

New play Animal to premiere at Hope Mill Theatre

6Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

New play Animal to premiere at Hope Mill Theatre

Winner of the inaugural Through the Mill Prize and shortlisted for the Papatango Prize, Park Theatre and Hope Mill Theatre present brand-new play ANIMAL, exploring how disability, sexuality and lust co-exist for people who require round the clock assistance. Written by Jon Bradfield (Ghosted: Another F***ing Christmas Carol, The Other Palace Theatre; Missing Alice, BBC4) and developed by disability activist and equality trainer Josh Hepple, ANIMAL is an authentic, hilarious, and heart-breaking look at hook-up culture, navigating relationships and how they intersect with practical needs and social barriers for disabled people. The play tours to Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, the Tobacco Factory in Bristol and Park Theatre in London. Christopher John-Slater (All of Us, National Theatre;...

Motionhouse: Starchitects – Birmingham Hippodrome

6Feb

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Motionhouse: Starchitects – Birmingham Hippodrome

The Hippodrome is awash with young, vibrant faces each peering curiously into the gaping chasm of the empty auditorium daunted by its size unaware what they are about to see will blow their minds. Louise Richards and Kevin Finnan founded MotionHouse in 1988 and since its inception it has created an array of world-class, breath-taking circus-danced productions which have toured the globe integrating physicality, acrobatics, strong story and dynamic sound. “Starchitects” is no exception. Opening in a child’s bedroom, young buoyant dancers, each clad in child-like pyjamas, strive try to stave off their night time boredom by inventing games using cardboard boxes to create cars, tricks and, more importantly, a space rocket. So far, so predictable. Many kids shows employ cardboard boxes ev...

<strong>Alpine Symphony – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall</strong>

6Feb

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

North East

Alpine Symphony – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

As the lights dim and the chatter quietens, conductor and violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider takes his place at the front of the stage. The orchestra sits poised for action. The first note is played and so begins an adventurous musical journey. The concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall is comprised of two halves; the first is a relatively short rendition of Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No.1, Op.26, and the second is the more epic Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. Embraced by a full orchestra, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider doubles-up on his role for the first half, participating as the solo violinist and intermittently conducting the ensemble. Opening with delicate drama and tension, the room is quickly captivated. Seamlessly, Szeps-Znaider draws spectators into a sound bubble with him and the...

Husbands and Sons – Manchester School of Theatre

3Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Husbands and Sons – Manchester School of Theatre

DH Lawrence called success 'the bitch goddess', during his lifetime he suffered constant vilification with his work dismissed as little more than pornography, dying before he could see his vindication as one of the most important writers of the 20th century. His depiction of the details of working-class life in Nottinghamshire in the years before and after the first World War finds its apogee in 'Sons and Lovers' and 'Women in Love', but it is a 2015 condensing of three of his short plays, adapted by Ben Power, that Manchester School of Theatre present this evening. Despite some excellent central performances and innovative direction, the piece never wholly manages to satisfy as a single entity. We begin with 'A Collier's Friday Night' exploring the simple lives and loves of the Lambert...

September In The Rain – Little Theatre, Birkenhead

3Feb

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

September In The Rain – Little Theatre, Birkenhead

A charming, funny piece of nostalgia. The Carlton Players continue their season with Godber’s nostalgic and gentle comedy, loosely based on the writer’s own grandparents. Liz and Jack have holidayed in Blackpool from newlyweds in the 1950s until old age in the 1990s. Never missing a year, they’d make their way from Yorkshire across the A59 to the seaside resort with its boarding houses, fun fair, deckchairs and donkeys. Originally written as a radio play, this has been a popular choice for theatre groups over the past forty years. A two-hander, where both characters speak to the audience and take on the roles of other characters to recall their stories: some sentimental or amusing, others laugh-out-loud funny. Liz and Jack certainly have their spats and shouting matches b...

2Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

North West End UK are recruiting NOW!

From its launch locally in Manchester back in 2014, North West End UK has grown year on year (including during the pandemic when they diversified to review online theatre) and 2023 sees no sign of that growth stopping as they continue to cover more and more of the UK. Live theatre is more important than ever today and North West End UK strive to promote and review all forms of theatre performed from the smallest community hall up to the biggest arenas in the UK. To feed the appetite of producers, venues and PR’s, North West End UK is undertaking a huge recruitment drive and seeks new reviewers across the UK, and they need you! No experience is necessary, all that they ask is that you have a love for theatre, can commit to a deadline and write a balanced and honest review. Many of the...

Titus Andronicus – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

2Feb

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Titus Andronicus – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

The Globe’s winter fest comes to its closing but not before tackling Shakespeare’s most gruesome tragedy directed by Jude Christian, with an all-female cast bringing us the horror tale without an ounce of blood spilling. Knowing it to be the bloodiest tale, I sat down with sight swell of excitement to how they might butcher each other on stage but what I received was quite the opposite and I don’t think I was too mad about it. Our two opposing leaders, Titus and Saturninus played by Katy Stephens and Lucy McCormick bring a delightful contrast between power and how to use it. McCormick utterly rocks the stage, stealing more than a glance at every moment they perform with force, making a parody of every male leader as we know them in classics creating a clown of who we should respect the mos...