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<strong>The Nutcracker – Hull New Theatre</strong>

1Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Nutcracker – Hull New Theatre

My favourite ballet, The Nutcracker, came to the Hull New Theatre stage on Wednesday evening, bathing us all in a welcome festive glow. And, to my untrained eye, the Northern Ballet company performed this wintry tale to perfection. Even before a ballet pump had performed one relevé (I Googled) on the stage, we in the packed theatre got into the Christmas spirit just my looking at the wonderful stage setting - huge, many-paned windows, warmly lit from within and laden with snow. Set on Christmas Eve, the Edwards family are excitedly preparing for Christmas. Clara (Rachael Gillespie), her sister Louise (Saeka Shirai) and brother Frederick (Filippo Di Vilio) are all enjoying themselves with typical sibling shenanigans, which includes Frederick’s teasing of Clara. Uncle Drosselmeye...

<strong>Les Misérables – Leeds Grand Theatre</strong>

30Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Les Misérables – Leeds Grand Theatre

An expectant audience finally sat down after a two year wait for this musical juggernaut, and any fears that this wouldn't be the full West End experience were dashed from the first chord as massive sets rumbled on and off this vast stage. Les Misérables is an epic in every sense, based on Victor Hugo's sprawling novel of redemption and obsession set against the backdrop of a France riven by poverty and doomed petit bourgeois revolutionaries. It is perfect fodder for a sung through piece that sits somewhere between musical theatre and opera as reformed convict Jean Valjean seeks redemption after breaking his parole after stealing bread for his sick nephew, but is pursued over decades by implacable lawman Javert, who loses his reason as he tries to bring his quarry to justice. i...

<strong>The House Amongst the Willows – Hope Street Theatre</strong>

30Nov

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

The House Amongst the Willows – Hope Street Theatre

Robert Scott’s The House Amongst the Willows is a psychological thriller which explores the darkness which can hide in seemingly happy families and the inevitable tragic shadow that falls over a relationship with someone whose previous partner has passed away. Directed by Mark Holland and Gabi Castro, this is a tense and dramatic show with plenty of twists and turns around the eponymous copse of willow trees out front. The play opens with Fletcher (Sab Muthusamy) and his fiancée, Sadie (Josie Harrison) arriving at the holiday home of Paul (John Michael Rooke) and Erin (Sarah Howes-Dixon), who are Fletcher’s dead wife’s Laura’s parents. Sadie is understandably nervous over meeting Laura’s parents, but Fletcher is very keen for the weeklong break to go well as he is closer to Paul and Eri...

<strong>Red Riding Hood – Everyman Theatre</strong>

30Nov

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Red Riding Hood – Everyman Theatre

So, does the Everyman Rock n' Roll Panto tick all the right boxes this year? I haven't been for some time but it all still seems present and correct: feisty heroine; wicked witch type villainess; incredibly dumb henchmen; randy Panto Dame; unfortunate audience/honorary cast member (yes, that's you, Sean); amazing music and musicians. Plus, Adam Keast, and he always is a plus with his ability to wrap the audience around his little finger, so adept, he happily makes any improv perfectly (literally) obvious, leading them a merry jig, irresistible as the Pied Piper. Speaking of which, will our heroine stick to the straight and narrow or venture onto the path less travelled, what with having two suitors? But what chance does Prince Florizel the Fortunate have, although the clue is in the nam...

<strong>A Christmas Carol – Hull Truck Theatre</strong>

30Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Christmas Carol – Hull Truck Theatre

The "snow" that fell at the end of Hull Truck Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol, on Tuesday evening, was the icing on a quite unusual theatrical cake. There can't be anyone alive today who doesn't know Charles Dickens' story of the miserly Scrooge and his visitations from three spirits which leads to him changing his greedy ways. Well, in a rather novel move, British Sign Language (BSL) runs throughout this production, having two deaf actors in lead roles. Hull-born Adam Bassett (Bob Cratchit) and Emma Prendergast (Mrs Cratchit) used sign language to communicate, as did the rest of the cast, who must be congratulated on their BSL skills. Also, to be congratulated are the set and costume designers who created the perfect atmosphere of wealth, hardship, fun, fear and sadn...

<strong>Men are Dogs – Cheadle Players</strong>

30Nov

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Men are Dogs – Cheadle Players

Dr Cecelia Monahan is a New York relationship therapist with several relationship issues of her own. Her support group for divorced and single women provides the backdrop for much of the action in this 2003 play by Joe Simonelli, here being performed in the UK for the first time. The play provides an interesting – if slightly stereotyped – look at relationships of various types, and the ensemble cast perform it well. They get plenty of laughs, especially as the pace really picks up in Act 2. While I did find myself questioning – in 2022 – the need for a play that seems to emphasise that a woman’s happiness can only be found in a relationship, and specifically in a relationship with a man, I did enjoy the production. This has once again proven that the Cheadle Players Dramatic Society is...

<strong>The Commitments – Edinburgh Playhouse</strong>

29Nov

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Commitments – Edinburgh Playhouse

Two months in to a nine-month tour of the UK, The Commitments lands in Edinburgh Playhouse. The lines are delivered crisply, the music is tight, and the vocals are on point, and from the look of the almost capacity audience, dancing, singing and whooping by the finale, all is well, or is it? It is hard for this not to be a hit, based on Roddy Doyle’s 1987 book set in Dublin and the subsequent 1991 BAFTA Award-winning film classic. The hit ingredients keep coming in the form of over 20 soul classics performed live on stage by a group of committed and talented actor / musicians. If you think there is a but coming, you would be right. Sometimes all of the right ingredients is just not enough, which is …well, disappointing. The story follows James Killeen as Jimmy Rabbitte, a young worki...

<strong>The Mousetrap – Opera House, Manchester</strong>

29Nov

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Mousetrap – Opera House, Manchester

At the conclusion of every performance of Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap, the murderer steps forward and asks the audience to 'keep the secret of whodunnit locked in your heart', an appeal that has proved remarkably resilient given that this tour marks its 70th anniversary and it remains the longest continuously running show of any kind in the world. With nearly 29,000 performances since its premiere in 1952 you could forgive audiences if they tired of it, but a packed opening night in the vast Manchester Opera House, is testament to its enduring popularity. Confession time, as a critic who has been attending theatre for well over 40 years, I have never seen 'The Mousetrap', the rodent has eluded me all these years and whilst it will never be on my theatrical bucket list, the completi...

<strong>Cinderella – Theatre Royal, Stratford East</strong>

27Nov

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Cinderella – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

The festive family shows at Stratford East have been happening for 130 years! It opened in 1884. Nine times performed, Cinderella returns to the stage but with many a twist and twirl. This year's production was a fitting tribute to Jo Melville, known popularly for her role in Eastenders but a mentor for so many in the community with her infectious enthusiasm for the Arts. For the third year in a row, the Stratford East is recording and taking theatre into hospitals to the community who could use a laugh. The play sets Cinderella near the pyramids! With exceptional puppetry skills, Kathryn Bond has you hooked with her all-knowing Sphinx cat. All the talented performers brought new avatars of familiar old characters to life. Gigi Zahir served Cleopatra with Zesty and feisty razzmatazz. Pa...

<strong>Jack and the Beanstalk – Lyric Hammersmith Theatre</strong>

27Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Jack and the Beanstalk – Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

Widely acknowledged as a staple part of the festive celebrations, pantomime has a long theatrical history in the UK, performed up and down the country during Christmas and New Year, with the expected, cookie cutter format, with singing, dancing, cross-dressing and slapstick humour, along with a healthy dose of topical references and audience participation. It’s not often you would describe a pantomime as quality theatrical production, they are usually lots of fun, something for the kids to enjoy, and a mixed bag of talent, but the creative team at the Lyric Hammersmith has raised the bar this year with this year's production, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, written by Jude Christian and Sonia Jalaly, and directed by Nicholai La Barrie. The team has kept all of the essential pantomime elements bu...