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A Strange Tale to be told at Shakespeare North Playhouse

27Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

A Strange Tale to be told at Shakespeare North Playhouse

Imaginarium Theatre is thrilled to be staging Strange Tale; the second full length play in the opening season of the Cockpit Stage at Shakespeare North Playhouse this 2nd – 5th November. Drawing on factual historical research, with lashings of artistic license, and an abundance of fun, this zany and fabulously funny new play from Rob Brannen invents an exciting new mythos of Prescot and its historic connection to the Bard. Imaginarium Theatre present this new comic play that explores Shakespeare’s links to Prescot through a time-travelling adventure that blows apart the myths, the man and the missing years. Will Shakespeare is in Prescot, but who knows why or how. His Tudor days seem far away from the here and now. He needs the help of locals, as time is running out – his memo...

27Oct

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Dreamgirls – Winter Gardens, Blackpool

Direct from the West End, the latest adaptation of the multi-award-winning Dreamgirls really did transport the audience into a dream-like state – a dream filled with soul, sass, a whole lot of sequins, and some truly spine-tingling singing. The story follows three soulful songstresses, The Dreams, who ride the wave of the turbulent music industry in the 1960s, as they experience the ups and downs of sex, love, fame, and the ruthlessness of the industry they all love. The trio (Effie, Lorrell and Deena) each negotiate through their own trials and tribulations, which makes for interesting parallel storytelling. Many will be familiar with the story from the 2006 film adaptation of the same name, starring Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson. Although strenuously denied by the original creator...

Calendar Girls The Musical – Brindley Theatre

27Oct

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Calendar Girls The Musical – Brindley Theatre

Well, we have all probably seen the film – a bunch of middle – aged, bored housewives from a remote Yorkshire village, who, to raise money, decide to do a saucy calendar of them all naked. The film had such stars as Julie Walters and Helen Mirren and was a phenomenal success with all the cast being remembered for their bravery on the big screen. So, for the award-winning amateur dramatic group - D & S Productions – this was an even more courageous choice of show to attempt, in front of a live local audience. But attempt it they did, led by their chair and director/producer Donna Dale and Charlotte Allmand (choreographer), Craig Price (musical director) and Steve Dale (stage manager). To even dream of doing this was ambitious but to bring this challenging concept alive on stage was ...

26Oct

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Blood Brothers – Liverpool Empire

Did you ever the story of the Johnstone twins? And if not, why not? Willy Russell’s Blood Brother’s made a triumphant return to the Liverpool Empire last night and there is nothing better than seeing a musical that ‘belongs’ to a city, in said city. The atmosphere was electric, the cast were excited, and the combination made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Blood Brother’s tells the story of Mrs. Johnstone, who has found out she’s pregnant again, with the threat of Social Services taking some of her children, hanging over her head. She has managed to find herself a job, cleaning the Lyons’ house, when she discovers, she is expecting twins. Luckily, Mrs. Lyons, who has had trouble conceiving, comes up with a plan – she’ll take one of the twins, so Social Services doesn’t. Whilst li...

South Pacific – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

26Oct

By Dylan MooneyNo Comments

Scotland

South Pacific – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Chichester Festival Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of South Pacific has found a temporary home in Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre during its 2022 tour. Written by the great Rodgers and Hammerstein and directed by Chichester’s artistic director, Daniel Evans, this production keeps the classic charm of the golden age while also looking visually stunning. South Pacific, as the name suggests, is set on a South Pacific island during the Second World War, showing the struggles of the army and marines as well as the inhabitants of the island. Arguably the strongest of performers is Julian Ovenden, who plays the role of Emile de Becque, the show’s leading man. Ovenden commands the audience’s attention whenever he is on stage, allowing his resonant voice to hit every part of the auditori...

Bugsy Malone: The Musical – Hull New Theatre

26Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Bugsy Malone: The Musical – Hull New Theatre

On Tuesday evening a packed Hull New Theatre sat facing quite a drab stage setting as they waited for “curtain up” for Bugsy Malone: The Musical. Well, drab soon turned to fab as the fantastic setting throughout turned out to be one of the best I’ve seen in any show. The nightclub tables, complete with lit lamps, descending from above, tablecloths billowing out, was just one unforgettable scene. All credit must go to stage designer Jon Bausor, who was also responsible for the amazing costumes throughout. The story, set in 1920s New York, centres around rival gangster bosses, club owner Fat Sam and the smartly dressed Dandy Dan, two small-time “hoods” for whom nothing seems to go right - often with hilarious consequences. Exciting events, often to a backdrop of the rat-a-tat-tat of...

26Oct

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

The Osmonds – The Alexandra, Birmingham

For those in their youth consumed by the 70’s legends the Osmonds last night’s show must have been a heart-warming skip down memory, for those of us who were not it was all a little bewildering. The audience was sharply divided into three camps - whooping, life-long fans, long suffering husbands and bewildered critics. The latter being by far the smaller group. This clearly does what it says on the front cloth. It is the story of the Osmonds from their early days to pretty much now and, had their lives had more dramatic turns, perhaps the story could have been more engaging, but it’s difficult to relate to these successful characters whose only anguish seems to be the dropping off of their TV rating. A later scene of bankruptcy has real bite and dramatic content but arrives for too late in...

26Oct

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Crocodile Rock – Traverse Theatre

Andy McGregor’s Crocodile Rock evokes Elton John and his sexuality through the title, before the actual landmark on Milport in the West of Scotland is overtly referenced. So, the audience is primed to expect a tale with a gay man at the centre. Sexual desire is an old story: as old as time itself. We are not all heterosexual. Some of us don’t fit in. Difference can seem threating. If you stand outside the norm, life can be cruel and folk hard-hearted. Yet, Stephen’s story has a lively freshness that is as unique as Scotland. You can tell that Andy McGregor loves creating stories for wee folk as much as for adults. The sense of fun and his simple rhyming songs appeal to the child in all of us. On this tiny island of Milport, a lost and lonely boy finds his alter ego and his sense of p...

First look at new West End cast of Mamma Mia!

25Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

First look at new West End cast of Mamma Mia!

Producer Judy Craymer is delighted to announce the new cast of the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! from Monday 10th October 2022 and the extension of its booking period to Saturday 30th September 2023 at London’s Novello Theatre, with ticket prices frozen and now on sale. The London cast will continue to star Mazz Murray as Donna, Josie Benson as Tanya, Gemma Goggin as Rosie and Stephen Beckett as Bill. They will be joined on Monday 10th October by Norman Bowman (Marius in Les Misérables, Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls and Pat Denning in 42nd Street in the West End) as Sam, Christopher Dickins (Witness for the Prosecution, Oklahoma! at Chichester Festival Theatre) as Harry, Meg Hateley (making her West End debut) as Sophie, Miles Henderson (making his West End debut) as Sky, Nata...

The Sound of Music – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

25Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Sound of Music – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse opened the doors for their first musical of season 2022-2023 with the classic musical Sound of Music with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Artistic Director Joseph Meighan and Musical Director Neil Bennett are no strangers to working together, this fabulous duo have produced and created some magnificent productions in their time both at the Garrick Playhouse and at Pendleton College performing arts. I have been fortunate enough to watch numerous of Meighan’s productions over the years and have often quoted that he has the Midas touch because everything he touches turns into a success, and his 2022 The Sound of Music is no exception. This old classic that marks its 80th anniversar...