Latest Articles - Page 451 of 645

24Jun

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dreamgirls – Leeds Grand Theatre

The tough world of showbiz has always been fertile ground for musical theatre and Dreamgirls puts the spotlight on the ruthless music industry. It’s a story as long as recorded music has been around when three young black women form a vocal harmony group performing in 1960s Detroit, and thanks to a ruthless manager find success before their friendship implodes as the money rolls in. If that sounds familiar it might be based on a certain girl group who reigned supreme in the 60s as the sound of young America. Effie White has the biggest voice and attitude in The Dreams, but shy bandmate Deena has the right image that hard charging former mechanic turned manager Curtis Taylor Jr sees has the biggest potential to cross over from soul to pop. He forces the vulnerable Effie out as t...

23Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

North West End UK needs YOU!

North West End UK was created in 2015 primarily based in the Greater Manchester area before quickly expanding to cover Merseyside and parts of Yorkshire. Fast forward to today and we now cover many more locations including Glasgow, London and Birmingham, with our Edinburgh team currently preparing for our busiest Fringe season ever. We review shows from the London Palladium in the heart of the West End to church halls, both professional and amateur. You can visit us at www.northwestend.com Despite our continued success demand is outstripping our ability to provide reviews to all the performances we are invited to and need to recruit more to our regional teams. To join our volunteer team, you do not need to have had previous experience, but we will ask you to provide us with an ‘audit...

In Rehearsals With The Tina Turner Musical

22Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

In Rehearsals With The Tina Turner Musical

The hit production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL has released rehearsal images for the new Company. From 29th June 2022 Aisha Jawando and new cast member Elesha Paul Moses will share the role of Tina, with Caleb Roberts joining to play Ike. The critically acclaimed production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL continues at the Aldwych Theatre and is currently booking to 18th December 2022. Paula Kay joins to play Tina’s mother Zelma, Charis Alexandra joins as Tina’s sister Alline Bullock, George Jennings joins as Tina’s Manager Roger Davies, Irene Myrtle Forrester continues as Tina’s Grandmother, previous ensemble member Kelly Hampson will now play Ike and Tina’s manager Rhonda Graam, Gregory Haney will now play Tina’s father Richard Bullock, Cordell Mosteller joins as Tina’s first...

Louis Gaunt joins the cast of Mary Poppins

22Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Louis Gaunt joins the cast of Mary Poppins

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh are delighted to announce that tonight (22nd June 2022) Louis Gaunt joins the cast of Mary Poppins to play the iconic role of Bert, replacing Charlie Stemp whilst he performs as Bobby in the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Crazy for You this summer. Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the original Walt Disney film, Mary Poppins continues to play at the Prince Edward Theatre and is now on sale to 18th December 2022. Louis Gaunt made his professional stage debut at Grange Park Opera in Oklahoma! for which he won The Stage Debut Awards in 2018. His other theatre credits include Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse), Kiss Me, Kate (Sheffield Crucible Theatre), Standing at the Sky's Edge (Sheffield Crucible Theatre), The Happy Prince (T...

Manchester Collective announces 2022/23 season

22Jun

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

NEWS

Manchester Collective announces 2022/23 season

In their sixth year, Manchester Collective continue to cement their reputation as trailblazers at the forefront of new classical music programming, with a 22/23 season that presents cutting-edge performances that break down barriers and demystify the art form. The season showcases a return to the Collective’s roots, with a programme reflecting their innovative approach to the classical repertoire and commitment to shining a spotlight on radical artistic voices from the past and present. Six groundbreaking projects will tour to 11 cities across the UK, taking audiences on a thrilling sonic journey – from the genre-busting sound of Oliver Leith to an in-depth exploration of Thomas Adès’ Arcadiana, and from a new work for electronics and string quartet by Moor Mother to George Crumb’s mind...

22Jun

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Singin’ in the Rain – Liverpool Empire

Don’t you know everyone wants to laugh? The stage production of what is arguably one of Gene Kelly’s most famous films, Singin’ in the Rain, is once again making its way around the UK once more and is continuing to entertain audiences, just as it did in the 1950s. With such a famous score, including the titular track, ‘Good Morning’, ‘Moses Supposes’ and ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’, to name but a few, the musical really does make the film come to life right in front of your eyes. In 1927, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are at the height of their fame as silent movie stars. Their latest movie is a massive smash hit, and they are about to start working on the next film, when news reaches them, about Warner Brothers’ next film – a talking picture. What can they do to maintain their stardom and what ...

Iconic musical Singin’ in the Rain returns to the Alhambra Theatre

21Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Iconic musical Singin’ in the Rain returns to the Alhambra Theatre

A smash hit in Chichester, in the West End and most recently Sadler’s Wells, Michael Harrison and Jonathan Church present Chichester Festival Theatre and Stage Entertainment’s production of Singin’ in the Rain. Leading this glorious production are Sam Lips as Don Lockwood (Broadway and US credits include CATS, Chicago, West, Side Story, On the Town and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. UK credits include Strictly Ballroom); Charlotte Gooch (Strictly Ballroom and Top Hat in the West End, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage, first UK Tour and West End) as aspiring actress Kathy Selden; Ross McLaren (Sleepless, Troubadour Theatre; BIG The Musical and White Christmas at the Dominion Theatre) as Don’s slapstick sidekick Cosmo Brown and Jenny Gayner (The Girls, Chicago and Spamalot in t...

Calendar Girls – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

21Jun

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Calendar Girls – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

The traditional view of that redoubtable British institution, The Women’s Institute (or WI to its friends), is one of middle-class ladies of a certain age baking and knitting in a cosy village environment, far from the struggles of the real world. Subverting this stereotype, a branch from Yorkshire decided to produce an ‘Alternative WI Calendar’ to raise money for a new sofa in the wait room of a local hospital, following the cancer diagnosis of a friend. The twist was that all the ladies appeared in various states of undress whilst posing in a variety of mundane activities. The idea was a runaway success, eventually raising over £3,000,000 for Leukaemia Research and subsequently spawning a successful play, film and this stage musical in 2015. Penned by Tim Firth (Kinky Boots, Neville’s...

19Jun

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

That Is Not Who I Am – Royal Court

"Just cos it's in your imagination doesn't mean it's not real." Dave Davidson's first (and possibly last) play is a conceit, wrapped in an enigma, inside just about every conspiracy theory on social media. Set in the style of those ever-popular true crime drama documentaries, the playwright acts as narrator, but he/she is also hiding in plain sight. Undercover due to alleged Government surveillance, writer Lucy Kirkwood (Chimerica, Mosquitoes) gives actor Priyana Burford the job of setting the scene and giving voice to the various possibilities of what actually happened. It's the account of Noah and Celeste Quilter, who meet on a blind date, banter, lie to each other, get married, have a much-wanted baby and then fall down the rabbit-hole of conspiracy theories, all while in the grip of...

18Jun

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Darkie Armo Girl – Finborough Theatre

Karine Bedrossian stuns in her fast-paced one-woman play. Her rollercoaster of a journey begins as a sprightly eight-year-old with a passion for dance who struggles with a lack of belonging and isolation due to her Armenian heritage. As she grows up and as her unhealed wounds take hold, she relentlessly searches for some kind of peace or fulfilment amongst chaos. Bedrossian’s writing is excellent with witty dialogue, dark humour, and a strong narrative thread. It is almost like reading a diary, with its intimacy and unabashed truthfulness. The events are retold in an unanticipated and sporadic way, much like Karine’s buzzing character which is exciting and dizzying to watch. She is emotionally raw and engaging without any indulgence or pretence. There is an honesty and concentration ...