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New space, new writing and new beginnings for 53two as they lay out plans to take them to 2023

19Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

New space, new writing and new beginnings for 53two as they lay out plans to take them to 2023

53two launch first ever season in their new home with world premieres of new writing, the return of JB Shorts and opportunities for Greater Manchester talent to share their work as a part of several new platforms supporting multi-discipline creatives. 53two, only just over a year old in their new venue, are making moves to change the face of independent Manchester Theatre with a line-up of new writing and events that will champion their ethos of ensuring theatre and the arts are for everyone. For creatives and audiences alike, access is key. In September, the space affectionately known as ‘the arches’ will open its newly expanded 150-seater venue with brand new writing from Joshua Chandos. The one act, two hander will be brought to life by the venue’s Creative Director, Simon Naylor ...

The Play That Goes Wrong – Hull New Theatre

19Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Play That Goes Wrong – Hull New Theatre

The last time I saw The Play That Goes Wrong, presented by the Cornley Drama Society, Winston the dog (an integral prop in the production) had done a runner then, too. It was the same on Monday evening at the Hull New Theatre, meaning Trevor, the society’s lighting and sound operator (Gabriel Paul), had to ask for our help in finding, or even replacing, the errant mutt. The stage setting for the society’s production of Murder At Haversham Manor was not quite ready at “curtain up”, so chaos ensued immediately, with a hapless audience member (or was he a stooge?) having to help out. The setting is a 1920s manor house, home to Charles Haversham (Steven Rostance), on the occasion of his engagement to Florence Colleymore (Aisha Numah). Unfortunately, Charles is discovered dead as a ...

The Countdown Is On To Deva Fest’s Big Weekend

19Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

NEWS

The Countdown Is On To Deva Fest’s Big Weekend

With just weeks to go until Deva Fest 2022, excitement is building for what is set to be the unmissable event of the summer. The three-day music, food and lifestyle extravaganza comes to Chester Lakes from 12th-14th August and final preparations are underway to make the annual event the best one yet. Cheshire’s premier family festival includes a host of activities and attractions which are all included within its entrance price - including marvellous mermaids, pirates and parades, funfair rides, fancy dress competitions and a fantastic line-up of household names on the main music stage. They include headliners Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Heather Small, singer-songwriter and pop-rap princess Betty Boo, and brilliant bands Scouting for Girls and Dodgy. Mermaid Cove is a new attractio...

19Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

ArtsGroupie to play brand new Shakespeare North Playhouse

Local Northern heritage and theatre CIC, Artsgroupie play the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Gardens July 23rd and 24th at the new Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot. “We are ecstatic to see two of our productions come alive in this exciting new theatre space. The Liver Bird and Kitty: Queen of the Washhouse celebrate two Iconic Northern favourites. Both shows champion Northern history and community spirit. Audiences are encouraged to embrace their imaginations and enjoy the classic oral tradition of storytelling.” John Maguire, Creative Director THE LIVER BIRD – a fun interactive performance for all the family What if the Liver Birds really did exist? Charlie J has heard all about Liverpool’s famous Birds from his Grandma’s stories but are they real? Has anybody seen one fly? When th...

Twelfth Night – Old Fruit Jar Productions at Royal Court Studio, Liverpool

18Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

NEWS

Twelfth Night – Old Fruit Jar Productions at Royal Court Studio, Liverpool

Twelfth Night – Old Fruit Jar Productions at Royal Court Studio, Liverpool Old Fruit Jar Productions have well and truly ripened with their upcoming production of Twelfth Night at Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio this August, and it was a delight to catch up with director Alex Carr and cast members to discover what they have in store. Shakespeare is often perceived as off-putting, mainly because of how poorly it is taught in schools, and something that people look forward to escaping from but in the right hands, one can delight at the continued relevance of work from over four hundred years ago and its ironic examination of the human character: plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose… OFJP have embraced the challenge and chosen to reset the play, one of Shakespeare’s more famous co...

18Jul

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Make Up – The Kings Arms, Salford

What do you do if your life in drag has become just that – a drag? Written and directed by Andy Moseley and performed by Moj Taylor, Make Up is a snapshot of the somewhat world-weary mind of drag performer Lady Christina, behind who hides the much more mundane Chris. As Chris catches sight of his father in his reflection in the mirror as he’s taking off his make up for what may be the last time, we listen in on his musings on the impact of his dad’s rejection of him for being gay, and how his alter ego allows him to both escape the tedium of reality, whilst secretly reconnecting with his mother. This one-hour show is an engaging exploration of identity with some lovely snippets that emerge from Chris/Christina’s monologue. It certainly feels timely as he declares ‘tolerance is goi...

Curfew/Love in the Time of Apartheid – Unity Theatre

18Jul

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

Curfew/Love in the Time of Apartheid – Unity Theatre

Curfew is a dance performance by the El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe and Hawiyya Dance Company under the artistic direction of Sharaf DarZaid, which looks at the role of media and technology in today’s world and its effect on all of us as members of society. It was performed with Love in the Time of Apartheid, a solo choreographed and performed by Sharaf DarZaid which looks at what happens when love is divided by duty and internal conflict. Heavy use of haze disorientates the audience before the dancers even enter the stage. Clever use of lighting means the performers of Curfew apparently appear out of nowhere stretching languidly out of feline poses, a perfect symbol of slowly awakening but being immediately ready for the tension and conflict which quickly follows. The performanc...

18Jul

By Lucy McGuireNo Comments

Scotland

Radio Ghost – An Interactive Experience

A team of covert undercover hunters infiltrate a Glasgow mall in hopes of uncovering the hidden ghosts that haunt the area. Instead, what they discover bring to light are harsh truths that hide in sight and are all too easily ignored and forgotten. Welcome to Radio Ghost. An interactive story that sees you and two other teammates join the team as three new hunters. You are tasked with finding the ghost stories of days past. Set in an everyday shopping centre with an energetic 80’s soundtrack, feel fully immersed in the hunting experience. Once the mission is underway, it is soon discovered that the ghosts and the stories they have to tell are more frightening than previously thought. Looking back at the horrors of humanity, the ghosts of previous hunters tell tales of the exploita...

Off the Ground Theatre – Love’s Labour’s Lost

16Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

NEWS

Off the Ground Theatre – Love’s Labour’s Lost

It may have been 2 long years coming, having been postponed due to Covid-19, but Off the Ground Theatre are overjoyed to finally be able to bring their production of Love’s Labour’s Lost to audiences across the north west of England and Wales this summer. This summer will also see OTG return to Ireland for the first time since the summer of 2019, making this production all the more exciting. Shakespeare’s most poetic play, this is a comedy all about love in its many forms, and what hapless, beautiful young people will do to find it. Ferdinand, King of the idyllic Navarre region of Spain, has sworn a vow with his three closest friends, and most trusted advisers, to avoid the company of women, too fast and to sleep just three hours a day for three years, so they can devote themselves f...

Romeo and Juliet – Chester Grosvenor Park Outdoor Theatre

16Jul

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Romeo and Juliet – Chester Grosvenor Park Outdoor Theatre

It’s not often that you feel transported to Italy in a park in Chester, but this year’s repertory theatre company has done just that with its new production of Romeo and Juliet. This is arguably Shakespeare’s most famous play: the story of two young lovers from different families, who meet by chance and are torn apart by family history and circumstance. The play asks us to consider whether love can overcome division, or whether forbidden love in a divided society is simply doomed. This new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is set – the programme tells us – in the 1950s, albeit with the original text, and I was very interested to see how that would be incorporated into the production. However, I suspect because of the minimal set and the nature of the outdoor space, there was little other t...