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Heathers the Musical – Edinburgh Playhouse

8Dec

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Heathers the Musical – Edinburgh Playhouse

A toe tapping dark comedy, Heathers will have you laughing out loud at subjects in which you should really keep a straight face. Based on the cult classic 80s movie Heathers (Starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder), Heathers the musical draws a very fine line between satire and serious subjects such as rape, suicide and of course murder, fortunately it does so very well indeed. Veronica Sawyer (Rebecca Wickes) is a student trying to survive life in high school, who just happens to have a talent for forging people’s writing. When this talent gets her noticed by the popular girls/ the Heathers (Maddison Firth, Merryl Ansah and Lizzy Parker) she finds herself entangled in a life of popularity, sex and one mysterious new boy: Jason Dean (Simon Gordon). One thing leads to anothe...

8Dec

By Nicky LambertNo Comments

REVIEWS

Cinderella – UK Cinemas

In 2020, in response to the closure of theatres due to the pandemic, Peter Duncan (former Blue Peter presenter and legendary pantomime Dame) decided to produce Jack & The Beanstalk in his own garden to be streamed online as Christmas entertainment for families. It was so popular that it achieved cinema release. This year he has followed it up with “Cinderella” and I have to say, it surpassed my expectations. The pantomime is filmed in a house (Hardup Mansion), garden and surrounding woodland and also on location at a lavish stately home type property. It took a little getting used to at first as an outdoor pantomime is unusual, plus it was filmed in the summer, but I soon got used to that and enjoyed the different settings and imaginative way it was staged. The house was a per...

7Dec

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Eric and Ern – The Lowry

Anytime there is a poll on the public’s favourite comedy act, or a look back at the TV of yesteryear, one double act will feature, without fail – Morecambe and Wise. Icons of their era, they’ve left a legacy of classic comedy that is adored to this day. So, whilst modern-day comedians may attempt to push boundaries with their material, it’s a brave soul that attempts to re-visit the most-loved sketches of these titans of British comedy. Ian Ashpitel (as Ernie) and Jonty Stephens (as Eric) are those souls, having developed tonight’s variety show from their stage play of the duo’s enduring partnership. But it is quickly obvious that even the most die-hard fans will be breathing a big sigh of relief that the material is in very safe, and very funny hands. Soaking the audience with a ...

The Rocky Horror Show – Blackpool Winter Gardens

7Dec

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

The Rocky Horror Show – Blackpool Winter Gardens

The theatre is packed full of eager visitors in corsets and gold hats, ready for the madness to ensue. The Rocky Horror Show has its fanbase hooked, and now, I finally understand why. The cult-classic hit takes hints of sci-fi, gothic horror and rock n' roll to create an utterly fantastical show. With such a reputation, the stage production has a lot to live up to. An all-American couple stumble upon a castle inhabited by a multitude of weird and wild characters. Their innocence is lost as they succumb to the allure of the sensual scientist, Frank N Furter, and the characters sing and dance their way through a naughty, frivolous romp. In this production, the high heels of Frank N Furter are filled by Stephen Webb (Jersey Boys), who struts onto the stage with sass and a smirk. Webb...

7Dec

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Winter Wonderland – Event City

As we count down to Christmas and the Big day; it’s the season for festive fun and feeling merry - and a recent trip to Silcock’s Winter Wonderland did all this and more, delivering the ultimate family festive outing! The UK’s largest indoor Christmas Theme Park has returned to Event City near the Trafford Centre and its bigger and better than ever! It’s jam packed with funfair rides, circus shows, Panto shows, ice Princess performances and has over 50 rides and attractions on site all included in the ticket price. Walking in; you are immediately transported to a Winter Wonderland with Christmas Trees and artificial snow falling from the roof; giving you the feeling that you’re starting in your very own Christmas movie! The Kids (and ‘Kids at Heart’) really loved the family rid...

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Lyric Theatre

7Dec

By Zoё MeeresNo Comments

London

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Lyric Theatre

To say that I went into Showstopper! not knowing what to expect is an understatement. I’m sure most people have gone to the theatre with minimal detail on what they’re about to see, but in the case of Showstopper! even the cast has no idea how the performance is going to unfold. This is because the entire production is completely improvised; from the musical numbers to the storyline and script, the cast and musicians are completely winging it, taking some direction from the audience. Audience participation is fast paced, led last night by Sean McCann who opens by taking suggestions for the location, inspiration and title of the show from the audience, which we voted on in the time-honoured tradition of applause and foot stamping. Establishing that “Ice-Olated” was to be set in a remote ...

The Play What I Wrote – The Rep, Birmingham

7Dec

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

The Play What I Wrote – The Rep, Birmingham

This homage to comedy geniuses Morecambe and Wise comes to Birmingham for the festive season, what better place to stage the 20th anniversary revival production. If you are expecting Eric and Ernie look-a-likes or the story of their lives you will need to think again. Instead, what you get is like a compilation of hits and the essence of the humour that so may people loved. Thom and Dennis are a comedy double act, but Thom has decided he has had enough of not being funny one so turns his hand to play writing. In contrast, Dennis thinks their future together can be saved if they perform a Morecambe & Wise show. What follows is Dennis using every method he can think of to persuade his friend to be his straight man again. There are laughs a plenty from the jokes to facial express...

Red Riding Hood – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

6Dec

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Red Riding Hood – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

Theatre Royal Stratford East returns with its 6th rendition of ‘Red Riding Hood’ as its winter pantomime in its 130+ years of operation. Reimagining a classical children’s tale for contemporary audiences, young and old, is never an easy task. However, the team led by Robert Shaw Cameron’s direction and Carl Miller’s writing succeeds in doing precisely that – this adaptation brings climate change, self-expression and many more important themes to the fore without letting go of the story’s inherently magical and whimsical charm that’s enthralled audiences around the world. With stellar performances by its cast, complemented by an eclectic musical arrangement by Robert Hyman who returns for his 23rd year at Stratford East, as well as a vibrant design by Jean Chan, this performance simply take...

6Dec

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Beauty and the Beast – Floral Pavillion

The festive season has started in New Brighton with the opening of Beauty and the Beast. Now when I review a show usually review it alone, but this seemed like too good of a chance to share the experience so I took along my god son because I could also get a child’s point of view on what the show was like. More on his thoughts later but first the story. It was set in the lovely French town of Camembert. Where Fairy Bon Bon played by (Melanie Walters from Gavin & Stacey). Told us the story of the Beast’s (Shaun Dalton) unfortunate event that had kept him hidden away in a dark castle in the woods. Within minutes of the first note being plucked we were mesmerised by the lights and magic beginning to unfold. We then met the wonderful Belle (Milkshakes Olivia Birchenough). Where she woul...

6Dec

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

The Drunks – Hope Street Theatre

Off the Ground Theatre’s The Drunks, directed by Dan Meigh, is a darkly comic political satire, exploring themes of incompetent politicians, mental health issues and the impact that self-interested motives can have on your relationships with the people around you. Utilising surreal comedy and loud, brash personalities, this story of a small Russian town mirrors the wider world overrun with fake news, bumbling politicians and forgetting your worries in a heavy and mindless binge drinking session. The play opens with the ensemble cast entering in monochrome costumes and drinking greedily from silver hip flasks. The uniform effect of the costumes is dampened slightly by a pair of oxblood shoes worn by one of the actors as black shoes for all cast members would have emphasised the fixed fat...