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Derby Theatre is back with a show all about community

21Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

Derby Theatre is back with a show all about community

Like many spaces Derby Theatre is dipping its toe back into live shows with a socially distanced performance bringing together voices in the local community and professional performers. Their Artistic Director and CEO Sarah Brigham says they could have just thrown on a murder mystery one hander for their return, but instead they have gone for something deeper to reopen their stage with a community devised event billed as Derby Rises on Sunday 27th September. “When we were thinking about reopening the theatre we were all expecting this big grand opening, standing ovations, massive shows and it’s become clear that’s not going to happen,” observes Sarah in the midst of pulling the show together and deep cleaning the venue. “We felt the most important thing was that the first thing on...

21Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Swan Song – Liverpool Theatre Festival

Award-winning writer Jonathan Harvey’s clever monologue was first performed at the Edinburgh Festival and Hampstead Theatre in 1997. Reimagined by Harvey for the Liverpool Theatre Festival, and under the direction of BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw, it stars Andrew Lancel as English teacher Dave Titswell in a world that is changing both inside and outside of his treasured classroom. Delivered over five segued acts, we humorously contemplate Dave’s lessons in life, garnered from his twenty five years in the teaching profession, as he is faced with the conundrum of whether he has now reached the end of the line or if a school trip to the Lakes will change things for the better. With liberal doses of good humour throughout, what we discover on the way as we navigate his overzealou...

Tonight at the London Coliseum: Sharon D Clarke

20Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Tonight at the London Coliseum: Sharon D Clarke

When you think of West End stalwarts, it’s safe to say that Sharon D Clarke would appear on a lot of people’s lists. Having starred in musicals such as We Will Rock You, Ghost, Hairspray, Caroline or Change and Once on this Island, it’s safe to say that at some point or another at lot of us have enjoyed at least one of her powerhouse performances. More recently she performed a stunning rendition of ‘At Last’ for the BBC’s VE Day celebration. Clarke really thought out the set list of songs for this concert, some to help us reflect on the times we’re currently enduring and other to cheer us up and make us forget – but each one had her take on it. It was a perfect balance, especially with the tales she would regale us with. From being mistaken as Whoopi Goldberg, to holidays and anec...

19Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NWE UK Live

Home Schooling 3 – Return of the Term

She's back! Our very own Yazmin takes on the new school term in a way only she can! Written by Mark Davoren Performed by Yazmin Walker Produced and Directed by Paul Downham Visit our North West End UK Live section for more monologues written, performed and produced entirely in house. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkCWatCrBQA

Halifax’s Square Chapel reopens for business

19Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Halifax’s Square Chapel reopens for business

In a rare bit of good news for the nation’s cultural life Halifax’s Square Chapel Arts Centre is back in business after going into administration in March 2020. Non-profit organisation Arts At The Mill CIC, with the support of Arts Council England and Calderdale Council, are the new owners of the recently refurbished town centre venue next to the historic Piece Hall. Arts At The Mill is the umbrella organisation for Wigan’s The Old Courts, Wigan Pier and The Royal Court Theatre who are deeply rooted in creating, producing and programming work with the community. The new team will be headed up by four experienced directors – Managing Director Dave Jenkins, Artistic Director Jonny Davenport, Director of Operations Michelle Mayor and Rebecca Davenport as Sales and Marketing Dir...

19Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

The Boss of it All – Soho Theatre

New Perspectives’ The Boss of it All, adapted from the Lars Von Trier film of the same name by director, Jack McNamara, has been especially tailored to show office life in lockdown, with all the fun of working from home and life on furlough. Mr Ravn (Ross Armstrong) is negotiating the future of the IT company he works for with Finnur (Le Gateau Chocolat), a successful Icelandic businessperson. Unfortunately, the company’s boss, Svenya, is an absent American who only communicates with him via email. So he hires struggling actor, Kristina (Josie Lawrence) to perform as the boss during negotiations. Unfortunately, his plan to have this as a one-off performance goes wrong, and Kristina soon finds herself embroiled in office politics and facing the consequences of all the unpopular decisions...

Judy and Liza – Liverpool Theatre Festival

19Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Judy and Liza – Liverpool Theatre Festival

The glamour and glitz of Vaudeville brought joy in a derelict church in Liverpool on an Autumn evening. Judy and Liza is a musical homage and biopic of these giants of the big screen and stage Judy Garland, played by Helen Sheals (Mrs Wigan from Downton Abbey) and Liza Minnelli played by Emma Dears (West End singer/actress who also created the show). The show explores through songs, memories and anecdotes, the talents and turbulence of this mother and daughter relationship as they leaf through the family photo album. There is such a richness of songs between the two that the difficulty was which numbers to leave out. It starts with Garland’s childhood. She was born the youngest of three daughters to Frank and Ethel Gumm, who had their own movie theatre and were keen to introduce t...

Music of The Night – Liverpool Theatre Festival

18Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Music of The Night – Liverpool Theatre Festival

Last night I was back again to the Liverpool theatre festival at St Luke’s Church for another show entitled Music of the Night. A show full of some of the greatest musical numbers of all time. The show was sung by to performers Roy Locke who has starred in Phantom of the Opera in Australia and Germany. Joining him was Olivia Brereton who was in the recent Les Misérables tour and has played Christine in Phantom on the West End. From the off the singing was out of this world and in a cloudless night sky it was the perfect setting for this show. We learned about their careers and why they choose the songs. However, I found the set up of the show frustrating. They played music before the show to set the mood but half of the songs they played we heard again with them singing. I’m all ...

16Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

driveINSIDE postpones shows until 2021

“It is with huge disappointment that, following the recommendation of Manchester Council’s Specialist Environmental Team, we have had to to postpone our October programme of shows in the city until March 2021. “The R rate in Greater Manchester continues to be of serious concern and, although we were complimented on our COVID compliance, we must act in a supportive and responsible manner. “We know that this will be as disappointing for show producers, performers and the theatre loving public as it is for us, but we must assume that over the next few months the Government will be able to give Local Councils the level of support that has been lacking. “The good news is that we are now assembling a variety of fantastic shows ready to bring to Manchester in the Spring and we ...

16Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Royal Ballet gets Doncaster Dancing

This summer The Royal Ballet, in partnership with Cast and Doncaster Council, set themselves a mission to get Doncaster Dancing. The special project, a first for The Royal Ballet, has resulted in a unique community dance film called Doncaster Dances. The film premiered online on 15th September at 5.30pm on the Royal Opera House, Cast and Doncaster Council websites. The film celebrates individuals and community groups and is inspired by the choreography of Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet Romeo and Juliet, with synchronicity to today’s lockdown themes of love and separation, family, friendship and solidarity. The film also features Doncaster local and Royal Ballet dancer Charlotte Tonkinson and fellow Royal Ballet dancer Joseph Aumeer. Doncaster residents, primary schools, sports clubs, car...