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Waiting for Lefty by Clifford Odets – Two Line Productions

20May

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

REVIEWS

Waiting for Lefty by Clifford Odets – Two Line Productions

Written in 1935, during the depression, this play was inspired by a real life strike of cab drivers in New York in 1934. On its first performance one critic said it caused, “joyous fervour” amongst the audience. The drivers in the play are overworked and underpaid by their bosses. Their wives and kids are suffering and they are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. They are stuck in a metaphorical traffic jam unable to move forward with their lives. The characters are trapped and looking for a way out. One of the characters says, “The cards is stacked for all of us.” The game they feel is fixed against them and unless they try and change the rules of the game they will be stuck there forever. A ruthless capitalist emphasises the conflict by saying, “If big business went sentime...

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announce ‘Hope Fest’

20May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announce ‘Hope Fest’

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre will launch a three-week festival in Ancoats this summer, HOPE FEST, with a programme of arts and cultural events from 16th July – 8th August. The festival will take place inside a large theatre tent which will accommodate 250 capacity, based beside New Islington Tram Station (one stop from Piccadilly Station) on the junction between Pollard Street and Great Ancoats Street. HOPE FEST, in association with Electric Park, has been made possible through collaboration and an ambition to champion the cultural arts post-covid with a unique programme of community-centric events. The festival line up offers something for everyone including family theatre, comedy, music, plays and musical theatre as well as one off special community events. The new pop-up s...

Live Music returns to The Monastery as Manchester Camerata Moves to Gorton

20May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Live Music returns to The Monastery as Manchester Camerata Moves to Gorton

Manchester Camerata is delighted to announce its first two shows for 2021 - marking the orchestra’s long awaited return to public performances following the lifting of lockdown restrictions. These musically diverse and exciting concerts will be staged in its new home at The Monastery in Gorton where, in addition to creating a visually stunning space for live performances, Manchester Camerata will also transform it into an international innovation centre for music and health. Kicking off the orchestra’s return to live concerts on Thursday 10th June, is Resonance: a stunning and ethereal night of classical music staged in the perfect and atmospheric setting of The Monastery. This show will feature five pieces of varying lengths, scale and style, each chosen specifically for how they will ...

Hematoma, A one-man dark comedy about finding what’s missing

20May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hematoma, A one-man dark comedy about finding what’s missing

This is a one man road-movie told on stage. Kieran re-tells the story of his craving to be challenged in order to fuse a gap he can feel in his brain. He sets off travelling, where he finds beautiful new environments, crippling hangovers, and, ultimately, a life-changing loss. Hematoma is a fast paced, witty play, where you’ll fall in love with this charming protagonist and feel as if you are journeying with him. You’ll laugh at the absurd situations he finds himself in, and walk together with him through grief. After the year the world has just had, coming together with people in a theatre to share a collective loss will be an invaluable experience. Kieran Dee, writer and performer of Hematoma, said: “In a year of being rooted to the same spot geographically, we have all been clutch...

19May

By Zoё MeeresNo Comments

REVIEWS

Romeo and Juliet – Creation Theatre

I’ve written previously about the way theatre is having to adapt to the new socially-distanced normal and the creative ways that we’re seeing this being explored across the arts. Romeo and Juliet, presented by Creation Theatre in partnership with Watford Palace Theatre is the third online production I’ve reviewed for North West End UK, and the second of the Bard’s offerings in this format. Here, the virtual audience is able to engage with a unique presentation of this classic tale – first selecting whether they want to be a Capulet or a Montague and then to some extent choosing their own experience. With a mixture of pre-filmed scenes you as an audience member have choices to make throughout the show to see if you can help the star crossed lovers escape their tragic fate. It’s a novel t...

The Secret Garden – Guilford School of Acting

19May

By Tracey BellNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Secret Garden – Guilford School of Acting

The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This enchanting classic of children's literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. The story follows 11 year old Mary Lennox in the early years of the 20th Century, who, orphaned in India is returned to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive Uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate, Misselthwaite Manor House’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the "Dreamers," spirits from Mary's past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden's compelling tale of healing, rebirth and reawakening, forgiveness and renewal. ...

Serious Questions raised over DRIVEINSIDE at the Trafford Centre

18May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Serious Questions raised over DRIVEINSIDE at the Trafford Centre

Questions are being asked by ticket holders tonight as to what is happening with DRIVEINSIDE at The Trafford Centre, as days after the original advertised opening, and on the eve of the first rescheduled event there remains no sign of what is promoted as the biggest marquee tent in Europe arriving at the centre’s car park. DRIVEINSIDE is advertised by Beyond Theatre Ltd and posted an “11th hour” update on the 13th May, the day of the first scheduled performance of ‘Manchester’s Git Talent’ which read as follows. Since then postings on Facebook and Twitter have led us and ticket holders to believe preparations were ongoing to mount shows in the ‘tent’ from tomorrow, 19th May. As of 2pm today there was no sign of the tent being in place at the Trafford Centre, and a call put into c...

The Alternative Eurovision Song Contest – The Showstoppers

16May

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Alternative Eurovision Song Contest – The Showstoppers

I am a self-confessed Eurovision geek! The annual contest is almost like a religious ceremony to me. So, I jumped at the chance to watch the Alternative Eurovision Song Contest by The Showstoppers. Given that social distancing is still part of our daily lives, the entire production was filmed according to the guidelines. With some of the contests taking part from their bedrooms. Clearly it is a challenge to produce any kind of show when the cast are not all physically in the same location, but The Showstoppers did a wonderful job. The show had a mixture of live and pre-recorded segments, which slotted together brilliantly. A few things here and there would have made it even better - but nothing that would distract from the enjoyment of the show as a whole. I think it’s fair to say...

16May

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

REVIEWS

There Will Be Light – Online Fundraiser

An online concert in support of Acting for Others. Created, produced and hosted by Sarah Drake. During the last traumatic year or so when live theatre has been taken from us there have been many online musical concerts put together by various artists to show us what we have been missing. This one stands up there with the best of them. This show is an international fundraiser in aid of the charity “Acting for others” and gives us a veritable feast of excellent singing from a number of performers from Broadway and the West End. Sarah Drake has put together a great show which is in memory of her father who died in October 2020. She has gathered together a number of her musical theatre colleagues who have contributed towards making this a wonderful evening’s entertainment. Opening the sh...

Short But Sweet: Zoom Edition Liverpool Network Theatre Group

15May

By Louise PennNo Comments

REVIEWS

Short But Sweet: Zoom Edition Liverpool Network Theatre Group

Liverpool Network Theatre, a company of non-professional local creatives, share five short plays in their first Zoom live-stream. In Private Number, written by Steve Bird, William (PJ Murray) and Judy (Liana Jane Bourne) have an awkward first date, but events conspire against them. Although the ending was weak and the premise a little unconvincing, the plot twist was interesting and there could be room for expansion of this piece to find out what happened next. First-time director Gillian Paterson Fox does a respectable job. The Interview, by John Jones, has moments of comic mania as it progresses. You can tell it was written for a couple of male characters, but Katarina Dobrovodska gives a lot of expression to her keen candidate with tall tales, and Karolina Gorska’s reactions are a...