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Free courses for deaf and disabled people at the beginning of their theatre careers

17Jan

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Free courses for deaf and disabled people at the beginning of their theatre careers

Deaf and disabled artists interested in pursuing careers in directing, producing and writing can apply for free courses being offered by Leeds Playhouse and Sheffield Theatres in association with Ramps On The Moon. They are joining forces to host three introductory courses led by experienced theatre professionals. The writing and producing courses will both take place at Leeds Playhouse. The writers will be led by Leeds-based artist Leanna Benjamin, the new Artist for Change and Writer in Residence at the Playhouse, and Furnace Coordinator Rio Matchett, who plays a key role in the Playhouse’s artistic development programme. The course for aspiring producers will be led by Leeds Playhouse Agent for Change Paul Wilshaw, and Freelance Producer Ben Rothera. Photo: Antony Robling Th...

A Day Out at Shakespeare’s Theatre – A Bit Lit

17Jan

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

REVIEWS

A Day Out at Shakespeare’s Theatre – A Bit Lit

‘A Bit Lit’ is the brainchild of Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker and is a learning platform which offers the opportunity to learn about early modern theatre in a fun and immersive way. ‘A Day Out at Shakespeare’s Theatre’, was the launch event for this learning platform, and all the stops were pulled out to make the two hours of this Zoom event, fun and imaginative. It all began with an introduction by actor Simon Russell Beale and teacher Emma Smith who decided to go on a date to a theatre. The discussion highlighted a typical date at the theatre, food, a show and may be some bearbaiting or cock fighting if the show was not to their taste. Then we heard from B K Adams, Sarah Dustagheer and Elizabeth Tavares who presented a vision of the early modern theatre, building a pict...

One Man, Two Guvnors – Farnworth Little Theatre

16Jan

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

One Man, Two Guvnors – Farnworth Little Theatre

Richard Bean’s hilarious One Man, Two Guvnors is the perfect antidote to the January blues, and Farnworth Little Theatre and director Natalie Crompton have gathered a superb cast to administer said antidote. We are in Brighton in the year 1963 and Francis Henshall (Phil Harrison) has just been fired from his skiffle band. In search of food (and romance), he soon finds himself juggling not one but two new jobs. What Francis doesn’t know is that his first guvnor, small time crook Roscoe Crabbe, is Roscoe’s twin sister Rachel (Ellie Murphy), in disguise as her dead brother, who was killed by her boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers (James Haslam). To complicate matters further, Francis’ second boss is none other than Stubbers, on the run and desperate to be reunited with Rachel. All Francis need...

The Snow Queen – The Atkinson, Southport

14Jan

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

The Snow Queen – The Atkinson, Southport

Panto’s back! What a lovely evening of entertainment for all of the family at The Atkinson this evening. After such a long break the last couple of years it was truly nostalgic to hear the audience participation again. All Souls Dramatic Club have done a great job on this modern twist of Hans Christian Andersen 's classic; But don’t be expecting any Elsa and Anna, I don’t want to spoil too much as it was opening night and you may wish to go to watch but I will say ‘The Snow Queen’ had some classic pantomime elements, mixed in with a contemporary musical score and twists of a darker tale. The stage was set very bare other than the band who were visible throughout on the second level with staircases either side leading down to the main performance area. The live band, led by Adam Dutch...

The Rubber Merchants – Old Red Lion Theatre

14Jan

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

The Rubber Merchants – Old Red Lion Theatre

A lengthy and absurdist look at commerce, love and sex, this revival of Hanoch Levin’s tragicomic play is brought to the stage by Gamayun Theatre and proves to be an uncomfortable and disquieting watch. The Rubber Merchants is about staying safe, with Asya Sosis’s production attempting to merge “the absurdist comedy of Israeli literature, Ukranian theatre tradition and British styles of performance”. With a floor strewn with packing peanuts, a throbbing disco beat, and a constant drooling objectification of women, this play somehow struggles to hit its mark. Yohanan Tsingerhai (sweaty, nervous, a borderline pervert around women, played by Tom Dayton), Bella Berlow (unpleasant and impenetrable, played by Hadas Kershaw), and Shmuel Sproll (a jaded would-be rock star, played by Joseph E...

11Jan

By Craig HepworthNo Comments

Blogs

In The Spotlight

Hello North West End Welcome to my new weekly column here on the site, where I will talk all things theatre from local to touring, West End to Broadway and more. My name is Craig, and I am a playwright and director here in wonderful Manchester and also the co-owner of the long running theatre production company Vertigo. I am thrilled to be able to spend a little time with you each week with this column and share what's going on in the theatre world. So, with that said, I thought it might be best to bring you up to date with all that's going on around the world in theatre when it comes to everybody's least favourite party guest... Covid. It's been a dreadful two years for the theatre industry, and today we are still fighting to figure out a way to move forward in this new normal...

Pilot Theatre announce a national tour of The Bone Sparrow

11Jan

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Pilot Theatre announce a national tour of The Bone Sparrow

Pilot Theatre have adapted Zana Fraillon’s The Bone Sparrow about a Rohingya refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre in Australia. The Bone Sparrow has been adapted by Shakthi Shakthidharan, who is an Australian writer, producer, composer and director for screen and stage of Sri Lankan heritage and Tamil ancestry. It’s directed by Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson. It’s story of Subhi, a refugee who was born in an Australian detention centre to a mother who had fled violence in her Burmese homeland. Subhi’s world is confined by the fences of the detention centre in which he lives, but through stories, relationships, and encounters, a wider but not always comfortable world emerges. The Pilot Theatre production has also been de...

Cast announced for An Adventure at Bolton Octagon

10Jan

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Cast announced for An Adventure at Bolton Octagon

A cast of four has been announced for Vinay Patel’s An Adventure which opens the 2022 spring season at Bolton Octagon from Friday 4th to Saturday 26th February. It’s a work spanning seven decades and three continents following the journey of a husband and wife as they leave India in the 1950s in search of a better, more exciting future. The husband and wife, Rasik and Jyoti, will be played by Esh Alladi and Saba Shiraz who is making her professional debut. The story is by award-winning writer Vinay Patel, whose writing credits include Doctor Who and Murdered By My Father. They’re joined by Manchester actor Daon Broni as David and Jessica Kaur will also make her professional stage debut playing Sonal and Joy. The production will be directed by Kash Arshad and designed by 201...

9Jan

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Les Misérables – Liverpool Empire

Starting the new year with a storm, Les Mis opens its tour to thunderous applause. The theatre phenomenon is back with its new production and a cast as spectacular as its score. Opening in London in 1985, this tale set in the French Revolution, was not received well by critics. However, through word of mouth, the musical gained a loyal fanbase and raised the show to its current status as a household name and the longest running West End show. Fans will know that the original staging has been updated, with some devotees being of the opinion that “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. After seeing the new production (directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor), I can honestly say that it feels fresh, revived and still as epic as ever. And controversially, I don’t miss the revolve! This p...

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Birmingham Hippodrome

8Jan

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Birmingham Hippodrome

If you go down in the woods today, you’ll be sure a vibrant explosion of panto frolics and furry fun at the Birmingham Hippodrome where, after a covid-induced hiatus, the annual treat comes crashing back forming the cherry on top of a very rich Christmas cake. The newly formed Crossroads Pantos rose phoenix-like from the remains of previous panto producers Qdos and transformed panto-like into the shiny new makers of our yuletide jollity with just enough traces of their previous incarnation blended with dollops of freshly minted ideas to justify their name change. “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” is a plot rarely visited in pantodom. It’s scant and thin with only one familiar scene so it’s unsurprising Crossroads have taken to building out the story with some astounding circus artiste...