Latest Articles - Page 595 of 725

3Nov

By Anne PritchardNo Comments

North West

9 to 5: The Musical – Liverpool Empire

In 2009, nearly 30 years after the film's release, 9 to 5 made its debut as a Broadway Musical with new songs written by Dolly Parton. It then made its way over to the West-End where it premiered in February 2019. Since its UK premiere, 9 to 5 The Musical, has been seen by over half a million people at over 450 performances. This is its second national UK tour. I can remember watching the film 9 to 5 in the early 1980’s starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton and being blown away by it; straight from the start the music was gripping and of course the theme of feminism, equality and women’s rights was spot on. It was Dolly Parton’s acting debut, and she was fabulous as secretary to the story’s antagonist, exploitative boss. In a nutshell, the story is about three...

3Nov

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Blood Brothers – Birmingham Hippodrome

Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” famously opens with one long, droning tone from the orchestra which engages, entrances and thrills in equal measure. “Blood Brothers” employs the same technique and hits exactly the same, as it were, note. We are drawn into a dark and tragic world where the outcome of the plot is set out as clearly as the two dead two bodies laying before us. This is the plot spoiler of all plot spoilers but, oddly, though we know the end we want to know why it happened. Not a whodunnit, but a whydunnit? And so, the drone draws us in… My first Mrs. Johnston was Kiki Dee, which for all you BB buddies out there, means I saw it quite early on in its humungous run. Barbara Dickson did it first, of course, in a version that didn’t take off. Bill Kenwright sprinkled his Liverpudlian m...

3Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Elf the Musical – Hull New Theatre

I once spent many hours one weekend, corresponding with an “elf”, via email. His name was Blodwit and he was helping me organise Santa letters for the youngsters in my family. Obviously, Blodwit was a mischievous Santa letter employee working from home, but I happily played along with him as the child in me wanted to believe he was real. Fast forward to Tuesday evening and I couldn’t wait to get to the Hull New Theatre to watch some of Blodwit’s relatives (maybe) in Elf The Musical. And judging by the many theatregoers wearing elf hats, I wasn’t the only one eager to get into the festive spirit. As the lights dimmed in the packed theatre the colourful stage setting, bedecked with 20ft-tall candy canes, left us in no doubt we were in Santa’s domain at the North Pole. As the “elv...

Kym Marsh to star in new Fatal Attraction UK Tour

2Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Kym Marsh to star in new Fatal Attraction UK Tour

Smith and Brant Theatricals and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions are delighted to announce casting for a new production of Fatal Attraction, based on the classic Paramount Pictures Corporation film. Kym Marsh * (ITV’s Coronation Street) will perform the iconic role of Alex Forrest, Oliver Farnworth (ITV’s Coronation Street) her lover, Dan Gallagher and Susie Amy (ITV’s Footballers’ Wives) his wife, Beth. KYM MARSH is an actress and well-loved star of the British music and television scene. The former singer was part of the hugely successful noughties pop band Hear'Say, who had two UK number one singles and a UK number one album. A treasured star of UK television also, Marsh played the role of Michelle Connor in ITV's Coronation Street for 13 years, winning many awards including the ...

Casting announced for “She Loves Me” at The Crucible this Christmas

2Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Casting announced for “She Loves Me” at The Crucible this Christmas

Sheffield Theatres announces the cast for its Christmas musical She Loves Me at the Crucible Theatre from Saturday 11th December 2021 – Saturday 15th January 2022. Directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director Robert Hastie, the cast includes: Adele Anderson playing Head Waiter (Fascinating Aïda), Lewis Cornay playing Arpad Laszlo (John and Jen, The Book of Mormon), Andy Coxon playing Steven Kodaly (Curtains, West Side Story), Marc Elliott playing Ladislav Sipos (The Girl on the Train, Macbeth), Kaisa Hammarlund playing Ilona Ritter (Fun Home, Sweet Charity), Karl Seth playing Zoltan Maraczek (Annie Get Your Gun, The Kite Runner), David Thaxton playing Georg Nowack (The Phantom Of The Opera, Passion), and Alex Young playing Amalia Balash (Guys and Dolls, Stan...

Paul Taylor-Mills returns to The Other Palace

2Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Paul Taylor-Mills returns to The Other Palace

Bill Kenwright appoints his long-standing collaborator, Paul Taylor-Mills, to be Artistic Director of The Other Palace. Paul Taylor-Mills returns to the venue, following a previous role as Advisory Producer from 2016 - 2018, while it was owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Paul launches his season of work for The Other Palace with the award-winning Heathers the Musical, which runs from 25th November 2021 – 20th February 2022. Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director, The Other Palace said: “I am absolutely delighted to be returning to The Other Palace as its new Artistic Director and launching my tenure with Heathers the Musical, all under the helm of Bill Kenwright. I have had the pleasure of working with Bill and his incredible team for many years and the opportunity for us to have a London ...

1Nov

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

Interviews

Spotlight on Jenna Russell

Olivier Award winner Jenna Russell is due to take to the stage at Cadogan Hall in her first large scale solo show in a few days’ time. We were interested to hear how Jenna is preparing for her new adventure. Follow this link to book tickets to the show at Cadogan Hall on the 7th November 2021 at 6.30pm - https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/jenna-russell-live-in-concert-2021/ With such a large repertoire to choose from, how have you selected the songs for the show? I absolutely wanted to have some songs from shows that I have been in and love singing, and songs that have shaped my career, but I also wanted to bring in some comedy because I always think that a really good evening consists of you laughing and hopefully having a little emotional moment at the same time. I’ve really tried...

Peter Andre talks about being Teen Angel at Leeds Grand Theatre

31Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Peter Andre talks about being Teen Angel at Leeds Grand Theatre

Once upon a time amiable Aussie Peter Andre was best known for his rippling six pack and being married to a controversial model. Since then, high profile appearances on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! And Strictly Come Dancing showed Peter to be a genuinely nice guy winning him many new fans. Peter is now turning his hand to musical theatre and is back on the road in Grease, which is back at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 29th November. You played Teen Angel on the 2019 Grease tour and now you’re also doing double duty as Vince Fontaine. What are the logistics of playing dual roles? I may even be doing a third role, namely a police officer, depending on whether or not I can get changed on time. The more characters the better for me. Each one of them has a different accent, so...

The Bunker (Halloween Edition) – Liverpool Arts Bar

31Oct

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

The Bunker (Halloween Edition) – Liverpool Arts Bar

Wing It Impro and Stories, The Bunker (Halloween Edition), is an intimate evening of storytelling inspired by the autumn season. The first of planned quarterly events, this cosy and charming evening of spooky tales is supported by Mark Smith providing live sound effects and enhancing the comfortable atmosphere with a warm and friendly presentation of the evening. The evening opens with Munro, telling a story of a family heirloom which, Alexandra, the lead character clings to for dear life, but in doing so unleashes the wrath of a terrifying beast which is determined to reclaim what belongs to them. Munro’s vocalisation of the beast’s voice is particularly good and creates a genuine sense of fear. His body language and gesturing is also very good. Munro’s second story is brighter, lookin...

The Signalman – King’s Theatre, Edinburgh

31Oct

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

The Signalman – King’s Theatre, Edinburgh

Most notable was how, with extreme economy (one actor, a sparse set and some carefully understated lighting and sound), this play generated such power, intensity and atmosphere. It's set in 1919, forty years after the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879 as Thomas Barclay, the signalman, now 64, re-lives the events of the horrific night. The sense of place is perfectly evoked by Jon Beale and Andy Cowan’s carefully constructed soundscape, the gulls, wind and rain a constant reminder of the vast expanse of a raging Tay estuary. Beneath a sky shaken and stirred by the swirling, gargantuan storm that hit Tayside that Sunday we’re immersed in the cosy confines of the signal box as Tom McGovern plays a haunted, traumatised Barclay, moving restlessly about the small set of coat-stand, desk and two chairs...