Latest Articles - Page 6 of 550

28Mar

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Magic Flute – Hull New Theatre

As I made my way to the VIP entrance (a welcome reviewers’ perk) at the Hull New Theatre on Thursday evening, I had to navigate my way through throngs of queuing theatregoers. Opera lovers abound in the former City of Culture, and they were certainly out in force when Opera North’s production of The Magic Flute came to town. Mozart composed the music for this fairytale-type opera that premiered on September 30, 1791- just two months before his death. Originally penned by Emanuel Schikaneder, Opera North’s version was written by British theatre director, composer and lyricist, Jeremy Sams. Directed by James Brining and performed in the English language, the opening scene showed a young girl in her bedroom while, next door, drunken grown-ups, in evening wear, partied. The youngst...

28Mar

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Tambo & Bones – Liverpool Playhouse

Seeing other reviews of this production, not to mention the various accolades it has received, my hopes were high as I took my seat in the auditorium. The vibe had a chilled excitement to it, aided by the pre-amble music, but as the clock-ticked on, the audience soon became restless at the late start. However, when the performance did get underway, those feelings were quickly dashed thanks to the gutsy, bold and connected acting onstage. Clifford Samuel and Daniel Ward delivered a Tambo and Bones that were in-sync, funny, unapologetic and warm to watch. The minstrel show for the first half of Act One was a high-class opening, the inclusion of the puppet a particular personal highlight. But the enthusiasm seemed to dip as the show progressed. Into the second half of Act 1, yet another...

28Mar

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Summoning Sondheim – The Glitch Theatre

The Queen of Cups presents Summoning Sondheim as part of the relaunch of Vaults before heading to 54 Below in New York in the autumn. Co written by Grace O’Keefe {best newcomer at Musical Comedy Awards 24) she has created a two woman show that centres around Stephen Sondheim the American composer and lyricist. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential people in the 21st C of musical theatre. The staging is intimate and minimal seating, the set is focussed on the candle lit alter placed in the centre of the room, the purpose being to attract the spirit of Sondheim. A séance, a place of worship to the great composer in the hope that he comes back to offer guidance and wise words to ‘Grace’ an inspiring writer who someday wants to become herself a renowned female scriptwr...

28Mar

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Ghost Stories – Festival Theatre

I went to see Ghost Stories at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on the 26th of March, and I have to admit—I didn’t actually enjoy it. Not because it was a bad show, but because it genuinely scared me. I suppose that means it did its job well! I’m not usually one for horror, and while I went in hoping for something atmospheric and thought-provoking, I left shaken and, embarrassingly, had nightmares afterwards. If you’re a fan of horror theatre, you shouldn’t expect anything particularly groundbreaking in terms of storytelling, but you can definitely count on plenty of jump scares. Photo: Hugo Glendinning The play, written by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, follows Professor Goodman, a parapsychologist, as he investigates three different supernatural encounters. Without giving away any s...

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Sunderland Empire

28Mar

By Adam CraddockNo Comments

North East

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Sunderland Empire

Power. Strength. Passion. Three words that could easily be used to describe the life and music of the legendary Tina Turner, and also three words that could just as easily be used to describe the Uk & Ireland tour of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Starring the incredible Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and David King-Yombo as Tina and Ike Turner respectively, Tina: The Musical takes us through the heartbreaking and personal journey of the late great Tina Turner, from her humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee to her selling out over 180,000 tickets in a stadium in Brazil and every raw and emotional twist and turn between. Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi excels as Tina, with one of the most impress voices I have heard in a good while, and the acting and movement chops to back it up. Her command of he...

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Leeds Grand

28Mar

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Leeds Grand

As a critic if you keep going long enough then yet another touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will come along. It would be easy to be snooty about Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s debut collaboration, but this family friendly musical is still a lot of fun - if a little dated - and critically has some great tunes. Unlike some of Lloyd Webber’s later bombastic scores this is more pop rock, that was of its time like other seventies hits Godspell or Hair, with the added spice of Rice’s always witty words. It's a short for a musical reworking of Joseph’s story in the Bible where he is sold into slavery by his 11 jealous brothers, before hooking up with the Egyptian Pharaoh to work out what the ruler's dreams meant thus saving his nation from disaster. ...

Ensemble Teams – Scottish Storytelling Centre

28Mar

By Marcelina KruczyńskaNo Comments

Scotland

Ensemble Teams – Scottish Storytelling Centre

Throughout you could feel both Ensemble Teams slowly guide you into the unpredictable and often unhinged nature of improvisation. Coached by Deborah Tarica and Alison Thea-Skot the two teams after one day of preparation took to the stage. Both teams were comprised of eight people. Interestingly despite all eight people standing on stage throughout the performance, once the scene started, they faded into the background and only became noticeable again once they entered centre stage or wherever the main action took place. Tarica’s and Thea-Skot's influence was clear since there were similar methods employed by both groups. For example, both employed the same method to enter or finish a scene. Multiple times actors communicated through a tap on the shoulder or someone yelling “scene” which en...

Kolliflower & Stupid & Favourite Cousin – Scottish Storytelling Centre

28Mar

By Marcelina KruczyńskaNo Comments

Scotland

Kolliflower & Stupid & Favourite Cousin – Scottish Storytelling Centre

Irresistibly funny, completely bonkers and chaotically out of pocket is the best way in which Kolliflower & Stupid & Favourite Cousin can be described. The three acts playing sequentially one after the other managed to keep the audience entertained with their improvised madness. Thanks to the tiered seating the view of the stage was impeccably clear meaning the audience could dedicate more of their attention to the acts themselves rather than on trying to avoid heads that may have been obscuring the view. Kolliflower kicked off the performance in their 80s styled fits. The usual duo consists of Kimi and Holly however on this occasion Jiavani stepped in to cover for Holly. The duo interacted with the audience asking for a word and the ever so eager crowd provided them with on...

27Mar

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Hairspray – Buxton Opera House

Great news for Buxton - Hairspray the musical is touring again. Directed by Paul Kerryson alongside Brenda Edwards, who is making her directorial debut, this toe tapping stalwart of musical theatre is gracing the stage once more. Having taken Broadway by storm back in the day and winning 8 Tony awards, Hairspray then moved to the West End where 4 Olivier awards were also achieved. Its safe to say that an audience’s high expectations will often precede this particular musical. The story, set in the 60s is essentially about a group of teens who were fighting for equality at a time when segregation related to an individual’s colour was rife. Led by Tracy Turnblad and her family and friends, she managed to address this issue through her desire to dance on a popular TV show. The issue of an ...

27Mar

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Dragons – Birmingham Hippodrome

Set amidst an effusive of silver piping which wouldn’t look out of place in an industrial park, “Dragons” is a bright, engaging and slightly potty amalgam of dance, movement and physicality which, despite lacking plot, character and much we can get a grip on, proves itself a shining and engaging piece of theatre. South Korean choreographer, Eun-Me Aha, who’s company’s first appearance in the UK this is, presents herself as a book-ended sage opening and closing the show between which six buoyant young dancers carry the bulk of the performance - Gaon Han, Deokyeong Kim, Hyekyoung Kim, Seven Kim, Doohee Lee, Hyeonseo Lee and Yongsik Moon. The energy is palpable and the joy tangible as we are presented with a fluctuating series of vignettes rooted in ancient dance culture but living very much ...