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Beauty and the Beast – Theatre Royal St Helens

15Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Beauty and the Beast – Theatre Royal St Helens

Last night it was nice to have some sort of normality in the theatre world. I got to review my first show in 2020 inside an actual theatre. It was nice to be back. The things that would normally annoy you in the theatre, such as people getting past you in the aisle or the rustling of crisp packets was strangely welcomed as it was just nice to have that experience again. However, I digress the reason why I was there was to review 2020 pantomime Beauty and the Beast at the St Helens Theatre Royal. The show start time was at 6pm which I was surprised at because you’d think that was to early due to audiences working even if it started at 7:30pm it would have finished before 10pm. the show itself was as flamboyant and as funny as you expect a panto to be with little hidden gems of the cast c...

15Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

A Christmas Carol – Dominion Theatre

With just two weeks of rehearsal, the London Musical Theatre Orchestra's 24 musicians and a small, hardworking cast have created a festive fantasia for all the family against the odds. Sadly, the move of London into tier 3 means this show closes today, along with all others recently opened or reopened. There have been many adaptations of the Dickens novel of Christmas redemption, including a number of musicals. This one, composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Mike Ockrent. It is unabashedly sentimental alongside scenes bordering on the horrific. Even in a semi-staged concert version, these elements are not neglected. Ebenezer Scrooge is played in this version by the versatile Brian Conley, a performer who captures both the sardonic monstrosity of the miser and...

14Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

The Comeback – Noël Coward Theatre

The Comeback is a funny behind the scenes look at two double acts on their journey to fame. One double act is the warm up and the other is the main act but they’re both relying on their old sketches to impress and raise their profile with the crowd and possible producers in the audience. The duo playing both acts are very likeable and have great chemistry on stage, resulting a really naturally flowing and funny performance with regular gags and well delivered sketches. Behind the laughs and sketches is an introspective crisis regarding the double acts considering how natural their act is and if they belong or qualify for a higher tier of performances and venues to escape their ‘dead end’ city. It’s a narrative which a lot of people can connect to and engage with, both duos have lost fai...

14Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Prom – Netflix

When Coronavirus pressed pause in March of this year many key events were missed - weddings, christenings, graduations and proms. The high-school prom - a formal dance that originated in America which has gained global popularity – celebrates the start of adult life as teenagers tear up the dance floor in all of their finery following the ritual of ‘promposals’ (ever more inventive ways to ask someone to prom), corsages and limo rides. Netflix’s latest movie musical The Prom (an adaptation of Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin’s 2016 Broadway musical) provides a heartening tale of acceptance and redemption which is well judged to entertain audiences starved of live theatre and events. In these socially distant times seeing exuberant dancers not observing a safe two met...

12Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

South East

Peter Pan – Barn Theatre

With this one-man adaptation of the classic family tale, the Barn Theatre has another success on their hands. Equally as thrilling as it is heart-warming, this version transports the audience from normality to Neverland. All with the help of that famous, ever-youthful boy. There have been countless retellings of J.M.Barrie’s creation and everyone has their favourites. From the big screen (“Hook” coming to mind, whereas I wish I could erase “Pan” from it) to stage musicals such as “Finding Neverland”, it is obvious that the appeal for the pixie-dust sprinkled adventure has not faltered. Playing on the universal appeal for the story, the Barn team have created a play with family at its forefront. Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton) plays a travelling father who is coaxed into a bedtime story from...

New production images released for SIX at Lyric Theatre

12Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

New production images released for SIX at Lyric Theatre

SIX recently announced an 11-week extension to its West End season at the Lyric theatre to catch Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s smash hit before it returns to the Arts Theatre.SIX was the first musical to resume performances in the West End since theatres were closed down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.SIX producers Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles say, “We have been thrilled and overwhelmed by the response for tickets. Audiences are obviously desperate to get back to the theatre. We hope that after several false starts we will be able to proceed in London and Salford as planned.”Writer and co-director, Lucy Moss, promises the Queendom that the new London production will be “the shiniest version of SIX yet!”SIX will perform 9 shows a week at the Lyric Theatre in ...

The Magic of Christmas – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Scotland

The Magic of Christmas – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Perhaps the biggest nightmare for theatreland through the pandemic has been the loss of the lucrative festive shows they use to subsidise their riskier offerings during the year. So, like so many venues the team at Pitlochry Festival Theatre have been forced to offer their seasonal production online, which in all honesty is no replacement for the sheer joy of sitting in a theatre full of overexcited kids with adults in tow keen to relive their youth - all secretly hoping things will go wrong. It may be no substitute, but a four strong cast deliver a charming half hour show in the theatre’s garden as hapless elves Hari and Lari smash the fourth wall inviting cyber viewers to join a journey as they seek the missing North Star that guides Santa as he gives every kid in the world a press...

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Boff and Daniel run away from it all

These Hills Are Ours written by writer-performer Daniel Bye and Chumbawamba’s Boff Whalley exploring their mutual love of running and freedom gets its world premiere at ARC Stockton in January. The pair also celebrates the freedom to roam wild places and asks both of them what they’re really running from. For the last three years Bye and Whalley have been running a series of routes, from the centre of any place they found themselves in up to the top of the peak overlooking that city. Daniel then took off on one epic journey travelling more than twice as far as he’s ever run before. In story and in song this is the story of what they found out - about the relationship between city and country, between wild and controlled, about land ownership, about why we’re drawn to wild places a...

Birmingham Hippodrome to extend Van Gogh Alive into January

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Birmingham Hippodrome to extend Van Gogh Alive into January

Following the huge success of hosting the UK premiere of Van Gogh Alive, Birmingham Hippodrome have announced they will be extending the experience until Sunday 31 January. Close to 30,000 attended in the opening few weeks after opening to the Public on Thursday 8th October. The Hippodrome was completely transformed to host the unique multisensory experience, extending the main stage an incredible 750sqm into the auditorium to create an open, immersive gallery space, giving the sensation of walking right into Van Gogh’s paintings. Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are of course disappointed our doors have to remain closed for a little longer whilst Birmingham is in Tier 3, as we have been so proud of the fantastic response Van Gogh ...

The Nutcracker at Birmingham Repertory Theatre to be Live Streamed

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Nutcracker at Birmingham Repertory Theatre to be Live Streamed

Following news of Birmingham’s Tier 3 status last week, and ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16th December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to move their 2020 adapted version of The Nutcracker online. The magical Christmas production will be streamed live from The Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 18th December at 7.30pm, giving audiences an experience as close to watching it live in the theatre as is possible. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The REP will be available to watch as a livestream event at 7.30pm on Friday 18th December. It will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December but can be viewe...