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FIRST LOOK – The Last Five Years at Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

7Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

FIRST LOOK – The Last Five Years at Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse have today released the first production images and a trailer ahead of their first opening night in over 15 months tonight. Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years is playing until Saturday 12th June, one of the only musicals to be taking place in the Greater Manchester area this week, not to mention any LIVE theatre! Jason Robert Brown’s Drama Desk Award winning musical, The Last Five Years, is an intensely personal look at the relationship between two New Yorkers; a writer and an actress, who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. Image: Martin Ogden Directed by Joseph Meighan, this modern, One Act musical masterpiece is emotionally powerful and intimate with one of the brightest, freshest scores of the new century. The musica...

5Jun

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

South East

MNQUMA – Brighton Fringe

Xolisile Bongwana’s MNQUMA tells the story of a man on a quest to reconnect with his roots and reclaim the legacy of his ancestors whilst discovering his own identity. We see Bongwana express his thoughts and feelings on this journey through the traditional dance forms of Xhosa and Bhaca. With music compositions by Bongwana himself alongside Elvis Sibeko and No-Finish Dywili, the songs felt personal, Bongwana’s voice blending seamlessly with every note from start to finish. Bongwana delivers an emotional performance, his inner conflict is palpable in his dancing and singing as he struggles to battle with himself. He gives an especially stellar performance as he undergoes his transformation from boy to man, seemingly experiencing a lot of challenges on the way. The set has been...

The Death of A Black Man – Hampstead Theatre

5Jun

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

The Death of A Black Man – Hampstead Theatre

In 1975, The Death of a Black Man by Aflred Fogan made its premiere at the Hampstead Theatre. 46 years later, the darkly compelling drama makes a return to its Main House as part of an effort to remember, and celebrate, a range of plays from every era of Hampstead’s history. Directed by Dawn Walton and starring Natalie Simpson, Toyin Omari-Kinch and Nickcolia King-N’da, this show captures the trials and tribulations of young working class Black British citizens as they set out to carve a future for themselves and the limits to which they’ll go in order to succeed. At the centre of the story is a flat in Chelsea, London where we meet Shakie, played by King-N’da, an 18-year old entrepreneur whose business of selling African art and handicraft items (which are actually sourced locally from...

Perspectives on Visibility: Outside Inside – Brighton Fringe

5Jun

By Donna M DayNo Comments

South East

Perspectives on Visibility: Outside Inside – Brighton Fringe

Perspectives on Visibility: Outside Inside, performed by Ebony Rose Dark, is a beautiful piece of physical theatre, exploring accessibility and what it means to see and be seen. Audio described by Dark and Benjamin Redgrove throughout, with captions and BSL interpretation by Radha Starr, this is an audio and visual treat. The show combines beautiful shots of the sea and beach in Cyprus with a bland, empty London flat, with peeling paint and dull grey floors. Dark enters in a striking purple gown carrying their white cane explaining how as a visually impaired performer, they are going to map the space, which is a technique used by some visually impaired performers. They beautifully show how they need to navigate obstacles, such as the pillars in the room, and how their actions are inf...

5Jun

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Judy & Liza – Floral Pavillion

What an absolute joy and honour it was to be able to be at the first show at the Floral Pavilion, whose auditorium has been closed to patrons since March last year. The staff and regulations that have been put in place to allow people to feel safe, have definitely done just that. And what a show to reopen the theatre with! Judy & Liza is a bit like the concert a lot of people would have wanted to see, but never got the chance to. 45 years after they performed together at the London Palladium, this vaudeville-style concert of a show tells us a brief history of Frances ‘Baby’ Gumm and her daughter Liza May Minnelli. It’s been well thought out and put together so well, that at times you forgot you were watching actors playing the roles and not the legends themselves. Helen Sheals as Ju...

The Language of Kindness – Shoreditch Town Hall

4Jun

By Jessica BattisonNo Comments

London

The Language of Kindness – Shoreditch Town Hall

“I don’t remember the doctors, I don’t remember the medicine, all I remember is the nurse.” Arriving at Shoreditch Town Hall for the final leg of its three-stop tour, The Language of Kindness is a beautiful celebration of NHS nurses. Based on Christie Watson’s bestselling memoir of her 20 years a nurse, Wayward Productions present the touching true tale, embracing the seamless physicality of Complicité. Directed by Sasha Milavic Davies and James Yeatman, the dance-theatre piece is simply gorgeous. There is a true poignancy throughout as the love letter production explores themes of humour, tragedy, and grief. Showcasing the work of hospital nurses and staff, we witness the emotions nurses both feel and impose as they go about their day-to-day job. The Language of Kindness highlights ...

Darren Day joins Chicago UK Tour cast as Billy Flynn

4Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Darren Day joins Chicago UK Tour cast as Billy Flynn

David Ian in association with Barry and Fran Weissler are delighted to announce that West End and TV star Darren Day will play ‘Billy Flynn’ in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the international musical sensation CHICAGO opening at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow on Saturday 11th September 2021. Darren joins the previously announced Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’, Sinitta as ‘Mama Morton’, Divina De Campo as ‘Mary Sunshine’, Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’ and Joel Montague as ‘Amos Hart’. Tour schedule and casting details below. www.chicagothemusical.com The cast will also include Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift...

The Tragedy of Dorian Gray – Brighton Fringe

4Jun

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

South East

The Tragedy of Dorian Gray – Brighton Fringe

Oscar Wilde’s classic tale of moral corruption and destructive selfishness is given a refreshing and highly stylistic make over by writer/director Ross Dinwiddy. Set between the periods of the 1960’s up to the 00’s, Dinwiddy evokes a dark, visceral and almost movie noir feel to this tale of a young man who wants to remain youthful whilst his portrait disintegrates as his corrupt and ego centric personality destroys everyone and everything that lies in his path. Gray finely played here by Maximus Polling, inhibits and dominates the dark world surrounding him and the excellent use of black and white photography really gives the production an almost malevolent feel about it. Dinwiddy’s witty and razor script gives each actor the space to create a rich and dark characteris...

Ockham’s Razor are back on tour this summer

4Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Ockham’s Razor are back on tour this summer

Ockham's Razor are back on tour this summer with their ground-breaking production This ç produced by Turtle Key Arts. With a cast ranging from 13 to 60 years old, This Time examines common perceptions of strength and age: how we are strong in different ways at different times in our lives. Using circus, autobiographical storytelling and original equipment design This Time is a compelling piece of visual theatre featuring stunning aerial acrobatics. Four performers lift, push and cradle each other over thresholds and ledges, exploring the tangible differences between each other as bodies are suspended high in the air and swung close to the ground in innovative takes on trapeze and swinging cradle. Highlighting the immense physical and emotional changes we undergo over a lifetime, This...

The Not So Ugly Sisters – Leeds Playhouse

4Jun

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Not So Ugly Sisters – Leeds Playhouse

The producers of Wicked have made a fortune retelling a classic story and now Wrongsemble are subverting a much loved children’s tale for younger theatre goers. They have great fun through song, dance, some corny gags and lots of physical comedy challenging what we think we know about Cinderella’s so called ugly sisters. Dolly and Barb are rattling round their hairdressing salon watching their baby sister getting married to Prince Smarming, and they’ve not been invited due to endless tabloid battering portraying them as the panto villains of this royal love story. Sound familiar? The demonising has left them with a phone that only rings for blow dry cancellations, so they take the time to tell their version of the classic story. The energy and inventiveness of this pacey two hande...