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Mitch Benn: The Tom Lehrer Effect – The Anthony Burgess Foundation

11Jul

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Mitch Benn: The Tom Lehrer Effect – The Anthony Burgess Foundation

The task of a comedy songwriter is a tough one. There’s deciding whether you want to simply write funny songs were the humour may come from precarious stunt-rhyming or mocking a popular musical style, through to packing lyrics with biting satire and political observations. Before the likes of Weird Al Yankovich, Bill Bailey and Tim Minchin there was Tom Lehrer, a 1950s/60s musician who later turned mathematician, noted amongst other things for singing the periodic table to the tune of ‘Modern Major General’ and writing music for the cast of the US version of That Was The Week That Was (never getting to perform the songs himself much to his annoyance). If he was raised on a diet of Radio 4 classic comedies, British cynicism and been handed a loop pedal, you’d end up with something...

10Jul

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Wannabe – The King’s Arms

Following on from Amy Webber’s awarding winning show ‘No Previous Experience’, Wannabe is an autobiographical exploration of her lifelong desire to be famous in the form of a one woman opera -standup - spoken word- pop song. Webber is extremely warm and welcoming to her audience, immediately putting them at their ease and instantly engaging them with her funny, quirky, humble and open style. From the moment she enters the space in the wonderful Kings Arms, she owns it and shares it in equal measure. Inspired by a visit home during which her mother ‘sorts out’ some of her childhood memorabilia, Webber uses her box of ‘junk’ - the trinkets, mementos, diaries, letters, poems and songs of her childhood, to shape a hilarious tale of longing, searching and learning that is utterly enga...

The Merry Wives of Windsor – Shakespeare’s Globe

10Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

The Merry Wives of Windsor – Shakespeare’s Globe

Published in 1602 and traditionally believed to have been written at the specific request of Elizabeth I, The Merry Wives of Windsor is one of Shakespeare's less frequently produced and not so well-regarded plays. It's a great romp though, and the perfect choice for a summer evening at the iconic "Wooden O" on London's South Bank. Sir John Falstaff, the large, impoverished and corpulent knight from Shakespeare's Henry series, secretly propositions the wives of Ford and Page, with the intention of relieving them of their husbands' money. He sends both women identical letters hoping to woo them. The women discover that Falstaff is communicating with both of them and decide to lead him on, to mock and shame him and teach him a lesson. Through the meddling of the servant, Mistre...

Jesus Christ Superstar – Hull Musical Theatre Company

10Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Jesus Christ Superstar – Hull Musical Theatre Company

Nobody likes a snitch. And the most famous snitch of all was sensationally brought to life by the talented members of Hull Musical Theatre Company in their production of Jesus Christ Superstar, on the stage of Middleton Hall, Hull University. The snitch in question, of course, is Judas Iscariot, who famously betrayed Jesus Christ for the princely sum of 30 pieces of silver. As we in the audience settled into our very comfortable seats on Wednesday night, our chatter died as the lights dimmed and an amazing guitarist, on a walkway high up at the back of the stage, began to play rock, leading to the other musicians joining in, under the guidance of musical director Rebecca Barques. As the strains of rock died away, woodwind, horn, trumpet, keyboards, percussion, guitars, bass and dr...

9Jul

By Holly SewellNo Comments

London

The Constant Wife – Swan Theatre

W. Somerset Maugham’s The Constant Wife, written and set nearly half a century after A Doll’s House, transforms Ibsen’s critiques of marriage into a sparkling 1920s comedy of manners. It’s hard not to compare with Ibsen’s masterpiece, but the purpose here is different: less a rallying cry, more a pragmatic question. What should you do if your perfect husband has an affair? The eponymous Constance is married to the right kind of man, with the right kind of job, in the right kind of house. Unfortunately, the man in question is having an affair with Constance’s best friend. By a stroke of (bad?) luck, Constance catches the two of them in the act - but decides to keep it to herself. Over the course of the next year, she hatches a plan to gain economic independence from her husband in secret...

Noughts & Crosses – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

9Jul

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Noughts & Crosses – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

What means more to you: being someone or making a difference? Based on the acclaimed novel by Malorie Blackman and adapted by Dominic Cooke, Noughts & Crosses tells the story of two star-crossed friends-to-lovers who learn to grow and adapt together in this Romeo & Juliet-esque love story. In this world, there is a divide between the Noughts and the Crosses. Callum, is from a Nought family and Sephy, from a Cross family. Their worlds have intertwined since childhood, with Callum’s mother working for Sephy’s family and the two becoming firm friends. However, Noughts and Crosses are not to be seen together. After many meet ups on their secret beach, as teenagers their world is turned upside down when Callum gets accepted at Sephy’s prestigious Cross school. The play focuses ...

8Jul

By Abigail PendleburyNo Comments

North West

Sounds of the East – Bridgewater Hall

Under the baton of Principal Conductor Kahchun Wong, Sounds of the East at Bridgewater Hall offered a thrilling musical journey that blended tradition, and innovation with striking cohesion. Featuring the Hallé Orchestra and guest musicians from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, the program offered a wide range of musical magic that could be enjoyed by all. The evening started with a wonderful pre-concert talk with conductor Kahchun Wong and composer Chinary Ung, which featured in great detail how both Wong and Ung create their masterpieces. Particular attention was on Chinary Ung’s Grand Spiral (Desert Flowers Bloom), a piece that was having its European Premiere at the Bridgewater Hall. It was particularly interesting to hear how he named the piece, and also how he created such a beaut...

Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You – Unity Theatre

8Jul

By Clare ChandlerNo Comments

North West

Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You – Unity Theatre

RAWD began over a decade ago as a disability drama group, meeting weekly in a church hall. Since then, it has grown into an arts organisation with a mission to tackle inequality and celebrate disabled creativity. Previous projects include Boards Are Boring, which challenged governance structures; Creative Wellness, exploring inclusive wellbeing; and their ongoing Facilitator Training Programme, which empowers the next generation of practitioners. Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You is part of a broad programme of creative offerings for Disability Pride Month, as RAWD celebrates the next step in their journey - their official launch as a charity. It’s a timely reminder of the company’s commitment to making space for disabled voices: on stage, in leadership, and beyond. RAWD have partnered w...

Checkout – St John’s United Reformed Church Hall

6Jul

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Checkout – St John’s United Reformed Church Hall

Soup Productions presented ‘Checkout’ staged in St John’s United Reformed Church Hall, Warrington. Set in the bustling aisles of the fictional discount store Super Save, ‘Checkout’ written by the fabulous Mike Pirks and Sam Duxbury is a warm-hearted yet emotionally resonant play skilfully blending comedy with timely social commentary. Featuring initially a core trio of supermarket workers navigating daily life, difficult customers, however, this production delivers more than just laughs. The story centres on three colleagues: Tracy (Karen Hewitt) with leadership, calming qualities and compassion, Marlena (Lisa Rhodes) a brilliant boisterous bold sharp witted flirtatious singleton and Molly (Louise Wright) in a touching, vulnerable but hilarious performance. The chemistry is palpable ...

Phil Green: A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others – Seven Oaks Pub

6Jul

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Phil Green: A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others – Seven Oaks Pub

At one stage in A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others, Phil Green acknowledges that he could spend an hour talking about the shocking rates of male suicide. However, he tells his Greater Manchester Fringe audience he has had another, tonally different, idea on how to fill the show. The good news: it is a great idea. Complete with a genuinely funny PowerPoint-style presentation, Green outlines his plan on how to save middle-aged men from themselves. It is something he has experience of. Partly because of his own breakdown (although he is fine now by the way - totally fine, actually) and partly because he’s had to help a few of his mates who’ve ended up in need themselves. There’s a really endearing opening section about luring these troubled men away from danger with trails of ...