Altrincham Garrick Playhouse Archives

Jack and the Beanstalk – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

7Dec

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Panto is about tradition. Where the big producing houses, and their star-led shows, can never succeed is in developing a joyful familiarity that is nurtured and continued from year to year. That is the superpower of smaller venues, like the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse. But not all theatres are aware of that. Some stray from the path of success. It is a pleasure to report that, yet again, the Garrick gets it and has delivered. There was a slight first night hitch, however. Cast illness meant there was a panto dame-shaped hole to fill. Step up show director, and artistic director, Joseph Meighan. After a long rehearsal process, it is the kind of problem that must feel insurmountable backstage. On stage, however, the audience experience was no less at all. In fact, theatregoers ...

A Vicar of Dibley Christmas – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

19Nov

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

A Vicar of Dibley Christmas – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Bringing the much-loved Vicar of Dibley to life on stage is no small task. The iconic characters, rapid scene changes, and the demands of adapting a TV script for live theatre present significant challenges, yet the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse production rises admirably to the occasion. Director Pete Brassington acknowledges the complexity of staging this comedy, particularly the numerous costume changes needed to depict the passage of time. You can't talk about the Vicar of Dibley without mentioning the leading lady, and in this case, it was Meg Brassington stepping into the role of Geraldine Granger, made famous by the iconic Dawn French. Her sardonic tone and impeccable comic timing, accentuated by “pauses” and subtle expressions, anchor the production with authenticity and humour. ...

The Wizard of Oz – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

29Oct

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

The Wizard of Oz – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Altrincham Garrick’s latest production of The Wizard of Oz is a tour de force! I can say with confidence that it’s one of the most impressive productions I’ve seen in recent months. Running until Sunday, November 3rd, this show has been brought to life under the talented direction of Joseph Meighan. The level of detail in every aspect of this production is remarkable, from the lavish costumes to the dynamic set design and breathtaking special effects that fully immerse the audience in Oz’s magical world; including digital projection, lighting and pyro! The cast delivered a polished, professional performance that rivalled any big-touring production. Ciara-Alexandra Booker shone as Dorothy, bringing warmth, innocence, and undeniable talent to the role. Her voice was powerful and filled wi...

Jane Eyre – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

8Oct

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Jane Eyre – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Bringing to life Charlotte Brontë’s vivid, sprawling gothic tale of love, independence and moral struggle will always be a demanding task of any theatre company, requiring evocative visuals and lighting, pace and energy and commanding performances from the leading actors. Altrincham Garrick’s production achieves all of this in spades. Carole Carr’s assured direction of Polly Teale’s adaptation, has created an engrossing account of Jane Eyre, as we go through the key moments of her life – beginning with the ill treatment she bears at the hands of her aunt and cousins, and the harsh reality of school life at a time when life expectancy can be cruelly short, through to her time at Thornfield as governess to the ward of the enigmatic Mr Rochester and the aftermath of discovering the devasta...

The History Boys – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

17Sep

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

The History Boys – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

It’s hard to believe two decades have passed since the late, great Richard Griffiths first made his motorbike gear-clad entrance onto the National Theatre’s Lyttleton stage as beloved, but problematic, schoolmaster Hector. In that time, two casts of Altrincham Garrick Playhouse History Boys have sat the Oxford and Cambridge entrance exam. Now, to mark the play’s 20-year anniversary, a third is having a go. The appeal of Alan Bennett’s classroom classic is as enduring as the man himself. A true national treasure. This solid production is a good example why. In a northern 1980s sixth form, a set of schoolboys are celebrating passing their A Level exams. The eight have returned, at least in the mind of English and General Studies tutor Hector (Ivor Farley), to resume their pursui...

Merrily We Roll Along – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

18Jun

By NewsdeskNo Comments

North West

Merrily We Roll Along – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

With an uncanny sense of timing, Director Joseph Meighan and the creative team at Altrincham Garrick Playhouse open their production of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ on the same day it was announced that the current Broadway production won 4 Tony awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. So, if a trip to New York is beyond the budget of south Manchester residents, this week they get the opportunity to see a superb rendition of this poignant commentary on the nature of friendship at their local theatre instead. On its initial run in 1981, ‘Merrily’ closed after just two weeks and was a commercial disaster for Sondheim and co-writer George Furth, critics at the time found the storyline confusing and the characters unsympathetic and audiences agreed. But, as with many Sondh...

The Audience – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

21May

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Audience – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Back in 2013, well before ‘The Crown’ became a Netflix sensation, Peter Morgan wrote ‘The Audience’. This reimagining of the weekly meetings that take place between the monarch and her first twelve Prime ministers was a smash hit in both the West End and on Broadway, garnering Olivier and Tony awards for Helen Mirren in her role as Elizabeth II. Altrincham Garrick Playhouse has now taken up the challenge of producing this deep dive into post war British history, resulting in a sumptuous and informative production sprinkled with excellent performances. The set (Barry Purves) could not be simpler; two chairs on a bare stage - which Equerry (Howard Yaffe) informs us may or may not be Hepplewhite - allow Queen Elizabeth (Ros Greenwood) and her various Prime Ministers to illustrate political...

Treasure Island – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

4Apr

By Helen JonesNo Comments

North West

Treasure Island – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

As an Easter Holiday child friendly show, the Garrick has produced a version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island. This version adapted by the well-respected Bryony Lavery was first produced in 2014. The basic plot remains the same, but Lavery has taken liberties with both characters and sections of the story. Jim Hawkins is now female, Jim has a grandmother not parents, characters are missing, new characters are inserted, and the fate of several characters is altered. The problem with doing this is that while the play bears some resemblance to the original it should be referred to as the Alternative Treasure Island. Jim and her grandmother run the Admiral Benbow Inn in Black Cove. One night a man arrives with his sea chest and takes a ...

Unravelling the Ribbon – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

20Mar

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Unravelling the Ribbon – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

At a time when life in the real world presents significant strain, spending an evening at the theatre is seen by many people as an opportunity to escape the stress of their everyday lives. Therefore, ‘Unravelling the Ribbon’, a play dealing with a diagnosis of cancer and its effects on the lives of three women may seem a difficult subject with which to tempt people away from the comfort of hearth and home. However, should they choose to do so they will be rewarded with a production that both tugs at the heartstrings and tickles the funny bone despite its dark premise. Director Lou Kershaw takes the helm for the first time in the tiny Lauriston Studio and brings an intimacy borne of personal experience to the story of Rose (Caroline Giles), Lola (Alex Saint) and Lyndsey (Holly O’Malley) ...

Vanya – National Theatre Live – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

4Mar

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Vanya – National Theatre Live – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

The latest offering from National Theatre Live screened this evening at Altrincham Garrick Playhouse, and whilst ‘Vanya’ featured an acting performance from Andrew Scott that garnered deserved plaudits during its West End run last year, I found the overall production something to be admired rather than loved. Scott, director Sam Yates and designer Rosanna Vize share equal billing as co-creators alongside writer Simon Stephens, who relocates Chekhov’s tragicomedy to a 20th-century Irish farm, preserving the plaintive sadness of the 1897 original story whilst seeking to shed new light onto the characters through Scott’s inventive interpretation. He plays everyone, differentiating men and women, young and old, with subtle changes of vocal register and body language. His performance is w...