Buxton Opera House Archives - North West End UK

3Sep

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Blood Brothers – Buxton Opera House

It’s powerful, heartfelt and bursting with unforgettable songs; Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences – and the recent production on tour and currently at Buxton Opera House is no exception! Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright, this production retells Russell’s poignant tale of nature versus nurture through the lives of twins separated at birth. It’s a story filled with humour, warmth and inevitable heartbreak, delivered here with an emotional punch that keeps you gripped right to the final moments. At the heart of the show is Vivienne Carlyle as Mrs Johnstone, whose moving portrayal of a mother torn between desperation and love carries both strength and vulnerability. Her vocals soar with passion, particularly during the...

Jesus Christ Superstar – Buxton Opera House

18Apr

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Jesus Christ Superstar – Buxton Opera House

Buxton Opera House’s staging of Jesus Christ Superstar offers a visually striking and musically impressive take on the iconic rock opera. With memorable performances and thoughtful design choices, this production successfully captures the emotional and thematic weight of the story—while still leaving room for refinement. Louis Moore shines as Jesus, with “Gethsemane” standing out as the emotional high point of the evening. His performance in this pivotal number is both vocally and emotionally powerful, showcasing his ability to convey the vulnerability at the heart of the role. Ross Clifton brings vocal strength and stage presence to the role of Judas, and while his singing is commendable, at times the acting across the cast felt slightly stilted. A touch more naturalism in delivery ...

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 ...

29May

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Buxton Opera House

Sister Act, the hit musical comedy directed by Bill Buckhurst is touring the UK and this week is at the beautiful Buxton Opera House. The larger than life production delivers an evening of joyous entertainment and powerful performances. Based on the beloved 1992 film, this production brings together a stellar cast, bright and bold staging and impeccable comedic timing. Former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters shines as Mother Superior, bringing a perfect blend of stern authority and underlying warmth to her role. Her comic timing and vocal prowess add depth to the character, making her a memorable anchor for the show. Landi Oshinowo as Deloris Van Cartier is a revelation. Her portrayal of the nightclub singer turned nun on the run is both heartfelt and hilarious. Oshinowo’s powerfu...

27Apr

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Evita – Buxton Opera House

There’s always a warm welcome at the beautiful Buxton Opera House, and their current amateur production of Evita delivered a spellbinding theatrical experience that left Friday night’s sold-out audience captivated from start to finish. The production boasted an extraordinary amateur cast whose performances breathed new life into the iconic characters. Catherine Pugh’s portrayal of Eva Perón was a tour de force, displaying a remarkable range of emotion and commanding the stage with her presence. Opposite her, Ross Clifton delivered a powerful performance as Juan Perón, capturing the character’s authority and complexity with finesse. Luke Clayton brought depth and charisma to the role of Che, serving as a compelling narrator throughout the production, while Steve Sheppard charmed audience...

18Dec

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Buxton Opera House

Buxton Opera House's annual pantomime is always a highlight in the festive calendar and this year’s production of Cinderella might be the very best one yet! Directed by Paul Kerryson and produced by Sarah Kell, this year’s pantomime is an enchanting spectacle that has all the ingredients of the perfect panto! The star-studded cast, featuring the hilarious James Holmes as Tess (returning due to phenomenal demand), larger than life David Dale as Claudia, the talented Georgia Gallagher as Cinderella, the charming Ross Clifton as Prince, Charlotte Hannah Jones delivering powerhouse vocals as the fairy godmother, and the loveable Aidan Bailey as Buttons, all delivering a performance that was nothing short of magical, backed by an incredible ensemble of dancers, Buns the Rabbit played by F...

20Sep

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

The Mousetrap – Buxton Opera House

The Mousetrap directed by the talented duo of Ian Talbot and Denise Silvey, is an absolute delight for any ‘whodunit’ fan! The production currently touring the UK boasts an outstanding cast, with Rachel Dawson as Mollie Ralston, Michael Lyle as Giles Ralston, Todd Carty as Major Metcalf, Shaun McCourt as Christopher Wren, Catherine Shipton as Mrs Boyle, Leigh Lothian as Miss Casewell, Steven Elliott as Mr Paravicini and Garyn Williams as Detective Trotter. Together, they bring Agatha Christie's iconic murder mystery to life in a way that captivates and entertains from start to finish. First and foremost, it’s currently at Buxton Opera House until Saturday 23rd September and the theatre serves as the perfect venue for this classic ‘whodunit’. Celebrating its 120th anniversary this yea...

Don’t feed that plant at Buxton Opera House!

5May

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Don’t feed that plant at Buxton Opera House!

Following the success of Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Oliver! and Rent, Buxton Opera House will once again be showcasing talented local performers in its production of Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Buxton Opera House CEO, Paul Kerryson. This sci-fi rock musical has become a cult favourite, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman (the creative geniuses behind Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast and Aladdin). It features songs Somewhere That’s Green, Dentist, Suddenly Seymour and Don’t Feed The Plants. The community cast includes Buxton’s own Karina Booth as Audrey and Chesterfield’s Jamie Smith as Seymour. Whilst not on stage, Karina runs her own youth theatre in Buxton, as well as regularly working with Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre’s...

<strong>A Christmas Carol – Buxton Opera House</strong>

17Nov

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

A Christmas Carol – Buxton Opera House

Charles Dicken’s famous ‘Christmas Carol’ is one of the most memorable and most loved Christmas stories of all time and the Chapterhouse Theatre’s latest touring production of Dicken’s famous festive offering is a true to the book recount. Staged inside the Smaller Pavilion Theatre at Buxton Opera House, The Chapterhouse Theatre have returned once again with their Christmas Carol Production for another year keeping true to the 19th century tale and as a result; it’s the perfect production to go and see if you’re studying Christmas Carol at school or college. It’s quite a stripped back production with quite sparse hand painted props and backdrops which may seem reminiscent of a school production, but this adaptation has real heart and the team use what props and sets they have to get ...

A Night at the Musicals – Buxton Opera House

4Sep

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

A Night at the Musicals – Buxton Opera House

The stunning Buxton Opera House hosted ‘A night at The Musicals’, an Icy Shark production with an array of well-known scores from some of the world’s most popular musicals. Directed by Chris Ellis and Des McGill and produced by Dennis Kay this is a must for any lover of musical theatre. Including music from Moulin Rouge, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Jesus Christ Superstar, and accompanied on stage by keyboards, drums and percussion and guitar, this non-profit making company had put on quite a show, considering that their first rehearsal was only in September 2021 following many delays related to Covid 19 prior to this. Before discussing the entire performance, it would be remiss not to mention the one major issue with the entire production and it was sadly the poor qualit...