Sunday, November 24

Tag: Ceri Graves

Bad Girls the Musical – Romiley Forum
North West

Bad Girls the Musical – Romiley Forum

This musical is based on the television series of the same name and tells the story of a dozen or so inmates of Larkhall Prison who are incarcerated for various misdemeanours ranging from shoplifting through drug dealing and prostitution to murder. The characters are introduced individually at the start of the show, which was a nice touch by director Lucy Worthington in her directorial debut (and a marvellous job she did of it too; I have seen shows where she has acted as assistant director, but this is her first time in charge in her own right.) The plot as it is revolves around the relationships between the female prisoners and their mainly male warders, who are split between those wanting to take advantage of the girls and those who wish a better life for them. As the play progresses...
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Holden Hall
North West

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Holden Hall

‘Way, way back many’ months ago Alderley & Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company (AWMTC) were dealt a huge hammer blow following the discovery of RACC concrete at their planned venue (NK Arts) for their next show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which was due to play there in January this year and its subsequent closure on safety grounds. Now 4 months later tonight the show had a triumphant opening night at their new venue Holden Hall at the magnificent Cheadle Hulme School. Along with many other people, Joseph was my first introduction to theatre apart from the school nativity and the show holds a special place in my heart as a result of it being my mum’s favourite show. Tonight, AWMTC did this show more than justice with first class performances from the first note to the l...
Rock of Ages – New Mills Art Theatre
North West

Rock of Ages – New Mills Art Theatre

As NK Theatre Arts still do not currently have access to their home venue at the Romiley Forum, this production was staged at the 500-seat capacity New Mills Art Theatre, which is a considerable distance from their usual venue, but thanks go to them for accommodating this performance directed by Paul Wilson. Before the show even started many cast members took to the stage, which created a superb atmosphere at the “Bourbon Club” in downtown LA. The show was enhanced by the use of live musicians who were ably directed by Ceri Graves. All the action took place in the club, and it was non-stop right from the word go, with superb choreography from Dawn Wrigley and Rivkah Kneen which contributed hugely to the show’s success. One classic song after another, mainly originating from 80’s Amer...
SIX (Teen Edition) – George Lawton Hall, Mossley
North West

SIX (Teen Edition) – George Lawton Hall, Mossley

This production would normally have taken place at the spiritual home of NK Theatre Arts at the Romiley Forum, but due to circumstances beyond anybody’s control, this venue became unavailable at very short notice, so it was moved to the George Lawton Hall in Mossley, which was the only place that could accommodate this production at relatively short notice. Within the space of two weeks the stage and production including the technical side was moved over 10 miles to the new venue, so it can only be imagined the difficulties that entailed – and this was before the show even started! Rehearsals were taking place at different venues, and it is amazing that the production went ahead at all! But go ahead it did, thank goodness. Speaking to the director, Paul Wilson, he informed me that they ...
Murder Ballad – Forum Theatre, Stockport
North West

Murder Ballad – Forum Theatre, Stockport

The Northern Premier of this new musical originally performed in New York in 2012 and moved to the West End in 2016. Directed by Paul Wilson and assisted by Lucy Worthington. Murder Ballard is the story of a love triangle set in New York in the 1980s and is told in the format of a one act rock musical lasting about 80 minutes. Like all love triangles, this one goes wrong in a most spectacular manner. As my mother used to say, “It’ll all end in tears!” and it certainly does. Sara (played in a very sensual way by Heather Schofield, taking on the role played by Kerry Ellis in the West End version of the show) falls for two different men. Firstly, there is bad boy Tom (Matt Corrigan), the owner of the Kings Club bar, with whom Sara experiences the excitement she craves, until he gets bor...