Chris Doyle Archives - North West End UK

20Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Ghost The Musical – Storyhouse

On what was one of the hottest days of the year so far, the welcoming arms of the Storyhouse’s air conditioning system was very much appreciated as I took my seat to see D&S Productions latest show, Ghost The Musical. Having seen this show many, many times before in a number of guises I was looking forward to seeing how they tackled what is a complicated show to stage. The show centres around banker Sam Wheat (Chris Doyle) and sculptor Molly Jenson (Kate McHenry) who not long after moving into their new loft apartment in New York are torn apart when Sam is murdered in a failed mugging. Sam then becomes stuck between this world and the next and stumbles across phony psychic Oda Mae Brown (Gabrielle Stanfield) who helps him discover best friend Carl Bruner (Jack Parry) is not who he t...

Beautiful The Carole King Musical – Grange Theatre

29Feb

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Beautiful The Carole King Musical – Grange Theatre

This evening, I was lucky enough to visit The Grange Theatre in Hartford where The Zodiac are performing Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, the Northwest amateur premier, directed very well by Valarie Ball. After a wonderful greeting by the company and made to feel very welcome (thank you to Jude and Jessica), we take our seats ready for the show. The stage is set with a grand piano in the centre, with a spotlight on it. As the curtain goes up, we see the huge structure that is used to break the stage up, giving the piece levels and the 10-piece on stage band a home throughout the show. Beautiful follows the story of Carole Joan Klein, who takes on the stage name of Carole King at 16 when she pitches her first song ‘It might as rain well until September’, to meeting her future husband...

6Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Kinky Boots – The Brindley Theatre

D&S Productions presented Kinky Boots at The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn. D&S Productions are an award-winning community theatre group based in Ellesmere Port/Chester who regularly perform at The Brindley Theatre. D&S is a company that took to the stage in 2021 and belong to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). D&S are passionate about creating quality theatre, they pride themselves on valuing people, they’re deliberately inclusive and are committed to raising money for good causes and charities close to their heart. Director Donna Dale is no novice when it comes to theatre being both on stage as a performer and as a fabulous director - she has been involved in performances since the age of 3. Kinky Boots is no easy task to produce as it requires both p...

13May

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

North West

The Full Monty – Gladstone Theatre

Feel good and full of laughs, The Full Monty provides a great night out for those who enjoy raw humour, a variety of on-stage approaches and acknowledgement of the audience. Based on the hit film and Broadway Musical, D&S Productions' The Full Monty brings its own stamp to the show, and all for a charitable cause. It is clear this company are having fun performing this! Content is designed for an adult or 14+ audience. There is swearing, sexual references, suicide references, racial references and nudity throughout the performance and some of the reactions of the audience are best heard by teens and above only. It’s also worth noting that the scripting, although parody in some aspects, may cause offence and must be considered within the time and context of the characters. Open...

4Feb

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Flashdance – Grange Theatre

After months of hard work and a 3 month delay due to Covid restrictions, Zodiac Musical Theatre have managed to bring the North-West premier of Flashdance the Musical to sold out audiences at the Grange Theatre in Hartford. Flashdance the Musical is adapted from the 1983 Paramount Pictures musical film which follows the story of Alex, an 18-year-old welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, and her dreams of attending a prestigious Dance Academy. Director and Choreographer, Jessica Martin, had her work cut out to bring together this marathon of a show and she did it so well with a sharp vision and brilliant choreography, very fitting with the era, magnificent work. Craig Price as Musical Director has once again worked his magic to assist the cast in delivering killer vocals and tight...