Everyman Theatre Archives - North West End UK

20Jun

By Miranda GreenNo Comments

North West

Lovestruck – Everyman Theatre

Hammy and hilarious, Paperwork Theatre’s Lovestruck describes itself as a “multi-location theatrical adventure” but is, at heart, a romping, interactive treasure hunt, accompanied by a roving cast. The experience begins before you arrive at the Everyman bar; participants are invited to create their profile for the allegedly wildly successful dating app, Lovestruck, to browse the testimonials of its love-hungry clientele. But exploring the website, the slightly deranged tones of the clients, the suggestion of a “resistance”, it’s clear that beneath the surface there is something dark and unpalatable lurking. It should be obvious from here that the audience are turned participant, made victim and detective at once, and that this production is in large part game with added spectacle. So...

The Legend of Ned Ludd – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

25Apr

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

The Legend of Ned Ludd – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

The cast list is handed over rolled up like a treasure map (as well as a poster: a sinister robotic head against a binary code background); you need a few clues because this random collection of vignettes doesn’t always shed much light. And you could call it irony that a play dealing with commercialism and the Industrial Revolution, machines taking over, has a High Tec setting, yellow scaffolding with what looks like an Amazon warehouse at the back, fronted by a factory. Props are robustly manhandled or pop up through the floor or are doled out on conveyor belts. Including clothing; the cast are booted and suited as it were in a brown and beige peasant uniform, which helps enable role and gender swapping: fair play, Shaun Mason as the sulky little girl hankering after a balloon, while i...

23Nov

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Everyman Theatre

More pop panto than rock ‘n ‘roll with hits performed live by its talented cast. Does well to send out all the right messages but at the sacrifice of its charm through its inflated sense of self-awareness. Our tale begins with the sassy Cilla Black of Fairyland, Dame Fairy Godmother (Ben Welch), aka the DFG, who emerges holding a red heart shaped balloon reminiscent of Banksy’s ‘Girl with the Balloon’, the significance of which, new hope and love, is a taste of things to come with this journey of self-love and acceptance. Along with successor and apprentice, ‘our Graham’, (comfortably played by natural panto veteran Adam Keast), our matchmaker DFG heads over to the Ooglay’s where they find Ellanora (Grace Venus), whose life resembles that of Cinderella - who ...

8Sep

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Cuckoo – Everyman Theatre

Familiarity breeds contempt and seeing the whole of this household glued to their phones is exasperating to say the least. They appear to be trapped in the mobile world, excuse the dichotomy, with every aspect covered: news flashes; online buying and selling; videos, posts, messages. It feels as if there's more ping than dialogue sometimes. Set in a slightly shabby, old-fashioned house in Birkenhead; a bit parochial but like everywhere else, places are closing down, there's a gig economy and all sorts going on in schools, the increasing vice of violence, and the influence of the would be virtuous. We learn all this through the Greek Chorus of Doreen's two daughters, didactic Sarah in particular. The division between the cosy interior and the scary outside world (and let's face it, has i...

23Jun

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

North West

Stars – Everyman Theatre

Where do all the orgasms go? And how can you be sure you've ever had one? These are the philosophical questions that play on Mrs' mind as she reflects on what she's had in life and what she wants from it before the sun sets. STARS is described as an Afrofuturist space odyssey and incorporates a range of audio-visual media into the performance. A moving mix of celebratory Black queer empowerment, it is an experience that arouses consciousness and demands attention. Written by Mojisola Adebayo and with Debra Michaels as Mrs, STARS is largely a one-woman-show. The lights dim and a late hours DJ (Bradley Charles) sets the mood with some laid-back vibes. We see Mrs respond to the radio conversationally and occasional breaks of the fourth wall - you're never sure if Mrs is talking to th...

Family Tree – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

8May

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Family Tree – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Matthew Xia has produced an outstanding serving of unremembered history. A fascinating celebration of black life, past and present, and the importance of what connects us all in the human condition. Mojisola Adebayo’ s powerful words were tackled by the cast with sensitivity and flare, and a quick mention to Aminita Francis for handling the difficult poetic language of Henrietta Lacks with nuance and verve. This is a story that spans ninety minutes but captures centuries. A performance that does not shy from cultural celebration but shares the infectious energy of Diane Alison-Mitchell’s traditional dance and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers cultural song. It will definitely make you smile. It was evident that a lot of research has been put into this production. It is a searing lesson of...

<strong>Red Riding Hood – Everyman Theatre</strong>

30Nov

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Red Riding Hood – Everyman Theatre

So, does the Everyman Rock n' Roll Panto tick all the right boxes this year? I haven't been for some time but it all still seems present and correct: feisty heroine; wicked witch type villainess; incredibly dumb henchmen; randy Panto Dame; unfortunate audience/honorary cast member (yes, that's you, Sean); amazing music and musicians. Plus, Adam Keast, and he always is a plus with his ability to wrap the audience around his little finger, so adept, he happily makes any improv perfectly (literally) obvious, leading them a merry jig, irresistible as the Pied Piper. Speaking of which, will our heroine stick to the straight and narrow or venture onto the path less travelled, what with having two suitors? But what chance does Prince Florizel the Fortunate have, although the clue is in the nam...

Our Town Needs a Nando’s – Everyman Theatre

25Jun

By Morgan EvansNo Comments

North West

Our Town Needs a Nando’s – Everyman Theatre

Teenage girls deserve epic stories. These girls certainly do. The young cast, many making their professional debuts, look incredibly comfortable on stage. Talented, charismatic, and appropriately self-assured, these girls *did* deserve an epic story. I’m sad to say unfortunately they did not find one in Our Town Needs A Nando’s. Samantha O’Rourke’s script has a great humorous sensibility which is delivered with expert precision by Nadia Anim, Chloe Hughes, Mali O’Donnell, Kalli Tant and Jada-Li Warrican. Its comedy is its strongest asset. Mocking the clichéd banality of GCSE Drama shows about drugs justly earns raucous laughter from the audience. However, whilst it may be funny, O’Rourke’s text is missing too many key components of story to hold our interest. The script meanders thro...

24May

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Corrina, Corrina – Everyman Theatre

Even allowing for a couple of spiced rum punches in the interval, I have to say, there is nothing better after a play than hearing repeated comments of Brilliant and Amazing. So, you may have wondered about the appeal of this tale, the only woman working as Safety Officer on a container ship heading to Singapore, encountering sexism and racism, for a start – but there are plenty of comical moments, and karaoke. with the music of Muse, Dolly Parton and of course, the eponymous title, sound overall is most effective, predominately building up the tension as well as helping convey the sense of being aboard ship and highlighting emotions and actions. That said, it is sometimes perhaps too haunting, implying the supernatural. And when sinister, with the frequent references to pirates, you ar...

Cherry Jezebel – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

16Mar

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Cherry Jezebel – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Jonathan Larkin’s new play is indeed a sparkling celebration of everything queer. Set in the world of Liverpool drag, this sharply funny and poignant play focuses on the outrageous diva Cherry Brandy (Mickey Jones) and her friends, rivals and herstory within the queer community. Cherry appears to be in the autumn of her drag life, but she has one thing that most of her rivals don’t really have and that is a passion for life and a big sense of fun; yes she has her low moments (don’t we all) but she is a local icon and we just know that she could easily wipe the floor with all of the pretenders to her diva status. Larkin’s beautifully constructed script is both astute and crisp and never draws breathe with some great one- liners, gobby scouse humour and quite barbed dialogue throughout...