Grand Opera House York Archives

Paranormal Activity – Grand Opera House York

30Sep

By Adam CraddockNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Paranormal Activity – Grand Opera House York

Last night I had the pleasure to be invited along to the press night for the UK tour of “Paranormal Activity”, the new play by Levi Holloway inspired by the Paramount Pictures movies. I love a horror play, I think the dim lighting and cold air of a historic theatre is perfectly suited to an unnerving horror experience and Paranormal Activity more than delivers on these expectations. We follow an American expat couple James and Lou, recently moved to London for James’ work, as they deal with some mysterious happenings from an unwelcome spirit in their house. I won’t spoil any major plot points but more generally I have to say the way the supernatural elements were delivered in this production were quite frankly masterful. For me this is the gold standard of horror theatre that I have seen.&...

The Ballad of Johnny and June – Grand Opera House York

Last night I had the privilege of being invited down to the stunning Grand Opera House York to review the latest leg of the UK & Ireland tour of “The Ballad of Johnny & June”, self described as being possibly the greatest love story in all of country music and I have to say I can’t argue with that! The plot follows the famous “man in black” Johnny Cash through his career from young church going boy to world famous country star and the ways his life crosses over with the possibly more famous (at least initially) June Carter. The show is cleverly narrated by their son John Carter Cash and he actually tells us different perspectives of different periods of their life, sometimes from Johnny’s side, sometimes from June’s and even sometimes from somewhere more true in between the two. I ...

Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile – Grand Opera House York

Oooooh la la, what a magnificent performance! J’adore Lucy Bailey’s portrayal of Agatha Christie’s renowned murder mystery ‘Death on the Nile’, a truly nail biting and explosive narrative well told, by none other than Hercule Poirot himself (Mark Hadfield). The famous who done it on stage, lived up to its beloved reputation and more, despite the familiarity of the story the anticipation and action still swallow you whole, slowly and then all at once, the same way that the moon encapsulates that last bit of sunlight at sunset. Lucy Bailey’s take, stays both quintessentially Agatha Christie and humble, unravelling the murder case but at the same time humouring the audience with the obviousness of the plot. Mark Hadfield playing Monsieur Poirot fascinated the audience in fi...