Hope Mill Theatre Archives - Page 2 of 5

2Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Head Over Heels – Hope Mill Theatre

Musical theatre productions that challenge conceived norms and push back the boundaries are nothing new for Hope Mill Theatre, their latest offering gives a European premiere to this 2015 'queer jukebox musical' and is thoroughly vindicated with a hugely entertaining spectacle that poses pertinent questions around love and acceptance in the modern world. There is no denying that the genesis of 'Head Over Heels' is an oddity. Not many people would have thought of making a Broadway musical based on 'The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia', a prose romance written by Sir Philip Sidney in 1593; still fewer would have then decided to add in songs from late 1980's indie-punk popsters, The Go Go's. Then again, not everyone is the iconoclastic figure of Jeff Whitty, the writer of Avenue Q, who onc...

<strong>Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Hope Mill Theatre</strong>

18Nov

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Hope Mill Theatre

Eight years before Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein famously collaborated on screen with Dame Julie Andrews in 'The Sound of Music', she starred in a 1957 musical version of 'Cinderella' written by the iconic duo specifically for US television. It was a smash hit, during the broadcast the streets of New York were reportedly deserted as around 107 million people tuned in to watch, garnering both critical and public acclaim. Fast forward 65 years and we find another pair of estimable creatives, William Whelton and Joseph Houston the driving forces behind Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, have sprinkled their special brand of fairy dust over the piece, giving us a pre-Christmas treat to brighten a bleak November night. The time honoured story of Cinderella has many variations and can ...

13Oct

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Vincent River – Hope Mill Theatre

The dark space between grief and prejudice is at the heart of this play. Indeed, this piece is replete with dimly lit spaces, the dingy, drab, bedraggled places that are falling apart. Those secret areas of the soul where people hide their true lives and loves. Existing in these shadows can be dangerous and also fatal. Set in the East-End of London this two-hander centres on Anita, whose gay son was murdered, and Davey, the young lad who found her son’s body. She suspects he had something to do with it and they start to talk. As a grief-stricken, angry mother she wants answers. It could be said the start of the play is almost too intense and dramatic as she is full of antagonism from the very first line. Davey has his own family issues to deal with and as they start to interact the ...

14Sep

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Trainspotting Live – Hope Mill Theatre

Wow, just wow! This was the perfect hit, a heady concoction of filth, foulness and fun. Yes, fun. Which seems extremely odd for a play which is based on Irvine Welsh’s infamous novel about heroin addiction and hopelessness. The characters maybe without hope but they are teeming with energy. This play is closer to the book than Danny Boyle’s film. If you have seen the movie, you will recognise a number of the set pieces. There is, for instance, the speed induced attempt to mess up a job interview without making it appear that they don’t want the job. And, yes, there is the toilet. Word of warning don’t sit near the loo. It is staged in such a way that the audience is seated either side of a thin strip where the action takes place. The actors also frequently come into the audience and...

Much Ado about Nothing – Hope Mill Theatre

19Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Much Ado about Nothing – Hope Mill Theatre

Shakespeare isn’t for everybody, they say. Well, it was tonight in Ancoats! HER Productions & Girl Gang Manchester & Unseemly Shakespeare have produced yet another (this is their fourth Shakespearean outing) magical piece of theatre which allows the wit of Shakespeare’s writing to speak for itself, with an impressive cast who relish the opportunity to perform it. A plot to drive a couple apart and a plot to unite another paring both through trickery and male misplaced notions of the opposite sex. A play about desire and love, this production highlights gender politics acutely; it’s far more than a Tudor rom-com. The gender fluid casting is pure Shakespeare and adds a unique joy to the play. This a comedic play and each line was delivered with a sharpness that made the Elizabeth...

Jacob Fowler set to have a ball in Manchester

26Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Jacob Fowler set to have a ball in Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester is to stage the UK theatrical premiere of the Broadway musical version of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Jacob Fowler will play Prince Topher opposite the recently announced Grace Mouat, who plays Ella. Jacob is most prominently known for winning the BBC One prime-time show Little Mix: The Search and subsequently going on to support Little Mix on their final UK arena tour, including three nights at the legendary O2 Arena. He also appeared in the role of J.D. in Heathers The Musical at The Other Palace. Leading the creative team for this new production are venue founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with Houston directing and Whelton co-directing and choreographing. Further Casting to be announced. Jacob Fowler said: “I’m honoured to ...

20Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Lizard Boy – Hope Mill Theatre

Folk rock meets reptiles in this superhero-inspired, coming-of-age musical about finding love from the most unexpected sources. Our highly-strung hero Trevor (Justin Huertas) shut himself away from the world after an encounter with a dragon left him with green, scaly skin. Twenty-years later, a first date is set to take him out of his shell and on a life-changing adventure. Musical talent in this production is off the scale: in catchy, off-West End quality songs, the original US cast of 3 adroitly jumps from guitars to xylophones to kazoos like it’s second nature. The trio boast superb vocals, particularly Kirsten ‘Kiki’ Delohr Helland whose voice elevates every number to mythical heights. William A. Williams also contributes skilful beatbox riffs to them. As Trevor, writer Justi...

Lizard Boy announces its UK premiere casting

2Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Lizard Boy announces its UK premiere casting

The UK cast for the new indie rock musical has been announced ahead of its UK premiere at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester from 14th - 27th July 2022. Equal parts comic book lore and coming-of-age love story, Lizard Boy is the thrilling original rock musical that’s been called "Ingenious" (San Francisco Chronicle), "Phenomenal" (San Jose Mercury News), "Ferocious & Funny"(Seattle Times). During a bizarre childhood accident, Trevor was drenched head to toe in dragon’s blood. Growing green and scaly skin, he withdrew from the world. Tonight—twenty years later—Trevor's first date with a cute guy transforms into adventure of mythic proportions. The UK cast is Anthony Rickman as Trevor, Alan Cammish as Caly and Sophie Reid as Siren, who playing alternate nights alongside the original ...

Manchester LGBTQ+ Theatre Company return to Hope Mill Theatre

7Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Manchester LGBTQ+ Theatre Company return to Hope Mill Theatre

Manchester based LGBTQ+ theatre company Green Carnation make their return to the stage this October with a new production of Philip Ridley’s scorching psychological thriller, ‘Vincent River’. Green Carnation Company, whose mission is to tell queer stories through quality theatre, will return to Hope Mill Theatre from Wednesday 12th to Wednesday 19th October to premiere their first production since the pandemic. The play, ‘Vincent’ River’, is a tense, heart-breaking, and at times darkly humorous thriller examining hate crime, loss, prejudice and sexuality in a tense game of cat and mouse set in London’s East End. Green Carnation began its life in 2018 when it was founded by Manchester based co-directors Dan Ellis and Dan Jarvis (aka ‘The Dans’) to produce Alexi Kaye Campbell’s time-t...

11May

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Passion – Hope Mill Theatre

‘Die, Fosca! Die’ was the call from the auditorium in response to the first production of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Passion’ in May 1994. Theatre trolling alive and well before the internet even existed. Who would have known? No such reaction from the audience gathered in a packed Hope Mill Theatre this evening I can assure you, but I will come back to that… Based on Tarchetti’s 1869 novel Fosca, Passion is one of the few projects that Stephen Sondheim himself conceived. When it first opened on Broadway in May 1994 it was admired by critics but not by audiences who were utterly repelled by the character of Fosca, the woman with whom Giorgio eventually falls in love. Unattractive, manipulative, obsessive, relentless in her pursuit of this younger man, audiences refused to believe that t...