Howard Hudson Archives - North West End UK

29Oct

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

& Juliet – Liverpool Empire

What would happen if Juliet decided not to end it all when she finds Romeo dead? What would happen if when writing Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s wife, Ann, has a share of the writing and what we thought we knew about this well-known play is altered completely? For the better? For the worse? Well, we are here to find out. With book by David West Read and Music and Lyrics by Swedish pop song writer, Max Martin and Friends, we are taken on a bright, exciting, loud journey of discovery, love, and the meaning of compromise. The show opens with the company of players milling around the stage, interacting with the audience and treating us to some incredible dancing before an explosion of colour and life hits us and we are thrown into this rollercoaster of a story. Matt Cardle is extrem...

8Oct

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

& Juliet – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

The name ‘Max Martin’ doesn’t immediately ring a lot of bells for most people, but the chances are you actually know him pretty well. Martin is the writer and producer of a mammoth number of hit songs over the last three decades and is a huge driving force behind the careers of global acts including Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys, Pink and countless others. Seeing the theatrical potential in this catalogue of iconic bangers, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ writer David West Read was enlisted to adapt one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, and so, ‘& Juliet’ was born. 90s boybands and star-crossed lovers may not seem the most obvious pairing at first, but ‘& Juliet’ made it work, gaining an adoring fandom in its Manchester and London runs. Now it’s the...

10Mar

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Opera North: Rigoletto – The Lowry

Femi Elufowoju Jr’s interpretation of Giuseppe Verdi’s 1851 masterpiece for Opera North by and large works although I’m yet to be convinced about the zebra. We open as the Duke (Roman Arndt) leads his courtiers in drinking and debauchery whilst his jester, Rigoletto (Eric Greene) mocks all those around. The arrival of Count Monterone (Byron Jackson) in a failed attempt to save his daughter results in a curse on the Duke and Rigoletto. Rigoletto is tormented by the curse, and we discover he has a daughter, Gilda (Jasmine Habersham) whom he jealously guards, but the Duke has already spied and fallen for her – or has he? The courtiers have also tired of Rigoletto’s antics at court and under the steer of Marullo (Themba Mvula), they trick him before carrying Gilda off to the palace. R...

9Aug

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

RENT – Hope Mill Theatre

After almost three years in the making, a short run in 2020 which became a casualty of COVID-19 and a very successful online run, RENT at Hope Mill is back and it is explosive, imaginative and full of character. The stage is open with a very minimal set, but it needs no more as the storytelling fills the space and makes the room feel full. As the cast enter and take their seats around the edge of the stage area, you can feel the buzz and excitement in the room, a full capacity audience ready to soak in the story, the music, the love. As soon as the song ‘Rent’ began, you could feel the electricity in the room as the whole stage came to life and we were taken on a journey of friendship, love, life and loss. The cast were visible the whole time, whether on the stage or not and th...

Hope Mill Theatre announces rescheduled dates for revival of RENT

29May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre announces rescheduled dates for revival of RENT

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester has announced rescheduled dates for its production of RENT, plus full creative team. Due to the current Coronavirus outbreak, the venue has been closed since 17th March and has had to cancel or postpone all scheduled productions until further notice. RENT, directed by Luke Sheppard, was due to open in July, with rehearsals beginning in June, however the musical will now open on Friday 30th October and run until Sunday 13th December 2020. https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/ The venue has taken the decision to reschedule the run of RENT should they be able to open later this year, which they hope to be able to do. All audience members who have already booked for the run of RENT have been contacted about exchanging tickets and refunds. Hope Mill T...