Hull New Theatre Archives - North West End UK

The Silence of the Lambs – Hull New Theatre

4Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Silence of the Lambs – Hull New Theatre

There was a definite chill in the air even before the curtain rose on the psychological thriller The Silence of the Lambs when it started its run at the Hull New Theatre on Monday evening; the theatre itself was extremely cold, making it quite an uncomfortable experience for we theatregoers. However, the world stage play premiere of this production, based on Thomas Harris’s 1988 book, would have chilled us through, even if the theatre’s heating had been on full blast. I was genuinely scared a lot of the time during the show. Written by the award-winning Gina Gionfriddo and directed by the acclaimed Nikolai Foster, the story delves into areas that the 1991 film didn’t have time to. As Gionfriddo explains: “The producers have the rights to the book, but not the film, so anything ...

28Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Legally Blonde – Hull New Theatre

Bruiser Woods had us in the palm of his hands, appearing as he did quite early on in the musical, Legally Blonde, which started its run at the Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening. I should say the palm of his paws as Bruiser is a teeny chihuahua, performing as Sprout, the pet of the star of the show, Elle Woods (Amber Davies). We, in the packed theatre, melted instantly as soon as he appeared. Also eliciting “ahs” from the audience later on was a real bruiser of a dog called Rufus, playing the part of Rocco. Two gorgeous pooches - what's not to love? This new production of Legally Blonde, based on the award-winning 2001 film, centres around University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) student, Elle, who, expecting a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, fellow student Warner (J...

22Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cats – Hull New Theatre

After watching Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical, Cats, at the Hull New Theatre on Wednesday night, it finally became clear why our cat, Bill, stayed out just the one night of the year, usually in October, for 18 years without fail. He was at the Jellicle Ball - the focal point of this production. The concept for Cats came from renowned poet T.S.Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, a book of playful poems enjoyed by Lloyd Webber as a child. As an adult, he set some of the poems to music and the rest, as they say, is history. As the curtain rose, we theatregoers in the jam-packed venue were treated to the sight of dancers in the most glorious cat costumes. Against the background of a huge full moon encased in a crusted, glittery crescent, they creep out of the shadow...

29Sep

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Jersey Boys – Hull New Theatre

Having seen the musical Jersey Boys several times now, both as a reviewer as well as a paying theatregoer, this recent production at the Hull New Theatre shows just why the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is still filling theatres, 20 years after it was first staged. The group’s music needs no introduction - hit followed hit with the likes of Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, My Eyes Adored You, Beggin’, Rag Doll and many more. And on Monday night in Hull, we in the full-ish theatre were treated to all these songs with plenty of their other hits thrown in. Classed as a “musical biography”, we were not only treated to the most wonderful music and singing, but also to the story of where it all began - in Noo Joisey, oh sorry, got carried away there, I mean Ne...

9Sep

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Annie – Hull New Theatre

Some productions are so effortlessly professional and polished, it’s easy to forget they are that way because of all the hard work put into them, by everyone concerned - on stage and off. Effortlessly professional and polished perfectly describes the West End smash hit, Annie, which started its run at the Hull New Theatre on Tuesday night. Long before the 7.30pm start time the stage was set for us to view, giving us a glimpse of beds sparsely covered and over-lit with industrial-type lamps. This cold, prison-like scene is home to the world’s most famous orphan, Annie, and six of her chums, all under the “care” of the oft inebriated Miss Hannigan, in a New York orphanage. The year is 1933, during America’s Great Depression, and 11-year-old, red-haired Annie (the absolutely amazi...

2Sep

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Waitress – Hull New Theatre

The first time I reviewed Waitress for this website, in 2022, I wrote: “Sometimes the singing was a wee bit too loud for me to distinguish certain words, but I’m sure my ears were to blame”. Well, those same ears are still attached to my noggin, so how would they fare four years older? I am pleased to say the sound engineers got it just right on Tuesday night, when Waitress started its - 10th anniversary - run at a packed Hull New Theatre. The city’s theatregoers were out in force, maybe with the expectation of seeing the show’s star, entertainer Les Dennis, in action as diner owner, Joe. However, a helpful notice at the box office informed us his role on the night would be undertaken by Dan O’Brien. But any initial disappointment at not seeing the famous name soon disappeared ...

23Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Lord of the Dance – Hull New Theatre

Michael Flatley, creator of the legendary Lord of the Dance, says his “job in life is to make people happy”. Well, all I can say, Sir, is job very well done. On Wednesday evening, the crowds flocked into the Hull New Theatre to watch Flatley’s 30th anniversary tribute show to his creation with Lord of the Dance 30 amazing years of standing ovations. This was my third time of seeing the super-talented Irish man’s show and, each time I think it can’t get any better, it bloomin’ well does. The 30th Anniversary Tour promises brand-new choreography, stunning costumes, state-of-the-art special effects and cutting-edge lighting, ensuring an “unforgettable experience”. At curtain up, I was about to see if it would live up to its promise. A first look at the stage setting and it was ...

The Ballad of Johnny & June – Hull New Theatre

15Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Ballad of Johnny & June – Hull New Theatre

The applause started immediately after curtain up on Tuesday night when The Ballad of Johnny & June hit the Hull New Theatre stage. We were showing our appreciation for the fantastic music being played by on-stage musicians who were sometimes visible, yet mostly obscured, throughout the production - a production that would have been nothing without their amazing, tuneful contribution under Connagh Tonkinson’s direction. This new musical, from the book by Robert Cary and Des McAnuff (who also directed) being the story of country music legends Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, was obviously going to be brimful of harmonies, yet behind those famous tunes - Jackson, I Walk the Line, A Boy Named Sue and Ring of Fire to name just a few hits - lay a world of drug-taking, trage...

2Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Car Man – Hull New Theatre

Sparks literally flew as Matthew Bourne’s award-winning The Car Man hit the Hull New Theatre stage on Tuesday evening. Performed by Bourne’s New Adventures dancers, it’s billed as “Bizet’s Carmen re-ignited”. Set in a 1960s garage, the sparks we saw were presumably from a welding gun used by one of the dishiest set of mechanics I’ve ever set eyes upon. All the action takes place in the US town of Harmony; however, events are far from harmonious after a drifter answers Dino’s Diner and Garage’s ad for “man wanted”. Garage owner, Dino Alfano (Alan Vincent), is married to the beautiful, younger Lana (Ashley Shaw). He has no idea what tragedy will enfold by employing the traveller, who goes by the name of Luca (Harrison Dowzell). The stage setting was a hive of activity even before...

4Jun

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Barnum – Hull New Theatre

Never was a standing ovation so well deserved as that given to the cast of Barnum, The Circus Musical after they thrilled a full-ish Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening. For over two hours we were entertained with sensational singing, dancing, acrobatics, magic tricks, music from multi-talented musicians - and Jumbo, the elephant circus owner Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) once advertised as “the largest in the world” in order to draw in the crowds. It was later discovered he had enhanced Jumbo’s skeleton after the animal had died, by packing it with blocks of wood and positioning its tusks to make it look extra massive. However, the huge elephant puppet on stage on the night was one of the best I have seen in any show, so hats off to its designers, Mervyn Millar and Tracy Wall...