Jayne Dittrich Archives - North West End UK

6Dec

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Pantoville – St Thomas’s Church Hall

Written & directed by Michael Pirks Returning once again to review a Michael Pirks Soup Production feels less like an assignment and more like coming home. Since first meeting Pirks in 2024, I’ve been hooked on his brilliantly spirited writing, and Pantoville - my fifth of his shows, proves yet again that his creative well runs deep and delightfully wild. While his previous works I’ve seen have been plays, this venture into pantomime is nothing short of a triumphant stroke of genius. With all the essential ingredients of a classic panto - singing, dancing, audience participation and of course the timeless cries of “He’s behind you!” and “Oh no you didn’t!”, Pirks not only honours the tradition but elevates it. The script is enriched with beloved Disney and storybook characters, g...

Checkout – St John’s United Reformed Church Hall

Soup Productions presented ‘Checkout’ staged in St John’s United Reformed Church Hall, Warrington. Set in the bustling aisles of the fictional discount store Super Save, ‘Checkout’ written by the fabulous Mike Pirks and Sam Duxbury is a warm-hearted yet emotionally resonant play skilfully blending comedy with timely social commentary. Featuring initially a core trio of supermarket workers navigating daily life, difficult customers, however, this production delivers more than just laughs. The story centres on three colleagues: Tracy (Karen Hewitt) with leadership, calming qualities and compassion, Marlena (Lisa Rhodes) a brilliant boisterous bold sharp witted flirtatious singleton and Molly (Louise Wright) in a touching, vulnerable but hilarious performance. The chemistry is palpable ...

Chicken – Pyramid Arts Centre

Soup Productions proudly presented an intimate and original piece of Warrington Theatre at the versatile Pyramid Arts Centre. Writer and Director Mike Pirks recently caught my attention with his phenomenal script of ‘Smiler’ in February this year. So, I was thrilled to be asked to return and review his latest creation of ‘Chicken’ alongside ‘The Pride Monologues’. Pirks stated that’s his latest works were the most important stories he had ever told and that he was honoured to have been given the chance to put these pieces together. The show runs during Warrington Pride month and has been chosen as a part of the Culture Warrington’s Pride Programme running for two nights only. Jake Liken is the creative producer for communities at Culture Warrington who felt that this creative piece w...