M&S Bank Arena Archives - North West End UK

23Dec

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

Sleeping Beauty – M&S Bank Arena

On 20th December I had the pleasure of watching ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the M&S Bank Arena Auditorium, which turned out to be a truly wonderful evening of seasonal entertainment for an audience of all ages. The abundance of customary double-entendre did not fail to provoke giggles from the adults without detracting from the traditional family-friendly format of the great British institution of Christmas panto. The eclectic mix of popular music was adapted perfectly to the storyline with some notable pieces perfectly showcasing the beautiful vocal ability of Lucy Kay, playing The Fairy in our tale. Audience members, young and old, thoroughly enjoyed clapping and dancing along to the well-known songs throughout. A particular highlight and example of this was the ever-popular ‘YMCA’ whic...

By The Waters of Liverpool – M&S Bank Arena

7Sep

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

By The Waters of Liverpool – M&S Bank Arena

Tonight, I was lucky enough to be reviewing Helen Forrester’s ‘By the waters of Liverpool’ written by Rob Fennah and directed by Gareth Tudor Price. The play was meant to be at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre but sadly due to its closure it was moved to the M&S Arena auditorium. Which actually seemed more fitting considering the title of the play. This play is a follow on from the previous ‘Two Pence across the Mersey’ which I had previously reviewed. This play set in 1939 on the brink of World War Two. As the play opened, we hear Neville Chamberlain making that dreaded amount from the cabinet room of 10 Downing Street. The story back tracks a couple of years prior when Helen (Emma Mulligan) is aged 18. We see that during this time in Helen’s life, her father (Tom Roberts) has become b...

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 3 Tour – M&S Bank Arena

17Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 3 Tour – M&S Bank Arena

It's too conformist. It's not political enough. There's a diversity problem. The drag debate began long ago and won't be settled anytime soon. But surely, if a show has talent and is attracting a new audience then it's doing something right? If so, there's very little to debate: RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 3 Tour is bloody brilliant. The latest season of RuPaul on the BBC boasted a stellar line-up. But it's not until each queen is given an equal time to shine that it's clear just how stellar. There are no weak links, everyone is bringing their a-game and the result is mainstream drag at its very finest. A black and white-themed runway opener gives the up-for-it-audience a first glimpse of what's in vogue. The looks are predictably incredible. This review will focus on the performan...

31May

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Sleeping Beauty – M&S Bank Arena

Live theatre is back after over. A year of wanting and hoping it was amazing to be in an auditorium waiting for the curtain to rise. Sleeping Beauty at the M&S Bank auditorium until the 6th of June. The show had Gareth Gates (Les Miserable and Pop Idol), Bippo who is the comedy relief in the show, and Emma Grace Arends as Beauty amongst a small chorus. The show is approx. 2 hours long with one interval. Watching the show I felt it was rather flat, it’s opening weekend energy is meant to be high but I just felt underwhelmed. The music over shadowed the microphones so some parts of the vocals were lost. Moving on some lines were muddled up and Gareth Gates entered too early for his scene. Bippo however, rescued it well. It came to a point where it was a live rehearsal not an opening ...

Top Magicians Line-up to Re-Open Liverpool’s M&S Arena

20Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Top Magicians Line-up to Re-Open Liverpool’s M&S Arena

Shone Productions are bringing a spectacular magic show, which is set to be the first performance of the year at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena this Summer to mark the venue’s post lockdown reopening. The show will form the first live programme taking place at the waterfront venue when Covid-19 restrictions are eased following 17th May. Liverpool-based producer James Shone is delighted to reveal that X-treme Magic will be staged on Saturday 22nd May at 7pm in The Auditorium at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, and tickets are on sale now. This is no old-fashioned rabbit-out-of-hat magic, this show is a spectacle, designed to thrill with death-defying edge-of-your-seat stunts, grand stage illusions, daredevil escapology, and mind-blowing magic all within a fast-paced performance. ...

Three New Summer Shows Announced For Liverpool’s Waterfront Venue

11Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Three New Summer Shows Announced For Liverpool’s Waterfront Venue

Shone Productions have announced three new shows – including a pantomime – heading for The Auditorium stage at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena this Summer to mark the venue’s post lockdown reopening. The shows will form the first live programme taking place at the waterfront venue when Covid-19 restrictions are eased in the coming months. Liverpool-based producer James Shone is delighted to reveal that X-treme Magic, Sleeping Beauty and Circus Spectacular will thrill audiences young and old. The line-up includes singer Gareth Gates, magicians Richard Cadell and Pete Firman, Peppa Pig’s Emma Grace Arends, Britain’s Got Talent’s Elizabeth Best, and comedy performer Bippo. Organisers are keen to reassure theatregoers that all necessary safety measures – including social distancing...