Neil Hurst Archives - North West End UK

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Hull New Theatre

16Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Hull New Theatre

An incident tonight at the Hull New Theatre highlighted a perfect example of how lovely panto folk are. Goldilocks and the Three Bears were in town, and, after Joey, the Clown (Neil Hurst) had sprayed those seated on the front rows with water from a huge water pistol, many times, he then covered the wet theatregoers in reams of toilet paper, so they could dry off. Thoughtful or what! And that is why I never, ever sit on the front rows of a panto - one blast from that pistol and I would have been a fuzzball. But from my fab seat up in the circle, how I laughed at the victims’ screams. And I never stopped laughing all the way through this rip-roaring, colourful spectacle. The whole production was a riot of colour from start to finish, thanks to the most amazing costumes - some...

26Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Hairspray – Bradford Alhambra

Hairspray is one of those rare musicals that can happily combine big, breezy show tunes with a clear political message, but still easily fill big theatres like this. It’s 1962, Tracy Turnblad is a plus size teenager with an enormous beehive living in racially segregated Baltimore, who has a dream of becoming a star of the Corny Collins TV dance show despite limited talent, which certainly feels familiar in our reality TV obsessed world. Along the way Tracy who is mocked by the 'cool' white teens finds she has much in common with her black friends, and leads an assault on Corny’s show to try and unite the races through the medium of song and dance. Hairspray was the creation of transgressive cult filmmaker John Waters who brought together a gang of misfits in his home city to cre...

19Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Hairspray – Hull New Theatre

Hull New Theatre was packed to the rafters on Monday evening, in anticipation of watching Hairspray - “the hilarious, joyous and most inspiring musical of all” according to the press release. Did it live up that that description? You bet. I loved every madcap minute. It’s 1962 America - Baltimore to be exact - and teen schoolgirl Tracy Turnblad (Katie Brace) is desperate to appear on her favourite TV programme, The Corny Collins Show. Corny (Joseph Bristow), invites teens to show off their dancing skills, but racial segregation is prevalent in America at that time, so all of the dancers are “white”, with a “negro” night being held every so often. Corny’s show is sponsored by a hairspray company, and Tracy’s ears prick up when she hears of a competition for a Miss Teenage Hairsp...

16Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Hairspray – Sheffield Lyceum

It’s Welcome to the 60’s as Hairspray sprays the Sheffield Lyceum this week and You Can’t stop the Beat with this high energy, high octave musical. With the original screenplay by John Waters and the Musical Productions book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, the composer and co-lyricist Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman collectively created a modern day classic - with all the ingredients to give Hairspray the longevity and wide spread appeal is deserves. Under the direction of Paul Kerryson and Brenda Edwards with top notch choreography by Drew Mconie this current UK tour easily equals, and I think surpassed its predecessor. With minimum set (Takis) and lavish caricatured costume the vast stage of the Lyceum is filled with an incredible cast which has a heart as big as its storyli...

19Jul

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Hairspray – Palace Theatre

Hairspray at the Palace Theatre in Manchester is an absolute delight and easily one of the best feel-good musical experiences. Watching live from the theatre, I couldn’t help but find myself unconsciously joining in with the choreography, swept up in the infectious energy of the performance. The show brilliantly captures the essence of Hairspray, bringing its vibrant characters and catchy tunes to life. The cast is exceptional, delivering standout performances that are both heartfelt and exhilarating. The exuberance and passion they bring to their roles are palpable, making it impossible not to get caught up in the excitement. A highlight of the show was the spectacular performance of "You Can't Stop the Beat." This number was a true showstopper, filled with energy and joy that had t...

The Full Monty – Opera House, Manchester

15Feb

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

The Full Monty – Opera House, Manchester

On Tuesday evening I had the pleasure of watching the comedic triumph ‘The Full Monty’ at the Manchester Opera House. Our director (Michael Gyngell), the show’s designer (Jasmine Swan) and the producer (David Pugh) has immense shoes to fill, and certainly did not disappoint. Being incredibly familiar with the show, and having watched it previously in an amateur capacity, I was very much looking forward to this brand new adaptation, featuring some well-known faces. The musical is cleverly adapted from the late 90’s British film of the same name, six unemployed Northern steelworkers, all low on cash, decide to present a strip act, for one night only, their local conservative club after seeing their wives' enthusiasm for a touring company of Chippendales. Danny Hatchard played the prot...

31Jan

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

The Full Monty – The Alexandra

Most people know one thing about The Full Monty, it’s about a group of men who decide to be male strippers. There is however a whole lot more to this brilliant show than that. The themes in this play are as relevant now as they were when the story was first written. As the redundant steel workers struggle to make ends meet and deal with unemployment in their own ways, we are shown a realistic portrayal of the struggles faced by anyone in that position. Each character has his issues, Gaz the laddish, confident rogue played with gusto and heart by Danny Hatchard, who would do anything for his son. Dave (Neil Hurst) dealing with weight problems and rock bottom self-esteem and Gerald (Bill Ward) trying desperately to hide his unemployment from his wife and the world. These and the other men...

The Full Monty – Liverpool Empire Theatre

17Jan

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

The Full Monty – Liverpool Empire Theatre

Well, we have all probably seen the film – a bunch of middle -aged men – ex steel workers – who when the steel mills and factories close, are left broke, desperate and powerless. A story with its iconic scenes, music and humour that everyone – especially females – remembered - The Full Monty - when a bunch of men, for one night only, become cabaret strippers. So, how was this going to translate from screen to stage? I was intrigued to find out. The Liverpool Empire theatre was packed to the rafters – mostly women I have to say, and there was a deep breath of anticipation across the auditorium as the show started. A large steel construction, a scaffold frame that was a formidable centre piece, drew us into Sheffield’s former glory of theses skyline -consuming steel factories ...

18Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cinderella – Hull New Theatre

I don’t know what panto favourite, Neil Hurst, had eaten before taking to the Hull New Theatre stage on Sunday evening, but whatever it was had really oiled his make-‘em-laugh muscles - he was in top comedic form. As Buttons, in the age-old favourite, Cinderella, Hurst was on stage for most of the evening, delighting what looked like a sell-out theatre, from curtain up. And what a curtain! Featuring just one word - the panto’s title - dripping in glitter, bedazzling and making us impatient for what was to come, as did the images swirling around the walls and ceiling. The plot of this fairytale needs no explanation, so I’ll keep it short - poor girl, Cinderella or “Cinders” (Rebekah Lowings), mistreated by her two Ugly Sisters, Hernia (Peter Peverley) and Verruca (Jack Land Noble),...

15Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Full Monty – Bradford Alhambra

The Full Monty was one of a group of films shining a light on the traumatic impact Thatcherism had on Northern communities, but unlike the risible Billy Elliot it did it by never pulling its punches. Simon Beaufoy has adapted his movie script for a stage version of how six jobless Sheffield blokes fought back to become unlikely strippers and let it all hang out to pay off their debts. The stage version is far funnier than the film, although it still tackles some big themes including class, suicide, ageism, body shaming, gay visibility, and the utter corrosion of the human spirit when you’re cast on the scrapheap. Beaufoy wisely still holds it together round the core theme that hope can spring from despair in often the most unlikely of ways like getting your kit off. For fans of the m...