Opera House Archives - North West End UK

18Dec

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Opera House

From the moment the curtain rose on the Opera House stage there was magic in the room and everyone was transported into a world of laughter and light. It had fun, frolics, wit and so much warmth that they probably could have turned the heating off in the theatre. This was a panto with a distinctly northern edge. It was laid-back and friendly, with enough jokes to keep the kids amused but also plenty of gags for the adults that would easily sail over younger heads. Topical jokes were thrown in and there were a few ad-libs when things on stage didn’t go as planned. This show was early on in the run, but you could feel that the cast was having a great time. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and there was little jeopardy or drama on stage. This panto was not particularly concerned w...

Rocky Horror Show – Opera House, Blackpool

20Nov

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Rocky Horror Show – Opera House, Blackpool

I spent my evening at Blackpool Winter Gardens, as a Rocky Horror Show virgin, I cannot believe the level of commitment of some of the costuming from the audience members, one guy was literally in gold boxing shorts and a wig and heels. I have heard before of the active audience participation during this production, in fact one of the reasons why this musical is so popular is due to said participation, but it is something that needs to be seen to be believed. Another reason is the Musical score, with catchy tune such as ‘The Time Warp’ and ‘Sweet Transvestite’ which will leave you humming on your way out of the theatre. Rocky Horror also a movie from 1975 has been a cult classic for many years. With the music lyrics and book by Richard O’Brien, this melodramatic, twee, tongue in cheek p...

Only Fools and Horses The Musical – Opera House

13Nov

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Only Fools and Horses The Musical – Opera House

Only Fools and Horses - The Hit Musical is a five-star masterpiece that brings the beloved TV classic to life with laughter, warmth, and a toe-tapping soundtrack! Created by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger; for me, the production perfectly captures the charm and humour of Peckham’s most famous family. It’s a feel good trip down memory lane, but also lets a new audience experience the Trotters for the first time! The outstanding cast delivers pitch-perfect performances that honour the iconic characters while not trying to Carbon-copy them. Sam Lupton is a stand-out as Del Boy, exuding charisma, sharp wit, and infectious optimism that draws the audience in from the start. Tom Major, as Rodney, offers a delightful blend of innocence and awkwardn...

24Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

& Juliet – Opera House, Blackpool

Ever wondered what might’ve happened if Juliet hadn’t died? Well, there’s life after Romeo! With a hilarious script from David West Read (Schitt’s Creek), the story offers Juliet a new beginning, and a second chance at love, as it explores what might’ve happened if she hadn’t ended it all over Romeo. Intertwined with pop hits by song-writing juggernaut, Max Martin, & Juliet feels fresh, fearless and an awful lot of fun. The opening number, ‘Larger than Life’, set the tone for the evening. Everything about this show, indeed, felt larger than life! The set design from Soutra Gilmour was epic, using a very clever blend of moving furniture and projections to bring the stage to life. Video designs and animations, from Andrzej Goulding, were similarly superb. Paloma Young’s costume design...

13Jul

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

& Juliet – Opera House, Manchester

When this Musical first debuted in Manchester in 2019; I became an immediate fan and I was over the moon when &Juliet announced a UK Tour this year with its first stop at the Manchester Opera House. The vibrant reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic is such a feel good musical, you can’t help but love it as it takes you on an exhilarating journey that is both uplifting and deeply entertaining, powered by an incredible back catalogue of hits penned by the legendary Max Martin. From the opening number to the final curtain and cancelling to Justin Timberlake hit ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’, & Juliet is a joyous celebration of self-discovery and empowerment throughout! This new tour features a brand new cast; with Matt Cardle as the Bard himself and the sensational Gerardine Sacdal...

Burlesque the Musical – Opera House, Manchester

26Jun

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Burlesque the Musical – Opera House, Manchester

Following the success of the 2010 smash hit film starring global superstars Christina Aguilera and Cher, I knew it would only be a matter of time before Burlesque was converted to a stage show – with the glitz, the glamour and the Broadway-esque showtunes, it’s a perfect fit for the big stage. There were certainly moments of pure brilliance that could have only been delivered in such a format as theatre, but I do have to say that some moments did leave a little to be desired, which was such a shame for a show of this calibre. Let’s start with the exceptional. Firstly, the female lead – down-on-her-luck Ali, played by Jess Folley – was an absolute casting masterclass. Not many aspiring singers can step into the lofty designer shoes of one Christina Aguilera, but vocally Folley held he...

An Officer and a Gentleman – Manchester c

2May

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

An Officer and a Gentleman – Manchester c

Based on the original screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart, An Officer and a Gentleman the musical is here at the Manchester Opera House as part of its UK tour. Directed by Leicester Curve Artistic director Nikolai Foster, we are treated to a well-rounded piece of theatre which has been well thought out to keep it fresh and smooth with an air of familiarity about it. The story follows Zack Mayo and his fellow Navy recruits at their training camp in Pensacola, Florida, and their journey through a 12-week programme to try and become Navy Jet pilots. Through rigorous training, we see recruits struggle and fail, leaving the training programme, eventually bringing the other recruits closer together, pushing each other along to reach their final goal. But not everything runs smoothly, and we see...

Peter Pan Goes Wrong – Opera House, Manchester

28Mar

By Emma WildNo Comments

North West

Peter Pan Goes Wrong – Opera House, Manchester

Well, what a night! This show will live long in the memory for all the right reasons! The ‘Cornley Drama Society’ (Mischief Theatre) have visited Cornley Polytechnic (The Opera House Manchester) to put on their production of Peter Pan (which is most definitely NOT a pantomime!). Cornley Drama Society is full of endearing characters, including over-ambitious wannabes, all of whom are hilarious, under-rehearsed, prop, stunt and line-bumbling amateur thespians. The programme (which is an absolute hoot!) informs that Members of the Cornley Youth Theatre have the honour of joining the ‘real near-professional actors and directors’ of the adult section of the Society, (whether they want to or not!) for this disastrous production of J.M. Barrie’s classic story about a mischievous boy from Never...

7Mar

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Legally Blonde – Opera House, Blackpool

A wonderful, vibrant, colourful evening of song and dance this evening at The Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Encore Productions brought us an array of local talent taking us on a journey of the classic story that we all know from the movie of the same name. The show follows the character Elle Woods on a journey from a Barbieesque sorority girl, to attending Harvard law school, in the hopes of winning back her ex-boyfriend. With choreography and musical direction from industry professionals the cast were in good hands, Natalie Pollard provided creative routines and ‘Whipped the dancers into shape’ Ed Rugman ‘used the talented singers to provide a well rounded, strong ensemble with nice clean harmonies. The cast were full of energy and some outstanding performances this evening that would ...

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...