Opera House Archives - Page 5 of 5

10Nov

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Waitress – Manchester Opera House

In order to bake a perfect pie, it is necessary to have quality ingredients mixed in the correct proportions by an experienced baker; add in heat allied with perfect timing and a scrumptious pastry is produced. Just such a dish was served before the hungry and eager capacity audience at Manchester Opera House this evening as 'Waitress' begins a two-week residency in the city centre. The show arrives in Manchester in the midst of a UK wide tour, having been a huge Broadway and West End hit following its premiere back in 2016. The all-female creative triumvirate of Sarah Bareilles (Music & Lyrics), Jessie Nelson (Book) and Diane Paulus (Director) have crafted a warm and funny piece which simultaneously tugs at the heartstrings whilst also being unafraid to confront issues that women f...

26Oct

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Cat and the Canary – Opera House

With Halloween upon us and the clocks going back at the weekend, our thoughts turn to entertainment of the scary variety, therefore an old-fashioned thriller set in a creepy house should be just what is required as the nights draw in. Unfortunately, the production of 'The Cat and the Canary' which began its week-long run at the Manchester Opera House this evening was a huge disappointment. As a thriller it wasn't scary, as a comedy it wasn't funny, and it wasn't camp enough to be interesting as a pastiche of the genre. Based on the 1921 play by John Willard and adapted by Carl Grose, the production wore its 100 years heavily, with the usual tropes that one would associate with a thriller of this vintage. Creepy old mansion - check; assortment of characters assembled and trapped against ...

7Oct

By Anne PritchardNo Comments

North West

Rock of Ages – Manchester Opera House

We were asked for proof of COVID vaccinations as we entered the theatre; those who couldn’t produce them were asked to take a temperature check at the side entrance. All theatre staff were wearing masks. The theatre was two thirds full: mostly with a 23-35 year old age group with a sprinkling of older theatre-goers. There was an air of anticipation as we waited for the curtain to go up. Once it did, two lone guitarists appeared beneath projected images of USA; the set was a nightclub, The Bourbon Room, with a small stage and a bar with tables and chairs. Rock of Ages doesn’t have much of a story, but for what there is, it is a typical love story, well three love stories really but the main story concerns a small town girl, Sherrie (Rhiannon Chesterman), who relocate...

Bat Out Of Hell – Opera House Manchester

15Sep

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

Bat Out Of Hell – Opera House Manchester

The award-winning musical featuring Jim Steinman & Meat Loaf’s greatest hits has rock n rolled back into Manchester where it opened back in 2017 and my goodness has it made itself heard! Of course, when you hear the title ‘Bat Out of Hell’ you can’t help but sing it. Packed to the brim with rock anthems, the production is exactly as you would expect it to be paired with the dramatic, rock songs produced through the years by the well-known pair. The story follows Strat, the leader of the rebellious gang ‘The Lost’, as he falls in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler of Obsidian, Falco. There’s a real sense of a Romeo and Juliet, star crossed lovers plot, mixed with a hint of the story of Peter Pan’s Lost Boys, as the rebellious crew are forever young, th...

25Aug

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

The Rocky Horror Show – Opera House

If ever a show epitomised how happy people are to be back in theatres, it’s this one. You can’t move for corsets, sequins and high heels. And that’s just the men. For those unfamiliar with the nature of the show, perhaps having no more than a vague recollection of the 1975 film, it’s like being taken on a joyride on a high-powered motorbike and has an atmosphere more akin to a rock gig than a theatre show. The cheering and enthusiastic audience participation is in full throttle from the moment the strains of ‘Science Fiction Double Feature’ start and the curtain twitches open. It’s a fantastic atmosphere for our cast to bounce off, which they do with gusto. Philip Franks, in a role a billion miles away from his stuffy Darling Bud of May character, is outstanding as the Narrator, g...

Sleeping Beauty Gets Enforced Lie-In in Manchester

3Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Sleeping Beauty Gets Enforced Lie-In in Manchester

Following the announcement that Manchester is in Tier 3 from Wednesday 2nd December, when the national lockdown was lifted, Manchester Opera House and Qdos Entertainment have announced that the opening of Sleeping Beauty will be delayed and will now begin on Thursday 24th December 2020 and run until Sunday 10th January 2021. Sheena Wrigley, Theatre Director of Manchester Palace & Opera House said: “Given the downward trend of the virus in the City, and the community’s campaign for the reduction of the Tier level at the next review, we continue to be hopeful that we can stage the show this Christmas, opening a little later than planned on 24th December. We thank all of our customers for their patience at this time as we work to get affected bookings rescheduled and are also gr...

Back To The Future: The Musical Returns to The Stage in 2021

7Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Back To The Future: The Musical Returns to The Stage in 2021

It’s back! One of the most spectacular new musicals to hit the stage in recent years returns in 2021 following a run at Manchester’s Opera House which was dramatically cut short days after its official opening due to COVID-19. Back To The Future: The Musical will open at London’s Adelphi Theatre on the 14th May 2021, initially booking until the 19th December 2021. Welcome to Hill Valley! Take an electrifying ride back in time as the 1985 blockbuster film and pop culture phenomenon arrives in London’s West End as a groundbreaking new musical adventure! When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the p...

7Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Opera House, Manchester

The theatre opened as the New Theatre in 1912, renamed the New Queen’s Theatre in 1915 and as the Opera House in 1920 when it came under the wing of John Hart and his associates of United Theatres Ltd. In 1931 it was bought by, and prospered under, Howard & Wyndham Ltd which had been formed at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow in 1895 by Michael Simons. The group`s managing director A Stewart Cruikshank, headquartered at the group's headquarters in the King's Theatre, Edinburgh was joined on the board by Charles B Cochrane who now became a visiting producer at the Opera House, premiering numerous musicals and revues. The theatre staged the full range of plays, musicals, opera, and pantomime. It closed in 1979 and for five years was a bingo hall. The Palace Trust acquired it in 1984 and ret...

7Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Venues

UK and Ireland Venues

North West End UK are collating a list of all the theatres we have reviewed in as well as others across the UK. The list below will be constantly added to as well as updated where required. Simply click on the venue name (listed alphabetically) to learn more. If you would like your venue listed below contact us at info@northwestend.co.uk and we will be in touch to gain the relevant details as soon as possible. BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME BUXTON OPERA HOUSE GRAND THEATRE, BLACKPOOL EMPIRE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL OPERA HOUSE MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE, MANCHESTER PEACOCK THEATRE, LONDON