Tuesday, November 10

Tag: Patrick Barlow

The 39 Steps – Hull Truck Theatre
Yorkshire & Humber

The 39 Steps – Hull Truck Theatre

Early on, when watching The 39 Steps at Hull Truck Theatre on Thursday night, I began to wonder how much more of the production I could take, as I’d laughed so much and so hard. I was on the front row, so escape for some respite would have been noticed by the incorrigible actors responsible for my near demise - James Keningale, Kathryn Perkins, Sophie Bloor and the rather dishy Ryan Starling. Understudy Tom Mitchell was the “invisible” scene shifter. Dressed in a dark, tightly fitted onesie-type outfit, he removed and installed furniture, often at the wrong times, finally, briefly emerging onesie-free as Chief Inspector Albright - to huge cheers from the audience. At “curtain up”, to the left on the raised stage was a red leather armchair, side table holding an old-fashioned d...
The 39 Steps – The Alexandra
West Midlands

The 39 Steps – The Alexandra

“What are the 39 Steps?” is the key line on which the entire narrative pivots in Hitchcock’s 1935 adaptation (featuring the engaging Robert Donat) of John Buchan’s 1915 tale of daring-do, high-jinks and military secrets. Mr Memory, of whom the question is asked, happily reveals his answer before meeting a very unhappy end. (Ooops, plot spoiler. Though I think that only happens in that version.) It’s a story riddled with twists, turns and near misses making it ideal fodder for cinema where it’s evolved into no less than four incarnations plus innumerable TV versions and uncountable radio dramatisations. Clearly a hot title which has kept us intrigued for 90 years. I first saw Patrick Barlow’s version (which evasively credits Simon Corble & Nobby Dimon as “From an original concept by” - ...
A Christmas Carol announced at the Liverpool Playhouse this winter
NEWS

A Christmas Carol announced at the Liverpool Playhouse this winter

Christmas is coming…and the Liverpool Playhouse is set to stage a festive treat for Liverpool audiences this winter, with an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ festive classic A Christmas Carol from 4th – 24th December. A small cast of actors will perform in Patrick Barlow’s (The 39 Steps) witty and joyous adaptation of the 19th century story, directed by Gemma Bodinetz in her final production as Artistic Director of the theatres. Featuring carols and songs, the production is a warm, witty and inventive gift for Liverpool audiences. Making the short trip down from the Everyman, Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto favourite Adam Keast swaps his flares for a nightcap and the Everyman stage for the Playhouse stage, to play Ebenezer Scrooge. Adam will perform alongside other local actors, maintaining social...