Richard Atkinson Archives - North West End UK

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Liverpool Empire

10Mar

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Liverpool Empire

Glittering, joyous, and unapologetically bold, Priscilla Queen of the Desert bursts onto the stage as a dazzling celebration of identity, friendship, and resilience. Directed by Ian Talbot. Based on the 1994 Australian film of a similar name, this stage musical transforms the road-trip story into a vibrant theatrical spectacle packed with iconic disco hits, stunning choreography (Matt Cole) and exuberant costumes (Vicky Gill). A show absolutely NOT to be missed! The story follows three friends Tick (Mitzi) played by Kevin Clifton, Adam/Felicia (Nick Hayes), and Bernadette (Adele Anderson)—as they travel across the Australian outback in a battered old school bus named 'Priscilla'. Along the way, they encounter both hostility and kindness, forcing them to confront prejudice, pers...

Shrek The Musical – Hull New Theatre

Imagine being thrown out of your house and told by your parents to make your own way in life - at the age of 7! That’s exactly what happened to a young Shrek, the green ogre whose story is told in Shrek The Musical which started its run at the Hull New Theatre on Tuesday night. But that was the only sad-ish part of the whole rip-roaring production. On the stage, a huge arc of lights surrounded by a backdrop of falling snowflakes and a massive Shrek story book, plus a soundtrack of croaking frogs, greeted us as we took our seats. Within minutes of curtain up, Shrek, now a giant, broke wind, then used a skunk as a deodorant under his armpits. That’s what ogres do. Shrek (Antony Lawrence) had us in the palm of his hands from that first window-rattling trump. But his world is...

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – Buxton Opera House

Following the death of Stephen Sondheim in November 2021, it was inevitable that many of his shows would be performed this year, but I was surprised to see a community theatre group tackling this particular production. Putting on the story of Sweeney Todd is a big challenge for any theatre, and this company has risen to that challenge and smashed it! Director and choreographer Paul Kerryson, who also serves the High Peak Theatre Trust as its CEO, has clearly provided excellent leadership for this Platform 3 production, part of the Buxton Opera House’s learning and engagement initiative. One of Sondheim’s more widely known musicals, thanks in part to the 2007 film adaptation by Tim Burton, the story follows Sweeney Todd as he returns to London, determined to seek revenge for his exile an...