Sheffield Lyceum Archives - North West End UK

Legally Blonde The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

4Mar

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Legally Blonde The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ took Sheffield Theatres’ stage by storm. An absolute tour de force, it is a hilarious, dazzling night of entertainment for all. Amber Davies stars as Elle Wood, the chihuahua wielding, pink-wearing, fashion-obsessive sorority queen who embarks on an adventure in pursuit of status and legitimacy (or what her ex-boyfriend Warner refers to as ‘seriousness’). Davies is remarkably adept in the role, possessing great comedic sensibility and offering a very precise and focussed portrayal of the unlikely, unlucky-in-love law student. She is excellently matched by George Crawford’s Emmett who provided an equally as pointed and complete performance. Adam Cooper’s Callahan is formidably authoritative and delightfully antagonistic. Jocasta Almgill’s Brooke is refreshin...

25Feb

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Single White Female – Sheffield Lyceum

‘Single White Female’ is an intense psychological thriller, adapted by Rebecca Reid from the iconic 1992 film under the same name, but with a modern twist for its 2026 audience. The script takes many creative liberties in updating the story from the source material, but generally does so fluidly, despite the occasional already-outdated reference and odd pacing of the end of the second act. The play follows Allie and her teenage child Bella, as they navigate life in a skyscraper apartment. Allie’s ex-husband, Sam, tells her his new fiancée is pregnant and cannot afford to support them, so Graham (Allie’s coworker and best friend) encourages her to look for a roommate. Online they quickly find Hedy. Hedy’s relationship grows with both Allie and Bella, but things take a turn for the worst,...

The Tiger Who Came To Tea – Sheffield Lyceum

20Feb

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Tiger Who Came To Tea – Sheffield Lyceum

Tea that hits the perfect spot! The Sheffield Lyceum Theatre welcomed a full house of young theatre goer’s to The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Expertly created and adapted by David Wood with Emma Clayton as Associate Director and Choreographer. The set design by Susie Caulcutt gave the visiting Sheffield tea party guests an open stage showing the detailed kitchen of the house. With an initial welcome by Aaron Andrews as Daddy/ Postman/Milkman and Tiger, Jenanne Redman as Mummy and Eleanor Meredith as Sophie, the audience are encouraged to interact with the characters, and this is maintained throughout the 55-minute performance. With Musical arrangers by Peter Ponzen and musical direction by like Cotton, this musical production is aimed at an audience of ages 3+. I took along my 8-year-old Gra...

12Feb

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Yorkshire & Humber

The Bodyguard – Sheffield Lyceum

The Bodyguard has become a staple of the West End since its debut in 2013. It has resonated with and entertained audiences internationally. This particular production, however, sadly gives pause. There are some impressive design features throughout this show, more so in Tim Hatley’s set design and in particular the thriller aspects are particularly strong and excitingly creative. James-Lee Harris’ character of the stalker, for example, appears in a flash of lightning at a door we have stared at continuously, never once recognising their presence until that jump-scare moment. It’s exhilarating. Protagonist Rachel Marron’s residence feels swanky and full of scope, choosing to obscure part of the stage with long, impressive curtains. It’s visually interesting and simultaneously pragm...

To Kill a Mockingbird – Sheffield Lyceum

28Jan

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

To Kill a Mockingbird – Sheffield Lyceum

A man of colour stands accused of a crime he did not commit, and yet he is judged more for the colour of his skin than his words of defence. His white lawyer is judged for representing him. His town is divided along racial lines, and between those who seek progress and those who want to preserve the old way of life. An all-too-common description of events we see in the news in 2026, yes. But also the plot of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, set in 1930s Alabama. An era defined by the struggle for progress, equality and freedom. A story that remains chillingly relevant today. This production of To Kill a Mockingbird, adapted by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Bartlett Sher, uses Sorkin’s extensive screenwriting experience from shows such as The West Wing and The Newsroom alon...

21Jan

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Yorkshire & Humber

Top Hat – Sheffield Lyceum

Irving Berlin’s classical romantic spectacle ‘Top Hat’ slides its away across Sheffield Theatres’ stages with pomp and playfulness, marking a highly respectable and enjoyable musical instalment to the current season of live entertainment in the heart of the city. Matthew White & Howard Jacques author the piece, based on the 1935 film of the same name starring icons Fred Astaire and Ginger Roberts. Their script is almost a clean emulation of the original work, the plot unchanged bar some superficial rearrangements, with even many of the lines mirrored. This is both admirable and unavoidably slightly kitsch. It is inescapably of its time which lends itself to nostalgic and historic appreciation, but in 2026 it draws few parallels to our days. The show functions as glitzy escapism, whi...

14Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Rocky Horror Show – Sheffield Lyceum

Sheffield waited with antici……….pation and at last the Rocky Horror Show crash landed into the Sheffield Lyceum. With a well versed and non-virginal Rocky audience there were more sparkly tailcoats and top hats, green surgical gowns, heavy rocker leather jackets and more basques, corsets and suspenders than you can find in Ann Summers and this production did not disappoint. After first seeing Richard O Brien’s Rocky Horror Show on its original UK tour in 79/80 (as a 14-year-old schoolgirl with a music teacher who didn’t do his research homework very well and was subsequently horrified he may lose his job!) I am somewhat of a connoisseur it could be said, and after sampling over 60 visits to Frank’s castle the question was - could this production still fill me with the amazement of my first...

Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana – Sheffield Lyceum

9Jan

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana – Sheffield Lyceum

The Nutcracker is inextricably linked to the Christmas season; a young girl, Clara, receives a gift of a nutcracker doll and as she sleeps, the doll transforms into a handsome prince and draws her into a world of adventure and fantasy. This version of that classic tale, Nutcracker in Havana, is transported into a Cuban setting by renowned Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta, here serving as artistic director and choreographer. The show opened with a swirling video-projected tour of the streets of Havana which really helped to set the scene and highlight the changes from the off. However, as someone who suffers with quite severe motion sickness, I did struggle a little and I would have liked to have known that before it started! Acosta has cleverly woven aspects of Cuban culture and dan...

Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift – Sheffield Lyceum

26Nov

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift – Sheffield Lyceum

A Murderous Midsomer maze of twists, turns and dead ends! Originally penned by Caroline Graham in 1987, the first ever TV episode of Midsomer Murders - The Killings at Badger’s Drift aired in March of 1997 and became the highest rated single drama of the year. With the firm TV favourite John Nettles as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and Daniel Casey as his sidekick Sergeant Troy - the dead body of Emily Simpson, the elderly ex school teacher; gentle and orchid-loving; is discovered in her idyllic cottage in the seemly sleepy village of Badger’s Drift in the county of Midsomer. The thrilling and charming series became a firm TV favourite with its interjection of wit juxtaposing its dark undercurrents and shocking twists. This first ever episode now takes to the stage a...

21Nov

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Here and Now – Sheffield Lyceum

There are certain birthdays in your life that make you think. What is that makes you happy? What does it mean to love and be loved? And just what does your future hold? In Here and Now: the STEPS musical, we meet Caz approaching her 50th birthday, asking those questions of herself and her close group of friends who all work together at the local supermarket. This is not just another jukebox musical. The creative team has delivered a story – written by Shaun Kitchener – with real heart and convincing vulnerability, peppered with just the right amount of camp and chaos you would expect from the music of STEPS! Director Rachel Kavanaugh has cleverly and successfully woven together the expectations of a solid pop fanbase with the desire to make a compelling piece of musical theatre, even fo...