Sheffield Lyceum Archives - North West End UK

5Nov

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Mousetrap – Sheffield Lyceum

With plenty of suspenseful twists and turns, Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ creeps into the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre this cold, but alas not-so-snowy, November. With ‘The Mousetrap’ being the longest-running West End Show, now on tour to celebrate its 75th anniversary, it’s an understatement to say that it keeps audiences coming back for more year after year. Although no secrets shall be revealed in the following review, I myself left mildly surprised, yet mostly unsure as to what to make of the final few minutes of the show, having to look around the audience to make sure the show was indeed over. With visually pleasing, balanced direction by Hannah Chissick, produced by Brian Fenty, it is certainly what one could only describe as a “classic murder mystery”. ‘The Mousetrap’ tell...

28Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Burlesque – Sheffield Lyceum

Fourteen years after it debuted on screen, audiences got their first glimpse of Burlesque on stage in 2024. Now it’s Sheffield’s turn for the final week of October 2026. Whilst Burlesque promises to be big, however, it often falls short. This ‘big new musical’ is extravagant and flashes lights in your face and blasts sound into your ears but there is so little behind the curtain you’re forgiven for second guessing its credentials. Behind the bombast and frills, this is a poor musical theatre show. I’m happy to give the production its flowers where it earned them. Faye Brookes is great as the matriarchal Tess. Ryan Carter’s Sean is brilliant, and Vanessa Ela Young is formidable as Nikki. Tyler Davis offers a particularly layered performance as Jack and Macy Dermody Blythe commits well to...

21Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Heathers The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

A delighted Sheffield audience welcome Heathers to the Lyceum with the now expected cult-like following. Plaid skirts aplenty filled the theatre and we are back to our high school days in this dark tale depicting the social rules of high school life, in its own brutal adaptation of the 1989 cult film by Daniel Waters of the same name. Like the song says - ‘’This ain’t no high school, this is Thunderdome’’. Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s (Book, Music and Lyrics) shockingly catchy tunes juxtapose the stark undercurrent of adolescent despair – ‘’We all know what it feels like to be an outsider and a weirdo. Everyone is clueless and scared. And that’s okay’’. Fast forward for a moment to 2020’s, now school shootings are common place; bullying is no longer whispered insinuations and forged...

14Oct

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Waitress – Sheffield Lyceum

The sugar and flour the cast were sprinkling on stage must’ve gotten in my eye during the performance of “Waitress” at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre, because I couldn’t stop the tears from running throughout the entire performance. The entire production is meticulous and crisp, and the production team have somehow managed to find a really witty cast with the warmest and smoothest tones I’ve ever heard live. With 2026 being Waitress’ 10th anniversary, it’s no surprise that the hit Sara Bareilles songs and book by Jessie Nelson bring back the fire to theatres, alongside direction by Diane Paulus, beautiful restaging by Abbey O’Brien and diverse choreography by Lorin Latarro. “Waitress” is a musical set in the American South, about a waitress named Jenna who accidentally falls pregnant with...

18Sep

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Mamma Mia! – Sheffield Lyceum Theatre

Take a chance on the fantastic touring production of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ ‘Mamma Mia!’, which features, what I would argue to be, the most phenomenal vocal talent I’ve had the pleasure of seeing live this year. Under Phyllida Lloyd’s watchful direction, this is certainly a show you shouldn’t let slip through your fingers! Mamma Mia! is set on a Greek island and follows Sophie Sheridan and her mother Donna as they prepare for Sophie’s wedding to Sky, with a soundtrack based on ABBA. What Donna doesn’t yet know is that, in Sophie’s desire to find out her father’s identity, she invites 3 of Donna’s lovers from years ago to her special day. Will this end in a long-lost love being reignited, or a shipwreck, when all is said and done? Jenn Griffin as Donna Sheridan was certai...

Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man – Sheffield Lyceum

22Jul

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man – Sheffield Lyceum

Matthew Bourne’s ‘The Car Man’ at the Sheffield Lyceum is utterly stupendous. Despite the show not having been on tour in the UK for over 10 years, it has certainly returned with fervour. The performance had already begun before the audience had even filled the seats, before the lights even went down - with the dancers playfully flirting with one another, hanging signs up and fixing cars. With a show so full of action, passion, deception and desire, the immersive prelude was just a glimpse into what was to come. The creative direction and choreography of Matthew Bourne was deeply moving. It elegantly wove classical ballet with contemporary and modern dance. I particularly enjoyed the Act 1 finale, which featured line dancing and a hoedown during a party, contrasting deliciously with the...

The Karate Kid – The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

9Jul

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Karate Kid – The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

The hit 1984 film ‘The Karate Kid’ has marched into the Sheffield Lyceum, now reimagined as an action-packed musical production (from the book written by Robert Mark Kamen and composed by Drew Gasparini). The cast of this musical are ridiculously talented, and it makes for a deeply enjoyable watch. The show follows teenager Daniel Larusso, who moves to Southern California with his single mother Lucille. He finds himself the target of bullying at the hands of the Cobra Kai dojo, particularly Johnny Lawrence, which only derails after he falls for Ali Mills, Lawrence’s ex-girlfriend. After befriending his local maintenance man Mr. Miyagi, who is secretly a martial arts master, Larusso trains under his new sensei’s watchful eye to fight the Cobra Kai at a karate competition. Walking into...

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

30Jun

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

The Sheffield Lyceum Theatre basked in the 80s/90’s disco glitter ball disco hits as Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical drove into town. With more sequined glamour and glitz than a red carpet event the audience went wild and this full throttle jukebox musical hit all the right notes with unadulterated pizzazz. Based on the Motion Picture, Stephen Elliott and Allan Scott’s adaptation does a stellar job in retaining its heart-warming story of acceptance, queer identity and family. The 13 years since its premier has seen Drag become a mainstay and accepted part of our culture not just in theatre but on prime time TV and Media. But, Priscilla, the trailblazer adds the Trans community central and upfront - no hiding - with the character of Bernadette which is written with sinceri...

The Choir of Man – Sheffield Lyceum Theatre

25Jun

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Choir of Man – Sheffield Lyceum Theatre

Wow! What an exhibition of triple /quad threat talent was took over the entire building at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield last night. I am still stunned by what I saw. The Choir of Man created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay and under Doodson’s direction is one of the most enduring pieces of cultural enhancing theatre I have witnessed. With Musical Supervision, vocal arrangement and orchestration by Jack Blume, monologues written by Ben Norris and Freddie Huddleston in directive charge of movement and choreography, this production only gives you time to have a quick gulp of your beer in between diverse spectacle after spectacle. Energy in every form possible. Oli Townsend’s scenic design takes us to ‘The Jungle’, the local British pub, much in decline and much needed. Where men can...

2Jun

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

2:22 A Ghost Story – Sheffield Lyceum

A ghostly entertaining, slick mind game of a production! With a sense of apprehension - due to a very active imagination - I convinced myself to review 2:22 A ghost Story on its opening night at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre, and I survived the evening stunned but unscathed! Written by Danny Robins, the seven seasoned West End phenomenon which premiered in 2021 and went on to tour the UK and Ireland, has been seen in over thirty worldwide productions. I have to immediately note, that it is the writing by Robins that highly impressed me. The theatrical thriller is the near perfect exploration of doubt, belief and theories surrounding the controversial topic of Ghosts. It allows you to question your beliefs, your scepticism and learn some new theories to explain away the spirit world. All ...