Sheffield Lyceum Archives - Page 2 of 10

13Nov

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Band – Sheffield Lyceum

The Cast ‘Shine’ with a heart of pure gold! A STOS production worthy of its 125 years anniversary! With title changes including ‘The Official Take That Musical - Greatest Days’ and a TV talent show, a UK tour and finally the result of these changes, what you see today – as STOS Theatre Company bring - The Band A new musical by Tim Firth with the music of Take That - to the Sheffield Lyceum in their 125th anniversary year. And what a fitting celebration of a show it is to mark this milestone! I was fully invested and smiled from the very first scene to the final crowd pleasing medley. It was warm, it was nostalgic and it was thought provoking what more can you ask for from a night at the theatre! But let’s consider why all the changes before this production? It would seem people were expect...

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts – Sheffield Lyceum

30Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts – Sheffield Lyceum

Billed as a ‘thrilling murder mystery featuring the iconic Inspector Morse’, House of Ghosts arrives in Sheffield to fulfil the gap the much missed TV Series left, 25 years ago. Based on Colin Dexter’s characters and written by Morse scriptwriter Alma Cullen the production goes some way towards filling the void Jon Thaw left and is a must experience for bereft Morse fans. The house of Ghosts refers to Morse’s past rather than the ghoulish variety as we are transported back to 1987 to the City of Oxford. The play opens as a play within a play, as we are greeted with a rather amateur stage version of Hamlet (Spin Glancy) and it is as Ophelia (Eliza Teale) enters the scene we witness her stutter, raise her hand to her mouth as blood falls onto her white gown and within seconds she is dead....

22Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dear England – Sheffield Lyceum

Brought by the National Theatre, this production covers the sporting tale of near-missing, culture-creating half-darling of the English eye Gareth Southgate, and his impactful tenure as manager of the England men’s national football team. Whilst it flirts with the bluster of testosterone fuelled dressing rooms, it brings with it a very deliberate and in-your-face softness that is credited as being part of the winning formula for Southgate and the England team. Except they didn’t win. So why are we hearing this story? The first thing that needs to be said is Es Devlin’s set design is sensational. Slick, bold and powerful, it is alive and breathing and extremely well utilised. Jon Clark’s lighting design accompanied with Ash J Woodward’s video design make the piece a pleasant feast ...

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Sheffield Lyceum

15Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Sheffield Lyceum

Triumphant and sublime masterclass of theatrical storytelling – Enchanting! Selectively based on C.S Lewis’ novel of the same name and the first and best known of seven in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Direct from the West End, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe takes its audience on a magical and majestic journey through the wardrobe into Narnia. Written in 1950, the story tells of four siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy who are evacuated in wartime to the home of an eccentric Professor, they discover an old wardrobe in a spare room and upon entering it are transported to the mystical land of Narnia. Can the two sons of Adam and the two daughters of Eve aid both the animals and the returning saviour Aslan, the Lion, to rid Narnia of the White Witch and restore Narnia to its seaso...

10Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Emma – Sheffield Lyceum

Ryan Craig’s adaptation is aptly contemporary in places and unapologetically Georgian in others. The best affectations of Austen’s linguistic prowess are set upon with great effect, creating a poetic environment for the audience to exist in. This shape is shared with characters that feel real, embellished only in earnest moderation. Ceci Calf’s set design is deliberately sparse, leaving director Stephen Unwin with a very minimal arena for the characters to wrestle in. It is adorned only by a backdrop of blue/grey British sky and a couple of trees planted in the recesses of the stage to evoke the abodes of well-off English country families. Despite not being a physically transformative piece either, this feels right for Theatre Royal Bath’s production. So verbose and linguistically remarkab...

Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell – Sheffield Lyceum

24Sep

By Nathan DunnNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell – Sheffield Lyceum

Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell arrived in Sheffield with all the pomp of a bold dance show and all the sincerity of a gripping drama. This piece of theatre is aptly both - a dramatic, human tale of intimate connections won, lost, enjoyed and destroyed. This New Adventures production is an acerbic piece of liquid, visual storytelling. The narrative is compelling, pulling inspiration from author Patrick Hamilton’s (of ‘Rope’ and ‘Gaslight’ fame) 1929 novel ‘The Midnight Bell’. A patient meditation on love, lust and relationships set on the backdrop of the titular Midnight Bell late night drinking spot rooted somewhere betwixt the alleyways of early 20th century London. The work covers all corners of human desire in romantic and sexual relationships. We share the intimate moments...

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

11Sep

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

With everything you would expect from a show bearing this iconic name, the Sheffield Lyceum welcomed this touring production of the West End hit with aplomb. With the one and only original Tina Turner herself, at the core of this musicals creation from the first day to its initial opening on Broadway. The audience are riveted to their seats from the get-go with its biographical depiction of Tina Turner’s journey from the challenges from Nutbush to stratospheric super stardom - with its trials and tribulations. It is a story of racism, domestic abuse and abandonment laced with determination, strength, survival and an overriding, soul bearing undeniable talent. Tina Turner herself described the show as turning her poison to medicine – an outpouring. The Book written by Katori Hall with Fr...

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Sheffield Lyceum

11Jul

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Sheffield Lyceum

When ‘Joseph graced the scene’ in a town, the whole crowd bow down like stars and ears of corn and Sheffield is no exception. A packed audience of all age ranges filled the Lyceum to witness the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s lyrics in their first successful collaboration (1968) - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Originally written 50 years ago as an Easter school concert for London’s Colet Court School by request of the music teacher; this phenomenon known as ‘Joseph’ shows no signs of abating! This is important to understanding the origins of this show as the latest touring production does not lose sight of its original intended audience. Definitely, one that children can easily comprehend and necessarily a little twee in places. This current touring version ...

26Jun

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Kinky Boots – Sheffield Lyceum

The Sheffield Lyceum gets Kinky this week with the iconic Red Boots, and sass galore graces its stage. Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from the anything but glamorous 'Price and Son' shoe factory in Northampton to the dazzling catwalks of Milan in this sassy, vivacious and heart warming tale of true British grit with catchy songs by Tony and Grammy Award winning eighties pop princess, Cyndi Lauper and a Book by Harvey Fierstein. With exceptional choreography on this tour by Leah Hill and pacey precise direction by Nikolai Foster adding to strong and full score under the Musical supervision of George Dyer, Kinky Boots both technically and in production is a touring tapestry of tease and tenderness. Set and costume Design by Robert Jones is in situ and avoids unnecessary...

21May

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

& Juliet – Sheffield Lyceum

& Juliet storms the Sheffield Lyceum this May, with the west-end blockbuster reframing the classic romantic tragedy to great effect. Ironic gender-bending, scenes of female empowerment married to laddish disruption, there is something for everyone here. Soundtracked to Swedish pop-anthem writer Max Martin, songs from the catalogues of the Backstreet Boys and Bob Jovi to Jessie J and Katy Perry boom from Verona to Shoreditch. It’s a journey worth taking for partygoers and story-lovers alike. The design of this show is particularly astounding. Audiences are treated to perhaps one of the most dynamic and alive sets they’re likely to see on stage. Stellar skylines are transient and embellish the shifting fixtures beautifully. The lighting design is also ambitious, bold and handled effec...