Shvorne Marks Archives - North West End UK

30Sep

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

2:22 A Ghost Story – Regent Theatre

Danny Robins’ 2:22 A Ghost Story is a contemporary stage thriller built around one simple question: do ghosts exist? The story follows Jenny (Stacey Dooley), a new mother who becomes convinced that something unsettling happens in her home at exactly 2:22am. Her husband Sam (Kevin Clifton) is an outspoken sceptic, quick to dismiss her fears as irrational. Determined to prove her point, Jenny insists they stay awake with friends Lauren (Shvorne Marks) and Ben (Grant Kilburn) to see what occurs when the clock strikes. The staging sets the tone well: a stylish yet slightly oppressive kitchen-living area in a renovated London house, with French windows opening onto a garden glimpsed only when a motion-activated light clicks on. A digital clock is constantly visible, counting down the minu...

2:22 A Ghost Story – Opera House, Manchester

14Aug

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

2:22 A Ghost Story – Opera House, Manchester

Everyone loves a ghost story. Whether it is by M R James, Edgar Allen Poe or Stephen King, we all love stories that make us jump out of our seats and scare the bejesus out of us. This show certainly did that and more! At base, this is a tremendously well-structured play which brilliantly ratchets up the tension and keeps everyone on the edge of those seats they will certainly be jumping out of. There is more, though, to this play than being a simple ghost story. It also explores ideas of rationalism, belief, control and identity whilst also being a supremely entertaining romp. It has been a phenomenally successful show, having been three years in the West End, and has been seen by over one million people in 17 different countries. I can understand why, as the play zips along faster t...

2Nov

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Beautiful Thing – HOME Mcr

As part of its 30th Anniversary tour, Jonathan Harvey’s Iconic, coming-out and coming of age story comes to HOME Manchester. Set in the 90s, we delve into what it’s like to be 16 and in love in a time when the subject was not talked about, where the British Government brought in a legislation banning homosexuality being promoted in schools and educators were silenced. Following struggles of three teenagers, Jamie, a young boy who is bullies at school for being gay. Ste, a football fanatic who is always at the brunt of his brother and Father’s temper. And Leah, a misunderstood Mama Cass fan who has been excluded from school and struggling to find her way through life, seemingly alone. When things become too much at home, Ste takes refuge at Jamie’s flat, and this is where the boys str...

25Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Beautiful Thing – Leeds Playhouse

Let me take you back to a time when the British government introduced legislation banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools trying to silence educators and the only gay role models on the TV were tired old parodies. It must seem scarcely believable to Gen Z, but for those of us who lived through those dark days it’s a delight that Beautiful Thing has been revived on its 30th anniversary as its core message that love is love was the perfect antidote to the rampant homophobia given credibility by Mrs T. Jonathan Harvey’s warm and funny play was part of an artistic response at the time to bigotry, including the much rawer My Beautiful Laundrette. Harvey went on to write hundreds of episodes of Corrie, so there is a touch of soap opera as sensitive teenager Jamie ...