Storyhouse Archives - North West End UK

17Jul

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Annie – Storyhouse, Chester

Tip Top productions have returned to the Storyhouse, this time with the classic musical, Annie, 33 years after the company first produced the show. With Direction from Phil Cross, we follow the journey of an 11-year-old orphan, Annie, who dreams that one day her parents will return to the orphanage for her and makes it her mission to find them. In the meantime, billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his assistant Grace Farrell are looking for an orphan to spend the holidays at their home, and this is where Annie’s story takes a turn. In the titular role, Emily Allerston shines while leading the company through this journey. With bags of confidence, energy and powerful vocals, we know we are in safe hands from the second she enters the stage. Allerston’s version of “Tomorrow” was beautifully...

Kaleidoscope Festival Returns to Storyhouse Chester For 2025

4Jul

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Kaleidoscope Festival Returns to Storyhouse Chester For 2025

Storyhouse’s vibrant and inclusive Kaleidoscope Festival returns to Chester this summer from Monday 7th July to Friday 11th July 2025, promising another unforgettable week of creativity, performance, and community spirit – all proudly created by and for learning-disabled artists and audiences. Now in its seventh year, Kaleidoscope Festival 2025 offers a programme of activities, performances, and special events across Chester, shining a spotlight on the imagination and talent of the learning-disabled community. Festival Highlights The festival launches on Monday 7th July with the spectacular Chester Disability Pride Parade, one of only a few such parades in the UK. Starting at 11am outside Chester Town Hall, the vibrant procession celebrates the achievements and visibility of the l...

Open-air theatre returns to Chester’s Grosvenor Park this summer

4Jun

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Open-air theatre returns to Chester’s Grosvenor Park this summer

Open-air theatre returns to Chester’s Grosvenor Park this summer as part of a fantastic festival of fun including a pair of enchanting theatrical treats on the main stage. The 2025 Grosvenor Park season, presented by Storyhouse, will run from 28th June to 31st August. Friday, 4th July marks a return to the park for Jane Austen’s beloved classic Pride and Prejudice, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth. Adapted for the stage by Deborah McAndrew and directed by Conrad Nelson, the sparkling and witty Regency tale won acclaim from both critics and Grosvenor Park audiences when it was premiered in 2021 and is back by popular demand. Prepare to be swept away by Austen’s most famous love story as spirited Lizzie Bennet and the brooding Mr Darcy find themselves entangled...

20Feb

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

The Parent Agency – Storyhouse

This evening, I had the immense privilege of watching the world premiere of ‘The Parent Agency’. A BRAND-NEW musical at The Storyhouse based on the best-selling book by David Baddiel with music by Dan-Gillespie Sells and direction by Tim Jackson. The hilariously entertaining production follows the story of eleven-year-old Barry Bennett who dreams of having “better parents”, those who give him everything he has ever wanted! Barry’s wishes come true, and he is transported to the United Kid-dom, where he is taken to the Parent Agency to find the mum and dad of his wildest dreams - however he quickly finds out that all of this is easier said than done and we follow his trials and tribulations along the way. The set and staging by Jon Bausor was spectacular, yet minimalistic in certain as...

18Sep

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Heathers The Musical – Storyhouse

Based on the 1988 movie, Heathers the Musical has come exploding in to the Storyhouse, taking us on a journey of high school dramas, with stories of love, popularity, bullying and eventually coming together. Following the diary entries of Veronica Sawyer (Jenna Innes), we are taken through the trials and tribulations of the teens at Westerburg high. Veronica is just trying to get by and ends up forming a boon with the Heathers, the most popular girls at the school and who everyone either looks up to or is afraid of. Along the way we meet meek and mild Martha, Veronica’s best friend since diapers, Kurt and Ram, the high school jocks who think they own the school along with the Heathers. JD, the new dark, mysterious guy who Veronica falls in love with but soon realises that he has many is...

12Sep

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Beautiful Thing – Storyhouse, Chester

Disley Theatrical Productions return for their third production, this time making their debut at Storyhouse, Chester. The Garrett Theatre is usually a bare studio space, so it was nice to see it used in a different way with a set that brought the piece to life. Designed by Phil Cross and built by Mark Disley, the main set is the front of three flats in which the characters live, and the communal area outside the front of the flats is where the story is played out, where issues are aired and dealt with. We are occasionally taken to Jamie’s bedroom where a bed is brought to the centre of the stage area and where some tender scenes take place. Beautiful Thing follows the story of three teenagers struggling with their own issues. Jamie who is being bullied at school for being gay, Ste who i...

20Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Ghost The Musical – Storyhouse

On what was one of the hottest days of the year so far, the welcoming arms of the Storyhouse’s air conditioning system was very much appreciated as I took my seat to see D&S Productions latest show, Ghost The Musical. Having seen this show many, many times before in a number of guises I was looking forward to seeing how they tackled what is a complicated show to stage. The show centres around banker Sam Wheat (Chris Doyle) and sculptor Molly Jenson (Kate McHenry) who not long after moving into their new loft apartment in New York are torn apart when Sam is murdered in a failed mugging. Sam then becomes stuck between this world and the next and stumbles across phony psychic Oda Mae Brown (Gabrielle Stanfield) who helps him discover best friend Carl Bruner (Jack Parry) is not who he t...

8May

By Katy GilroyNo Comments

North West

Kinky Boots – Storyhouse, Chester

Ready for a two-week stint, Kinky Boots has arrived at Storyhouse in Chester – and boy has it done so in style. Directed by Amber Sinclair-Case, the magnificent cast have taken a show full of heart and made it into a magical display of theatre that will leave you in tears of both gut-wrenching sadness and pure, unadulterated joy. The story, for those unfamiliar, follows Charlie Price (Danny Becker): heir to his father’s failing shoe factory in Northampton, a role he doesn’t want but a reality he has been thrust into. In a bid to save the factory and its team of hardworking, loyal staff – people Charlie has known since childhood – he teams up with larger-than-life drag queen Lola (Duane-Lamonte O’Garro) to make shoes for an ‘underserved niche market’. This show, however, is more than ...

28Mar

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

The Kite Runner – Storyhouse Chester

Based on Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling novel, The Kite Runner visits the Storyhouse, Chester as part of its UK tour after receiving international acclaim in both the West End and on Broadway. The story follows one man’s journey spanning cultures and continents to confront his past and find redemption. Adapted by Matthew Spangler and Directed by Giles Croft, we are transported to Afghanistan, who are on the verge on war, on a wonderful afternoon in Kabul during a kite flying tournament. Full of excitement with the skies full of colour, no one can foresee what is about to happen and how it will tear friends and family apart for good. The story, told through the eyes of Amir, portrayed brilliantly by Stuart Vincent, who jumps in and out of the action, both narrating and playing the char...

10May

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Worth – Storyhouse, Chester

Four siblings turn a sad day of remembrance into a battle of “who suffered the most” when their deceased Mother leaves them next to nothing in the will. A brilliant premise makes a funny yet dark tale that doesn’t shy away from major themes. The list of trigger warnings in the play’s description will show you that this is no light and fluffy family affair, and although it is hard-hitting at times, you’ll still be laughing. A simple living room set up is littered in family heirlooms, and the mother looms over all as her portrait stares down on the action. Sudden red surges of light and booming sounds are dispersed throughout the scenes (a clever, unnerving tool used by Jai Morjaria and Nicola T. Chang), as the play descends more and more into chaos. The five-piece cast are strong ...