Storyhouse Chester Archives - North West End UK

11Dec

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Sleeping Beauty – Storyhouse Chester

Back for their 8th Christmas Season, we have another Storyhouse original production, this time the classic Sleeping Beauty, but as usual, done in their own way. This year, Storyhouse have tried something different and produced their show on the proscenium stage rather than the thrust stage. This gives them more scope to include a bigger set and more stage magic including flying and pyrotechnics. It does feel like it loses a little bit of magic not having the cast as close as usual as in the past, with the audience surrounding the stage and the cast entering through the audience at times but what they have done with this year’s set and storytelling makes up for that. Written by Samantha O’Rourke who also wrote last year Cinderella, we are taken on a journey of love, self-discovery and be...

25Jun

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Storyhouse Chester

Hold onto your rosaries folks, Philadelphia’s favourite sisters are in the building, ready to bring the musical version of the 1992 hit film vividly to life. Sister Act is a vibrant, feel-good show and it’s easy to see why it has become a staple for am-dram group, full of energetic ensemble numbers, humour and heart. The musical, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater respectively, and sparklingly directed by Bill Buckhurst, largely sticks to the film’s plot. Club singer Deloris Van Cartier witnesses her gangster boyfriend Curtis commit murder and is placed into witness protection in a convent, leading to much fish-out-of-water hilarity. The cheerful but tuneless nuns soon tap into Deloris’ talent as a singer to inject some oomph into their choir despite the misgivings...

7Feb

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

Noises Off – Storyhouse Chester

A packed Storyhouse laughed out loud at a comedy that still manages to deliver. It’s over 40 years since Michael Frayn wrote Noises Off, which has been described as ‘the funniest farce’ and is probably the inspiration for the ‘Goes Wrong’ series that is now popular. Bedroom Farce was a type of theatre in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but then fell out of popularity when public sensibilities saw them as sexist and rather degrading. Noises Off is a play within a play about the farcical antics of a theatre company trying to present ‘Nothing On’ - an actual farce. Frayn shows that what goes on backstage is often funnier than what happens on stage but when it all gets mixed up, it’s hilarious. There have been many plays since that revisit this subject: David Tristam’s Little Grimley Series might ...

7Dec

By Miranda GreenNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Storyhouse Chester

I couldn’t have loved this production of Cinderella at Chester’s Storyhouse more: pyrotechnics, smoke-filled bubbles, balloons, more costume changes than the Oscars, Disco Goblins like a pod of Megaminds in silver turbans and steampunk goggles, and some absolute bangers belted out by the multitalented cast who can not only sing and dance but can apparently play cello and sax too … it’s a sensational feast of high energy and feel-good. But to begin at the beginning: the light, bright and very beautiful set is immediately arresting. Colour-changing globes hang from the ceiling like so many glass floats, each representing a fairytale to be told. Melinda Orengo’s Fairy Godmother appears, wearing lamé tassels and looking like the lovechild of the Great Gatsby and a disco Pocohontas, and enco...

Pride and Prejudice *(*sort of) – Storyhouse Chester

12Apr

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Pride and Prejudice (sort of) – Storyhouse Chester

Based on the original story by Jane Austin, Isobel McArthur has reimagined and rewritten an hilarious version of this well-known story, told through the eyes of the servants. The cast of five play every character through the story, changing costumes and characters on the go in this extremely perfectly choreographed play, with some character changes happening right there in front our of eyes. Even before the play starts are we are involved in the story with the servants out in the audience cleaning and each time the bell rings, they shout ‘coming’ and off they go to their next ‘job.’ Our cast this evening are Lucy Gray, Dannie Harris, Leah Jamieson, Emmy Stonelake and Megan Louise Wilson and they have the audience almost crying with laughter with phenomenal comic timing and brilliant ...

The Cheshire Drama Festival 2023 – Storyhouse, Chester

20Mar

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

The Cheshire Drama Festival 2023 – Storyhouse, Chester

What thespian dreams are made of, an opportunity to serve up an enthusiastic repertoire of theatrical genres and styles in The Cheshire Drama Festival 2023. Taking place over the weekend of the 18th/19th March, this is its fourth year celebrating North West talent. The festival provides a unique opportunity for seven 'amateur' groups from across the Cheshire and Merseyside region to flex their creative muscles to compete for a place in the grand final of the All England Theatre Festival. With 6 out of the 7 one act plays made up of original writing, they are marked on all technical aspects of stagecraft, with awards up for presentation, direction, acting and dramatic achievement under the watchful eye of adjudicator Sandra Wynne. Hosted by D.T.A.T, the first day of the programm...

The Rocky Horror Show – Storyhouse, Chester

1Mar

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

The Rocky Horror Show – Storyhouse, Chester

This evening I had the immense privilege to attend this ‘guaranteed party’ in all its glory, live at The Chester Storyhouse Theatre. Upon entering the theatre, I was greeted with the Rocky Horror tradition of audience dressing up in flamboyantly fabulous costumes (inspired by the show itself). This was complimented greatly by the intimate setting of the Storyhouse theatre, giving the audience a feeling of being fully involved in this production from the outset. In this cult classic, innocent sweethearts Brad and Janet, stranded with their broken down vehicle during a storm, discover the dilapidated and eerie mansion owned by Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As they lose all innocence, Brad and Janet meet a mansion full of wild characters. Fast-forward through elaborate danc...

Faustus: That Damned Woman – Storyhouse Chester

8Feb

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Faustus: That Damned Woman – Storyhouse Chester

A co-production between Storyhouse Originals and Fallen Angels Dance Theatre has opened at Storyhouse in Chester. Reimagined and written by award winning Playwright, Chris Bush, the story takes us into a world of despair, sacrifice and consequence. Faustus: That Damned Woman draws on themes that resonate with many people on the addiction recovery journey, and this is what makes the partnership with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre even more important. Johanna Faustus (Olivia Sweeney) is trying to prove her mother’s innocence, making a deal with Lucifer to get the answers that she needs but soon realising that this was a mistake and that she should have been more careful what she wishes for. After selling her soul to the devil in exchange for 144 years on earth and an apprentice, Mephistop...

Sparkling casting announced for The Snow Queen at Storyhouse Chester this Christmas

12Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Sparkling casting announced for The Snow Queen at Storyhouse Chester this Christmas

Storyhouse is delighted to announce casting for its magical seasonal show The Snow Queen which will cast a spell over audiences this Christmas. The bewitching Hans Christian Anderson fairytale comes to the Storyhouse stage from 10th December to 15th January 2023 in an enchanting adaptation by Charles Way. When shards of an enchanted mirror fly into Cei's eye, he falls under its spell. He becomes cold-hearted and the Snow Queen steals him away to her far-off land where, with Cei as her helper, she has a chilling plan – to freeze the hearts of all living things and rule supreme over a world of ice and snow. Only little Gerda, Cei's childhood friend, believes he can still be rescued, and sets out on a thrilling immersive journey – for Gerda and the audience - through the changing sea...

16Mar

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

Magic Goes Wrong – Storyhouse, Chester

Living up to the company name, Mischief Theatre are back with Magic Goes Wrong - taking their brand of mayhem and madness into the world of illusion. Amazingly, this show was co-written with Penn and Teller and follows the catastrophic attempts of wannabe magician Sophisticato, played by Sam Hill, has he tries to raise money for those injured by magic (which, after tonight’s show, is likely to be many more people.) Hill is cheesy and a little awkward, exactly as expected in a show like this, and there’s something about his slicked-back hair and pained grimace that makes him all-too familiar somehow, as he tries (and fails) to keep control of the doomed show. He’s joined on stage by the Mind Mangler, played by Rory Fairbairn who has some really fantastic comedy moments. Less slapstick, m...