The Brindley Archives - North West End UK

The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn is kicking off their festive programme very strong this year, starting with Nativity! The Musical. Adapted to stage by Debbie Isitt - the director and writer of the 2009 film of the same name - Nativity! The Musical really is festive fun for the entire family. I am always a bit dubious of hit films being adapted for the stage, as more often than not the stage show becomes a carbon copy of the motion picture, often to lesser effect. However, I needn't have worried with Nativity! - This production was the perfect blend of being true to the original source material, while having its own nuances and standout moments in its own right, playing perfectly into the audience's hands. People familiar with the classic Christmas film will be delighted to know th...

With the storyline hinging on magic, mayhem and turning children into mice, I wasn’t sure how Roald Dahl’s much-loved classic The Witches would translate onstage, especially when performed by an amateur dramatic group whose budget wouldn’t stretch to fancy pyrotechnics and feats of theatrical excellence. The staging was simple, to be sure - perhaps a little too simplistic to really set the scene - but most of the ensemble within Encore Productions were strong enough to cast and maintain the spell over the audience for most of the performance. For me, the standout performers were Alfie Okell as the pre-pubescent protagonist The Boy and Julie Lord’s striking portrayal of The Grand High Witch. Special mention should also be given to Hannah Smith as Mrs Jenkins, whose deliberate o...

Tag: The Brindley

Nativity! The Musical – The Brindley

The Witches – The Brindley, Runcorn