The Lowry Archives - Page 2 of 15

3Oct

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Death on the Nile – The Lowry

Ken Ludwig’s stage adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, directed by Lucy Bailey at The Lowry, is a real masterclass in theatrical storytelling, full of intrigue and suspense. From the very first moment, the audience is swept into Christie’s world of glamour and danger, all delivered with precision delivery that makes this show a genuine five-star triumph! What strikes you immediately is just how slick and cinematic the staging feels. Mike Britton’s ingenious two-tier set design brilliantly evokes the cabins and decks of the Nile steamer, offering the audience both intimacy and grandeur in equal measure. It’s this clever simple staging that allows the story to unfold with a fast pace, while Oliver Fenwick’s atmospheric lighting and a subtle, evocative soundtrack add layers ...

23Sep

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Buddy Holly Story – The Lowry

Written and produced by Alan Janes, The Buddy Holly Story has been delighting audiences worldwide since it first opened in 1989. Having toured across continents and played to more than 22 million people, the show has become a staple of jukebox theatre. Now, under the assured direction of Matt Salisbury, it arrives at The Lowry Theatre with a vibrant new cast who capture the energy, charm and tragedy of a legend of early rock ‘n’ roll. The production follows Buddy Holly’s short yet dazzling career between 1956 and 1959, classed as the golden years of rock ‘n’ roll. Starting out as a country musician in Lubbock, Texas, Buddy quickly realised his sound belonged to a new era. With The Crickets, he forged a distinctive style that blended country roots with rhythm and blues influences, produc...

Rambert x (LA) Horde: Bring Your Own – The Lowry

17Sep

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Rambert x (LA) Horde: Bring Your Own – The Lowry

(LA) Horde’s collaboration with Rambert, Bring Your Own, is an ambitious attempt to bottle the unruly energy of nightlife and stage it as contemporary performance. Over the course of several distinct pieces, the production draws on social dance, rave culture, and acrobatic spectacle, pushing the 14-strong Rambert ensemble into a space where technique meets abandon. The result is fast, furious, and undeniably compelling, though not always as coherent as it aspires to be. The opening section, Hopestorm, is a striking fusion of Lindyhop and rave. Dancers charge through fifteen minutes of relentless partnering and synchronised group work, with echoes of Broadway chorus lines interlaced with rock ’n’ roll. Snatches of Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” surface beneath a pounding rave soundscape, wh...

Ideal 20th Anniversary Live Show – The Lowry

10Sep

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Ideal 20th Anniversary Live Show – The Lowry

Back in 2005, Tony Blair was the Prime Minister, Doctor Who returned to our screens, and another show, with a budget not quite as large, started on BBC Three called Ideal. Set in Salford, it revolved around Moz (Johnny Vegas), a small-time drug dealer, and the weird and wonderful characters who came to see him to buy cannabis. It was lo-fi, a bit of a sleeper hit, and a cult classic beloved by its fans. Twenty years later, it has been resurrected for the stage, and it is silly, surreal and just fun. You know everyone is up for having a good time when the actors are applauded when they come on stage. It had a pantomime feel, not least in those moments when things went wrong. Audiences always love it when this happens, and it was very entertaining watching the actors try to improvise them...

31Aug

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

Cbeebies House Party – The Lowry

The moment you enter the theatre space at the Lowry, for the Cbeebies House Party, you are immersed in the world. The set is colourful, with huge jellies flanking the stage, an intriguing door and a screen playing fun party songs - the perfect way to keep wriggling children patiently waiting for the start. Our party was hosted by Cbeebies presenters Rhys Stephenson and Evie Pickerill who are two of my absolute favourites. I was worried that the magic might be lost on stage but actually they completely blew me away. The speed at which Rhys ran around the theatre, ensuring that he said hello to the children in the upper tiers as well as in the stalls, was incredible! Evie is an absolute delight to watch on stage - her energy and enthusiasm doesn’t waver for a second and it’s clear tha...

20Aug

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

The Diana Mixtape – The Lowry

Succeeding a world premiere in London, The Diana Mixtape makes a Royal Visit to the North for a limited, three-day run. This concert-style jukebox of a Di-opic declares a need “to set the record straight”, centring on the People’s Princess’ turbulent relationship with Charles the Third. Five drag queens share the titular role as they blast through a contemporary pop playlist of female anthems. Photo: Harry Elletson It starts out strong with the queens delivering fast-paced, irreverent comedy as a lovestruck Lady Di meets her future husband for the first time. Well-chosen songs promptly introduce the audience to other characters: Elizabeth II- played by Keala Settle- rules the stage with Commander. Meanwhile, the sensational Lucinda Lawrence demands undivided attention as Camilla s...

13Aug

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – The Lowry

Attending The Addams Family at The Lowry in Salford is a curious experience—part charming gothic comedy, part family-friendly farce—but it never quite reaches the deliciously dark heights it hints at. It’s a pleasant night out, but one that fades quickly from memory. The cast is strong across the board. Morticia (Alexandra Burke) and Gomez (Ricardo Alfonso) share an easy chemistry, with their tango being the evening’s clear highlight—sultry, stylish, and perfectly timed. Alistair David’s choreography gives the undead ensemble moments of real flair, with slick formations and physical comedy that suit the show’s eccentric world. Diego Pitarch’s set design also deserves praise: grand, shadowy, and dripping with Addams-style atmosphere. Kara Lane steals scenes as Alice Beineke, bringing ...

7Aug

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

A Squash and a Squeeze – The Lowry

Julia Donaldson is something of a third parent in our family, with her books (and Axel Scheffler’s iconic illustrations) being the bedtime story of choice most evenings. So, of course, we were not going to miss the opportunity to see their first collaboration (written in 1993!) on stage at the Lowry. The story itself is a brilliant rhyming tale, where an old lady complains that her house feels too small, and a wise old man suggests she takes her farm animals, one by one, into her home. Of course, when they are all in there, the house feels smaller than ever, but as soon as he takes them out, the old lady realises that her home has more than enough room. It’s a fable about perspective and being grateful for what you have, however the book is a quick read, and the show lasts for an hour, ...

7Aug

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

By Royal Appointment – The Lowry

The month of August in the world of theatre traditionally tends to be quiet, with eyes turned towards Edinburgh and the delights of the Festival and Fringe. It was therefore a surprise to see ‘By Royal Appointment’ drop into my inbox for review this month; a show with a stellar cast; fantastic director and written by a prominent television writer making her first foray into work on the stage. Unfortunately, the combined efforts of such talent merely result in a pedestrian, obvious and lacklustre production which reminded me of the description of the camel as ‘a horse designed by a committee’. Daisy Goodwin is no stranger to writing about the private lives of the Royal family, her ITV series ‘Victoria’ was a huge worldwide success, and she has chosen familiar ground with her first produc...

2Aug

By Harry AltyNo Comments

North West

Worn Out – The Lowry

Filling the stage of the Quays Theatre is a stellar cast of gifted young performers and musicians, presenting Worn Out, a new musical brought to stage with the help of British Youth Music Theatre. This one-act musical tells the story of the fictional kingdom of Zloriv, based on Eastern European countries of the 18th century, that is unjustly ruled by King Kasimir who is more likely to look out for himself over his people. When not ruling, King Kasimir struggles to keep on top of his twelve rebellious Princess daughters, who act as the protagonists of this story. But when one of their regular outings into the local village reveals the truth of life for the local townspeople under their father’s rule – how will they support their fellow villagers? Our show is centred around a band of sist...