The Lowry Archives - Page 2 of 14

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...

Thick and Tight: Natural Behaviour – The Lowry

12Jun

By Helen JonesNo Comments

North West

Thick and Tight: Natural Behaviour – The Lowry

Thick and Tight were established in 2012 by Rambert trained friends Daniel Hay-Gordon and El Perry. Since then their combination of LGBTQ+ friendly dance, mime and cabaret performances have been wowing audiences across the UK and into Europe. Now out with their latest show Natural Behaviour, they have put together a collection of performed portraits of both human and non-human life forms. They open with a short five minute piece entitled The One Horseman of the Apocalypse, Here Daniel and El share the stage as a bright orange pantomime horse with a blond combover and a red tie. Light-hearted, surreal and fun, it will be impossible to listen to the seventies track Disco Inferno in the future without picturing this horse. Annie Edward’s segment Ode to the Last Nightin...

7Jun

By Helen JonesNo Comments

North West

Liz Richardson: Local – The Lowry

As the deviser, writer and performer of Local, Liz Richardson, takes the audience on a very personal trip into her own past. A forty something mum living in the Peak District, the announcement by her parents that they are putting the family home in West Cumbria up for sale, prompts a trip back and a reflection on who she was and how living there shaped her. Examining how it feels to be local and how it changes when you move away, Liz Richardson catches up with her old headmaster and a couple of friends to explore their thoughts and experiences as well. Her arrival back at the family home and being back in her childhood bedroom with its view of the hills of the Lake District, triggers memories and emotions that are normally suppressed in the practicality of everyday life, but...

3Jun

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Dear England – The Lowry

When James Graham originally staged ‘Dear England’ back in June 2023 at the National Theatre, England football fans were daring to dream that their wait over half a century for a tournament victory was finally at an end. English hearts were once again broken at Euro ‘24 by an 86th-minute Spanish goal in the final, the wait for a trophy from our men’s national football team will now enter its seventh decade at the World Cup in the USA next year. Set against this backdrop of perceived failure, Graham has fashioned a superb piece of theatre that examines the effect that ‘fifty-nine years of hurt’ have had on our national psyche, through the lens of our national game and the redemption journey of one man, Gareth Southgate. Our jumping-off point in the narrative is Wembley Stadium in the Sum...

30Apr

By Harry AltyNo Comments

North West

Death of a Salesman – The Lowry

Despite Arthur Miller’s classic play Death of a Salesman first debuting on stage over 75 years ago, this Trafalgar Theatre and Raw Material production at The Lowry helps to demonstrate how the themes of the piece still resonate with a modern audience. This slick interpretation boasts a stellar cast, combined with effective staging, light production and set design resulted in audiences being transported to 1940s Brooklyn. Our story focussed on the Loman family, led by patriarch Willie who is expertly portrayed by David Hayman as the titular salesman. David Hayman expertly traverses this complex role and when combined with Andy Arnold’s meticulous direction and staging, creates a seamless demonstration of a deteriorating man. The piece presents Willie as a character of duality, wit...