The Lowry Archives - Page 9 of 15

25Oct

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Quiz – The Lowry

'Quiz' begins with a statement; 'the English love a pub quiz as it combines their two favourite pastimes, drinking and being right'. As someone who has always loved both of the aforementioned (and even appeared on 15-1 many moons ago), I was always going to be well disposed to a show detailing the rise and fall of 'The Coughing Major' and his attempt to cheat his way to the top prize on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' back in 2001. However, when the writing talents of James Graham are combined with the directorial flair of Daniel Evans, theatrical alchemy is at work and we have a story that makes the leap from the news to the stage in an original, successful and hugely enjoyable manner. Graham is the most prodigious writer working in television and theatre today, ever since his breakout...

18Oct

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Noises Off – The Lowry

There have been a few fairly sniffy reviews of Noises Off recently. Both of this touring version of last year's 40th anniversary production and of the Michael Frayn classic more generally. The argument seems to go that the 1982 farce is showing its age and the same joke - a play within a play going all wrong - can be seen elsewhere. It is an interesting quirk of theatrical criticism that comedies are occasionally treated in this way. Dramas, on the other hand, become 'period pieces', described as 'kickstarting a trend'. What should matter, of course, is whether a play works in its own right. Yes, Noises Off is a product of its time, yes it has been lovingly ripped off in recent years but yes, in the right hands, it is still riotously funny. The cast on the Lowry Lyric sta...

TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera) – The Lowry

3Oct

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera) – The Lowry

With the Tory party conference infesting the centre of Manchester this week, Salford is sticking a metaphorical two fingers up at Rishi & Co by hosting TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera) in the lovely Quays Theatre at The Lowry. I gladly crossed the River Irwell to witness a musical that had a satirical bite hidden within the high camp farce. With Music & Lyrics by Steve Brown and a book by comedian Harry Hill, we were never going to be presented with a totally serious analysis of political events in the eighties, nineties and noughties, their zany and sometimes surreal take on events allowed younger members of the audience a potted history delivered in an entertaining fashion, without patronising those of us of an older vintage who lived through these episodes. Hill initially...

21Sep

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

The Crown Jewels – The Lowry

Things should have gone so differently. A fantastic ‘stranger than fiction’ piece of British history; a vibrant, clever set; a stellar cast featuring some the cream of stage and screen, paired with a renowned TV comedy writer. This should have been a barnstormer of a show. And yet, tonight’s re-telling of an infamous 17th century heist to steal the Crown Jewels, by Colonel Thomas Blood and his accomplices, falls flatter than the St Edward’s Crown that Blood mangles with his mallet, so as to fit it into his loot bag. So, what has gone wrong? Blood’s story may not be as well known as that other treasonous tale, the Gunpowder Plot, but it is a fascinating one of how the royal regalia was nearly pilfered, it’s only protection a lone elderly custodian, Talbot Edwards, and a less-than-reli...

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – The Lowry

13Sep

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – The Lowry

Since 2017, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has opened up minds and hearts with an extended West End run, feature film adaptation and now a second UK tour. Inspired by the documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, this feel-good musical tells the story of a secondary school leaver who decides to live out his fantasy of being a performer by attending prom in a dress. The legend of Jamie New (Ivano Turco) is spangled with playful physical comedy, sassy put-downs and hysterical punchlines, all courtesy of Tom MacRae’s snappy book and lyrics. Music by Dan Gillespie Sells provides a seriously catchy soundtrack of pop bops and moving solos for Jamie’s relevant- and turbulent- journey to self-expression. ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’ is a tone-setting party anthem of an opening number that sees o...

Critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is set to return to The Lowry, Salford

11Aug

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is set to return to The Lowry, Salford

Critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is set to return to The Lowry, Salford in early 2024, direct from London. Disney villain. Octo-woman. Plus-size icon. Returning to The Lowry by popular demand, following a sell-out run in 2022. With an original hot pop soundtrack and trademark filthy humour, the production splashes back to Salford from Thursday 22nd February to Saturday 2rd March 2024. The Lowry dates will kick off the show’s 2024 tour, which follows a 10-week winter run at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant Friday 8th December 2023 - Saturday 17th February 2024 Tickets are on sale now. With a new script and production, the latest version of this hit show is bigger, bolder and sexier than ever before. When Disney released...

28Jul

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Message In a Bottle – The Lowry

Based on the songs of Sting; Message in a Bottle is a breathtaking dance production that immerses its audience in a captivating narrative of hope, resilience, and human connection. It is really quite incredible! From the opening scene to the final curtain call, this show delivers an emotional rollercoaster that will leave your heart so full, following the story of one family and their three teenage children as they are uprooted and displaced by civil war and go through the harsh reality of fleeing for safety. The choreography by Kate Prince is nothing short of extraordinary. Every movement, every gesture, and every leap conveys a profound story, captivating the audience and creating a powerful visual spectacle. The dance sequences are executed flawlessly, blending contemporary ...

5Jul

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Titanic the Musical – The Lowry

The RMS Titanic. Owner J. Bruce Ismay wanted to create a legend – it was the largest moving object in the world when it was built. Sadly, the legend of the Titanic we know today is not the one he wanted. In one of the worst tragedies of the 20th Century, 1517 people died when the ship sank on 14 April 1912. This production tells the story of the maiden voyage of the Titanic, and it does so with an extremely high production value. The set and costumes designed by David Woodhead are as epic as the ship itself, and are used to the maximum to indicate at every point where the action is taking place on the ship and which class the passengers are from. The lighting (Howard Hudson) and sound (Andrew Johnson) designs are clever and intricate, used to particularly excellent effect in the Act I f...

27Jun

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Strictly Ballroom – The Lowry

Baz-Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom first ever UK tour hit Manchester’s beautiful Lowry Theatre, full of glitz and glamour this visually stunning adaptation of the 1992 film by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce revolves around a rebellious Australian dancer Scott Hastings (Kevin Clifton). Directed and Co-Choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with Co-Choreographer Jason Gilkison the coupling has created a masterpiece of dance, glamour, passion, and excitement. Unfortunately, on press night after the opening number the creative team ran into technical difficulties resulting in the show being halted for approximately 10-15 minutes, which must have been very frustrating for them, and the audience did get a little fidgety by the lengthy delay. After the initial hiccup the show went on, telling the...

21Jun

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Julius Caesar – The Lowry

‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen; lend me your ears!’ Julius Caesar contains some of William Shakespeare’s most quoted lines, and in fact this play begins with Caesar celebrating the height of his power and influence and being faced with a stark warning to ‘Beware the Ides of March’. What follows is a dramatic exposition of the struggles of power, that is equally relevant today in 2023 as it was when it was published in 1599. This play calls on us to consider whether our actions can be justified on the basis of their goal, and whether it is a right or a duty to speak truth to those in authority. The design of the production (Rosanna Vize) is for the most part outstanding. The creeping introduction of colour into a monochrome space was really powerful, and really made me think; why is it ...