The Lowry Archives - Page 9 of 10

18Aug

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

The Play That Goes Wrong – The Lowry

It’s the grandaddy that launched a juggernaut of disaster theatre. An above the pub fringe show that became a West End and Broadway sensation, The Play That Goes Wrong is now into its seventh year with a slew of award wins and nominations in its wake. From the moment a hapless stagehand appears pre-show pleading with the audience to be on the lookout for the show’s missing canine performer, before being joined by the ‘director’ Chris Bean (a fabulous Tom Bulpett), apologising to those in the audience who thought they’d booked tickets for ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’, the show lives well and truly up to its name. We join the members of the infamous Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society to witness their presentation of the 1920s-eque whodunnit, Murder at Haversham Manor. As the playe...

28Jul

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Magic Goes Wrong – The Lowry

Forget your David Blaines and Copperfields. As the late Tommy Cooper knew in his variety shows of old, there’s big laughs to be had in watching a stage magician flounder and fluster when a much-practiced trick goes spectacularly wrong. It’s a ripe opportunity for the kings and queens of all things Wrong, Mischief Theatre, the team behind the massive smash hit of The Play that Goes Wrong. Almost like the adult movie industry, just name any play or subject and there’s a strong likelihood there’ll be a ‘Goes Wrong’ version of it from this prolific gang. And so, to tonight’s fare, co-written with anarchic magic duo Penn and Teller. In terms of a synopsis, it’s right there in the title. There’s magic, and it goes wrong. Very, very wrong. Under the guise of a fundraiser for ‘Disasters ...

Opera North: A Night at the Opera – The Lowry

17Jun

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Opera North: A Night at the Opera – The Lowry

The last performance Opera North gave before lockdown in March 2020 was at The Lowry so it seems somehow appropriate that they should come out of their enforced hibernation to perform an evening of popular opera classics at the same venue. Also, this was the first time I have seen anything live since then and I have to say it was absolutely wonderful to see performers in the flesh, to feel their emotions and admire their talent. Online performances have got us through this terrible time but there is nothing like the real thing. The cavernous auditorium of the Lyric theatre was, because of Covid restrictions, mostly empty. Even though the audience was small it was extremely appreciative of a wonderful night’s entertainment. Paul Daniel, the conductor, was a charming and witty tour...

2Jun

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Dangerous Liaisons – The Lowry

“Well…at least we know the music” In one of the first performances to be hosted by the Lowry since the latest easing of restrictions, Northern Ballet have bounded onto stage with a revival of Dangerous Liaisons, their stunningly choreographed interpretation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ novel, set seamlessly to the familiar strings of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. With little spoken word to guide us on our way, the overheard audience comment above reflects the biggest challenge in this adaptation – keeping up with this complex tale of two 18th century French aristocrats who goad each other into a web of seductions, leaving a trail of broken hearts in their wake. When the Viscomte de Valmont develops genuine feelings for one of his conquests, th...

24May

By Amanda HodgsonNo Comments

North West

C-O-N-T-A-C-T – Salford Quays

A young woman, Sarah (Chloe Gentles), goes about her day in silence, troubled by erratic thoughts and a pain in her sternum that won’t go away. When she sits on a park bench, lost in thought, a stranger (Cellan Scott) tries to strike up a conversation which she initially spurns. But all is not as it appears, and soon she is propelled on an emotional journey that will change her life forever. The idea behind this production from C-O-N-T-A-C-T theatre is intriguing. Set entirely outside, the audience follows the actors around an outdoor environment, watching their movements whilst listening to voice-over and music provided by a digital app on their smart phones. This is both a refreshing change from more traditional theatre experiences and a timely approach in the context of the pandemic...

Critically-acclaimed outdoor production of C-o-n-t-a-c-t arrives in Manchester and Salford

29Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Critically-acclaimed outdoor production of C-o-n-t-a-c-t arrives in Manchester and Salford

Aria Entertainment and WEF Productions have announced that the critically-acclaimed outdoor production of C-o-n-t-a-c-t will run for six weeks from Tuesday 18th May – 29th June 2021 (as opposed to the previously announced dates of 19th January – 28th February 2020). This immersive, two-hander outdoor performance featuring a captivating 3D sound design will run in partnership with The Lowry in two locations - Salford Quays and central Manchester for six weeks following a hugely successful run in London in autumn 2020. The casting for the two locations is Charles Angiama, Chloe Gentles, Rachael Gill-Davis, and Cellan Scott. The production has also been licensed to open further afield in Brussels, Rome, and Sweden along with Toronto which will open in April, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Bram...

Lucy Dusgate joins Leeds Dance Partnership

7Jan

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Lucy Dusgate joins Leeds Dance Partnership

Lucy Dusgate has been appointed the new Partnership Director of Leeds Dance Partnership taking over from Shirley Lundstram who is now Head of Programme – Heritage at Cause 4. An experienced cultural producer, Lucy crosses the Pennines from her most recent role as Art Programmer / Producer at The Lowry in Salford. She has extensive experience in delivering diverse and strategic programmes of art; developing cultural policy; consortium partnerships; fundraising; embedded learning; co-commissions and large audience engagement across culture and public realm locations. Her past work includes two commissions with Leeds based Phoenix Dance Theatre, two Motionhouse Outdoor performances as well as work with individual artists including Darren Pickard, Dickson Mbi and Mac Daniel Palima. ...

29Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Reign delays in Salford

Not even Royalty can escape the latest Covid-19 tier restrictions announced by the Government on Thursday which saw Salford plunged into tier 3. The result of this means that theatres are (inexplicably in our opinion) forbidden to open, and as such SIX! The Musical has been forced to delay its latest reign at The Lowry. The show is now planning to open on the 19th December and play until the 17th January 2021 providing the Government see sense and move the North West into tier 2 as part of a nationwide review on the 16th December, the tier the statistics suggest they should have been put in in the first place! Audience members who hold tickets for the postponed shows until 17th December will be contacted by the venue in order to move them to a different date or provide a refund,...

Imitating the dog are the first company to get back on the road

5Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews, NEWS

Imitating the dog are the first company to get back on the road

If you had to put your money on any company having the balls to get back on the road in the midst of a pandemic a strong favourite would be imitating the dog. Over the last 20 years they have never been afraid of a challenge and they have been busy devising a new outdoor show Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show that kicks off a national tour at Leeds Playhouse. Co-Artistic Director Pete Brooks is hard at work with the cast at the Playhouse but says that a company famed for their innovative use of technology are taking inspiration from an ancient theatrical tradition for their latest adventure. “It’s not set in mediaeval times, but it’s a sort of mediaeval morality tale when groups of traveling players told stories,” says Pete in a break from final rehearsals. “The idea is that there i...

The Lowry saves Christmas by announcing TWO huge shows

15Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Lowry saves Christmas by announcing TWO huge shows

The Lowry in Salford has confirmed plans to go-ahead with not one, but two Christmas shows this November and December. The arts centre on Salford Quays will offer theatregoers the choice of the international smash hit musical SIX (27th November 2020– 10th January 2021) and family favourite The Gruffalo (12th December 2020 – 10th January 2021). Both shows were originally set to take place in the venue’s 450-seat Quays Theatre- but have now moved into the much larger 1,700-seat Lyric Theatre which can allow for 1m+ social distancing between each booking. All existing ticket holders for SIX and The Gruffalo are being contacted about the new arrangements. The new seating configuration allows for COVID-secure deep-cleaning of the auditorium between each performance and ensures zero...