Tom Martin Archives - North West End UK

The Liverpool Scratch Network – Leaf on Bold Street

13Jul

By NewsdeskNo Comments

North West

The Liverpool Scratch Network – Leaf on Bold Street

This was the sixth Liverpool Scratch Network, a monthly event in collaboration with RBA Management and Liverpool Film Academy, showcasing new work written and performed by both industry professionals and up and coming creatives, with each scene being workshopped a few hours prior to performance with the help of an allocated director. An eclectic evening kicked off with Leather Apron written by James Orford and directed by Thomas Goodison-Fearns. An exploration of the infamous double event murders committed by notorious killer Jack the Ripper. Featuring an array of characters including Abberline (Ray F. Beard), Jack (Rory Gillan), Watkins (Tasia Rhodes), Diemschutz (Sam Prior), Packer (Matty Dwyer), and a Woman in Crowd (Beth Rosebrook), one can certainly imagine this as an audio drama. ...

7Jun

By NewsdeskNo Comments

North West

Scratch Night – Arts Bar, Liverpool

Following on from the success of their inaugural event in April, the Arts Bar on Hope Street returned with their second Scratch Night and an opportunity for emerging and less established artists or companies to test their work before a welcoming audience, with much of the work performed for the first time. An eclectic evening commenced with Cuts, Scratches, & China Plates written by Adam Hancox and directed by Connor Mullan. Featuring Hancox, Jack Coley, Ethan Shortt, and Jonny murphy, it is about a group of men united through football until the unimaginable happens. An interesting exploration on why some men resort to violence as a first means and how their friends should hold them accountable for their actions. In a slight change to the scheduled order, Charlie’s Release, w...

10Jul

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

The Great Gatsby – Hope Street Theatre

The Great Gatsby is an infamous tale of hedonism, debauchery and some of the most deeply shallow people ever created in American literature. While some people raised eyebrows over this burlesque version at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre, skilfully directed by Tom Martin, there probably isn’t actually a better story to inject with some sequins, ostrich feathers and the sophisticated glamour that burlesque brings to the stage. The play opens as it means to go on, with lots of dancing. Decadence is apparent from the outset with beautiful period costumes and shining masques concealing the identities of the revellers from each other, their husbands and wives, and the audience. The choreography is excellent, and the entire cast flawlessly come together as one group. Nick Carraway (Jordan Bar...

The Liverpool Passion Plays: This is Our Story – Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

12Apr

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Liverpool Passion Plays: This is Our Story – Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

Written by Mark Lovelady and Daniel Bishop, who also directs, and produced by Nick Basson, the Liverpool Passion Plays are back with a…well yes, it’s obvious, but there was so much more to this though as using the Cathedral’s architecture and artwork as a backdrop, the audience ‘walk with Jesus’ through his story, starting as a young boy, and witnessing his entry into Jerusalem, his betrayal by Judas, and his subsequent trial and crucifixion. Congregating in the Nave of the Cathedral, Mary (Katherine Wikeley) and Joseph (John Zang) worry where their son has gone, when we meet Young Jesus (Thomas Holmes) in the temple questioning the Pharisees, before we move forward to an Adult Jesus (Tom Martin) challenging the moneylenders. In the Western Crossing, to the accompanying choir singing...

6Dec

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

The Drunks – Hope Street Theatre

Off the Ground Theatre’s The Drunks, directed by Dan Meigh, is a darkly comic political satire, exploring themes of incompetent politicians, mental health issues and the impact that self-interested motives can have on your relationships with the people around you. Utilising surreal comedy and loud, brash personalities, this story of a small Russian town mirrors the wider world overrun with fake news, bumbling politicians and forgetting your worries in a heavy and mindless binge drinking session. The play opens with the ensemble cast entering in monochrome costumes and drinking greedily from silver hip flasks. The uniform effect of the costumes is dampened slightly by a pair of oxblood shoes worn by one of the actors as black shoes for all cast members would have emphasised the fixed fat...

Boss News Plays (Thursday) – Royal Court Studio

5Nov

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

Boss News Plays (Thursday) – Royal Court Studio

Boss New Play’s is a three night long annual showcase from some of the most fantastic and ambitious artists in Liverpool who are best known as the ‘Lantern Writers’. This group are an eclectic mix of semi-professional and amateur writers, and tonight’s show brings us three new pieces of work at varying stages of development. In the first slice of this showcase, we see ‘Jigsaw’ live on stage, which has been written by Mark Davoren. In this Kafkaesque drama, two couples meet over dinner for what seems to be a fairly normal ‘life catch-up’ event. One couple, made up of Harry (Conor Burns) and Emily (Jennifer Morrow), look like the perfect pair with well-paid jobs and two children, they really seem to have it all. In contrast, Leah (Faye Draper) and Pete (Christopher James) are struggling a...

22May

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

REVIEWS

Child’s Play by Mark Davoren

I have had the pleasure of watching several of Mark Davoren’s monologues. He wrote North West End UK’s series ‘Home Schooling’, which was very popular, and his short play ‘Child’s Play’ is part of the LightNight 2021 Festival. Davoren seems to be particularly good at writing short pieces, and herein lies the challenge, to create an interesting storyline in such a short space of time. Filmed on location by Daniel Lewis Wilson at Lowlands, home of West Derby Community Association, the scenic back drop adds a vibrancy of colour from the beautiful magnolias set off by the background of the white walls. The location was well chosen as within the play, the story moves locations, and the four different backdrops create a feeling of a four-scene play. The narrat...