Tom Maurice Archives - North West End UK

30Oct

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

The Producers – Zodiac Theatre Group

Opening Night, It’s Opening Night. Zodiac Theatre Group have brought the hilarious Mel Brooks musical, The Producers, to the Hammond in Chester this week. A new venue for the company but the space was used extremely well. Directed by Neil Silcock, there were nods from the 2005 film mixed with some fresh and hilarious moments, with lots of physical comedy made possible by the brilliant cast who threw themselves, sometimes literally, into the roles to bring this hilarious musical to life. Gareth Earl leads the company as doomed theatre producer Max Bialystock and lead he does. Earl delivers a fantastic Bialystock, with absolute top notch acting, plenty of physical comedy and some incredible vocals, especially during Betrayed where he recaps most of the story at top speed, including an ...

Annie Get Your Gun in Concert – Theatr Clwyd

4Sep

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

Wales

Annie Get Your Gun in Concert – Theatr Clwyd

Tip Top Productions have come bounding back to Theatr Clwyd with full force, bringing a concert version of Annie Get Your Gun to the newly renamed Theatr Moondance. Although this is no ordinary “in concert” as it comes with wonderful staging, fantastic choreography, brilliant projections and a whole lot more. Steve Davies as Producer and Director has put together a highly professional show with a stellar cast and staging that makes you forget you are watching a concert version and allows you to immerse yourself into the full musical. The stage is set with chairs across the centre with a gap in the middle and cast bring on five microphone stands across the front section of the stage which ties in the concert vibe of the show but also helps when it comes to spacing and lighting. Such a cl...

17Jul

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Annie – Storyhouse, Chester

Tip Top productions have returned to the Storyhouse, this time with the classic musical, Annie, 33 years after the company first produced the show. With Direction from Phil Cross, we follow the journey of an 11-year-old orphan, Annie, who dreams that one day her parents will return to the orphanage for her and makes it her mission to find them. In the meantime, billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his assistant Grace Farrell are looking for an orphan to spend the holidays at their home, and this is where Annie’s story takes a turn. In the titular role, Emily Allerston shines while leading the company through this journey. With bags of confidence, energy and powerful vocals, we know we are in safe hands from the second she enters the stage. Allerston’s version of “Tomorrow” was beautifully...

22May

By Grace AnnabelNo Comments

North West

The Band – Northwich Memorial Court

Joyous, uplifting and moving. This triumph of a production took Northwich by storm this evening, as we were taken on a heart-warming journey of friendship and fandom told through the iconic music of Take That. The talents of the director, Ben Ireson, musical director, Michael J Scott and co-choreographers, Sophie Megitt and Kate Scanlan, were showcased exquisitely by the entire cast of TMTC. From the outset, it was evident that we would be treated to a standard performance worthy of the professional stage - not least due to the impressive stage set and visuals. The storyline follows a group of 16 year-old girls in the early 1990’s, who are stereotypically enamoured by the latest boyband on the scene. After a tragic event, the storyline fast-forwards 25 years, where we see the girls (now...

24Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Ghost the Musical – George Lawton Hall

Ghost first premiered just down the road in Manchester back in 2011 and is based on the hit 1990 film written by Bruce Joel Rubin and starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore alongside Whoopi Goldberg. The movies transition began its journey to the stage in 2008 as detailed by Bruce Joel Rubin in a revealing 2021 interview with North West End UK which you can see HERE. Following its sold-out run in Manchester a transfer to the West End followed and subsequently Broadway. Australia and Asia tours followed and subsequently a UK tour followed. Now produced by Bill Kenwright LTD, the show starts a new UK tour later this year. The original production was lauded for its technical innovations, showcasing mind-blowing illusions and changing the face of musical theatre forever. The latest versi...