Tonight I watched Huddersfield Thespians’ performance of the famous The 39 Steps at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. The show is a classic melodrama which has won both the Olivier and What's On Stage award for Best Comedy, and I am glad to report the comedy certainly wasn’t lost in the performance this evening. The cast only consisted of four principals playing 130 different characters in this chaotic comedy thriller, and the actors within Huddersfield Thespians truly gave every ounce of effort and energy to play each and every role to the best of their abilities.
Sale Nomads is a local amateur dramatic theatre group which was founded in 1946. From the information available on their Facebook page, they seem to put on at least four productions a year.
'Curtain Up On Murder' was written by Bettine Manktelow and apparently she is renowned for 'exploring relationships between men and women and the problems that arise when they practice deception'. This is certainly true of tonight's play – but I do think the script overemphasised this and placed too much store in the theme – at the expense of the rest of the play.
The Altrincham Garrick have ended the 2015/16 season on a high with their energy filled production of Hairspray. Based on the 1988 film starring John Travolta this musical burst onto the stage in 2002 and has been delighting audience around the world ever since. Later this year a live television version of the show is to be broadcast in the USA starring amongst others Jennifer Hudson.
In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colourful array of characters. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.
Leeds based theatre company LIDOS – Leeds Insurance Dramatic and Operatic Society, were formed in 1974 when a group of largely inexperienced insurance workers decided to get together after the disbanded group Insurevue in 1973, in order to keep the amateur dramatics within the insurance industry in Leeds alive. Their first production, in January 1974 was the Gershwin musical “Lady Be Good”. Since then the Company has gone from strength to strength. Recent productions include The Addams Family (June 2015), Little Shop of Horrors (June 2010) and The Sound of Music (June 2012).
Wakefield Little Theatre proudly presents Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers for one evening during the 2016 Wakefield Drama Festival. The production is Willy Russell’s original play, not the smash hit musical production that ran for a long time in London’s West End.
Priory Players, an amateur theatre group based in Ossett (near Wakefield), has the pleasure presenting Michael Pertwee and John Chapman’s Holiday Snap. This is the fifth production of the Wakefield Drama Festival 2016 which is the 16th one. The comedy farce, directed by Susie Rowley, is set in the living room of a luxury time-share villa in Portugal which has been double booked unknown to the company’s representative, Commander ‘Chitto’ Chittenden (Chris Harrison). Chitto is oblivious that there are two couples, with have complicated lives, staying in the villa at the same time and it is left for the tale to reveal or confuse more.
The RNCM Opera department run regular one hour public performances showcasing some of their students in just one scene from an opera. This way, the students get to practice their skills in a public performance without having to sing the entire opera, whilst the public get to sample some titbits from operas that they might not know or not otherwise have gone to see, and be introduced to new operatic works.
The concerts normally have three, sometimes four scenes, usually from completely different and contrasting operas, and the performances are fully staged with set, costume and lighting. The only difference being that the score is played by a piano and not a full orchestra.
Grease was the word in Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company’s (BFLOC) latest production, though at times it was somewhat lacklustre. Perhaps due to several awkward slip ups in the tech, or with it being the opening night, but occasionally, the chorus lacked energy and some pretty big numbers fell a little flat.
That isn’t to say that it wasn’t a fun show, with some great performances. Danny Zuko, played by Reece Oliver, was a fantastic singer who really embodied the T-Birds mannerisms. Sandy Dumbrowski, played by Jenny Strachan, had an amazing voice, however her acting wasn’t quite as spot on and she seemed to struggle with the accent.
It is not often I come away from seeing a production be it amateur of professional and struggle to find fault with it in some way or another. But tonight after watching Doncaster Amateur Operatic Societies production of 9 to 5 at CAST in Doncaster I was faced with just that problem. This show is one of the best productions I have seen this year, not only of 9 to 5 but of any production full stop.
9 to 5 The Musical is the hilarious new musical comedy based on the hit movie that centres on three office workers who turn the tables on their sexist boss. Outrageous, thought provoking and even a little romantic, 9 to 5 is about teaming up and taking care of business. Featuring original numbers from Dolly Parton's Oscar, Tony® and Grammy Award nominated score including Backwoods Barbie, Shine Like the Sun and the original hit song 9 to 5.
Knutsford Musical Theatre Company return to the Memorial Court in Northwich to present their latest musical production Our House from the 26th – 28th May. Our House is a musical with music and lyrics by Madness and a book by playwright Tim Firth. The show features songs from the ska/pop band Madness, and was named after one of their popular hit singles, "Our House". Premiering at The Cambridge Theatre in 2002, Our House was the winner of the 2003 Olivier award for Best New Musical and has since gone on to tour both nationally and internationally to great acclaim. Through the music of Madness, writer Tim Firth explores the themes of love, family values, growing up, responsibility and dealing with losing the people that shape us.
A quintessential British musical paired with an enormously enthusiastic local amateur dramatic company. Annes-on-Sea Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society are delighted to present their 2016 production, 'Betty Blue Eyes'. Set in the war time era, this loveable musical gives us innuendos, musical references and perfect harmonies all rolled into one sell out show! Based on the 1984 film "A Private Function" and most recently performed in the critically acclaimed show starring Sarah Lancashire.
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