As September rain succeeds summer sun our thoughts turn to darker pleasures, so with exquisite timing Manchester Actors' Platform (MAP) and Rotherham Underground bring a contemporary, physical interpretation of Macbeth to the claustrophobic railway arches of 53two.
This Macbeth (Simon Naylor) is a bluff, strong soldier used to delivering orders and happy in the chaos of war, once set on his murderous path he relishes the physicality and violence that necessitates his path to the crown. Naylor brings a bullish physical presence to the part and dominates the stage when roused to anger, however his interpretation in soliloquy of the irony and duality of Shakespeare text, and his remorse at the path he had taken could have been more fully explored.
Surely everyone is familiar with the story of Mary Poppins...the magical Nanny with THAT carpet bag who appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared again after she’d weaved her magic over the sad and slightly dysfunctional Banks family.
This promenade production of Jonathan Swift’s classic satire boasts it has the UK’s biggest ever puppet but this family meander round a Bolton park is much bigger than that in every way.
Bolton Octagon’s Outgoing artistic director Elizabeth Newman has long been interested in the idea of the outsider and what better text than Swift’s timeless tale which is all about the other, and the fear of difference. This might be a fun night out under the stars but it delivers a pertinent message for our times, and has real meaning in this proudly multi-cultural town.
The stunning and versatile Hope Mill Theatre which is quickly becoming home to high quality musical premiers with Hair, Yank and Pippin premiering at the venue before moving to London also with its recent hit show Aspect of Love opened its doors to the new musical Closets.
A contemporary opera, that redefines opera for the digital age, is how #echochamber is billed, if anyone knows what to expect, I'd say they are fibbing.
Brought to the stage at 53Two in Manchester by the Aequitas Collective: a theatre company hailing from Iceland. (They're a folk opera outfit). With a composer Michael Betteridge from Manchester, you get the picture? No well neither did I, but that's the whole delight of this 'experience,' tonight and experience it will be.
A lion, zebra, giraffe and hippo have taken to the stage at Manchester’s Palace Theatre this week as Madagascar comes to town. Based on the animated motion picture from Dreamworks, Sell A Door International have brought the movie to life and by the reaction from tonight’s audience I think they may have a hit on their hands.
The US Navy are in town this week at the Opera House in Manchester as brand new musical An Officer and a Gentleman opens to a spontaneous standing ovation on its official press night.
When Romiley Operatic Society were looking for a show for their 100th production they must have thought all their Christmas’s had come at once when limited rights were released for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A better show they could not have found, nor a more challenging one.
'Parade' is the dramatisation of the trial in 1913 in Atlanta, Georgia of Leo Frank, accused of raping and murdering thirteen-year-old Mary Phagan. Based on the book by Alfred Uhry and with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, it isn't exactly what you might put on your list of "must see" musicals...but believe me, this version by Meighan Youth Theatre is most definitely a must see.
Manchester Palace Theatre sees the opening of the 2018 UK tour of Fame – The Musical. Fame follows the story of a group of teenagers from their first audition through to their last day at PA – New York’s High School of Performing Arts.
There is a new musical in town and it had its first ever public performance this evening at Waterside Arts in Sale. It is a story about love, rejection and tennis all set in and around the first ever Ikea store opening in Sweden. Yes, Screw Loose could be in the West End soon!
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