A lot is covered in Jean Genet’s 90 minute production of the Maids. The play tells the story of Solange (Katie Robinson) and Claire (Olivia Sweeney), who are employed as maids by Madame (Deborah Pugh). However, secretly they are plotting to kill her.
The Maids was originally written in French, but for this production the script has been translated by Bernard Frechtman. Perhaps some got lost in translation, but I found it all rather confusing.
After seeing a show at Stockport’s beautiful gem that is the Plaza Theatre and Super Cinema called ‘Dirty Dating’, I knew I had to pop along to see this show - by different producers and unrelated or connected - Dirty Dusting.
Entering the auditorium to the sounds of Frank Sinatra, we are met by a set of flats in yellow with green trimmings (door, window frame and dado rail) and tables and props set to give the ‘effect’ of an office in which three ‘vintage-style’ cleaners take us on a journey as we witness their jobs, chat and surprising business idea which comes from an out of hours phone call to the office. The set is surprising for the office of a ‘multi-national company’, even in the 90s.
Ballet Theatre UK presents a wonderful and magical ballet for all the family! Pinocchio is the enchanting and timeless tale of a wooden boy who gets the joy of turning into a real boy. It follows the young and easily influenced boy through the rights and wrongs of life. From the good moments of friendship, to being tricked by people you once trusted. This is a perfect calming and entertaining show filled with funny and beautiful moments alike- perfect for ages from 1 to 100!
As the opening begins, there seems to display or celebration of some kind. The three ballet dancers in purple were magnificent and there form and professionalism was the best throughout the performance. Especially the middle of the 3, who I can praise to her beautiful lines and sheer love for the art and performance.
EM Forster is best known for A Room With A View but the futuristic short story on which this world premiere is based puts him up there with Sci-fi visionaries like HG Wells, Arthur C Clarke and Philip K. Dick.
Essentially a century ago in The Machine Stops he predicted the creation of the Internet that is now omnipresent in our busy lives and - even more chillingly - anticipated how that reliance on technology begins to erode our humanity.
Humanity now lives underground and with citizens like Vashti living in self-contained pods only communicating with other via a Skype like system as their every need is catered for by the all-seeing machine. Humans have become so reliant on the machine that they can’t even be bothered to run their own baths.
Something very special is happening in Manchester, something that no theatre fan should miss! The newest theatre on the bustling theatrical skyline of Manchester tonight propelled itself into the big time with what probably was the most perfect piece of theatre I have ever seen. The Hope Mill Theatre and Aria Entertainment have with their production of Parade set a new high standard for not only future fringe productions to aspire to, but also the mainstream shows that visit the larger theatres in this great city.
It is difficult to find fault with this production directed by James Baker, with choreography from William Whelton and Musical direction from Tom Chester. Local girl Katy Lipson along with Joseph Houston and Whelton as producers have made this first in-house production a roaring success and I suspect once all the reviews are in Parade will be the must have ticket in this city for the remainder of its run until the 4th June.
A James Seabright presentation of Superbolt Theatre Company's production of Dinosaur Park roared onto the stage at the Quays Theatre this evening. Superbolt Theatre is a multi-award winning international theatre group.
The company consists of 3 Artistic Directors:-
Maria Askew is a bright lady who has co-written and performed in all of the company's work to date. Maria studied at the University of Warwick where she gained a first class degree. Before moving on to Jacques Lecoq International Theatre School in Paris where she studied for two years. And upon her graduation co-founded Superbolt Theatre. Maria stars in the production as Jade Park, a stroppy teenager.
LIPA’s second year acting students bring together a play by Tena Štivičić, a Croatian playwright that takes you through the remnants of the Balkan monarchy in 1945, through to communism and then the Balkan Civil War, which broke out in the 1990’s, and then to 2011 where there is acceptance into a wider Europe in the new century. The play focuses on one family, over four generations in the same house, which is partitioned, nationalised and privatised. The play jumps back and forth through the different times, which is really interesting to follow.
“POP-TASTIC”
WOW... I’m a little on the young side to remember Jackie in its heyday but as it was around for almost 3 decades, I do still have fond memories of it – reading the gossip columns, the advice pages by Cathy & Claire and who can forget the quizzes (I’m mostly A’s...) But none of that was forgotten at all, in this fast paced, sometimes emotional look into Jackie’s life and where she is now... Highs, lows, love and lost love all play a part in a great show.
Having previously adding his own unique and personal twist to two other fantastic Tchaikovsky ballets; with his dark take on Swan Lake and popular festive favourite The Nutcracker, London born Theatre Director, Choreographer and dancer Matthew Bourne brings his Gothic Romance adaptation of “Sleeping Beauty” to Sheffield’s Lyceum for one week only.
I have had the pleasure of seeing several of Bourne’s productions live on stage, including the above named ballets; although I found both impressive, I never really warmed to his contemporary style and uber modern twists. One of his more recent pieces of work was a reworking of the cult 1990s movie “Edward Scissorhands”, in London Sadlers Wells, but sadly due to ill health I missed out on that production and eagerly await the announcement of revival touring production.
Jim Cartwright’s new play Raz debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe last year and is now touring the UK. It is a one-man show featuring Lancashire lad Shane. He lives for the weekend and takes the audience on a journey of his standard Friday night out. It begins with a bang as a flash of light and a loud humming sound bounces around the theatre.
Shane stands centre stage wearing nothing but novelty boxers and sunbed glasses declaring “Friday night, first thing, the tanning shop, a good night minute blaster!” Immediately setting the tone and preparing the audience to witness his brilliant performance of his night out filled with birds and banter.
Kicking off tonight’s show with a lively Cha Cha and immediately gaining the audience’s attention were dancers James Wilson, Victoria Burke, Robert Rowinski and Marcella Solimeo. For a first dance it was very well received but what followed was a rather unnecessary short film of Carol Kirkwood, who partnered Siberian born Pasha Kovalev on TV’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, introducing the show and referring to Pasha’s book. I just wanted the show to get on with the dancing and could really not see the point of the film and found it rather boring after the great start.
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