Music Theatre Wales was founded in 1988 and are based in Cardiff. Each year they go from strength to strength, and are so rightly deserving in their renown for not only producing but also commissioning new operas by some of our greatest current composers, and making them accessible to all. As they so rightly claim, opera is an ever-changing and open medium, a living and breathing organism which should be challenging and entertaining at the same time.
Last night at the Regent Theatre everyone embraced their best inner detective as The Classic Thriller Theatre Company present Rehearsal for Murder, which David Rogers had adapted for stage. The play taken from the film of the same name featured a star studded cast and was greeted to a fairly large audience in Stoke opening night.
Under an open timber roof in the splendour of the 15th century Baronial Hall at Chetham’s School of Music a capacity audience gathered tonight to watch a group of students perform some well-known songs from musical theatre. Demand was such for this second concert of the day that there was only standing room available as show time approached.
Produced by Margaret McDonald this concert lasting just under a hour was a fantastic showcase from the students at Chetham’s and further goes to prove that Manchester is tutoring some of the best talent in the country. 16 of these along with 3 accomplished pianists took to the small stage in the hall for a wonderful evening of musical theatre classics.
Opening the show the entire ensemble make their entrance from the back of the auditorium to the aptly chosen ‘Another Openin’, Another Show’ from Kiss Me Kate. The power and control of the all-female cast was clear to see from the very beginning as was the piano accompaniment from Callum McLachlan, Liam Wright and Lewis Peart. Peart was also a last minute understudy performing towards the end of the evening.
Jules Verne’s Around The World in 80 Days certainly offers more than Phileas Fogg living his life like clockwork. An uncharacteristic bet leads him to spontaneously circumnavigate the globe in 80 days by ‘boats and trains but no aeroplanes’. He is a typical Englishman who is determined complete the journey as fast as possible only to face unforeseeable events and experience hilarious consequences on the journey.
Being the creative director of the Theatre Royal Wakefield it is only natural that John Godber is teaming up with Theatre Royal to bring us one of his most celebrated plays, Bouncers. Performed in a multi-role style by four actors, the play does not have a specific storyline but is broken up into tableaus giving us a vision into a typical night on the town for four Bouncers working the club, four girls and four lads. Though written in 1977 this play gives us a witty, humorous and at times very cynical insight into modern nightlife that is just as relevant today as it was when it was written.
Presented at The Waterside Arts Centre in Sale by Stuff And Nonsense Theatre Company, this was a one hour retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's story of the rather dim-witted Emperor who has so many clothes, he can never decide what to wear, and so for his birthday he orders a brand new set of clothes for the occasion. Two unscrupulous conmen pretend to be tailors in order to gain food, accommodation and a whole large bag of money, and they design the perfect outfit for him. An outfit that is made from a special material that only intelligent people can see. With this proviso, no-one in the emperor's court wants to appear stupid and so all agree that they can see the outfit, and so by the time it is presented to the Emperor himself, he too has to admit that he 'sees' it, for fear of being thought unintelligent himself! He orders a birthday parade round the town and rides on his horse to the cheers of the crowd. The cheers soon become jeers however when one citizen simply shouts out the obvious fact that he is naked. It all has a lovely little ending though for the Emperor, as he finds comfort and friendship among the townsfolk and a pig, and, preferring their kindness and hospitality to the cold and lonely atmosphere in the palace decides to live there as a commoner. And as for the two con-artists? Well, in this version at least, they get away with it!
As the sequel to ‘Two’ by Jim Cartwright began we were welcomed back into the pub by our landlord and landlady as if we’d never left. However, the cobwebs on the glasses hanging from the ceiling designed by Ciaran Bagnall and updated music designed by Andy Smith told us we’ve moved on drastically from the last time we visited. Unfortunately for our two main characters the pub hasn’t quite kept up to date and the lack of customers and therefore lack of money is starting to take a toll on their relationship.
When someone mentions the word ‘circus’, clowns and trained animals are usually the first thing that come to mind. However, not many people think about the acrobatic side of it and the skills involved. Flown is a stage show brought to us by ‘Pirates of the Carabina’ that combines circus skills and music.
Upon entering the theatre the stage in already fully lit and looks amazing, filled with bright colours and the some of the props that will be used in the show, which range from an ironing board to a lamp post, and my personal favourite a toy horse.
I would never have thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever sit through a Baroque Opera, coming away from it pleasantly surprised and finding that I actually quite enjoyed the experience. But that is exactly what I did do last night, when I went to The Ronewald Concert Hall in the Martin Harris Centre at Manchester University to see Manchester University's Music Society present Jean-Philippe Rameau's Opera 'Castor And Pollux'.
John Godber’s latest touring production “Shafted” certainly demonstrates that he continues to draw in big audiences and audiences that, on the whole, go away happy. In many ways this production is classic Godber. The minimalistic set of a garden gate or garden bench, the symbolism of the mining torches hanging over head, the blasts of popular music in between scenes, the realistic fast, witty dialogue and the politics within his exploration of character. With all the ingredients of what has made his prolific playwriting career so successful in the past, I was expecting a knock out evening of entertainment but could not help feel that something was missing over all.
Last night I was honoured to be part of the audience for such an informative show that digs deep into our society and views. 'dancing bear' combines music, strong words, dance and physical theatre to teach us about the LGBTQ community and the opinions others have of them and their views on the issues raised. The show is very imaginative and clever as it allows us to explore different genders, races, religions and beliefs all building up to convey a strong message.
Subcategories
Page 43 of 63
- You are here:
-
Home
- Reviews