Last night I found myself travelling to the wonderful Oldham Coliseum; a delightful and friendly regional theatre, although much changed and lost a lot of its atmosphere and charm since their recent renovations, to see an adaptation for the stage of a novel by the world's best-selling and most celebrated crime novelist, Agatha Christie, A Murder Is Announced presented by Middle Ground Theatre Company.
We reviewers have a tough job. First and foremost we have to be impartial and honest yet constructively critical and truthful about the many components of a show and theatrical experience. Very often we have to leave all preconceptions behind and enter a theatre with an open mind.
With a new musical it should be easy and we should therefore be blown away by the taking-forward of a new concept by a production company that believes in it so much. With the newest jukebox musical entitled ‘Last Night A DJ Saved My Life’ after the 80s hit, I was disappointedly left underwhelmed.
Imaginative, Entertaining and ....Truthful?
Many of us are familiar with the YouTube footage when we are asked to count the number of passes made by one basketball team and it is only when prompted to re-watch the footage that we see the gorilla that comes onto the court and waves at us. How did we miss it the first time? What else do we miss that is going on right in front of our very eyes?
Annie, dubbed “The World’s Best Loved Musical” has enjoyed new life in the past couple of years: A smash hit revival on Broadway, a film remake, a current US tour and of course this UK tour have tried to breath new life into this classic story of the young orphan girl who is transported from her dull, dreary life of cleaning floors for the tyrannical Miss Hannigan to the whirlwind, colour and splendour of the billionaire tycoon Oliver Warbucks’ mansion. Set in New York during the time of the Great Depression of the 1930s, Annie is a story which reminds us that a little bit of optimism can go a long way!
Penny Millionaire is a vibrant new musical based on the life of the artist Paul Gauguin. Charting his life from the day he resigns from his job at the bank to become a full-time painter till his death, this is a roller coaster of a musical that travels from Paris to Tahiti and back again.
Originally conceived and written by Bev Jones and Stephen Ward in 1976, Penny Millionaire was re-written by Bev Jones in 2012 adding in new songs, arrangements and a new script. This first staging of this new musical was developed by the producer Lesley Jones and director/choreographer Iain Harvey and is intended as a legacy to Jones and his talent. This decision is further reinforced by all profits being donated to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Thriller Live blends amazing dancers, unstoppable singer and impressive multimedia to make an incredible performance that’s coming to a theatre near you! The show consist of the best and brightest of Michael Jackson's catalogue, with hits like Thriller, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, The Way You Make Me Feel and Black or White - this combined with a spectacular display of energetic and sharp dancing and a live band makes a great night out.
Steve Steinman presents his newest creation to the Vampires Rock world - Vampires Rock: The Ghost Train. As his ever loveable main character Baron Von Rockula loses all he ever has and makes a new life in an abandoned ghost train, but it doesn’t take long for things to turn sour - especially when an innocent virgin crosses paths our loveable Vampire. The only way to describe the show is a very adult pantomime, it has the innuendos of a panto but the mature content and context of an adult show. Be warned this is not a show for children! It may not have a restriction on age, a fact which bewilders me, but the content I believe should only be shown to those 18 and over. The set was in the style of the entrance and exit of the ride itself, with the band using it as a jungle Jim throughout the show. The lighting and SFX were those of a high quality rock show that emphasized the greatness of the music with every chord. The use of an increase of speakers and sound equipment on stage was a great addition to the vibe of the performance.
I entered the theatre from a very cold January day and was immediately captured by the warmth of the space. I’m not just talking about the venue, it was a very inviting and intimate theatre; I was energised by the buzz of the multi-generational audience, mesmerised by the image of the full moon on stage and enchanted by the beautiful, haunting melodies of the one-man-band Frank Moon.
Roseacre is a Nordic Noir inspired crime drama, devised by the company Square Peg Theatre and part of the Push Festival at HOME in Manchester.
Beginning with the discovery of a body we see how each character is related to the murder and the pain it causes them individually. The muddy colours of the costume and set, designed by Irene Jade, completely reflected the dark gritty drama about to unfold. The beginning of the performance seemed to reflect the opening titles of a television crime series, with a sort of theme tune and the characters holding various positions. The music was cut and the transition to the opening scene was so smooth it felt almost screen edited.
Now what happens when you are told not to do something? Inevitably you do it! And so it is with the Gruffalo's child (Sophie Alice) who has been told by her father, the Gruffalo himself, that no Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood.
Her natural curiosity overcomes her and she and her stick man companion venture forth meeting on the way Mouse (Catriona Mackenzie) and Duncan MacInnes' succession of predatory characters - a snake, an owl and a fox to name but three.
Comedy duo LipService kick off their 30th Anniversary Season with a reprisal of their take on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; ‘Move Over Moriarty’. The show follows the super sleuth Sherlock Holmes, and his nice but dim side-kick Doctor Watson, as they investigate the garibaldi biscuit affair, and features all the hallmarks of a LipService show. There are misbehaving moustaches, speedy costume changes, wisecracks, inventive chase sequences and lots of laughter. Directed by Gwenda Hughes, Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding navigate the affectionate literary spoof with their usual aplomb; although at times it was a struggle to hear the witty retorts and cynics in the audience might question some of the spontaneous adlibs.
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