With a score by Stephen Sondheim, and book by James Lapine, this is a dark and twisted journey which explores perhaps the true nature of fairy tales. Characters from various well-known stories are all happily living together, but things go very wrong when they are allowed to explore their own selfish wishes and to start acting for themselves. The plot follows the stories of the childless baker and his wife intertwining with Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella (with her wicked stepmother and ugly sisters) and Jack and his mother (including Milky White the cow), Rapunzel, and in this story, Rapunzel's mother, a wicked witch. And as if this scenario wasn't complicated enough, the narrator grants each of the four protagonists a wish at the beginning of the show and in the first half we see these four wishes being carried out with sometimes hilarious and other times quite disastrous consequences.
Hetty Feather originated as a book by best-selling author, Jacqueline Wilson. The stage production resulted from two chance meetings by Jacqueline: Firstly with Rhiann Harris the then director of the Foundling Museum in London, who suggested she write a story about a fledgling; Then with Mark Bentley who asked whether he could produce the stage version of the book.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has landed at the West Yorkshire Playhouse prior to an extensive UK tour beginning in Southampton this coming February. This production produced by Music & Lyrics and the West Yorkshire Playhouse is a stunning revival of this fun musical.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the only children’s story written by James Bond creator Ian Fleming and the screenplay for the silver screen was written by Ken Hughes and Roald Dahl! Chitty flew into the London Palladium some 13 years ago to rave reviews and breaking box office records, the rest they say is history.
Betty Blue Eyes premiered in 2011 and was one of Cameron Mackintosh’s early musicals which only ran for a period of 6 months much to the critics amazements as this production was dazzling and delightful but unfortunately it did not bring the public in which has become a heart-breaking normality in the West End for many up and coming Musicals.
The Musical Comedy is based on Alan Bennett’s classic motion film ‘A Private Function’ - Betty Blue Eyes is a about a downtrodden Chiropodist and his social climbing wife - Directed by Jack Hawkins a second year student at the University of Manchester.
Every year a major West End musical visits Manchester to spend time in the city over Christmas. Previous years have seen Shrek, West Side Story and The Lion King visit and this year it is the turn of The Bodyguard to thrill Manchester’s festive audiences.
Based on the Warner Bros. film written by the acclaimed, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Big Chill, The Empire Strikes Back), with a book by Drama Desk Award-nominated Alexander Dinelaris, this extraordinary new production of THE BODYGUARD is directed by the award-winning Thea Sharrock (Sunshine Boys, Equus, The Misanthrope).
The frolicking of Christmas pantomime is a tried and true theatrical tradition but I would suggest an alternative in pursuit of family entertainment this season; Unity’s fourth annual Christmas show The Princess and the Pea is an appreciated departure from yuletide tropes without being any less affable, charming or engaging.
Diversity found national fame in 2009 when they won Britain's Got Talent - beating Susan Boyle to the top spot. They were something new and refreshing and nothing quite like them had been seen on mainstream television before.
They have become a tour de force and they now run the Danceworks Studio in London to encourage and promote dancing to everyone. Their tagline is "Dream...Believe...Achieve".
Tonight was the official opening of Hope Mill Theatre, a new 100 seat theatre located in Manchester in a grade two listed building; gaining its name from the buildings previous function as a cotton mill. We were welcomed into the theatre by a red carpet and fairy lights which turned to candle light in the main bar area. The design of the Engine Room Café and Bar had kept all of the former characteristics and charm of the mill but had added shabby chic décor, keeping the industrial feel of the place but giving it a warm atmosphere.
This production of Snow White is performed by balletLORENT - a contemporary dance company based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The pride themselves on creating "fantastical, heartfelt and beautiful dance that is inclusive and inviting". The 'Scenario Writer' is Carol Ann Duffy, former Poet Laureate and Professor of Contemporary Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Presented by third year students at The Arden School of Theatre, Manchester.
Fame, I wanna live forever! Surely everyone must have heard those famous lines; although I doubt that when they were written for a film in 1980, anyone would have believed then in the longevity and popularity of not only that one song but of the whole concept. The film went on to spawn several spin-offs, a remake, a TV series, and of course the stage Musical which I saw this afternoon.
An appropriate but misleading title at one and the same time if ever there was one. Yes, this play is about a Snow Queen, but if it's your traditional fairytale or even the Disney version of this story then you are in for a bit of a surprise.
Z-Arts Theatre, Manchester's leading theatre for young people and families has chosen a rather surprising, but also somehow refreshing offering as their seasonal fare this year. I was left wondering though just exactly what age-range this play would be suitable for, and I would advise that perhaps a 7 years or older sticker is placed on the advertising.
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