Not content with being one of our leading Film, TV and stage actresses, Maxine Peake shows with this stage adaptation of her own critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 play, that she is also a playwright of some considerable skill and talent. The subject of this play is Leeds born sports woman, Beryl Burton, MBE, OBE, a wife and mother who during the 1960’s and 70’s cycled her way into the record books becoming a five times world pursuit champion and also winning the national title a record 13 times. Given the current popularity of cycling and the hype which now accompanies the annual Tour de Yorkshire, it is easy to see why The West Yorkshire Playhouse originally produced this production in 2014 and are now with financial support from the Arts Council touring this excellent revival to conventional theatre spaces and community centres across Lancashire and Yorkshire. Add a touch of romance and sentimentality to the story of a feisty young woman overcoming great challenges in a male dominated sport and what emerges is a highly inventive, heart warming and hugely enjoyable production.
Jersey Boys returns to Manchester due to popular demand just over a year since the city hosted the premiere of this current UK and Ireland tour. Moving down the road from the Palace to the Opera House the auditoriums are still packed, a clear sign this show is a firm favourite with the Manchester theatre going public.
THE ORESTEIA
By Aeschylus.
Translated and adapted by Ted Hughes.
What an absolutely fascinating prospect; a chance to watch what is, possibly, the oldest surviving Western play - A Greek tragedy first performed in 458 BC - produced by HOME, Manchester's newest theatre; a place dedicated to producing modern, innovative and challenging productions. Thus the question becomes; how can you marry HOME's ethos and values with those of Ancient Greece, whilst still making the play relevant, comprehensible and enjoyable? The answer is, even for the best of the best, with great difficulty. And so HOME had to find such a director for this project, and found a lady who is a self-confessed classicist and lover of this particular play, Blanche McIntyre, who should have been the ideal choice.
The Bodyguard is the award-winning musical based on the blockbuster film, starring three-time Brit nominee and X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke as Rachel Marron. Direct from its smash-hit West End run, the show is appearing at Sheffield Lyceum for just over one week only! (27th October - 7th November).
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, (Stuart Reid), is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don't expect is to fall in love.
One Man Breaking bad – the Unathorised Parody of the award winning TV series Breaking Bad has sold out performances at the Edinburgh fringe and stars LA actor Miles Allen, whose boundless energy and countless impressions takes the audience through all five seasons in 80 minutes. Be warned, this show definitely contains spoilers.
Like most, I have binge watched all five seasons Breaking Bad and loved every minute. But if you have managed to avoid the TV series (please give in and watch it immediately) then this is not the show for you. Aside from the spoilers, there are far too many inside jokes and references for anyone unfamiliar with the show to be able to relate to. This is one by the fans for the fans, yo!
Professionals on Ice brings the skating stars from ITV's Dancing on Ice to a skating rink near you.
(If Dancing on Ice has achieved nothing else, I think nearly everyone in the country must now know what a "headbanger" is!)
I was quite surprised to see that the size of the ice rink had been reduced as this immediately made it feel a little less spectacular than I expected.
The Full Monty strips back to its film roots
“You can leave your hat on” is the order of the day as The Full Monty strip-teases Stoke’s Regent Theatre. Not to be confused with the 2000 Broadway musical that set the action in New York, America; Simon Beaufoy’s 2013 play brings the story back to the UK and Sheffield where the 1997 film was set.
With the clocks going back at the weekend and the long winter nights beginning to draw in the national tour of Hairspray couldn’t have arrived at a better time in Manchester. Bringing colour and fun in bucket loads from a highly talented cast.
Dark. Intense. Mesmerising. Simply stunning. A show you will not forget in a hurry. I would write about it in my diary……but that would be a Sin; a punishable offence….
Once again the Oldham Coliseum have produced yet another stellar production, this time directed by Iqbal Khan that hits all the right notes and is full of laughs and in parts very moving.
Mixing physical comedy, clowning, juggling, storytelling and slapstick, this family-friendly show from Lost in Translation Circus is inspired by Roald Dahl’s The Misfits.
Lost in Translation is UK based with a multi-cultural membership with strong links to Belgium Italy and Australia and performers originating from Italy, France, Ireland and Australia. Founded by circus space graduates in 2006 as an acrobatic duo, the company has toured widely throughout the UK and Europe ever since. Transformed into a full-blown ensemble in 2011 the company moved to Norfolk in 2013 to become company in residence with Seachange Arts where they run the circus education program.
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