Theatre through the eyes of a Manc
A testament to the popularity of Richard O'Brien's cult hit The Rocky Horror Picture Show, nearly fifty years after its release, are the fans of all ages lined up outside the Palace Theatre on a freezing, foggy winter's night. Looking around the theatre, there are plenty of people dressed as Magenta, wearing maid costumes, and... Continue Reading →
Based on the 2003 film, School of Rock has been adapted for the stage by Andrew Lloyd Webber and has just embarked on an extensive UK Tour, finishing in August 2022. It is a musical that follows the exploits of wannabe rock star, Dewie Finn (Alex Tomkins). When slacker Dewie gets fired from his job... Continue Reading →
In the past, the Christmas slot at the Royal Exchange Theatre has been reserved for big musical productions like The Producers, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, and Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods. So it seems a little strange that a quaint, folk musical is chosen for such a prestigious slot this winter. However, if you bear... Continue Reading →
There's no denying that the past two years have been incredibly difficult for the theatre industry. It has been battered and beaten by the Covid19 pandemic, but it remarkably still survives to fight another day. As we welcome in 2022, so too must we move into the new year with a renewed sense of optimism... Continue Reading →
Some of the earliest memories that I can remember are of my mum, sat with myself and my brother at bedtime, reading C.S Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. I have, quite literally, loved the fantasy world of Narnia for as long as I remember. Therefore, it's no surprise that I got tickets to this stage... Continue Reading →
When an army of panto dames marched on Westminster last Christmas, they helped highlight the importance of pantomimes to the theatre economy. Pantos are often deemed the theatre industry's lifeline, making more money than most other shows and helping to keep a venue going for the next year. Equally as vital, they serve as an... Continue Reading →
I first watched Trouble in Tahiti when Opera North streamed it over lockdown. They led the way in making opera accessible, by having captioned, BSL interpreted, and audio described performances available for their audience members to watch. It also gave many people a way to try watching opera for the first time for free without having... Continue Reading →
The thing that instantly strikes me about Carmen is how familiar the music is, even though I have never watched this opera before. Even those who are completely new to opera will recognise Bizet's iconic songs 'Habanera', 'Les Toreadors' and the 'Toreador Song'. Under the baton of Garry Walker, hearing this famous music performed by a... Continue Reading →
Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45. With high profile celebrities like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles openly discussing their struggles with mental health, it feels like there's been a shift towards these conversations becoming more common-place. It's OK not to be OK. However, toxic masculinity still pervades society, leading men to bottle... Continue Reading →
Watching Megan Relph's one-woman comedy Proper Adult provided a refreshing reminder about exactly why I started blogging about theatre in the first place. The purpose of my theatre blog is to spread the word that high quality theatre can be found outside London, plus it doesn't have to cost an absolute fortune. In fact, you... Continue Reading →
THE PLAY'S THE THING 