Theatre through the eyes of a Manc
If you could travel back in time, who would you meet? Rosa Parks, Oscar Wilde, Nikola Tesla, Shakespeare, Che Guevara, and Aphra Behn would definitely be on my list. Ronnie Leek's original comedy sees its hero meet H.G Wells and discover a time-travelling wheelchair. Born a fully grown man, Percy Trollope propels himself into the... Continue Reading →
Taran Knight's Our Kid was one of the highlights of the summer's GM Fringe Festival. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including Best New Writing, Best Actor, and Best Drama. Thankfully for those who missed it at the GM Fringe, Knight has returned to the King's Arms, with a slightly extended version of... Continue Reading →
Welcome to The Pub. This is the pub in Valletta, Malta, where Oliver Reed died. There is beer, rum and cheese available, and Simply Red are playing on the jukebox. This is where expats come to drink, and Oliver Reed fans come to pay their respects, or buy a merchandised t-shirt or a mug with... Continue Reading →
Occasionally, you can watch a piece of theatre in a local fringe venue that is so powerful, it leaves you stunned and stays with you long after it finishes. Danny and the Deep Blue Sea is one of these. One of my highlights of the GM Fringe Festival, it moved me so much that it... Continue Reading →
A month of incredible fringe theatre came to an end last night with the 2019 GM Fringe Awards. Across July, there were over 250 productions that showcased local emerging talent. A multitude of venues welcomed artists, from pubs to train station platforms, and Manchester was a buzzing hive of creativity. Every single person involved in... Continue Reading →
I want to begin this review by firmly stating that I truly dislike The Taming of the Shrew. Unlike most of William Shakespeare's plays, this one really hasn't aged well. I have always struggled to consider his play, in which a woman is broken into submission by her abusive husband, a comedy. It is difficult... Continue Reading →
Ben likes Al, even though he has a strange fetish for the A&E department. He met him online, but isn't even sure that Al is his real name. Well, it's better than "Master1507". Al just wanted a quick blowjob in the hospital's disabled toilet, but now Ben thinks their relationship is more serious than that.... Continue Reading →
Meet Kate. She's a skank. Stuck in a job she hates, Kate dreams of being a writer. Anything to get away from her irritating co-workers; Anal Annie, Linda (who has the world's most awful laugh), and a boss with seeds stuck in his teeth. As a relief from her mind-numbing job, she investigates which of... Continue Reading →
In an independent coffee shop, full of middle-class yummy mummies wilfully ignoring their kids, Jude has a meltdown. Jude doesn't like children. She considers kids to be "tit leeches" who validate your existence. "I've never shat myself in a pool", she proudly declares. In her 30s, Jude breaks conventions as a woman who doesn't actually... Continue Reading →
Occasionally, you can watch a play in a local fringe venue that leaves you astounded. Danny Clifford's new play, Unbreakable, is one of these. Lauded as one of the most anticipated shows of the GM Fringe festival, the show was sold-out throughout its run at the King's Arms in Salford and certainly lives up to... Continue Reading →
