Theatre through the eyes of a Manc
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 →
It's wonderful to see the GM Fringe back in Manchester. It has always been the highlight of my year; giving audiences the chance to be able to watch affordable theatre in local venues that are spread across the city. It's also a great opportunity to discover local emerging talent and support the fringe community, rather... Continue Reading →
If there's one thing that you can rely on in Manchester, it's the rain. Anybody staging open-air theatre in this city are certainly brave souls who deserve the utmost respect. The Great Open Air Theatre company are the latest to do so, performing an exciting summer festival of Shakespeare in the amphitheatre outside the Great... Continue Reading →
After the past year, it feels really nice to finally be able to write about what theatre is available to watch across Manchester, as venues are finally allowed to open their doors and allow audiences back inside their auditoriums once more. Although all theatres have to comply with the government's strict social distancing measures, it's... Continue Reading →
THE PLAY'S THE THING 