Theatre through the eyes of a Manc
It's not very often that a piece of theatre has had such an impact on me that I end up watching it three times*. Danny and the Deep Blue Sea is one of these. It was one of the best shows I watched in 2019. Its characters moved me so much that they became seared into... 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 her woefully dull manager, Chris. As relief from her mind-numbingly boring job, she investigates which of her colleagues have... Continue Reading →
I didn't want to end the year without shining a spotlight on the theatre companies that I discovered in 2019 who have really excited me. They have all produced outstanding, innovative work, which has pushed boundaries and showcased incredible talent. It has been a pleasure to discover these theatre companies, so I wanted to write... Continue Reading →
2019 has been quite an eventful year for theatre in Manchester. It has been a year of new beginnings, with Sarah Frankcom stepping down as the Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange, paving the way for Roy Alexander Weise and Bryony Shanahan to put their own stamp on the theatre. This year also saw 53two... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
With parliament suspended, and a no-deal Brexit looking more probable than ever, you could be forgiven for thinking that the country is going to the dogs. Our democracy is under threat. The Amazon Rainforest is on fire, as the effects of climate change are already becoming apparent. These are truly depressing times that we live... 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 →
