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 →
Proper Adult – Altrincham Garrick (GM Fringe 2021)
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 →
Why I Am An Avocado – The Empty Space (GM Fringe 2021)
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 →
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea – King’s Arms, Salford
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 →
Skank – King’s Arms, Salford
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 →
Best Theatre Discoveries in 2019
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 →
Top 10 Theatre Shows in 2019
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 →
Trollope – King’s Arms, Salford
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 →
Our Kid – King’s Arms, Salford
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 →
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea – Hope Mill Theatre
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 →