Theatre through the eyes of a Manc
March is here. The evenings are getting lighter and it has finally stopped raining! Hopefully it means that spring is on its way. March also heralds the beginning of the new Spring/Summer theatrical season. Many theatres across Manchester have some really exciting work lined up over this season; from brand new musicals to classic revivals.... 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 →
Originally written over 60 years ago, there is no denying the urgent relevance of Bohuslav Martinů's opera to a contemporary audience. The Greek Passion depicts the plight of refugees in an intolerant society, where they are shunned by the residents of a village. Priest Fotis, who travels with the group, makes a desperate plea for... Continue Reading →
The original composition of Handel's Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar) is nearly four hours long. For this Opera North revival, Tim Albery has revised the music to a more manageable three hours in length. Nevertheless, this is still an epic historical opera that demands a high level of attention and investment from its audience. It is totally... Continue Reading →
Puccini's La Bohème is one of the most popular operas performed. For someone who is unfamiliar with opera, it is easily accessible and the story is understandable. Its tragic tale of star-crossed lovers is one that has captivated audiences for over a century. As winter hits Paris, Rodolfo falls in love with Mimì, who is... Continue Reading →
In the words of house Stark, "Winter is coming". The dark evenings are closing in, and it's time to dig out the winter woolies again. The annual Christmas market stalls are springing up around Manchester and the mood is turning festive. What better way to escape the cold winter weather than watching some theatre? With... Continue Reading →
Falling smack bang in-between the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter seasons, August is usually considered as a fallow month for theatre productions, as people flock to the Edinburgh Fringe for their theatre fix. In Manchester, there's no rest though, with plenty of great shows available throughout the month. Here are a handful of suggestions for what theatre... Continue Reading →
A year ago, I would never have considered going to watch an opera. I had many ingrained preconceptions about it. Being a working-class Mancunian, having grown up on a council estate, I saw opera as something that only wealthy people could enjoy. I thought I would hate the experience of going to see one. Being... Continue Reading →
Opera North's double bill of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi combines two thunderous pieces of classical music with dance and opera. I am a complete novice with all three of these art forms. I have only seen two operas before, Tosca and The Magic Flute. I have only ever attended one... Continue Reading →
A year ago, I would never have considered watching an opera. I had many ingrained preconceptions around this art form. Being a working-class Mancunian, I was convinced that opera had an elitist audience. I believed that I wouldn't be able to understand the story because it is sung in a foreign language. I also thought... Continue Reading →
