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 →
Bring Me The Mountain – New Adelphi Theatre, Salford
Fereshteh Mozaffari is the founder of of Sheba Arts and has lived in two different countries, Iran and the UK. Bring Me the Mountain is her new work in progress, which delves into the devastating impact that being a refugee can have on mental health. Although it firmly states in the programme that this is not... Continue Reading →
Tinned Up – Oldham Coliseum
The skylines of Manchester and Salford are littered with towering cranes. Skyscrapers are constantly springing up, consisting of luxury apartments and five star hotels. Affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce. Whilst regeneration is seen as signifying a city's prosperity, little thought is given to the properties demolished and the local communities destroyed by it. Residents... Continue Reading →
The Community Centre – King’s Arms, Salford
Welcome to The Community Centre, a place where you can relax and while away the time, or engage in "How to Charm Your Own Snakes" workshops. It is the lifeblood of the local Mancunian community, where elders can go to avoid paying their electric bills, and where people can skive off work. As the central... Continue Reading →
Shrew – Salford Arts Theatre (GM Fringe 2019)
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 →
All The Bens – King’s Arms, Salford (GM Fringe 2019)
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 →
Pramkicker – King’s Arms, Salford (GM Fringe 2019)
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 →
Unbreakable – King’s Arms, Salford (GM Fringe 2019)
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 →
What’s On in Manchester – May 2019
The best thing about living in Manchester is the abundance of theatre on offer. From the smallest fringe venues to large theatres, there is always something fantastic to watch. Here is my pick of what to watch across Manchester in May. RICHARD III - HOME, MANCHESTER On until 4th May 2019 After decades of the... Continue Reading →
Snowflakes – The King’s Arms, Salford
Every snowflake that falls from the sky is unique. Each has its own individual composition and identity. Hung Theatre's Snowflakes is a collection of six short plays that are distinctly different from one another, but are all inspired by the 'snowflake' generation. As the plays are singular, I will write a separate review for each.... Continue Reading →