Theatre through the eyes of a Manc
Based on the 2003 film, School of Rock has been adapted for the stage by Andrew Lloyd Webber and has just embarked on an extensive UK Tour, finishing in August 2022. It is a musical that follows the exploits of wannabe rock star, Dewie Finn (Alex Tomkins). When slacker Dewie gets fired from his job... Continue Reading →
In the past, the Christmas slot at the Royal Exchange Theatre has been reserved for big musical productions like The Producers, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, and Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods. So it seems a little strange that a quaint, folk musical is chosen for such a prestigious slot this winter. However, if you bear... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
For opera audiences, Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro is a much loved classic, perhaps equivalent to a good version of Shakespeare's Hamlet to the regular theatre-goer. It is an opera that is well known and cherished by many. But, as a recent opera convert, I had never watched it before Opera North brought it to... Continue Reading →
In 2017, HOME theatre launched a pioneering project with the aim of bringing the UK's next generation of visionary, acclaimed artists to HOME's main theatre stage. Their first ever T1 Commission is a brand new musical led by award-winning musical comedy cabaret artists, Bourgeois and Maurice. With so many films being recently adapted into musicals,... Continue Reading →
THE PLAY'S THE THING 