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Theatre

Theatre Review: Gypsy, Royal Exchange, Manchester

December 6, 2019 Comments Off on Theatre Review: Gypsy, Royal Exchange, Manchester

Get set for a night of high kicks, old Hollywood glamour, backstage shenanigans, feathers and lipstick, all under the watchful eye of Rose – the pushiest showbiz mum in town.

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Theatre Review: The Night Before Christmas, Leeds Playhouse

December 6, 2019 Comments Off on Theatre Review: The Night Before Christmas, Leeds Playhouse

I’m definitely not a 21st century incarnation of Ebenezer Scrooge (I’ve checked this with my kids) but I do get more than a bit anxious as November clicks into December and numerous Christmas Markets have been and gone and mince pies are BOGOFF in the shops.

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Opera Review: Bluebeard’s Castle by Béla Bartók and Sinfonetta by Leoš Janáček, Opera North, Huddersfield Town Hall

December 3, 2019 Comments Off on Opera Review: Bluebeard’s Castle by Béla Bartók and Sinfonetta by Leoš Janáček, Opera North, Huddersfield Town Hall

The first thing that greets you as you leave Huddersfield Train Station is the tall statue of the short Harold Wilson, well 5’ 8” according to Google.

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Theatre Review: Cinderella, The Dukes, Lancaster

December 3, 2019 Comments Off on Theatre Review: Cinderella, The Dukes, Lancaster

Once upon a time there was a very good theatre director called Sarah Punshon who got a job as artistic director at the Dukes Playhouse in Lancaster where she did some excellent work including a wonderful summer show in Williamson Park loosely based on The Three Musketeers and a Peter Pan for Christmas that was the best thing I saw last year.

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Review – Marvel Universe Live!: Age of Heroes, Manchester Arena

November 29, 2019 Comments Off on Review – Marvel Universe Live!: Age of Heroes, Manchester Arena

In these trying times, you’d be forgiven for wanting to spend a few years living under a big rock on a remote island.

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Theatre Review: Sleeping Beauty, Everyman, Liverpool

November 29, 2019 Comments Off on Theatre Review: Sleeping Beauty, Everyman, Liverpool

Regular Everyman panto-goers could be forgiven for thinking they’re stranded in an endlessly recurring dream.

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Theatre Review: The Nutcracker, Liverpool Empire

November 29, 2019 Comments Off on Theatre Review: The Nutcracker, Liverpool Empire
Opposite Liverpool’s Empire Theatre, on the plaza in front of St George’s Hall, a Christmas market has installed itself for the festive season. Faux-chocolate box wooden chalets attempt an old-school Alpine vibe, which is competing valiantly for supremacy with an outsized, neon-lit Ferris wheel and an over-enthusiastic PA system with a penchant for Tina Turner’s Proud Mary. Inside the theatre, however, there is no doubting that Christmas Past has won the day over Christmas Present, at least for the next few days.
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I'm a Phoenix, Bitch Production Photos ©The Other Richard

Theatre Review: I’m a Phoenix, Bitch, HOME, Manchester

November 28, 2019 Comments Off on Theatre Review: I’m a Phoenix, Bitch, HOME, Manchester

This is the second time I’ve been to HOME this year and cried.

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Review: Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, The Lowry, Salford

November 27, 2019 Comments Off on Review: Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, The Lowry, Salford

For the past couple of decades Sir Matthew Bourne has been enthusiastically following his own enthusiasms and loves – often films – and transforming them into heart-on-sleeve, crowd-pleasing dance magic.

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Theatre Review: The Wizard of Oz, Leeds Playhouse

November 27, 2019 Comments Off on Theatre Review: The Wizard of Oz, Leeds Playhouse

“That’s great entertainment,” said the father of arguably the Best Baddie in Britain as we chatted after the show.

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