Category Archives: Theatre

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version Of War Of The Worlds, Theatre Review. Dominion Theatre, London.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Liam Neeson, Michael Praed, Madalena Alberto, Jimmy Nail, Heide Range, Daniel Bedingfield, David Essex, Jerry Wayne, Will Barratt, Ethan Bradshaw, Charlie Bell, Antony Hansen, Matt Holland, Tash Holway, Chris Jenkins, Grace McKee, Jack Mitchell, Marios Nicolaidos, Simon Shorten, Jodie Steele.

The music is still the same, the feeling of beauty, of enormity unchanged from its conception and aside from the last arena tour, more than able to bring a tear to the eye of anyone who has taken Jeff Wayne’s musical War of the Worlds to their hearts; yet as the production enters a new phase of performance, the dynamic has shifted, it now resonates with a feeling of positive creativity and the truth of theatre, that all should be able to see the actors reactions to the immensity, the scale of the music on offer.

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version Of War Of The Worlds, Theatre Review. Dominion Theatre, London. full post

(502 words, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)

A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Aoife Duffin.

The stigma of certain actions undertaken when young never truly leave you, certain deeds done against you are always apt to bark in the dark and the misery or the grief reaped is enough to send you spiralling if there is nothing to stay your hand or guide you away from the water’s edge. In a time when particular individuals in Ireland could almost get away with anything because of who they were and what they represented, Eimear McBride’s A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing is a play of terrifying beauty and compassion.

A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(394 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Brakin’ Pad, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Donna Lesley Price, Richie Grice, Mick Colligan, Shaun Fagan, Tony James, Craig McGrath, Barry Mason.

The local garage, a realm in which to enter is arguably at your own risk, a place where language seems to change and the understanding of how life works can immediately be thrown out of the arena, a place in which perhaps certain modes of behaviour still exist and in which to find female company should not only be applauded but one that might bemuse in some way.

Brakin’ Pad, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(449 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

The Thirty Nine Steps, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. 2016.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Richard Ede, Olivia Greene, Andrew Hodges, Rob Witcomb.

The secrets of The 39 Steps have long been discussed, bandied around the drawing rooms of gentleman clubs and inner circles of foreign governments for such a long time that the dashing pencil moustache and rugged figure of Richard Hannay positively quivers at the thought of saving the country from the dastardly plot afoot.

The Thirty Nine Steps, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. 2016. full post

(438 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. (2016).

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: James Hill, Georgia Austin, Debi Jones, Ricky Tomlinson, Tom Burroughs, Michael Chapman, Olivia Horton, Lewis Pryor.

The world is a pantomime at times, someone will always play the villain, someone the dame and there will always be some commotion going on requiring the services of a Prince Charming or at the very least a jester; the world is a pantomime and each person plays the roles laid down to get the maximum laughs possible.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. (2016). full post

(481 words, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Hamlet, Theatre Review. R.S.C., Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * *

Cast: Paapa Essiedu, Clarence Smith, Cyril Nri, Natalie Simpson, Hiran Abeysekera, Doreene Blackstock, Eke Chukwu, James Cooney, Bethan Cullinane, Kevin N. Golding, Marcus Griffiths, Marieme Diouf, Romayne Andrews, Byron Mondahl, Tanya Moodie, Theo Ogundipe, Ewart James Walters, Temi Wilkey.

The king is dead, a usurper and a murderer sits on the throne and the man who would be king sits and procrastinates to the point of lethargy and inaction; hardly the calling card for one of the greatest plays in the English language to be treated, the single red rose that was visible at the local church in front of Shakespeare’s stone perhaps wilting under the pressure of the enormous task undertaken by the R.S.C. as Hamlet once more roared into Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Hamlet, Theatre Review. R.S.C., Stratford-Upon-Avon. full post

(487 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Down The Dock Road, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Derek Barr, Les Dennis, Paul Duckworth, James Duke, Oliver Farnworth, Michael Ledwich, Nathan McMullen, Conrad Nelson, Andrew Schofield, Daniel Taylor.

If there is an occupation that typifies the city of Liverpool, which the British public think of first when asked what job symbolises the city that gave The Beatles to the world, then surely without doubt the job of the Stevedore or the Dock worker would come out on top.

Down The Dock Road, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(451 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

The Witches, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Sarah Ingram, Fox Jackson-Keen, Karen Mann, Sioned Saunders, Kieran Urquhart, Elexi Walker, Justin Wilman.

There have been so few writers as popular that have written for children who also made an adult crave the attention of the power of the imagination and all its beautiful trappings and escapism as that of Roald Dahl, that no matter your age or disposition, it is arguably impossible to turn your head away from the innocence on offer and the underlying tones of rebellion, adventure and childish revolt that go hand in hand across the works of the Welsh born writer.

The Witches, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(432 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Kite, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Charlotte Croft, Liz Crother, Linden Walcott-Burton, Nicola Blackwell.

Through the silent movement of the wind such memories of grief can be harnessed. Grief, like hate is one end of the extremes of feelings in which humanity can find themselves dwelling, grief has to be endured and it can take time, time to which other might not grant you but it must be felt to be able to move on and accept what has happened.

Kite, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(421 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

Burjesta Theatre Presents ‘The Odyssey’ This April At The Casa And The Unity Theatre

Part adventure, part romance, part Revenge Tragedy, Homer’s epic story of monsters, magicians, witches and goddesses. A tale which has been mesmerising audiences now for over 3, 000 years…

Will…

Odysseus, hero of the Trojan War and inventor of the ‘wooden horse’, be able to make it home to Ithaca in time to wreak revenge on the vicious gang of suitors who are besieging his palace, fighting for his beloved wife, Penelope’s hand in marriage and threatening to kill his son?

But…

Burjesta Theatre Presents ‘The Odyssey’ This April At The Casa And The Unity Theatre full post

(288 words, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)