Category Archives: Theatre

Anne And Eva, Theatre Review. St. George’s Hall, Liverpool.

Cast: Justine Saville, John Gorman, Sam Teller, Sue Boardman, Isobel Balchin.

Some moments in history defy Humanity’s reason, they challenge us to rise above the savagery and disgrace placed upon our collective shoulders and become better, to come back to a place of sanity and rational thought; history repeats these lessons because it seems we constantly need to be reminded just how low we can quickly descend back into the mire, of how we can lurch and play into the hands of Fascism if we do not keep vigilant.

Anne And Eva, Theatre Review. St. George’s Hall, Liverpool. full post

(536 words, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

Move Over Moriarty, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Maggie Fox, Sue Ryding.

The eeriness of the London Fog, the sound of a violin playing somewhere down a fashionable street in West London and the inevitable descent into the criminal underworld that stalks and terrorises Victorian England, all trade-marks that make Sherlock Holmes the man to solve even the most heinous of crimes, especially one as dangerous, as perplexing as The Garibaldi Biscuit Affair; this is not a case where Lip Service is just paid to the Gothic, it is dunked completely and raises many current questions.

Move Over Moriarty, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(385 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Cinderella, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Calum Best, Alison Crawford, Beryl Marsden, Michael Chapman, Tom Burroughs, Lesley Butler, Chris Barton, Lewis Pryor.

The Ugly Sisters are running amuck at Hard-Up Hall, the evil step-mother has all under her spell and Buttons is infatuated with the most beautiful girl in all the land, things are never simple in Panto land and for Cinderella, the day is one where her life gets turned upside down and the story of her rags to riches existence becomes a tale of woe banished by charm.

Cinderella, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(417 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Dick Whittington, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Sally Lindsay, Leanne Campbell, Eric Potts, Liam Mellor, Kurtis Stacey, Warren Donnelly, Pete Price, Hayley Goold

“Big” is the first thing that springs to mind when taking a seat at The Liverpool Empire for this year’s Pantomime, Dick Whittington, and that’s exactly what the show delivers: Big laughs, Big fun, Big songs, Big costumes and – above all – some Big performances that will have everybody cheering from start to finish.

Dick Whittington, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

The Haunting Of Hill House, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Emily Bevan, Chipo Chung, Angela Clerkin, Jane Guernier, Joseph May, Martin Turner.

Houses have a symbolism all of their own and they also carry the weight of expectation with them. A home should be the place where a person feels safest of all, where once the door is locked and the lights go out, nothing real or imagined should be able to disturb the peace.

The Haunting Of Hill House, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(389 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

The Princess And The Pea, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Duncan Cameron, Graham Hicks, Josie Cerise, Keddy Sutton.

The humble pea is never truly given the chance to shine, is never truly the heroic type and is only ever seen to grace a good shepherd’s pie or instead be mushed down, taken to task as it adorns a plate of fish and chips. Yet once upon a time a Princess had much to owe the pea and its legendary status was confirmed. It is a status that enhanced as Liverpool’s Unity Theatre offers this Christmas the age old story of The Princess and the Pea and it is a tale to delight and capture the very best of imagination for all who make their way to the theatre on Hope Place this December.

The Princess And The Pea, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(629 words, estimated 2:31 mins reading time)

Pharaoh Cross The Mersey, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Michael Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Hampson, Danny O’ Brien, Andrew Schofield, Michael Starke, Leah Whiteside, Amera Bjorkhaug, Ashlyn Baker, Natasha Riley.

Band: Elliot Chapman, Jack Hymers, Emily Linden, Alex Smith.

Boris and Daisy, a Russian submarine crew member and a student from Liverpool, having found love in a cold climate and an odd pair of talking bears with a passion for ballet in Scouse of The Antarctic continue their romance in the hot desert of Egypt and in amongst the camels, the fezs and flies and in Fred Lawless’ latest comedy smash, Pharaoh Cross The Mersey, the spirit of the Liver Bird lives on in wonderful Merseyside fashion.

Pharaoh Cross The Mersey, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(386 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Rapunzel: Hairway To Heaven, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Marianne Benedict, Adam Bowler, Tom Connor, Nicola Hawkins, Sam Heywood, Stephanie Hockley, Martina Isibor, Adam Keast, Greg Last, Francis Tucker.

There’s a lady who’s sure that all that glitters is comedy gold and the music, and laughter that comes from out of the Everyman at the start of the festive season is one true reason to lock the door, head to the bright lights of Hope Street and revel in the latest in a long line of Christmas extravaganzas written by Sarah A. Nixon and Mark Chatterton, the superb Rapunzel: Hairway To Heaven.

Rapunzel: Hairway To Heaven, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(376 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

The Crucible, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Marni Stanley, Anthony Devine, Abby Bush, Amy Dalton, Samantha Westwell, Sara Chadwick, Rebecca Barrett, Olivia Grace, Nadine Cullen, Harvey Fitzpatrick, Georgia Rooney, John O’Grady, Thomas Dalton, Kaylee-Ann Meredith, Peter Shock, Mark Harper, Georgia Wills, Christopher Hird, John Dixon, John McGee, Sophie Powell, Ashley Male, Amy Allen, Liam-Powell-Berry.

The power of a play rests in the hands of those who contribute to it long after the author’s death. The command of its direction, the will to continue to shape modern thought offers energy in the very best of productions and arguably continues to place dynamism into the words of plays, including perhaps one of the very finest of the 20th Century, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.

The Crucible, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(562 words, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

Shrek: The Musical, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Dean Chisnall, Bronte Barbe, Gerard Carey, Idris Kargbo.

Here’s a statement: Shrek: The Musical is every bit as colourful, huge and – above all – funny as anything ever staged at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, with sets to die for, costumes that glitter brighter than the Christmas lights on Castle Street, choreography to make Len Goodman weep tears of joy and a cast that is quite simply sensational.

Shrek: The Musical, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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