Category Archives: Theatre

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Cast: Darren Bennett, Tony Jackson, Edward peel, Kim Ismay, Nigel Garton, Richard Ashton, Rachel Stanley, Dean Maynard, John Griffiths, Lucy Buckingham, Moray Treadwell, Alex France, Andrew Waldron.

If ever there was a film that was ripe for the theatre then surely it is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This 1968 cinema graphic smash had all the ingredients of a fine story (much of this down to the original book by James Bond creator Ian Fleming and subsequent script adaptation by Roald Dahl and Liverpool born Ken Hughes), a slightly eccentric inventor with a fantastic name, Caractacus Potts, a sweet factory owned by the Scrumptious family, foreign enemies and of course the most fantasmagorical (sic) car!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Council Depot Blues, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 21st 2010.

Cast: Jake Abraham, Roy Brandon, Paul Broughton, Lindzi Germain, Howard Gray, Phil Hearne, Shaun Mason, Andrew Schofield.

It seems Davy Kirby can do no wrong when it comes to observing the characters and situations that make Liverpool such a unique city, with Brick up the Mersey Tunnels and Lost Soul having received critical and commercial acclaim over the last couple of years, the time was right to let Council Depot Blues have another turn at the Royal Court Theatre.

Council Depot Blues, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Spamalot, Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Theatre Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 10th 2010.

“Camelot, it’s such a silly place” but so marvellous to visit and a joy to see Eric Idle’s West End smash hit comedy Spamalot transfer effortlessly around the country and eventually park the savage rabbit, doll out the much loved absurdity and revel in the spirit that is pure Monty Python at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Written by Eric Idle and a musical score by John Du Prez, the story is pretty much the same as the film created by the Python team but with a few saucy extra bits added to give the talented cast as much time on stage as is possible.

Spamalot, Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Theatre Review. full post

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

Brick Up, The Wirral Strikes Back. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Theatre Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 8th 2010.

Cast: Warren Donnelly, Dean Sullivan, Bernadette Foley, Eithne Browne, Kate McEvoy, Kris Mochrie, Marc Hughes, Emma Nowell.

Sequels can either be hit or miss, whether on stage or at the cinema the hard task of the writer is to make the next part of the story just as enjoyable as the previous one. Sometimes this doesn’t work; there is too much affection for the characters in the first story that any derivation from the plot is never forgiven.

Brick Up, The Wirral Strikes Back. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Theatre Review. full post

(454 words, 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

Our Day Out, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre.

Cast: Kieran Cunningham, Pauline Daniels, Stephen Fletcher, Mark Moraghan, Georgina White, Sophie Fraser, Chris Mason, Abby Mavers, Jack Rigby. Mia Molloy.

We have all been on one, no matter of our age. The school day out is one of those times that if pushed we will remember detail for detail, whether it was a day trip to the local seaside to let off steam or an exercise in futility where the teachers tried to show that they could be down with the kids and be their friends for one day.

Our Day Out, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre. full post

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

‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore. Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 21st 2010.

Cast: Ken Bradshaw, Kevin Harvey, Matti Houghton, Paul McCleary, Eileen O’Brien, Emily Pithon, Stuart Richman, Nicholas Shaw, Hugh Skinner.

The Everyman theatre is well renowned for its staging of hard, gritty and sometimes disturbing plays. None so more perhaps than the opening play of the new season, John Ford’s ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore.

There may be those who would shy away from the subject of incest, murder and impinging insanity but director Chris Meads has built a reputation for getting the best out of actors even in the most unusual of plays and in Tis Pity he has struck gold again with a cast that tackles some of humanity’s base instincts and wanton desires.

‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore. Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(349 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

The Game, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Cast: John Branwell, Liz Carney, Jo Gerard, Catherine Kinsella, Ror North, Wendi Peters, Phil Rowson, Barrie Rutter, Matt Sutton, Jos Vantyler.

Harold Brighouse’s name might ring more bells with drama and literature lovers as the writer of the classic play Hobson’s Choice, however thanks to a dramatic find in a Canadian University, Barrie Rutter and his team of players that make up Northern Broadsides have breathed life into the play The Game.

Northern Broadsides have continued to thrill Liverpool audiences over the last few years, with productions such as The Man with Two Gaffers and their own take on Romeo and Juliet, it seems as though the company can do no wrong in wrong in local eyes.

The Game, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Calendar Girls, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 28th 2010.

Cast: Denise Black, Elaine C. Smith, Julia Hills, Rachel Lumberg, Anna Charlston, Jennifer Ellison, Susan Bovell, Joe McGann, Bruno McGregor, Bruno Langley, Mikyla Dodd.

Surely there is no better way to get some of the leading ladies of British theatre and television on one stage that by bringing the celebrated Calendar Girls to the Liverpool Empire.

Based on a real life story, Calendar Girls tells the tale of a group of Women’s Institute members attempt to create a piece of work that will raise much needed funds for a hospital sofa, the same hospital in which one of the member’s husbands had been treated for Leukaemia.

Calendar Girls, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(403 words, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 4th 2010.

Cast: kara Lane, Haley Flaherty, Richard Meek, Christopher Biggins, Stuart Ellis, Ceris Hine, David Bedella, Julian Essex-Spurrier, Adrian Der Gregorian.

What’s the first thing you think of when somebody asks you to name something about the Rocky Horror Show? It could be the audience that throws away any pretence for the night and turn up for one of the best productions of theatre anywhere. It might be the fine costumes, stockings, high heels and feather boas that are in evidence wherever you look. Perhaps it is the musical numbers that make you tap your foot and sets the rest of the body off to join in or it could be the fine performances from a cast that obviously adore treating their audience to a night out that will live long in the memory.

Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(413 words, 1 image, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Gold Mountain, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Cast: David Yip, Eugene Salleh.

What is never in doubt about Liverpool is how the city has survived and thrived as a hotch-potch of different cultures and ideals. From the Irish who disembarked at Liverpool docks during the potato famine and who arrived with not the slightest idea of what was going to happen to their lives or culture, to the Chinese who had to cross oceans and the thoughts of internal tyranny to arrive in Liverpool to face prejudice and suspicion at every corner.

Gold Mountain, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(325 words, 1 image, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)