Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Cast: Lisa Symonds, Jason Carragher, Hannah Ruth Cooke, Jamie Stuart, Sam Liu, Douglas Austin, Jessica Olwyn, Justine Williams, Lauren Naylor, Laura Ryan.
The Lantern Theatre may have only just celebrated its first birthday but what an end to the 2012 season with their showcasing Purplecoat Productions of Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Daniel Jones, Lucie Rice, Sally Smithson.
Scarlett’s Secret Snowglobe is written and performed by the one of the smaller scale theatre companies that has made Liverpool home. With the three members of the collective, Daniel Jones, Lucie Rice and Sally Smithson having enjoyed the hospitality of the city, they have given back in spades and in this latest production prove more than ever that all theatre is necessary, especially if it is able to grab younger visitors to the theatre with a poignant message of hope and redemption.
Richard De Vere as Dandini. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Tina Malone, Leanne Campbell, James Waud, Charlie Griffiths, Richard De Vere, Marc Lawlor, Simon Foster, Nick Cochrane, Schnorbitz.
The village of Stoneybroke and its love deprived prince are in need of good fortune and a princess to bring love to its desolate and poor people. They certainly don’t come any poorer than Baroness Hardup and her daughter. It may be a fairytale but for those that go along to the St. Helens Theatre Royal to catch one of the classics of the panto season, the tremendous Cinderella, it will be impossible not to feel touched and elated at the grand piece of theatre on offer.
Photograph by John Garfield-Roberts
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Mark Smith, Lewis Bray.
A Christmas Carol is almost akin to staple fare at this time of year. From the television adaptations to big budget films to the outlandish theatrical spectacles, Charles Dickens’ most famous creation, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge has spent so much time being dissected and discussed that it is always a constant surprise if anyone can get anything more out of it.
Carla Freeman and Toby Lord as Pat and Jack.
Photograph by Robert Day.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Cast: Aretha Ayeh, Marianne Benedict, Carla Freeman, Matthew Ganley, Adam Keast, Toby Lord, Rhona McGregor, Griffin Stevens, Francis Tucker.
There are just times when you know the planets are aligned in the solar journeys correctly, that the world outside the window can take a break from the unceasingly bad news and that in the face of any adversity that the city may face, that the Rock ‘N’ Roll panto will just always be a shining beacon of good times and good music.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The Hairy Bikers, David Myers and Simon King, have become television cooking icons with their easy banter, superb knowledge of their craft and their towering personalities. These two men have made a contribution to the idea of combining cooking with the noble idea of the original B.B.C. mantra of Inform, educate and entertain.
In their case by travelling round the country and to far flung corners and blending the food of those places with a soft approach to laddish humour. It appeals to both genders and provides relief from the cooking shows that in some quarters can look down on their audience.
Jessica Beare and Abi Carter in Fanny and Faggot. Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Jessica Beare, Abi Carter, Heather Madden, Harry Parker, Alex Webber-Date.
As director of the production, Rio Matchett should receive a lot of commendation for having the incredible fortitude and sheer will in putting herself and the superb cast through their paces for the play Fanny and Faggot. Not only is Jack Thorne’s play a minefield of emotions that the theatre goer may feel in parts uncomfortable with, it also forces that same theatre goer to understand the social depravity that Mary Bell was put through and what perhaps turned her head and her reasoning into one of unremitting violence.
Photograph by Nobby Clarke.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Howard Chadwick, Andrew Price, Clara Darcy, Andy Cresswell, Anthony Hunt, Susie Emmett, Jill Cardo, Kraig Thornber, Andy Cryer, Richard Colvin, Jon Trenchard, Tim Frances.
Whenever Northern Broadsides comes to the Liverpool Playhouse or its fantastic times up at the Everyman Theatre, the city’s audiences fall over themselves in their droves to make sure they are one of the fortunate ones to witness a night of exceptional theatre. In the latest classic that gets a welcome Northern representation, the brilliant ensemble; under the excellent tutelage of the director and composer Conrad Nelson, wrapped themselves in the cosy and biting satirical humour of Gogol’s inspired comedy A Government Inspector. This guidance extended to the actors doubling up and performing as a bass band during the performance. An exceptional feat to include into a show!
Pauline Daniels, Ged McKenna in Held. Photograph by Christian Smith.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Pauline Daniels, Ged McKenna, Alan Stocks.
The idea of losing someone piece by piece, memory by bittersweet memory is one that no human being ever wants to contemplate, its implications and devastating results can break apart families whilst the person who slowly moves further and further away cannot help in anyway. Such was the authoritative writing of Joe Ward Munrow and the directing of the creatively astute Lorne Campbell in Held, that the heart was pulled in many different directions as the audience empathised and felt sympathy for each character.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The cabaret night is not one that gets much of a mention in today’s modern world. It can be, unfairly labelled as a relic to a by-gone age by some hard-hearted critics but sometimes the one size fits all approach to an evening’s entertainment is just as good a night out as one dominated by just comedy or an evening of music.