The Snow Queen, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Danny Burns, Lloyd Gorman, Barbara Hockaday, Nikita Johal, Adam Keast, Greg Last, Nicola Martinus-Smith, Jamie Noar, Lucy Thatcher, Francis Tucker.

Children of all ages always eagerly await the first drifts of Christmas snow, a winter picture postcard from our past never seems to fit right without the unique flakes falling against the backdrop of a street light and the crisp sound, that first exquisite crunch of Wellington Boot on the overnight gift that the turning of the year brings us, it may be a time of memory, of quiet solitude in thanks but as The Snow Queen knocks at the door, what cannot be avoided is the chance to laugh, smile till the face takes on a permanent position of glee, and to relax in the company of actors and extenuated by superbly played music and genuine affection to entertain.

The Snow Queen, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(477 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

Treasure Island, The Panto! Comes To The Valley Community Theatre This January.

Across three days in January, the Valley Community Theatre present a thrilling version of the greatest pirate story of them all – complete with all the usual Panto routines and dancing too!

Our hero Jim Hawkins sets out on one of the most famous adventures in history, as he joins the crew of the Hispaniola in search of pirate treasure.

While snoozing in an apple barrel, his journey takes a turn for the worst when he overhears the infamous plot of mutiny planned by the one-legged ship’s cook, Long John Silver, and his pirate crew.

Treasure Island, The Panto! Comes To The Valley Community Theatre This January. full post

(172 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)

Elves At Work As Preparations To Build Winter Wonderland At St. Luke’s Church Commence!

The Magical Festival Grotto Experience opens this weekend and runs until 23rd December.

Work has commenced at St. Luke’s “Bombed-Out” Church to transform the church interior into a Winter Wonderland this festive season – Elves are busy working away in the much-loved Liverpool landmark and its grounds, in a way which has never been seen before.

A team from event decor experts Visual Architects will turn the interior of St. Luke’s in to a magical sparkling wonderland where families can make their way through a whole host of activities which includes a special appointment with Santa during the experience.

Elves At Work As Preparations To Build Winter Wonderland At St. Luke’s Church Commence! full post

(441 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Liverpool’s Unity Theatre Launches 2019 Spring Season.

The Unity Theatre in Liverpool is delighted to announce its 2019 Spring season. A number of theatre-makers return to the venue by popular demand, presented alongside award-winning new work from the Edinburgh and Manchester Fringe Festivals.

Family challenges are tackled head on in energetic cabaret-style with Edinburgh Fringe hit No Kids on 24th – 25th January, where same-sex couple George and Nir delve into the conundrum of whether to procreate. Unconventional families take centre stage in David Judge’s SparkPlug from 26th February – 2nd March as a white man becomes the adoptive father, mother and best friend of a mixed-race child. Finally, generations are at odds in Under the Umbrella (21st-23rd March) when a grandmother takes her granddaughter’s love life into her own hands at the “marriage market” of Guangzhou.

Liverpool’s Unity Theatre Launches 2019 Spring Season. full post

(457 words, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

Collateral, 4 Shots!. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

 

Believe the haters and nay-sayers and they will have you doubting your faith, that the confidence of your own heart and understanding is deemed to be faulted, to be viewed with suspicion, that scepticism is a god and that pure enjoyment on your scale is nothing short of an empty vessel, a tin can shouting to the wind and receiving nothing but scorn for its valour in the face of those who see fashion as their domain. Believe your own gut intuition, take what others say with reservation, see their point of view but don’t take their dogma as your own guideline.

Collateral, 4 Shots!. E.P. Review. full post

(477 words, 1 image, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

Beans On Toast, A Bird In The Hand. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

If A Bird In The Hand is worth two in the bush, then in the labours of Beans on Toast it must hold an entire menagerie, a cornucopia of brightly feathered introspections and meanings that hold the attention of his listeners and fans with no exception.

Beans On Toast, A Bird In The Hand. Album Review. full post

(425 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Ed Harcourt, Beyond The End. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Beyond The End is a realm in which few grant themselves the luxury of witnessing, so wrapped up in the now, in taking pictures and recording facts of the currently in vogue, they forget that all soon turns to dust, that in the land of the loved lyric and painted words, it is perhaps the tune that endures longer, patient and appreciated; they say that nothing is beyond the finish line of our existence, and yet, as renowned composers of the past have long since been able to demonstrate, their work has lived on past the tolling of any iron bell.

Ed Harcourt, Beyond The End. Album Review. full post

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

Mersey Wylie, The Skin I Live In. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

In opening up our souls to love we find ways in which to deal with the darkness that stalks our everyday existence, it might be one that makes us breathe a little harder, our pulse that dwells otherwise unhindered to spark with fire, fury and beauty, we might fall, we could rise, whatever happens we must heed that which speaks to us inside and perhaps find a way to stride like a giant through castle halls and say that no matter what is thrown at us we can deal, we can be assured of hope with The Skin I Live In.

Mersey Wylie, The Skin I Live In. E.P. Review. full post

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

Doctor Who: The Witchfinders. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, Alan Cumming, Siobhan Finneran, Tilly Steele, Tricia Kelly, Arthur Kay, Stavros Demetraki.

Some incarnations of The Doctor impress you from the very beginning, some take time to grow on you, in a world that has become increasingly impatient and demands results straight away, it is only to be expected that there are fans who might display a little less rationale when it comes to seeing their favourite character portrayed against the stereo-type they have built up in their own mind, expected but still disappointing, understood but concerned that they cannot see beyond their field of perceived vision of what makes a hero.

Doctor Who: The Witchfinders. Television Review. full post

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

Assassination Nation. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Odessa Young, Hari Nef, Suki Waterhouse, Abra, Colman Domingo, Bill Skarsgard, Joel McHale, Anika Noni Rose, Bella Thorne, Maude Apatow, Cody Christian, Danny Ramirez, Susan Misner, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Noah Galvin, Lukas Gage, Jeff Pope, Joe Chrest, J.D. Evermore.

Assassination Nation. Film Review. full post

(548 words, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)