Tag Archives: Liverpool

Wolf Red, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 7th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Cast: Elinor Randle.

Not all wolves wear fur, some are guised as men and it seems that sometimes a very exceptional woman can be unmasked as the wolf in woman’s clothing.

Wolf Red has to be considered as one of the most remarkable one woman shows to ever grace The Unity Theatre. From the moment the audience walks in and the mist swirls and descends around them, the thought of decomposing leaves and frayed sanity mingle together to reveal on a rotted stump Elinor Randle, hunched over and in the grip of perceived madness from there she delivers one of the most perfect opening monologues possible. It was eerie, certainly creepy and just on this side of exuding brilliance.

Wolf Red, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(398 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

My Perfect Mind, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Edward Petherbridge, Paul Hunter.

Standing on the shoulders of giants is never easy, but the view that you see, the distance and insight made possible because of their shining example is worth more than mere currency, it is the opportunity granted to learn and take note. Such is the effect that the return to Unity Theatre of Told By An Idiot’s My Perfect Mind has on the audience that it time to come it will surely be looked upon as a classic piece of theatre of the early 21st Century.

My Perfect Mind, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(507 words, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

The Mousetrap, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Steven France, Karl Howman, Bruno Langley, Elizabeth Power, Bob Saul, Graham Seed, Jemma Walker, Clare Wilkie.

It all starts with a radio announcement in which a murder has been announced…The Mousetrap is perhaps the most eagerly awaited plays to come to Liverpool for a long time. Unless people have been able to see down in the heart of London’s theatre land at any point in the last 60 years and with a waiting list longer than it took to write it for the then Queen Mary’s 80th Birthday that means the vast majority of the population in the country still have not had the pleasure, then the Agatha Christie play remains a huge pull of the theatre goers heart strings as it celebrates its diamond jubilee going round the country.

The Mousetrap, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Wild Flowers, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Russell Parry, Dominic Pitt, John Bradburn, Wendy Jones, Des Flanagan, Mark Jones, Ashleigh Barton, Josie Parks, Louise Clark, Tony Russell, Jade Oxby, Franny Conlin, Wayne Lester, Peter Highton, Ken Adderley, Mal French.

It’s hard to find a production these days that is professionally polished and smooth to watch but still retains its personal touch; the little feeling you get when you recognise a character or two from your own life. It is possible to see audience members forget they are watching the latest production of Wild Flowers from the company of the same name. However they are and with original tunes and such developed characters, what a production it is!

Wild Flowers, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(391 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

The Sunshine Boys, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks, Helen Carter, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Liam Tobin.

Sometimes there are no words that can ever justify the praise or warmth you wish to impart to people or future audiences on how good a play or performance is.  You just have to watch the crowd’s reaction and listening to the cheering of those that had made their way Epstein Theatre to watch The Sunshine Boys too know that the production is just simply amazing.

The Sunshine Boys, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Lennon, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: John Power, Matt Breen, Tom Connor, Jessica Dyas, Kirsten Foster, Ross Higginson, Adam Keast, Jonathan Markwood, Mark Newnham.

Even almost 33 years after John Lennon was cruelly and untimely taken from his fans and from the city of Liverpool and the world, his iconic memory still has the power, the absolute authority of spirit, in which to inspire and encourage rousing feelings of love and joy and ultimately the sadness of a life cut short well before his time.

Lennon, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(559 words, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

Joe Bonamassa: Gig Review. M & S Bank Arena, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The air is filled with the sound of expectation, the faithful 3000 inside the M & S Bank Arena that adds an extra sense of gravitas to the historic view of the skyline of Liverpool’s waterfront can feel the intensity of solemnity radiating from the back of the stage as the momentum and the drama of music that emanates from the guitar of Joe Bonamassa is ready to deal all the aces in a night of high value and atmospheric pulses that went on to rock the space inside the venue with passion and the sound of freedom.

Joe Bonamassa: Gig Review. M & S Bank Arena, Liverpool. full post

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

Chris De Burgh: Gig Review. (2025). Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The appeal of Chris de Burgh thankfully never wavers, the consummate professional on stage, the twinkle in the delivery between songs, the genuine affection of his fans as they elevate the mild mannered star to the threshold of immortality…this is no glib statement, but an observation as the singer songwriter returns to Liverpool on the first night of his latest tour, and seeing him work the sense of the common man into an artform; and he endeared himself to the crowd, you could feel the drama of his songs play out, as he intends, as the audio cinematic touch overwhelms and passionately throws hearts into a flutter.

Chris De Burgh: Gig Review. (2025). Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

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

Rapunzel: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Emma Bispham, Ben Boskovic, Adam Keast, Ai Kumar, Rebecca Levy, Alice Merivale, Tomi Ogbaro, Adam Scott Pringle, Michael Starke, Dylan Townley, Zoe West.

It is no hair-lucination, the style and delivery will cause a wave of laughter for all ages, and with the deadly Danny Ruff on the prowl to corner the hairdressing market, the buzz of the razor’s edge as it cuts through the dastardly machinations is only enhanced by the terrific sound of laughter that fills to the trim of the Everyman Theatre as the city’s audience are once more treated to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, and as the Francesca Goodridge directed and the Jude Christian written Rapunzel brings families together no perm is left untouched and no pun safe from being teased out.

Rapunzel: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(358 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

The Scouse Red Riding Hood: Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Emma Grace Arends, Chantel Cole, Lindzi Germain, Adam McCoy, Lydia Rose Morales Scully, Andrew Schofield, Keddy Sutton. Liam Tobin.

Band: Ben Gladwin, Jack Hymers, Greg Joy, Chris Nicholls, Mike Woodvine.

Excellence rarely comes as a surprise, the joy of the eternal is forever and unequivocally stands on its own legendary status, and for the creatives, the cast, and the audiences that will make their way to the Royal Court Theatre between now and the new year, The Scouse Red Riding Hood theatrical offering is as ever one of tremendous and fantastic irreverence to the staid and the cautious that grips the stony hearted and loosens the funny bone with the skill of a night with Liverpool’s own Ken Dodd and a large dose of double entendre at his disposal.

The Scouse Red Riding Hood: Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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