Tag Archives: theatre review

Whole, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Annabel Annan-Jonathan, Jacob Beswick, Joseph Adelakun, Grace Willis.

Is anybody truly whole? That is the question bought to the Unity Theatre by the combined efforts of 20 Stories High, Director Julia Samuels and a host of others in what can only be described as distressingly real, wonderfully charged and written and acted with so much passion and brilliance that not only is Whole one of the finest things you are likely to see this year but it will also leave you grasping at thoughts of those you may have wronged at school.

Whole, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(336 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

The Pied Piper Of Liverpool, Theatre Review. The Casa, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Alan Bower, Alun Parry, Geraldine Moloney-Judge, Mike Leane, Kate Mulvihill, Richard MacDonald, Mikyla Durkan, Sarah Tryer, Adam Byrne, Laura Foulkes.

The Casa might not be the first place that audiences think of plays as being performed in the Hope Street area of the city. However away from the Unity Theatre down the road and the looming cultural giant that is the new look Everyman Theatre, The Casa offers the chance for local productions to shine with actors who may be making their first tempting steps into the profession.  This was no less the case in the entertaining and thought provoking Julian Bond and Burjesta Theatre’s play, The Pied Piper Of Liverpool.

The Pied Piper Of Liverpool, Theatre Review. The Casa, Liverpool. full post

(437 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

The Art Of Falling Apart, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Tim Lynskey, Matt Rutter.

There can be no doubt that Tim Lynskey, Matt Rutter and Robert Farquhar make a formidable and astonishing team. The exhaustive and physical brilliance that Mr. Lynskey and Mr. Rutter bring to the Unity Theatre is matched stride for stride in the writing by Robert Farquhar and in The Art of Falling Apart there is very little time for the audience to get blasé as they are bombarded with a section of a man’s life that is unraveling and unwinding before everyone’s eyes.

The Art Of Falling Apart, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(361 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Cinderella, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Coleen Nolan, Liz McClarnon, Pete Price, Pauline Daniels, Billy Boyle, Shaun Mason, Kieran Jae, Edward Griffith.

 

The Empire Theatre always has the reputation of hosting the most sumptuous and glistering pantomime productions and this year has been no exception as the cast for Cinderella provided a fantastic evening’s entertainment for the assembled audience.

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

(363 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool.

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.

The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(341 words, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Scarlett’s Secret Snowglobe, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool.

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.

Scarlett’s Secret Snowglobe, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(354 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

Cinderella, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal.

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.

Cinderella, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal. full post

(366 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Jack And The Beanstalk, These Shoots Are Made For Walking! Theatre Review. The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool

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.

Jack And The Beanstalk, These Shoots Are Made For Walking! Theatre Review. The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool full post

(423 words, 1 image, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Fanny And Faggot, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool.

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.

Fanny And Faggot, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool. full post

(450 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

A Government Inspector, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse.

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!

A Government Inspector, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse. full post

(497 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)