Blog Archives

Despite its lacklustre plot, BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY makes for an enjoyable evening thanks to its talented cast and glorious soundtrack

When BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY opened in London in 1989, it was one of the earliest examples of the now wildly popular jukebox musical. 30 years later, the musical is back on tour to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The show tells the story of Buddy Holly’s rise to fame and his 18 months of stardom before his tragic death.

Set between January 1956...

The cast of PETER PAN GOES WRONG UK Tour. Photo Credit: Alastair Muir

Clever, funny and a riot to watch, PETER PAN GOES WRONG is a brilliant example of slapstick and physical comedy

The fictional Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is a plucky, sometimes misguided theatre company. For their Christmas play (it is NOT a panto!) director Chris Bean (Connor Crawford) has decided to produce Peter Pan...

The company of LIGHT FALLS at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Photo: Manuel Harlan

Funny, emotional and wonderfully performed, LIGHT FALLS is a bittersweet, richly layered play about life in the face of death

After 21 years at the venue including four as Artistic Director, Sarah Frankcom says goodbye to Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre this month with another stunningly staged production about family, community and the fragility of life. 

LIGHT FALLS tells the story of a family, draw...

Tracie Bennett (Mame) and the cast of MAME. Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

A prime example of the golden age of musical theatre, Jerry Herman’s 1966 classic MAME lights up the quaint Hope Mill Theatre

Having just celebrated its fourth birthday, it’s easy to see why the Hope Mill Theatre is making a name for itself. Following popular productions such as Aspects Of Love, Hair, and Spring Awakening, Mame feels like a full-sized Broadway production crammed into this amazing little theatre.

Mame tel...

Maisy Taylor and Tamsin Shasha in EVERYTHING I SEE I SWALLOW. Photo Credit: Sean Longmore

Combining a poignant and thought-provoking script with incredible aerial choreography, EVERYTHING I SEE I SWALLOW is a stark examination of modern feminism

EVERYTHING I SEE I SWALLOW is a stark examination of feminism through the lens of two generations...

Nisa Cole and Katie West in THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan

Using 21st-century technology, THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT is a vivid and passionate production about the Luddites and how they helped inspire the birth of Manchester’s radical political identity

As with every tale of political unrest, many of the statements feel relevant to our current political climate...

Bolton’s Albert Hall’s grand Victorian setting brings to life Oscar Wilde’s sensational and lavish comedy THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Oscar Wilde’s farcical masterpiece THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST is brought to life in the beautiful Albert Halls whilst the Bolton Octagon undergoes renovation in preparation for its 50th anniversary.

The stunning architecture provides an apt atmosphere for the play, given its high-class tone and protagonists...

The cast of HAIR THE MUSICAL UK Tour 2019. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

While HAIR THE MUSICAL may not pack the punch it did back in 1967, this psychedelic and electric production is a joy to watch

It’s fair to say that many musicals are based on events that happened in the past but the 1967 phenomenon HAIR took the world by storm, tackling the Vietnam war as it was happening...

The cast of RAGS at Hope Mill Theatre. Photo Credit: Nathan Chandler

With great performances, a poignant story and a stunning score, Hope Mill Theatre breathe new life into underrated musical RAGS

Just ahead of the highly anticipated opening of it’s Hope Aria Academy, Hope Mill Theatre presents it’s eleventh in house musical, RAGS.

This show has somewhat of a troubled past, first opening in 1986 and closing after just four performances. It has since been revised multiple times...

With its zany characters, slapstick comedy and clever, catchy songs, BILLIONAIRE BOY has everything a young child might want from a musical

David Walliams’ impressive library of children’s books have fast become modern British classics, especially with the annual BBC Christmas special adaptations putting them on the map. GANGSTA GRANNY was the first to grace the stage last year, with the play touring the UK, but BILLIONAIRE BOY is the first to get the musical treatment...