Blog Archives

Music Review: CLEM BURKE & BOOTLEG BLONDIE PLAY PARALLEL LINES – The Lowry, Salford

Clem Burke & Bootleg Blondie play Parallel Lines

BOOTLEG BLONDIE together with drummer Clem Burke certainly sound like the real thing but ultimately try too hard to imitate the iconic band

BOOTLEG BLONDIE is the official Debbie Harry & Blondie tribute band and the only Blondie tribute to play the legendary CBGBs in New York City. They’ve also been mentioned by Blondie themselves on their 2017 album POLLINATOR...

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Theatre Review: CINDERELLA – Opera House, Manchester

The cast of CINDERELLA at Manchester's Opera House

The cast of CINDERELLA at Manchester’s Opera House. Photo Credit: Phil Tragen Photography

With its marvellous costumes, silly script and fun musical numbers, CINDERELLA is a traditional pantomime that does not disappoint

It’s that time of year again, (oh no it isn’t…) and the Opera House Manchester does not disappoint with it’s glitzy and bold pantomime, CINDERELLA.

Everything you expect from a traditional panto is included here, with plenty of laughs, digs at the audience and convoluted...

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Theatre Review: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Bolton Albert Halls, Bolton

THE LAST FIVE YEARS

Despite its beautiful score and entertaining technical performances, THE LAST FIVE YEARS fails to pack a punch

Seventeen years after the original premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s beloved musical, the Albert Halls in Bolton presents THE LAST FIVE YEARS as it’s first in-house production.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS tells the story of Cathy and Jamie’s five-year relationship, but whilst Jamie tells it in chronological order, Cathy tells the story in reverse...

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Theatre Review: NOT I – The Lowry, Salford

NOT I Jess Thom

Intense and powerful, Tourette’s hero Jess Thom uses Samuel Beckett’s incredibly complex text to bring light to Tourette’s Syndrome in NOT I

Jess Thom has Tourettes, a condition that means she makes movements and noises she can’t control, called tics. In NOT I, she takes on Samuel Beckett’s short play in a theatrical experience that explores neurodiversity and asks who is allowed to perform what and who gets the final say.

Friendly and informal, the relaxed performance feels begins from t...

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Theatre Review: KINKY BOOTS – Opera House, Manchester

The cast of KINKY BOOTS. Photo: Helen Maybanks

The cast of KINKY BOOTS. Photo: Helen Maybanks

A feel-good celebration of individuality, KINKY BOOTS spreads it’s timeless message of acceptance to Manchester this November

With Cyndi Lauper’s score giving us some catchy, poppy tunes to accompany Harvey Fierstein’s book, KINKY BOOTS is a lighthearted comedy with plenty of touching, heartfelt moments to go around. Based on the 2005 film of the same name, KINKY BOOTS is loosely based on the true story of the W.J. Brooks Ltd footwear company...

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Theatre Review: PUTTING IT TOGETHER – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Simbi Akande in Putting It Together. Photo Credit: Phil Tragen

Simbi Akande in PUTTING IT TOGETHER. Photo Credit: Phil Tragen

Showcasing some of his most popular shows, PUTTING IT TOGETHER is a wonderful collection of the best of Stephen Sondheim’s works

Whether this is your first introduction to the music of Stephen Sondheim, or you’re a seasoned fan of his works, PUTTING IT TOGETHER is a wonderful example of the best of Sondheim’s works.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER showcases some of his most popular shows, such as SWEENEY TODD, INTO THE WOODS, and COMPANY, ...

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Theatre Review: LET IT BE – Opera House, Manchester

LET IT BE UK Tour

The cast of LET IT BE UK Tour. Photo Credit: Anthony Robling

LET IT BE charts The Beatles’ meteoric rise from their humble beginnings to the heights of Beatlemania

Billed as “The Beatles reunion you never got to see”, LET IT BE is a nostalgic romp through The Beatles’ discography.

This is not your typical jukebox musical...

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Theatre Review: THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Chris Jenkins as Christopher in THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER. Photo: Phil Tragen

Chris Jenkins as Christopher in THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER. Photo: Phil Tragen

THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER is a beautiful, emotional piece of theatre

The latest stunning addition to the Hope Mill Theatre’s impressive repertoire of musicals, THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER is a beautiful, emotional piece of theatre...

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Interview: Cast Talk THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER

Tessa Kadler & Chris Jenkins in rehearsals for THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER. Photo: Pamela Raith

Tessa Kadler & Chris Jenkins in rehearsals for THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER. Photo: Pamela Raith

The cast of THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER speak to Frankly My Dear UK about bringing Charles Miller and Tim Sanders’ musical adaptation to Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre

Following it’s critically acclaimed London run in 2014, Charles Miller and Tim Sanders’ bittersweet musical THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER heads to Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre this month, just in time for the centenary of the end of the Fi...

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INTERVIEW: Kelly Price and Felix Mosse Talk ASPECTS OF LOVE

Kelly Price (Rose) and Felix Mosse (Alex) in ASPECTS OF LOVE

Kelly Price (Rose) and Felix Mosse (Alex) in ASPECTS OF LOVE. © Anthony Robling

Kelly Price and Felix Mosse talk to Frankly My Dear UK about their roles as Rose and Alex in ASPECTS OF LOVE

With five star reviews from The Stage and WhatsonStage, its fair to say that Jonathan O’Boyle’s revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic ASPECTS OF LOVE is a hit. 

Running at Hope Mill Theatre until 9 August, the musical follows English student Alex Dillingham, who while travelling through France in 1947, fa...

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