Blog Archives

The cast of TITANIC THE MUSICAL. Photo by Scott Rylander

Five-time Tony award-winning TITANIC THE MUSICAL heads to Salford’s The Lowry as part of its first ever UK & Ireland tour

With Adele throwing a Titanic-themed 30th birthday this week, Maury Yeston’s musical about the ill-fated maiden voyage of RMS Titanic makes a timely appearance at Salford’s The Lowry this week. But does TITANIC THE MUSICAL sink or sail? 

Based on the real stories of passengers aboard the ill-fated ship, TITANIC THE MU...

When you visit the theatre to see a show you have booked it can still be a bit daunting. Perhaps you’ve seen the play performed by a different troupe. What if it doesn’t live up to that performance? What if it’s no good and you’ve paid a lot of money for your ticket? And that’s a show you know your going to watch. You know roughly what the performance is going to be about.

Now attend the theatre and not have a clue about what you will see…but this time you haven’t paid for the ticket...

Nichola McAuliffe and Jeffrey Holland in WAITING FOR GOD. Photo: Geraint Lewis

WAITING FOR GOD gracefully transitions from screen to stage

Ending its UK tour at Salford’s The Lowry, WAITING FOR GOD brings comedy and poignancy to an audience that lives knowing that old age is the path ahead. But how you tackle it is up to you. Your only as old as you feel and if that’s still 23, then a joy ride to Bournemouth in your Niece’s Porsche is just what the doctor orders.

Originally seen on our TV screen...

Faith Omole (Viola) in RET Twelfth Night. Photo Credit: Jonathan Keenan

TWELFTH NIGHT is one of the best Shakespeare adaptations seen at the Royal Exchange in a long time

Funny, beautifully staged and well performed, Jo Davies’ adaption of Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT is a must-see piece at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre this spring.

Written by William Shakespeare in 1601/02 as a twelfth night’s entertainment for the close of the Christmas season, this 400 year old play is a comedy dis...

Tim Delap (Rochester) and Nadia Clifford (Jane Eyre) in JANE EYRE. Photo: Brinkhoff/Mögenburg

Beautifully acted and thought-provoking, JANE EYRE opens its UK tour at The Lowry

2017 marks the 170th anniversary of the first publication of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel JANE EYRE and it in a fitting tribute, the highly acclaimed co-production between the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic opens its UK tour at Salford’s The Lowry. 

Originally presented as a two part performance at the Brist...

David Grieg’s reinterpretation of THE SUPPLIANT WOMEN fails to live up to the power and passion of Aeschylus’ 2500 year old play

Based on Aeschylus’ 2500 year old play and made new by David Grieg, THE SUPPLIANT WOMEN is a short choral movement in three acts. It tells the tale of 50 women who arrive in Argos, the land of their ancestral Gods, seeking refuge from forced marriage with their Egyptian cousins and the perils of their exile. 

To open proceedings, the cast hark back to the days of...

BAT OUT OF HELL THE MUSICAL is a revved up and racy Romeo and Juliet story that appeals to not just Meat Loaf fans but musical and theatre lovers alike

Jim Steinman’s rock and roll theatrical fantasy BAT OUT OF HELL THE MUSICAL – the inspiration for one of the most iconic albums in history – has burst onto the stage of Manchester Opera House and will hit the London Coliseum later in 2017.

Set in an apocalyptic future where the young mutate and will be forever young, is a father struggling to k...

Stepping off the overground into Peckham Rye you are met with a myriad of people looking bewildered into their iPhones. Searching the maps they point left and take flight towards the trendy place to hangout in Peckham. It’s easy to find just follow the crowds. As you twist past the market stalls towards the independent Peckham cinema your met with your classic 80s multi-storey car park. And it’s here that you find Franks Café on the roof top.

The entrance is an unassuming black door followed ...

Buskin’ Blues makes UK Premiere at 2015 Manchester Film Festival

Buskin’ Blues is an oral history documentary film that follows the buskers of one town in North Carolina, Asheville.

The small mountain town has a large sub culture of street buskers and performers. This is a major element to the areas tourism and can bring great profits to those that go out and get it.

After a morning film makers discussion with the director Erin Derham, the film promised to be a great insight into a world of bus...

UK Dramatic Shorts at MANIFF 2015

Vikki Rutter reviews five UK dramatic shorts that made the official short film selection at the 2015 Manchester Film Festival

Gasping

English Premiere
Comedy
Director: Greg Hemphill

The premiere screening outside of its Native Scotland, Gasping follows a man (Frankie Boyle) who after a life of drinking and partying, is presented with an ultimatum. One that it was obvious he would fail despite every effort to succeeded.

The short did get a few chuckles but was...