Category Theatre

Theatre Review: CRUISE – HOME, Manchester

Set in 1980s Soho, CRUISE is despairing and delightful, heart-wrenching and heartwarming.

5 out of 5 stars

CRUISE is a two-person, Olivier-nominated play teaming flawless acting with irresistible music...

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Theatre Review: LEAVES OF GLASS – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Joseph Potter and Ned Costello in LEAVES OF GLASS.

Joseph Potter and Ned Costello in LEAVES OF GLASS. Photo Credit: Mark Senior

Raw and unflinching, LEAVES OF GLASS is a masterpiece of storytelling, dealing with love, hate, memory and loss.

5 out of 5 stars

Memories. Those fleeting shadows of the truth which may, or may not be, accurate and which are ours alone with our versions of the truth. The secrets we keep and the version of the truth that we hold onto to deal with loss...

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Theatre Review: UNTITLED F*UK M*SS S**GON PLAY – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

UNTITLED F*CK M*SS S**GON PLAY. Photo Credit: ©The Other Richard

With its hilarious script and talented cast, Kimber Lee’s ‘UNTITLED F*UK M*SS S**GON PLAY is a scathing review of the western portrayal of Asian culture that’s not to be missed.

5 out of 5 stars

The winner of the inaugural Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2019, International Award, Kimber Lee’s UNTITLED F*CK M*SS S**GON PLAY’s makes its powerful world premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre as part of Manchester International Festival.

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Theatre Review: STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL – The Lowry, Salford

Kevin Clifton and Faye Brooks in STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL

Kevin Clifton and Faye Brooks in STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL

Despite being unpolished in places, STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL captures the quirky Australian charm of the movie thanks to its vibrant set and talented cast performance.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Kevin Clifton makes a welcome return to the ballroom in the musical adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s cult 1992 film, STRICTLY BALLROOM, marking a full-circle moment for the professional dancer after his 2018 victory on STRICTLY COME DANCING.

Set in early 1990s Austra...

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Theatre Review: THE KING AND I – Palace Theatre, Manchester

Annalene Beechey in THE KING AND I. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

While it is impossible to separate THE KING AND I from its past, this lavish musical still has the power to enchant a modern audience.

4 out of 5 stars

A staggering seventy-two years since its first performance, the classic musical THE KING AND I returns to the Palace Theatre in Manchester as part of its 2023 UK tour.

Based on the novel ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM by Margaret Landon, which in turn is based on the true story of English schoolteacher ...

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Theatre Review: QUALITY STREET – Bolton Octagon, Bolton

Driven by its clever direction, innovative use of puppetry and engaging cast, J. M. Barrie’s colourfully wrapped QUALITY STREET leaves a sweet taste in the mouth.

3 out of 5 stars

J. M. Barrie’s colourfully wrapped, sweet treat heads to Bolton Octagon as Northern Broadsides continue their tour of QUALITY STREET. The ill-fated production was into a 14-week tour in 2020 but was cut short due to a much-discussed global pandemic.

The play centres around the love affair between our protagonist, Phoebe ‘of the r...

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Theatre Review: THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO – The Lowry, Salford

Devastatingly raw and direct, THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO is a shocking real depiction of the migrant crisis and how human triumph shines above everything else.

4 out of 5 stars

From CHRISTY LEFTERI’s number one best seller, THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO, is an unfiltered, raw depiction of war and the devastation that war leaves in its wake juxtaposed with the true beautifulness of human strength.

Set (partly) in the dusty sands of war-torn Aleppo, Syria, Beekeeper Nuri and his wife Afra embark on a journey across sea...

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Theatre Review: Immersive Picture of Dorian Gray – The Crypt St. Peter’s Bethnal Green, London

Driven by its inventive set design and engaging cast performance, IMMERSIVE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY is a play that is talked about long after you leave the theatre.

4 out of 5 stars

Adapted from Oscar Wilde’s classic book about power, love, vanity, self-gratification, manipulation, and unrepentant violence, Midnight Circle Productions’ latest adaption takes the concept of immersive experience to a new level.

Playing at The Crypt in St...

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Theatre Review: MOTHER GOOSE – The Lowry, Salford

Ian McKellen and John Bishop in MOTHER GOOSE. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan

Rude, witty, camp and hilarious, MOTHER GOOSE is everything that a pantomime should be, even if it’s a little rough around the edges.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Now in the final legs of its national tour, classic pantomime, MOTHER GOOSE comes to The Lowry to bless us with Easter fun and frivolity!

Based on the classic fairytales of Mother Goose and the Golden Egg, MOTHER GOOSE tells the story of a poor couple tempted by the opportunity of fortune w...

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Theatre Review: Yippee Ki Yay – Sale Waterside Arts, Manchester

Funny, uplifting and inventive, YIPPEE KI YAY is a nostalgic and affectionate tribute to the classic movie DIE HARD.

4 out of 5 stars

It is often hard to tread the thin line in a parody between homage and evisceration, but YIPPEE KI YAY does so successfully in this excellent, poetry-driven take on the events of Yakatomi Plaza on Christmas Eve...

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