Category Theatre

Julie Atherton releases most personal studio album to date with Rush of Life

West End star Julie Atherton is back on top with the release of her brand-new studio album Rush of Life.

For those who don’t recognise the name, Julie Atherton is a singer/actress and one of Britain’s finest West End stars. She is best known for her work on stage with appearances in shows such as Avenue Q, Sister Act: The Musical and Thérèse Raquin...

Michael Bourne’s wildly ambitious adaptation of Edward Scissorhands heads to the Liverpool Empire

Tim Burton’s gothic fairytale about being different has been brought to life in a fresh, new dance adaptation that is just that – different.

Told through theatrical magic of ballet, Michael Bourne’s bold, inventive and wildly ambitious adaptation of Edward Scissorhands heads to the Liverpool Empire this month as part of a UK wide tour.

Based on the classic Tim Burton film starring Johnny De...

This review was originally written for The Public Reviews

Believe it or not, 30 Million Minutes is actually Dawn French’s first ever solo tour. The Queen of British comedy may have been entertaining audiences since 1982 as one half of successful female double act French and Saunders, but it’s taken 32 years for the award-winning comedienne to take to the stage on a solo tour. Thankfully, she still has what it takes when it comes to making people laugh.

Open, honest and incredibly funny, 30 ...

Festive, fun and fabulous, The Flanagan Collective’s A Christmas Carol will have you whipped up into the festive spirit quicker than you can suck a Humbug

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is my favourite Christmas story so you can imagine my excitement when I received an invite to The Flanagan Collective’s festive adaptation at Manchester’s New Playhouse...

This review was originally written for The Public Reviews

Dust off your dancing suit and polish up your shoes because Saturday Night Fever is back in town!

Inspired by the 1977 film starring John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever tells the story of Tony Manero (Danny Bayne), a young man with one ambition – to become the disco king. He teams up with Stephanie (Naomi Slights), a young dancer who also dreams of a world beyond Brooklyn, and together they decide to train for a dance competition...

This review was originally written for The Public Reviews

Opera North’s new production of Verdi’s La Traviata may have been 15 years in the making but it’s certainly worth the wait.

Fiercely passionate, profoundly moving and devastatingly tragic, La Traviata is widely considered the most popular opera of all time and is arguably Giuseppe Verdi’s best work. It is based on Alexander Dumas’ autobiographical tale La Dame aux Camelias about his affair with Marie Cuplessis who died aged 23 ...

This review was originally written for The Public Reviews

It’s hard to believe that Al Murray’s The Pub Landlord has been in business for 20 years. Striding about stage with pint-glass in hand and a quarrelsome grin on his face, Murray’s witty, double-edged satire is as fresh as ever, as Britain’s favourite publican embarks on a brand new national tour ‘One Man, One Guvnor’.

The one man, two-hour show sees The Pub Landlord back on a mission to solve the nation’s issues and to build ...

This review was originally written for The Public Reviews

Lip Service’s hilarious new comedy The Picture of Doreen Gray opened to a rapturous reception at Oldham Coliseum Theatre as the production made its world premiere before going on tour.

Written by satirical duo Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding, The Picture of Doreen Gray tells the story of glamorous drive-time radio host and television presenter Doreen Gray, whose famous youthful looks rank her alongside Cliff Richard and Lulu on the national ...

This review was originally written for The Public Reviews

More than three decades after Spandau Ballet topped the charts, Tony Hadley is back on the road for a nationwide solo tour with a full orchestra… and boy does he sound good.

Hadley first shot to fame in the 1980s as the lead singer of pop/romantic band Spandau Ballet. The group sold more than 20 million albums in their heyday, with eight top ten hit singles to their name including: Chant No...

This review was originally written for The Public Reviews

Opera’s famous pairing of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci may be 121 years old but it’s still capable of captivating an audience as Opera Seria demonstrate with their exciting staged production at RNCM Studio Theatre.

Conducted by Jonathan Ellis and directed by Rochelle Hart, the explosive themes of jealously, murder and betrayal are skillfully transformed by Manchester’s opera company in this thrilling and exciting staged chamb...