Category Theatre Reviews

With its visually striking sets and spectacular puppetry, DOCTOR DOLITTLE has plenty of awe-inspiring moments to keep the family entertained

More than 50 years after the release of the hit 1967 film starring Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley and Richard Attenborough, Leslie Bricusse’s acclaimed family musical DOCTOR DOLITTLE returns to the stage in a major new revival opening at Salford’s The Lowry this week.

Based on the children’s stories by Hugh Lofting, DOCTOR DOLITTLE tells ...

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...

Julius D’Silva (Max Bialystock) & the Ensemble of THE PRODUCERS. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Combining satire with spectacle, Raz Shaw’s production of Mel Brooks’ THE PRODUCERS is outrageous for all the right reasons

With hits like LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, SWEET CHARITY and GUYS AND DOLLS already under its belt, the Christmas musical at the Royal Exchange is fast becoming a Manchester tradition...

Helen Woolf as Glinda & Amy Ross as Elphaba in WICKED UK & Ireland Tour. Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

From its striking set and breathtaking special effects to Stephen Schwartz’s memorable score, WICKED continues to cast a spell over all those who see it

It’s fair to say that Manchester theatregoers are spoilt for choice with shows this Christmas. From THE PRODUCERS at the Royal Exchange to DR DOLITTLE at The Lowry, there is pretty much something for everyone this festive season here in the ...

The cast of SIX The Musical. Photo Credit: Idil Sukan/Draw HQ

Smart, sexy and super sassy, SIX remixes 500 years of historical heartbreak into a 75-minute celebration of sisterly sassitude

“Do you remember us from your GCSEs?” shouts Jarneia Richard-Noel’s Catherine of Aragon as SIX takes to the stage. But this isn’t your average history lesson. Oh no...

Tony Maudsley as Kenneth and Adam Gillen as Liam in BENIDORM LIVE. Photo Credit: Paul Coltas

Cheesy, brash and gloriously OTT, Derren Litten’s BENIDORM LIVE successfully makes the transition from screen to stage

There is always a risk when TV programmes make the transition from screen to stage, especially one popular as BENIDORM...

Danny Lee Wynter and Jake Fairbrother in THE MAIDS at HOME Manchester. Photo: Jonathan Keenan

Violently deluded yet brilliantly captivating, THE MAIDS is a dark twisted tale that is bold and unforgettable

Bringing a whole new pallet of colours to the show, director Lily Sykes refreshes THE MAIDS into a story which changes the notion of gender roles and contemporary ideas and steals our attention with intensity, dark humour and a delusional mix of fantasy and reality.

French playwright Jean Gen...

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...

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...

Matthew Bourne’s SWAN LAKE UK Tour 2018. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

With its masterful choreography, stunning set and innovative costume design, you can’t help but fall under the spell of Matthew Bourne’s SWAN LAKE

It’s hard to believe that Matthew Bourne’s SWAN LAKE is a whopping 23 years old. As the iconic dance piece returns to the stage for a new UK tour, it still feels as bold, fresh and inventive as ever.

Best known for shattered conventions by replacing the female corps-de-ballet ...