Gig Review: Beverley Knight – I LOVE SOULSVILLE Tour – The Lowry, Salford

Beverley-Knight-I-Love-Soulsville

Photo Credit: Michelle Owen-Williams

Beverley Knight cements her place as one of Britain’s greatest soul singers on her I LOVE SOULSVILLE tour

Since the release of her debut album THE B-FUNK in 1995, Beverley Knight has been riding on a high. Widely labelled as one of Britain’s greatest soul singers, the three time MOBO winner has a whopping eight studio albums to her name, has starred in two West End shows and even has an MBE for her contribution to British music...

Read More

Theatre Review: PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS – HOME, Manchester

The cast of PEOPLE. PLACES & THINGS. Photo: by Johan Persson

The cast of PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.                                                               Image Credit: Johan Persson

If you only see one play this year, make sure it’s PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

When Duncan Macmillan’s PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS first made its premiere at the National Theatre in 2015, the theatre world went wild...

Read More

WTF Wednesday: Jo Bannon – ALBA – The Lowry, Salford

ALBA by Jo Bannon

ALBA by Jo Bannon is a powerful story about paleness, blending in and standing out

Since its opening in 2000, The Lowry has always been at the forefront of contemporary theatre. From cutting edge dance pieces to pioneering performance art, the world-class arts centre prides itself on being “a safe space for those who think dangerously” with their new WTF Wednesday embracing these values wholeheartedly.

WTF Wednesday is a series of evening performances designed for the compulsively curious...

Read More

INTERVIEW: Theatre Designer Tom Piper talks BAYADERE – THE NINTH LIFE

Tom Piper at the BLOOD-SWEPT LANDS AND SEAS OF RED poppy installation for Tower of London. Photo: Ian Ritchie

Tom Piper at the BLOOD-SWEPT LANDS AND SEAS OF RED Tower of London installation. Photo: Ian Ritchie

Frankly My Dear UK chats with award-winning theatre designer Tom Piper about his bold new stage design for BAYADERE – THE NINTH LIFE

Theatre designer Tom Piper has certainly had a varied career...

Read More

COMPETITION: Win a Copy of Matt Bianco’s New Album GRAVITY

GRAVITY by Matt Bianco Album

Win a CD copy of Matt Bianco’s new album GRAVITY

To celebrate the release of their thirteenth studio album, Frankly My Dear UK is giving one lucky reader a chance to win a copy of Matt Bianco’s new CD album GRAVITY.

Classy, cool and sophisticated, the new album revives Matt Bianco’s Bossa and Jazz roots and encapsulates the stylistic essence of the popular British jazz band.

Recorded live in the studio, the 11 track album features all-star band with noted British jazz musicians such as sa...

Read More

Theatre Review: Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ALADDIN – The Lowry, Salford

Tzu-Chao Chou as the Djinn of the Lamp in ALADDIN. Photo Credit: Bill Cooper

Tzu-Chao Chou as the Djinn of the Lamp in ALADDIN. Photo Credit: Bill Cooper

West End theatre meets classical ballet in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s latest production of ALADDIN

West End theatre meets classical ballet in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s latest production of ALADDIN, which flies into Salford this week for a four-night run at The Lowry.

Based on the Arab-style folktale of the same name, ALADDIN tells the story of a street urchin who frees a genie from a magical lamp and finds his wishes...

Read More

Theatre Review: OUR TOWN – Royal Exchange, Manchester

OUR TOWN at Royal Exchange

Uniquely redefined for the present day, Sarah Frankcom’s revival of Thornton Wilder’s OUR TOWN is hauntingly beautiful

It is said that Thornton Wilder’s 1938 drama OUR TOWN is performed at least once every night somewhere in the world. Hardly surprising when you consider the Pulitzer Prize-winning depiction of ordinary life remains Wilder’s greatest and best-known work as a playwright.

Set between 1901 and 1913, OUR TOWN tells the story of Emily and George, two unremarkable teenagers g...

Read More

COMPETITION: Win a Family Ticket to see FAUNA at The Lowry

FAUNA at The Lowry

Win a family ticket for contemporary circus show FAUNA at The Lowry

Frankly My Dear UK is offering one reader a chance to win a family ticket to see FAUNA at The Lowry on 21 or 22 September 2017.

Performed by five highly skilled International acrobats, FAUNA is a mesmerising contemporary circus show set to a brilliant live musical score.

The unique mixture of acrobatics, dance and movement sees five young dancers and circus performers transform their bodies into spiders, lemurs, tree frogs and ...

Read More

Interview: Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers Lachlan Monaghan and Yaoqian Shang talk ALADDIN

Yaoqian Shang and Lachlan Monaghan rehearse BRB's ALADDIN. Photo: Ty Singleton

Yaoqian Shang and Lachlan Monaghan rehearse Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ALADDIN. Photo: Ty Singleton

Lachlan Monaghan and Yaoqian Shang discuss their lead roles in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ALADDIN

The UK’s leading classical ballet touring company – Birmingham Royal Ballet – makes a welcome return to Salford’s The Lowry this month with ALADDIN, a classic story about a street urchin who frees a genie from a magical lamp and finds his wishes granted.

In anticipation for their four night ru...

Read More

Classy, cool and sophisticated, GRAVITY encapsulates the stylistic essence of Matt Bianco

GRAVITY by Matt Bianco Album

Classy, cool and sophisticated, GRAVITY encapsulates the stylistic essence of Matt Bianco

British jazz band Matt Bianco have had their fair share of ups and downs. After a run of UK chart singles between 1984 and 1989 including HALF A MINUTE, GET OUT OF YOUR LAZY BED, DON’T BLAME IT ON THAT GIRL / WAP-BAM-BOOGIE and YEH YEH, the group was struck by tragedy in December 2016 when their co-leader and keyboard player Mark Fisher died aged just 57...

Read More