FEATURES Archives - Page 3 of 12

Amy Leach talks about a new version of Lord of the Flies at Leeds Playhouse

12Mar

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Amy Leach talks about a new version of Lord of the Flies at Leeds Playhouse

In the 70 years since the publication of Lords of the Flies it’s been a staple on the national curriculum as young readers have been entranced by schoolchildren going feral on a desert island. Leeds Playhouse's Deputy Artistic Director Amy Leach is directing a new version of William Goldman’s classic study of human nature as Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon and Roger battle to survive, or just stay alive. “We often think about Lord of the Flies as a reaction to the Second World War, but when I came back to the story as an adult, I realised it’s actually set against a background of nuclear war – a war of the future,” says Amy Leach. “It felt important to embrace that by setting it now, to find a new and interesting way to restage a classic story and make it connect with audiences in 2023....

First Look photos: world premiere of ‘Mumsy’, the finale of Hull Truck’s 50th anniversary programme

20Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

First Look photos: world premiere of ‘Mumsy’, the finale of Hull Truck’s 50th anniversary programme

Hull Truck Theatre are marking the end of their 50th anniversary year programme with Mumsy, a new play written by homegrown talent and Hull Truck Youth Theatre alumni, Lydia Marchant. This brand-new world premiere comedy drama follows the story of three generations of women living under one roof, exploring the highs and lows of motherhood and intergenerational female relationships. Directed by Zoë Waterman, and with a full female creative team at the helm of the production, Mumsy will be on stage at Hull Truck Theatre from 2nd – 25th March 2023. This sparky new comedy has been developed by Lydia Marchant through Hull Truck Theatre’s Grow Artist Development Programme and is her first full-length play to feature in the theatre’s main auditorium: Stage 1. Lydia Marchant was selected for...

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel comes to Leeds Playhouse

10Feb

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel comes to Leeds Playhouse

It’s not often you see mature actors leading a play, and what makes The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel different is that the younger cast members are in supporting roles as a group of British retirees find themselves trying to make new lives in India. The two smash movies featured the cream of British acting Oscar winners having great fun as they help a mother and son save their rundown hotel and finding themselves along the way. The stage production is based on the book that inspired the movies, and also features some acting royalty in Paul Nicholas, Rula Lenska and Hayley Mills as the tour which has played to packed houses makes its way to Leeds Playhouse. Rekha John-Cheriyan is one of the younger cast members playing the feisty Mrs Kapoor who will do anything to save the hotel, and sh...

Garry Lyons talks about the unlikely inspiration for his new play, Blow Down, that comes to Leeds Playhouse

31Jan

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Garry Lyons talks about the unlikely inspiration for his new play, Blow Down, that comes to Leeds Playhouse

Giant concrete cooling towers just outside Leeds might seem an unlikely source for a play, but local playwright Garry Lyons decided he needed to tell the stories of those who lived and worked in their massive shadows. When the Ferrybridge Power Station towers were blown up after they were decommissioned thousands made the trip to see them come down. Lyons is an award-winning writer who has used extensive interviews with workers and locals to create a show about change, but also full of laughs examining what these concrete landmarks that could be seen for miles meant for his community. In what ways were the towers architecturally significant? The eight cooling towers were huge, nearly 400 feet high, with two 650ft chimney stacks alongside. When you came across them at night, ...

<strong>imitating the dog take on the Bard with a high-tech version of Macbeth</strong>

24Jan

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

imitating the dog take on the Bard with a high-tech version of Macbeth

imitating the dog built their reputation reinventing some of our biggest cultural moments, so it seemed inevitable that they would eventually turn their attention to Shakespeare. And not just any Shakespeare as they are taking on Macbeth, and this tragic tale of the terrible cost of the lust for power seems perfect for their unique blend of theatrical daring and high-tech trickery. Our Yorkshire Editor Paul Clarke caught with their Co-Artistic Director Andrew Quick during rehearsals to find out more about how they are reimagining a classic work. Any self-respecting theatre fan will have seen Macbeth at least once so why should they come along to your version? Hopefully they’ll have never seen anything like it before. Our version only has five actors in it, so we ha...

<strong>Rebecca Ferrin comes back home as Les Mis comes to Leeds Grand</strong>

23Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

Rebecca Ferrin comes back home as Les Mis comes to Leeds Grand

Les Misérables is a musical juggernaut smashing record after record for more three decades and now the UK tour of this epic tale of betrayal, obsession, revolution, and redemption is heading to Leeds Grand Theatre. Rebecca Ferrin first trod the boards at the Grands as a child and how she’s coming back to her hometown theatre in an epic tale of the battle between Jean Valjean and his nemesis Javert that has played to over 130 million people worldwide. Ferrin who trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts battled her way through one of the toughest auditions for any show and tells our Features Editor Paul Clarke why winning a place onstage is a dream come true. Is this the full West End version that's coming to Leeds? Yes, it's almost identical in every single aspect. We've had...

You are invited to a dinner like no other at Sale Waterside with Junior Stage 80

29Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

You are invited to a dinner like no other at Sale Waterside with Junior Stage 80

A family like no other are moving into Sale Waterside next month to host a dinner like no other which changes lives forever, and you are all invited. Junior Stage 80 (JS80) are back after a Covid enforced absence following their critically acclaimed, sold-out production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat way back in 2019. JS80 is a Jewish society with a mixed membership of all ages from those at primary school year 5 onwards with no upper age limit. Our very own editor Paul Downham is once again directing The Addams Family following his 2019 directorial debut with the same show at The Met in Bury which gained multiple NODA and ACT Nominations and awards. We sat down with Paul to discuss all things Addams ahead of next month’s opening night. What has made you return to di...

Rapper Testament is back in the record shop at Leeds

11Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Rapper Testament is back in the record shop at Leeds

World record-breaking beatboxer Testament is again joining forces with Opera North as they collaborate on his genre busting piece Orpheus in the Record Shop at Leeds Playhouse. The show was first seen during a short socially distanced run at the height of the pandemic that was filmed for BBC Four’s Lights Up series. Testament will be front of stage working with members of the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North, including soloist Helen Evora. Why is it important that audiences get a chance to see this show again in the Playhouse’s biggest theatre space? Performing this show live is bananas! A classical ensemble live on stage, with beatboxing, spoken word and comedy – it’s a unique thing to be part of. I’ve been telling all my friends and family to come along because it...

Top Panto Star Steve Royle is a Grand Millennial with 1,000 performances!

4Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

Top Panto Star Steve Royle is a Grand Millennial with 1,000 performances!

Much-loved panto star and stand-up sensation Steve Royle will celebrate an incredible 1,000 pantomime performances in this year’s seasonal spectacular Sleeping Beauty at Blackpool Grand Theatre Ever popular panto star Steve Royle will take his 1,000th bow on the beautiful Blackpool Grand Theatre stage this year as he once again delights thousands of families in the magical pantomime Sleeping Beauty this Christmas. Oh yes he will! Everyone’s favourite finalist from ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent will star as Silly Billy in this year’s fabulous, festive tale and it will be the thousandth time he has filled every member of his lucky panto audience with sheer joy and delight. In his millennial year, Steve Royle will be swapping lines with Dancing on Ice champion and Emmerdale star Hayley ...

Chris Jack talks about why Noughts and Crosses matters as it goes back on tour

16Sep

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Chris Jack talks about why Noughts and Crosses matters as it goes back on tour

Books for young adults tackling some tough issues are big business now and Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses is a work that has touched millions of teenagers. In Blackman’s dystopian world Sephy is a Cross, and Callum is a Nought, in a world with strict racial and social divides. As violence breaks out Sephy who is the daughter of the Home Secretary, and Callum draw closer, but this is a romance that will lead them into terrible danger. The genius of Blackman’s vision is that racial power dynamics are flipped on their head asking us to think about how hatred destroys lives in a different way. Pilot Theatre commissioned Sabrina Mahfouz to adapt it for the stage before taking it on tour just before the pandemic closed theatres, where it was seen by over 30,000 people on tour with ...