North West Archives - Page 2 of 138

Spotlight on Showstoppers – Rainhill Village Hall

18Jan

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Spotlight on Showstoppers – Rainhill Village Hall

An evening of energy and laughter with Rainhill Musical Theatre Company and their concert ‘Spotlight on Showstoppers' which showcases crowd pleasing favourites from old and new musicals. With a cast of only 10 including wonderful harmonies and performances from Pip Bradshaw, Ruth Gibb and Suzi Davies, they did a tremendous job in keeping us all entertained. A few favourites stood out and had the audience talking from a beautiful ballad of 'Tell me it's not true' performed by Barbara Marsh to lively and upbeat 'All that Jazz' confidently performed by Claire Jones. Claire Heaton was there to get the audience clapping and singing along with her rendition of 9 to 5 and Meg Charlton and Claire Jones performed 'What is this feeling?' from Wicked excellently, it was very entertaining ...

18Jan

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Swan Lake – Opera House

It’s January, it’s cold but last night attending Swan Lake at the Manchester Opera House, brought to life by the supremely talented Mergaliyev Classical Ballet, was nothing short of magical. It was the perfect tonic for the January Blues. This timeless masterpiece, with Tchaikovsky’s exquisite score conducted by the masterful Guntars Bernats, transported us to a realm of beauty, grace, and wonder—a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The troupe’s exceptional talent was evident from the very first scene. Nilay Tahiroglu, as Odette, delivered a performance of breathtaking finesse. Her delicate movements and emotional depth captured the swan princess’s vulnerability and strength with stunning precision. I also have to mention Kadir Okurer who was outstanding as the...

Bernstein, Barber and Glass – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

18Jan

By Johanna RobertsNo Comments

North West

Bernstein, Barber and Glass – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Young said in an interview on KALW in 2023 that he wants his shows to be ‘not only accessible but relatable’, as there is ‘music out there with which the audience may not be familiar’. This all-American programme, which sees a selection of dances from Bernstein’s West Side Story and On the Town combined with works by Barber and Glass not only reflected this ethos but also clearly demonstrated why Young is one of the most compelling conductors of the current day. Young, who in his youth was surrounded by band and gospel music, knew he wanted to be a conductor from the age of 16. Barber, whose family included several famous musicians, was even younger in deciding his future in music, telling his mother at the age of 7 that he wanted to be a composer. His earlier style is characterised...

14Jan

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Mariupol Drama – HOME Mcr

The word ‘unforgettable’ is overused. Especially in reviews. So many “unforgettable” theatrical experiences soon fade from the memory. However, the hundreds of innocent Ukrainian civilians who took shelter in Donetsk Regional Academic Drama Theatre will never be able to forget the time they spent in a space they hoped would be safe. Mariupol Drama is the story of some of those who survived the deadly bombing that followed. Told by the survivors themselves. It is, truly, unforgettable. Olena Bila, Ihor Kytrysh, their son Matvii, and Vira Lebedynska are now refugees in their own country, after their home was besieged by Russian forces in 2022. Following a meeting with Manchester actor David MacCreedy, arrangements were made to bring the production they had created to the UK. A...

14Jan

By Johanna RobertsNo Comments

North West

Handel’s Messiah – Philharmonic Hall

What better way to shake of the Christmas/New Year blues than with the performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in a tradition dating back to 1849. Handel composed the oratorio in a mere 24 days in 1741, but despite a warm reception at its premiere in Dublin, it received a cooler response at its subsequent performance in London. Nonetheless, it has since become one of the jewels of English classical music, and the light shone upon it by each conductor reveals new facets and highlights different elements, and it never fails to sparkle. Photo: Gareth Jones This year’s performance saw baritone Ben Appl, a former BBC New Generation Artist (2014-16) and current Artist in Residence at the Philharmonic, making his conducting debut. He introduced the piece ...

11Jan

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Sleeping Beauty – Thingwall Players

Thingwall players should be very proud of themselves for their fun and energetic retelling of the traditional tale Sleeping Beauty. From the moment we entered it was a welcoming atmosphere. With a cast of mixed ages with excellent chemistry which shines through on the stage ensuring their audience leaves with a smile. One thing to note, this venue is a small, cozy and intimate venue which would be a fantastic performance to see for any children or adults who struggle with crowds or larger venues. But don't underestimate the talent and execution of this performance based on the venue size. It will have you beaming from ear to ear all the way home. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just an ordinary retelling of the tale. Brilliantly written by Nigel Holmes but superbly directed by ...

22Dec

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Star of Wonder – Unity Theatre

This collaborative production from Theatre Porto and Teatro Pomodoro, originally performed at Theatre Porto in 2022, follows its own star as it travels from Ellesmere Port to arrive in Liverpool’s Unity Theatre where, under the direction of Nina Hajiyianni, it delights and enthrals in equal measure. In this modern take on the nativity tale, five friends (Carmen Arquelladas; Jordan Connerty, Miwa Nagai; Nikki Hill; Simone Tani) and a teddy bear set out to follow a star using a unique form of transport. Despite becoming separated, their journey continues including having to overcome the challenges of mirages, sandstorms, and quicksand, as well occasional attacks from a pair of shepherds and their flock of sheep. With the group eventually reunited, the question is whether they will finally...

21Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Aladdin – The Brindley

The atmosphere inside The Brindley last night was electric as scores of excited children (and some adults) took their seats in readiness to witness this year’s pantomime, Aladdin. This was my first time watching a Brindley pantomime produced in association with New Pantomime Productions Ltd and it definitely won’t be my last. I have seen over the years many versions of Aladdin; all slightly different and last night was no exception. The cast of 10 adults and dance troupe of 10 youngsters all shone from the opening Spice Girls inspired number until the colourful finale. Rubin Cavanagh as Aladdin is immediately likeable and has superb chemistry with Brindley regular Rebecca Lake who plays his love interest Princess Yasmin alongside her protective mother the Empress played by Traitors s...

20Dec

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

A Christmas Carol – Norton Priory

Theres something so magical about seeing the Dickens masterpiece ‘A Christmas Carol’ played live around Christmas time. We are all drawn to watch a version of the story around the season whether it be the Alistair Sim black and white classic or the Muppet version, it is a tale that we all know and love. So, I have seen several short plays, shown in front of the iconic grand entrance to the priory and the huge double doors of the entrance are a magnificent backdrop – and for this play were used wonderfully being the entrance for each ghost to appear through billows of smoke. For tonight’s short rendition ( 1 hour) of the tale of reflection, anguish and remorse, there were just 5 cast members - the formidable Ebeneezer Scrooge , played superbly by &nb...

18Dec

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Opera House

From the moment the curtain rose on the Opera House stage there was magic in the room and everyone was transported into a world of laughter and light. It had fun, frolics, wit and so much warmth that they probably could have turned the heating off in the theatre. This was a panto with a distinctly northern edge. It was laid-back and friendly, with enough jokes to keep the kids amused but also plenty of gags for the adults that would easily sail over younger heads. Topical jokes were thrown in and there were a few ad-libs when things on stage didn’t go as planned. This show was early on in the run, but you could feel that the cast was having a great time. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and there was little jeopardy or drama on stage. This panto was not particularly concerned w...