Yorkshire & Humber Archives - North West End UK

3Feb

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Hamilton – Bradford Alhambra

Bradford’s historic Alhambra Theatres is certainly doing its bit to kick off the city’s stint as UK City of Culture by booking the world’s hottest musical in for a long run. I’ve always thought a hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton, one of the more obscure members of the Founding Fathers who delivered democracy to America, was a concept that shouldn’t really work, but, boy, did this powerful touring version of a theatrical juggernaut prove me very wrong. If you think of the Founding Fathers as an intellectual boyband, then Hamilton born as a bastard into poverty in the Caribbean is the Jason Orange of the group. Quite why Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the book, lyrics and music picked him to be the star of his show isn’t that obvious, but the rise and fall of this Icarus of the r...

Opera North’s The Flying Dutchman – Leeds Grand Theatre

2Feb

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Opera North’s The Flying Dutchman – Leeds Grand Theatre

The Flying Dutchman, often regarded as Wagner’s first true Gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork), has a somewhat problematic yet refreshingly straightforward narrative – at least compared to most operas. There are no mistaken identities, hidden family ties, or scheming servants – just a simple, if slightly absurd, tale of love, obsession, and redemption. Oh, and death. Mustn’t forget the death. A sea captain, Daland, encounters the cursed Flying Dutchman, doomed to sail forever unless he finds true love. Offered treasure, Daland promises his daughter, Senta, in marriage. (What is she, some sort of chattel?) Senta, previously obsessed with the Dutchman’s legend and oft to be seen worshipping his picture, eagerly accepts. After their union, her former l...

2Feb

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

La Bohème – Hull New Theatre

Opera lovers were transported to 1830s Bohemian Paris on Friday night when a new production of La Bohème came to the Hull New Theatre. I admit to not being an opera buff, even although I have reviewed quite a few, but there was something special about this Ellen Kent Production with the Ukrainian Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kyiv, that had me gripped from curtain up. Stage settings help enormously to reel us in from the get-go and this was no exception. Though not lavish, the setting was a Parisian garret studio graced with an easel displaying a huge painting of the Red Sea; a single bed, table, chairs etc, plus a painted backdrop of buildings. A simple scene, but it piqued my interest, even more so with the comic antics of its occupants - poet Rudolfo (Hovhannes Andreasyan) and pain...

1Feb

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Robin Hood – The Montgomery Theatre

A sure-fire Hit – It’s a Bullseye! With a strong immersed cast of 40, Handsworth and Hallam Theatre Company hit the stage at the newly refurbished Montgomery Theatre in Sheffield and score a bullseye with their pantomime Robin Hood. The hilarious script is written by Tom Whalley and the cast make sure every arrow, although anything but straight and with plenty of quiver, hit their target audience! With traditional backdrops we are transported from village to woods and even ‘fungeons’. The story follows the well-known tale of Robin Hood and his love for Maid Marion pitted against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and his scheming for power and wealth. Add in in true pantomime tradition the very Merry Men, the obligatory Dame Nanny Fanny Flapjack and her hapless son Silly Willy (who is anyth...

29Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chicago – Sheffield Lyceum

Flawless flirtatious perfection! The Sheffield Lyceum hosts one of the biggest musical triumphs of all time, over 50 international awards – Grammy, Olivier, Tony, the longest running American Musical. We are greeted by a bare stage except a spot lit single chair and a Bowler hat, enter one performer, sassy, sexy, seductive, sensual, sinuous, sophisticated and slinky and so it begins… ‘Murder, Greed, Corruption, Exploitation, Adultery, Treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts… Thank you’. It could only be Kander and Ebb’s Chicago. Originally directed and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse in 1975, this UK touring production stays true to his genius giving us the instantly recognisable, classic tone and style. Based on the true story as reported in the C...

27Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cinderella – Montgomery Theatre

Wales Community Theatre Players give the audience of the newly renovated Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield, a sparkling version of Cinderella as this year’s 80th Anniversary pantomime offering. An excellent script, detailed direction and excellent performance. Traditional all the way! Cinderella arranged by Stage Right Creative Ltd and written by Alan P Frayn is a well written script with gags galore and much more than the average tongue in cheek moments. In fact, this pantomime is really one for the adults as well as the children. Something that was milked to the hilt by the ugly sister duo of Gertrude and Grizelda. Directed by Ashley Booker with Claire Harriott as Choreographer and Musical Direction by Ray Gallagher the production team did a fine job creating a side splittingly funny show...

17Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Bull – Playhouse Sheffield

A disturbing yet utterly compelling play with microscopic intensity that doesn’t allow you to look away. A decade after Mike Bartlett’s Olivier - Awarding winning production Bull departed Sheffield for its transfer to the Young Vic in London, Mesh Theatre co. brings it charging back to its homeland. Mike Bartlett initially penned this play after watching a Bullfight in Mexico City ‘It elicited something disturbing in the audience and yet thrilling… I am asking why we enjoy cruelty’. This quotation sums up this razor-sharp one act play, intended to be witnessed from ringside seats, close to the action, the fear and the brutality. It is shocking and so very familiar - Bullying, we witness this behaviour from cradle to grave, in school, in the workplace, in every interaction with oth...

Pride & Prejudice (*Sort of) – Sheffield Lyceum

15Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Pride & Prejudice (*Sort of) – Sheffield Lyceum

Without doubt, the best theatre I have seen in years! Jane Austen’s classic Romantic Comedy novel, Pride & Prejudice published in 1813, is given this reshaping with exquisite insight and the voice of today’s much freer woman by Isobel McArthur in this modern stage version. The result has all the idiosyncrasies of the original with its underlying disclosure of reputation and family, still allegorically coded within but now with a freedom that allows a modern audience to heartedly laugh at the societal pressures of the era. This 21st- century microscope of a show, still explicably explores the interwoven themes of sexism, class and, the ache of relevance and foremost, the production retains the ‘Love’ questions, should love be enduring? Is there a perfect ‘one’? Or maybe love is someo...

Sleeping Beauty – Normanton Junior Academy

10Jan

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Sleeping Beauty – Normanton Junior Academy

There is always a warm welcome at an Encore production and right away you are made to feel part of the evening, with smiles and greetings galore. Established in 1944, Encore is a well-known Theatre company in the local Wakefield/Castleford area and boasts The Lord St Oswald (6th Baron St Oswald) of Nostell Priory as its Honorary Patron. What made this production special to me was the Inclusivity on the stage as well as off. It really was a diverse (in every sense of the word) community performance and just how panto should be – a collective experience for the cast and the audience – as one doesn’t exist without the other! Sleeping Beauty is very well written by Sue and Andrew Sheppard and directed by Sue, the detailed and clear storyline follows the well-known tale of Sleeping Beauty an...

Jack and the Beanstalk – Sheffield City Hall

31Dec

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Jack and the Beanstalk – Sheffield City Hall

A stellar cast climbs the heights! The City Hall, Sheffield hosted the opening night of Manor Operatic Society’s Jack and the Beanstalk last night to a packed and lively family audience. Reputed to be the largest amateur pantomime in the country, Manor yet again pulled out all the stops not to disappoint. With a strong, polished and large cast, they filled the large City Hall stage to the brim with laughter and pantomime traditions in their ‘bucket’ load! This pantomime is fully immersive and not one expected ‘pantomime must have’ is missing. From the expected messy baking scene to the tune of Sweet Caroline, to the children invited on stage, and the obligatory ‘it’s behind you’ mayhem - to the audience participation – retorts filled the auditorium and MOS gave the audience what they wa...