Category Archives: Theatre

The Art Of Falling Apart, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Tim Lynskey, Matt Rutter.

There can be no doubt that Tim Lynskey, Matt Rutter and Robert Farquhar make a formidable and astonishing team. The exhaustive and physical brilliance that Mr. Lynskey and Mr. Rutter bring to the Unity Theatre is matched stride for stride in the writing by Robert Farquhar and in The Art of Falling Apart there is very little time for the audience to get blasé as they are bombarded with a section of a man’s life that is unraveling and unwinding before everyone’s eyes.

The Art Of Falling Apart, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(361 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Theatre Company Show Their Box Of Tricks As They Bring My Arms To The Lantern Theatre.

Following the success of its world première at Manchester’s 24:7 Theatre Festival, My Arms embarks on a tour of the North this January. Reuniting director Adam Quayle (Picture a City at Liverpool Everyman’s Everyword Festival) and playwright James Leach (an Associate Playwright on Bolton Octagon’s Incubate scheme), Box of Tricks brings this critically-acclaimed play to venues including Liverpool’s Lantern Theatre.

Told in reverse order, My Arms is a compelling new one-hour drama about a couple in crisis after a tragic event that changes their lives forever. The play is a fascinating examination of human relationships inspired by stories of the wives of men who go to prison. When Colin arrives home with fish and chips, will wife Helen be able to give him a second chance?

Theatre Company Show Their Box Of Tricks As They Bring My Arms To The Lantern Theatre. full post

(275 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

Cinderella, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Coleen Nolan, Liz McClarnon, Pete Price, Pauline Daniels, Billy Boyle, Shaun Mason, Kieran Jae, Edward Griffith.

 

The Empire Theatre always has the reputation of hosting the most sumptuous and glistering pantomime productions and this year has been no exception as the cast for Cinderella provided a fantastic evening’s entertainment for the assembled audience.

Cinderella, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(363 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Lisa Symonds, Jason Carragher, Hannah Ruth Cooke, Jamie Stuart, Sam Liu, Douglas Austin, Jessica Olwyn, Justine Williams, Lauren Naylor, Laura Ryan.

 

The Lantern Theatre may have only just celebrated its first birthday but what an end to the 2012  season with their showcasing Purplecoat Productions of Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(341 words, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Terry Titter’s Spaced Out Christmas, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There are some institutions that are just too good to let go and wander off into the wilderness. Some needed bringing back every year to make sure they entertain the incredible multitude of fans they have and give them a good dose of laughter whenever possible. In Terry Titter’s case that should be for as long as he wants to.

Terry Titter’s Spaced Out Christmas, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(322 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

Scarlett’s Secret Snowglobe, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Daniel Jones, Lucie Rice, Sally Smithson.

 

Scarlett’s Secret Snowglobe is written and performed by the one of the smaller scale theatre companies that has made Liverpool home. With the three members of the collective, Daniel Jones, Lucie Rice and Sally Smithson having enjoyed the hospitality of the city, they have given back in spades and in this latest production prove more than ever that all theatre is necessary, especially if it is able to grab younger visitors to the theatre with a poignant message of hope and redemption.

Scarlett’s Secret Snowglobe, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(354 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

Cinderella, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal.

Richard De Vere as Dandini. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Tina Malone, Leanne Campbell, James Waud, Charlie Griffiths, Richard De Vere, Marc Lawlor, Simon Foster, Nick Cochrane, Schnorbitz.

The village of Stoneybroke and its love deprived prince are in need of good fortune and a princess to bring love to its desolate and poor people. They certainly don’t come any poorer than Baroness Hardup and her daughter.  It may be a fairytale but for those that go along to the St. Helens Theatre Royal to catch one of the classics of the panto season, the tremendous Cinderella, it will be impossible not to feel touched and elated at the grand piece of theatre on offer.

Cinderella, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal. full post

(366 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Cinderella, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Sonia, Philip Olivier, Nikki Graham, Alison Crawfrod, Simon Greening, Stuart Campbell, Brian Dodd, Michael Chapman.

The Epstein Theatre has been up and running for just under a quarter of a season and already it has one of the top rated plays the city has had the pleasure to witness this year performed on its stage and now the acid test of the festive Pantomime, in the form of the much loved Cinderella, has made sure that the new theatre goes into 2013 with its head firmly held high and in fine exceptional spirits.

Cinderella, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(385 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Mam! I’m ‘Ere!, Theatre Review. The Dome, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Rachel Rae, Eithne Browne, Andrew Schofield, Helen Carter, Alan Stocks, Stephen Fletcher, Keddy Sutton, Paul Duckworth, Catherine Morris, Lauren Southwick.

The Dome may not be the most obvious venue for a theatrical production to make its maiden debut in the city; however the acting company that gave their all for the sensational Mam! I’m ‘Ere! more than made the grand old lady very proud and the audience dance and sing with vigour and with a lot of joy.

Mam! I’m ‘Ere!, Theatre Review. The Dome, Liverpool. full post

(425 words, 1 image, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

A Christmas Carol, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre.

Photograph by John Garfield-Roberts

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Mark Smith, Lewis Bray.

A Christmas Carol is almost akin to staple fare at this time of year. From the television adaptations to big budget films to the outlandish theatrical spectacles, Charles Dickens’ most famous creation, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge has spent so much time being dissected and discussed that it is always a constant surprise if anyone can get anything more out of it.

A Christmas Carol, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre. full post

(358 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)