Category Archives: Theatre

Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 9th 2009.

Cast: Pauline Daniels, Mark Moraghan, Emma Vaudrey, Emma Grace Arends, Ciaran Kellgren, Colin Connor, Anthony Watson, Marie Ekins, Joyce Greenaway, Annie Walker, Gordon Hall, Ronnie Orr.

It is easy to see why the local papers announced before the play started its current run at the Empire that Twopence To Cross The Mersey had taken in over two million pounds at the box office over the last few years. With such talented performers on stage taking the various parts from the author’s life and an excellent musical score to match, there was nothing for the packed out audience to not like.

Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(375 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

Spymonkeys, Moby Dick. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Picture from spymonkey.co.uk

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 21st 2009.

Cast: Aitor Basauri, Petra Massey, Toby Park, Stephen Kreiss.

If a classic book is worth recreating on stage then it is worth doing absurdly and with much gusto and insanely as possible.

In all honesty, not even straight theatre would tackle Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick without some trepidation and a crateful of memory loss inducing alcohol to forget the whole idea. It would be too overblown, expensive and almost impossible to re-create but such is the excellence of the four-strong cast that they were able to play nearly every part that was required of them with quickest of costume changes possible and with some of the greatest use of the imagination possible and not a quibble between them.

Spymonkeys, Moby Dick. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(352 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

The Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Cast: Kara Lane, Haley Flaherty, Mark Evans, Michael Starke, Brian McCann, Ceris Hine, David Bedella, Dominic Tribuzio, Nathen Amzi.

Over thirty five years since its inception, The Rocky Horror Show still shows no sign of slowing down and resting on its sparkly top hat or putting down its feather boa. As ever the public still love this story of mad transvestites, spooky houses and tongue in cheek gore which can thrill, chill and fulfil even the stoniest of hearts.

The Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(395 words, 1 image, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Scrooge, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre.

Cast: Tommy Steele, Geoffrey Abbott, Craig Whiteley, Kristy Cullen, Hamilton Sargent, Suzie Chard, Sophie Caton, Kieron Harris, David Lyndon, Nikki Gerrard, Steven Sparling, Robbie Towns, Tony Stansfield, Halcro Johnston, Barry Howards.

Liverpool welcomed back one of its favourite adopted sons this week when the ever youthful Tommy Steele came back “home” as part of the production of the theatrical classic Scrooge.

The Charles Dickens timeless masterpiece has been the subject of so many musicals and cinema outings that it is possible for a group of people to come up with an entirely different favourite actor who has thrilled them in the part.

Scrooge, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre. full post

(408 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

The Thirty Nine Steps, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 8th 2009.

Cast: Richard Braine, Dugald Bruce-Lockhart, Katherine Kingsley, Dan Starkey.

The team behind the Liverpool Playhouse pulled a real cracker for its final performance of the year and decade and watched it explode in delight, laughter and a touch of good old fashioned British daring do.

John Buchan’s classic The Thirty Nine Steps has been given the comedy treatment and like Spymonkey’s reworking of Moby Dick earlier on in the season it was excellently written and had the benefit of some superb comic acting.

The Thirty Nine Steps, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse. full post

(418 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Peter Pan, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 2009.

Cast: Henry Winkler, Natasha Hamiliton, Nikki Davies-Jones, Les Dennis, Patrick Buckley, Daniel Taylor, Rick Vaughn, Kaitlin Howard, Chris Jenkins, Jessica Hill, Luke Redford, Ryan Pidgen, Lisa Connell, Ben Goffe.

J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan has been charming readers and its theatre audiences for the better part of a century now and thankfully it shows no sign of running out of steam. This year the Liverpool Empire Theatre is hosting this spectacular show and with some big names in the cast it is sure to get the reception it deserves.

Peter Pan, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre. full post

(519 words, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

Medea, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. February 24th 2010.

Cast: Cleo Sylvestre, Fine Time Fontayne, Michelle Hardwick, Barbara Hockaday, heather Pheonix, Nina Kristofferson, Barrie Rutter, Andrew Pollard,

One of the most popular touring companies to come to Liverpool in recent years has to be the fantastic ensemble that makes up Northern Broadsides. Led by the indomitable Barrie Rutter, the troupe has thrilled local audiences with their versions of The Man with Two Gaffers and Romeo and Juliet to name but two.

Medea, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(378 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Stop Messing About, Theatre Review. Theatre Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 5th 2010.

Cast: Robin Sebastian, Charles Armstrong, Nigel Harrison, India Fisher, Timothy Dodd.

In the days when radio programmes could make a nation come to a standstill, there were a few performers that stood out as the real deal. Amongst those, were the talents of Ted Ray, Tony Hancock, Kenneth Horne and of course the superb Kenneth Williams. Well known for his ability to turn everything into a double entendre and an infectious sense of humour, there was much laughter that he shared with the world, as well as his own private demons that surfaced later in life.

Stop Messing About, Theatre Review. Theatre Review. full post

(349 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Morecambe, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 8th 2010.

Cast: Bob Goulding.

It takes a brave actor to take on the mantle of one of Britain’s best loved comedians on stage. It takes a man with nerves of steel to do the whole show on his own for a mind boggling 80 odd minutes and who won’t be sure of how the audience will react to the telling of his life until the final curtain.

Morecambe, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse Theatre. full post

(442 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Hansel And Gretel, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Occasionally, a production comes along and shakes your preconceived ideas about staging and writing a play right down to the very foundations. One such play currently in Liverpool is Kneehigh Theatre’s re-working of the children’s classic Hansel and Gretel.

The stage was set for a magical night of theatre and the cast and support did not let the excited audience down. From the very young whose innocent laughter filled every part of the theatre to the parents and older patrons who were just as enthralled by the use of the set and the characterization of the family, (this time without the evil step mother figure).

Hansel And Gretel, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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