Category Archives: Theatre

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)

Porridge, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 23rd 2010.

Cast: Shaun Williamson, Daniel West, Nicholas Lumley, John Conroy, Peter Alexander, Richard Syms, Claire Andreadis, Andrew Scott Butler, Jon De Ville, Jolana Lee, Mark Pearce, Barrett Robertson, Alex Tanner, Matt Weyland, Ryan Winston.

Not that long ago, a sitcom took the country by storm, not for its high brow wit, not for snappy one-liners but for the place and its subject matter. There are not that many writers who could make a comedy gold out of the idea of sending a man to prison and the prospect of dealing with the establishment (both in the form of the Prison Officers and the man who actually ran the prison, in this case, the genial Harry Grout).

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

(555 words, estimated 2:13 mins reading time)

The Canterbury Tales, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

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

Cast: Isia Bennison, Emily Butterfield, Matt Connor, Phil Corbitt, Laura Cox, Andy Cryer, Michael Hugo, Rosie Jenkins, Alan McMahon, David Newman, Rob Pickavance, Matthew Rixon, Richard Standing, Andrew Whitehead.

After the success of Medea earlier in the year, Northern Broadsides have come back once more to Liverpool with the intention of staging a difficult piece of work for the delight of the Playhouse audience. This time they tackled one of English literature’s defining moments, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.

The Canterbury Tales, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(383 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Oh What A Lovely War, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.

Picture from everymanplayhouse.com

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 1st 2010.

Cast: Joanna Croll, Victoria Elliott, Helen Embleton, Karen Fisher-Pollard, Robert Hands, Gary Kithing, Tarek Merchant, Sam O’Mahony-Adams, Thomas Padden, Christopher Price, Theone Rashleigh, Jon Trenchard.

As we near the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, it is apt that one of cinemas and theatres greatest satires is brought back to the public’s attention. Oh what a lovely War is one of those plays that demands attention and the respect for all those who take part in such a sensitive subject.

Oh What A Lovely War, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse Theatre. full post

(376 words, 1 image, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

Chronicles Of Long Kesh, Play Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2010.

Cast: Billy Clarke, Chris Corrigan, Marty Maguire, Andy Moore, Marc O’Shea, David Craig, Paul Boyd, Conleth White, Paul Burke, Elaine Barnes, Deidre Ashe.

Carefully mixing humour with the despair and hope, The Chronicles of Long Kesh is possibly one of the most important plays to have come to Liverpool.

Superbly written by Martin Lynch, the play deals with the dark days of the seventies and early eighties when the troubles in Ireland were hitting new lows and the relationships between neighbours were more than strained.

Chronicles Of Long Kesh, Play Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(413 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Daniel Kitson, 66a Church Road. Theatre Review, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Picture from everymanplayhouse.com

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 17th 2010.

Everybody has a favourite place they have lived, the one place where no matter what was wrong with it, it was home. The squeaky floorboard on the stairs which woke everybody up every time you trod on it and the mould stain that would never quite go away no matter how much mould killer you put on it, all add to the memories of somewhere which is safe, loved and yours.

Daniel Kitson, 66a Church Road. Theatre Review, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(392 words, 1 image, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

One Night In Istanbul, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 18th 2010.

Cast: John McArdle, Neil Fitzmaurice, Ann Marie Davies, James Spofforth, Steven Fletcher, Tony Caveney, Darren Farley, Kate McEvoy, Anthony Goddfrey, Marc Hughes, James Johnson, Ian Kellgren.

Every Liverpool or football fan knows where they were the night Liverpool won the European Cup/Champions League in 2005 for the fifth time. Some were possibly were around the country enjoying the late May evening and getting more and more despondent as the first half drew on to its bitter conclusion, certainly they would have felt helpless as they were so far away from the Ataturk Stadium that their cheers and groans were only audible to those sharing a pub with them in Bootle, Toxteth, and all points in between.

One Night In Istanbul, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre. full post

(516 words, 1 image, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)

The Woman In Black, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 3rd 2010.

Cast: Robert Demeger, Peter Bramhill.

The Playhouse has put on some very fine pieces of theatre so far this year and with some truly remarkable performances including Bob Golding’s superb interpretation of national treasure Eric Morecambe and the team behind the season’s opener “Ghost Stories”. To finish the season in a similar fashion they have commissioned the wonderful and spine tingling The Woman in Black.

The Woman In Black, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse Theatre. full post

(376 words, 1 image, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

The Hobbit, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 9th 2010.

Cast: Peter Howe, Christopher Robbie, James Hedley, Seb Morgan, Danny Fox, Russell Clough, Antony Gabriel, William St. Clair, Craig Whittaker, Kirk Barker, Paul Chesterton, Christopher Llewellyn.

There are books and stories that are just too epic and grand in scale to try and transfer over to the theatre, The Hobbit isn’t one of them…just.

The Hobbit, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(434 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Theatre Review. Liverpool Everyman Theatre.

Cast: Dean Ashton, Will Beer, Louise Bush, Larry Dann, Tim Francis, Finbar Lynch, Des McAleer, Thomas Morrison, Laura Rees, Paul Regan, Gyuri Sarossy, Nicholas Tennant.

It is without doubt that it is a shame that Robert Tressell never got to see how his seminal piece of work, The Ragged Trousered Philanthopists, inspired and influenced a generation to the point that the old order was swept away and in its place stood the promise of better times for all. Certainly for those who have attended the production during its run at the Everyman will have come away with certain ideas shaken or reinforced.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Theatre Review. Liverpool Everyman Theatre. full post

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