Tag Archives: theatre review

The Pied Piper Of Liverpool, Theatre Review. The Casa, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Alan Bower, Alun Parry, Geraldine Moloney-Judge, Mike Leane, Kate Mulvihill, Richard MacDonald, Mikyla Durkan, Sarah Tryer, Adam Byrne, Laura Foulkes.

The Casa might not be the first place that audiences think of plays as being performed in the Hope Street area of the city. However away from the Unity Theatre down the road and the looming cultural giant that is the new look Everyman Theatre, The Casa offers the chance for local productions to shine with actors who may be making their first tempting steps into the profession.  This was no less the case in the entertaining and thought provoking Julian Bond and Burjesta Theatre’s play, The Pied Piper Of Liverpool.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Jack And The Beanstalk, These Shoots Are Made For Walking! Theatre Review. The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool

Carla Freeman and Toby Lord as Pat and Jack.
Photograph by Robert Day.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Aretha Ayeh, Marianne Benedict, Carla Freeman, Matthew Ganley, Adam Keast, Toby Lord, Rhona McGregor, Griffin Stevens, Francis Tucker.

There are just times when you know the planets are aligned in the solar journeys correctly, that the world outside the window can take a break from the unceasingly bad news and that in the face of any adversity that the city may face, that the Rock ‘N’ Roll panto will just always be a shining beacon of good times and good music.