Tag Archives: theatre review

A Nightmare On Lime Street, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Lynn Francis, Lindzi Germain, Jamie Hampson, Mark Moraghan, Michael Starke, Anthony Watson, Lenny Wood, Alicia Forrest, Niamh Fitzgerald, Olivia Galvin, Joe Slater.

An ancient evil is stirring beneath the bowels of Lime Street and it is up to Tommy and his daughter Julie to root it out. Fred Lawless’ latest Festive extravaganza, the brilliant A Nightmare on Lime Street, pays homage to the comedy horrors of the past and brings together a superb cast, a script of monster proportions and music to adore and smile throughout at.

A Nightmare On Lime Street, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre. full post

(470 words, 1 image, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

Next!, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Written and performed by Graham Hicks.

Just over a year ago Graham Hicks walked on stage at the Unity Theatre and gave an inspired, mesmerizing and enthralling performance of his play Next!

Since that time, the play has been re-worked slightly, a few changes added and improved upon, if that were at all possible and the end result is that Graham Hicks deserves to be considered a hero of local theatre. It is not everyone that can carry of an entire performance by themselves. Not every entertainer or actor is capable is just using the littered insanity that makes up a life in order to make the audience feel a kinship, a special type of longing to befriend someone in dire need of comradeship or even just to pick up the phone as they await that one call that could change their life.

Next!, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(417 words, 1 image, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Fanny And Faggot, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool.

Jessica Beare and Abi Carter in Fanny and Faggot. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jessica Beare, Abi Carter, Heather Madden, Harry Parker, Alex Webber-Date.

As director of the production, Rio Matchett should receive a lot of commendation for having the incredible fortitude and sheer will in putting herself and the superb cast through their paces for the play Fanny and Faggot. Not only is Jack Thorne’s play a minefield of emotions that the theatre goer may feel in parts uncomfortable with, it also forces that same theatre goer to understand the social depravity that Mary Bell was put through and what perhaps turned her head and her reasoning into one of unremitting violence.

Fanny And Faggot, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool. full post

(450 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Epstein, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Andrew Lancel, Will Finlason.

The newly refurbished Epstein Theatre has come of age in such a relatively short time and there was probably no better way to see the theatre enjoying the first big run of its new lease of life than by celebrating the man who shares the iconic name. For a lot of people Brian Epstein is the man that a city thanks for making sure that Liverpool once more was a name to be proud of, to be distinguished once more.

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

(432 words, 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

A Government Inspector, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse.

Photograph by Nobby Clarke.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Howard Chadwick, Andrew Price, Clara Darcy, Andy Cresswell, Anthony Hunt, Susie Emmett, Jill Cardo, Kraig Thornber, Andy Cryer, Richard Colvin, Jon Trenchard, Tim Frances.

Whenever Northern Broadsides comes to the Liverpool Playhouse or its fantastic times up at the Everyman Theatre, the city’s audiences fall over themselves in their droves to make sure they are one of the fortunate ones to witness a night of exceptional theatre. In the latest classic that gets a welcome Northern representation, the brilliant ensemble; under the excellent tutelage of the director and composer Conrad Nelson, wrapped themselves in the cosy and biting satirical humour of Gogol’s inspired comedy A Government Inspector.  This guidance extended to the actors doubling up and performing as a bass band during the performance. An exceptional feat to include into a show!

A Government Inspector, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse. full post

(497 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Held, Theatre Review. Playhouse Studio Theatre, Liverpool.

Pauline Daniels, Ged McKenna in Held. Photograph by Christian Smith.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Pauline Daniels, Ged McKenna, Alan Stocks.

The idea of losing someone piece by piece, memory by bittersweet memory is one that no human being ever wants to contemplate, its implications and devastating results can break apart families whilst the person who slowly moves further and further away cannot help in anyway. Such was the authoritative writing of Joe Ward Munrow and the directing of the creatively astute Lorne Campbell in Held, that the heart was pulled in many different directions as the audience empathised and felt sympathy for each character.

Held, Theatre Review. Playhouse Studio Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(412 words, 1 image, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Still Life, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool.

Mark Raynor, Iona Campbell, Georgina Rose in Noel Coward’s Stll Life. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast:  Iona Campbell, Jonny Campbell, Jack Conway, Mary Cooper, Barney Eliot, Reuben Green, Mark Raynor, Georgina Rose, Elena Spiegl, Katherine Wright.

With the strains of Noel Coward’s I Went to a Marvellous Party greeting the audience at the University of Liverpool’s intimate theatre space, the stage was set for a renaissance of the great actor and playwrights work performed by L.U.D.S, one of the two amateur dramatic societies that give young budding actors their first real taste of life in front of an audience. Their chosen piece to start their 2012-13 season off was the sublime affair of several hearts, Still Life.

Still Life, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool. full post

(439 words, 1 image, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Steptoe And Son, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Photograph by Steve Tanner. Dean Nolan, Mike Shepherd as Steptoe and Son.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Mike Shepherd, Dean Nolan, Kirsty Woodward.

Albert and Harold Steptoe, national comedy legends that were bought to B.B.C. television by the incredible writing of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, two men bound to each other through blood, despair, apathy and a small measure of distant attachment. No one could have predicted how much the two men would change the television viewing habits of the nation as they settled down each week to watch the Steptoe and Son.

Steptoe And Son, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

The Girl I Left Behind Me, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

There was a time when to see a woman in trousers was to court scandal and above all intrigue, the ridiculous thought that the masculine clothes they chose made them any different to anyone else would be laughed at today and quite rightly so. Jessica Walker takes her audience down on a well creased and ironed road to when the music halls were abuzz with the fascination of the women who dressed as men in the well researched and brilliantly put together, The Girl I left Behind Me.  

The Girl I Left Behind Me, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(403 words, 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Doreene Blackstock, Curtis Cole, Dominic Gately, Savannah Gordon-Liburd, Luke James, Jack McMullen, Richard Pepple, Alix Ross, Sean Sagar.

Alan Sillitoe’s The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner was written in the dying days of National Service in Great Britain; this coupled with the thought of young offenders’ prisons which became a one-stop shop for hope being abandoned may have been on a lot of people’s minds when the national riots of 2011 scarred and divided the nation.

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(431 words, 1 image, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)