Tag Archives: theatre review

Noises Off, Theatre Review. The Arts Centre, Liverpool

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Caitlin Clough, Jack Murray, Karl Falconer, Rhea Little, Sam Walton, Stewart McDonald, Abi Taylor Jones, Siobhan Crinson, Albert Hastings.

Quite simply you can never have too much of Michael Frayn’s Noises Off placed before you. It is a sumptuous comedy banquet that keeps giving and each serving is captured differently as the last. It is rightly regarded as one of the finest stage comedies of its time but it has to be captured right, one person miscast, one mistimed moment and the momentum goes completely. It is a play that is so giving and yet one wrong step, it can be a cruel mistress and leave the feeling of undiluted suffering in the audience and it takes real guts to even attempt to put it on. Thankfully PurpleCoat productions weren’t put off by the thought and gave a performance of high ability and virtue at the Arts Centre on Myrtle Street.

Noises Off, Theatre Review. The Arts Centre, Liverpool full post

(557 words, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

Dreaming Of A Barry White Christmas, Theatre Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision 9/10

Cast: Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks, Paul Duckworth, Gillian Hardie, Keddy Sutton, Lenny Wood.

Before a word is spoken inside the Echo Arena, before Andrew Schofield and Alan Stocks pass that wonderful look between them and the marvellous Keddy Sutton manages to bring her array of much loved admired voices to the table, just to know that these six amazingly funny and versatile actors are about to bring Dave Kirby’s work to life, there is already a broad smile on the audience who braved the December storms to watch Dreaming Of A Barry White Christmas.

Dreaming Of A Barry White Christmas, Theatre Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool. full post

(527 words, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)

The Pied Piper, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Edwina Lea, Emma Hirons, James Michael Doolan, Nathan Smith.

The Pied Piper is one of those rare stories that can both enthral and beguile and disgust and terrify at the same time, it is no wonder it is such a firm favourite of lovers of fairy tales and that it is ripe for re-telling in as many different ways as you can imagine on the stage.

The Pied Piper, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Little Red Riding Hood, Theatre Review. The Actors Studio, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Gemma Broderick, Barrie Ryan English, Catherine Rice, Leroy Liburd.

If you go down to the woods today…you might meet a few characters from a classic fairy tale that don’t exactly fit the stereotype and certainly never behaved in such a way before. From a wolf with aspiration issues to a young girl in a red hood that’s far too small and who has changed from the sweet person of memory in a teenager whose concerns are now more to do with the embarrassment that her Karaoke loving mum causes, this re-telling of the story of Little Red Riding Hood at The Actors Studio is guaranteed to be enjoyed by young and old alike.

Little Red Riding Hood, Theatre Review. The Actors Studio, Liverpool. full post

(368 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Aladdin, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Aretha Ayeh, Marianne Benedict, Carla Freeman, Matthew Ganley, Lindsay Goodhead, Sam Haywood, Adam Keast, Sarah Moss, Griffin Stevens, Francis Tucker.

For Sarah A. Nixon and Mark Chatterton, the writers of the Playhouse Theatre Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, the subject of Aladdin is one that they have revisited with pride a couple of times but never like this, not with the scale, the almost sense of the wonderful and wonderment all wrapped up in a festive feast that was exactly the production and performance that audiences could have wished for.

Aladdin, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Pool (No Water), Theatre Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Dominic Davies, Jacob Lowman, Iona Campbell, Madeline Smart, Charlotte Parson, Bryony Holloway.

It can be argued that it takes immense courage or character of spirit to take on the writing of Mark Ravenhill, especially his play Pool (No Water) which speaks volumes of how art and artists are a breed that need constant nurturing. The work though  leaves so much to the interpretation of the brave director who has made it their life’s mission to try and go through the entangled genius and come up with something that tears at the mind and catches the emotions of the audience at their peak.

Pool (No Water), Theatre Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool. full post

(504 words, estimated 2:01 mins reading time)

The Hitchhikers Guide To Fazakerley, Theatre Review. Royal Court, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Lynne Francis, Lindzi Germain, Jack Rigby, Angela Simms, Michael Starke, Charlotte Dalton, Stephanie Miles, Emily Trebicki.

Every science fiction story needs a hero, a man willing to put his life on the line in order to save the world and by doing so redeem his soul, a man who handles himself with courage, moral fortitude, bravery in the face of oppression…and a Tardis inspired wheelie Bin.  It’s the festive season but not as we know it.

The Hitchhikers Guide To Fazakerley, Theatre Review. Royal Court, Liverpool. full post

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

Alice In Wonderland, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Jenny Runacre, Reaya Sealey, Ashleigh Pacham, Holly Rivers, Mairi Phillips.

There have been so many theories and speculated conjectures surrounding the many possible veiled references to Alice In Wonderland that it enough to make the poor girl’s head spin. Never mind falling down the rabbit hole, occasionally being shoved with the full force of a 1970s Welsh Rugby Union side with no sight anywhere of a very wide cat and it’s cheesy grin leaping forward to break your fall is more akin to anyone who takes on the utterly charming but completely surreal book by Lewis Carroll.

Alice In Wonderland, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(360 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Of Mice And Men, Theatre Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Christian Darnell, Greg Vicary, Michael Cook, George Parsons, Katie Overbury, Liam Middleton, Jonny Campbell, Alex Webber-Date, Patrick D’Arcy, Devan Pankhania.

The number of people who do not know the story Of Mice and Men is becoming less each generation as schools adopt Steinbeck’s classic into their curriculum early on. Therefore, Liverpool University Drama Society (LUDS) decision to produce this as their first play of the academic year was, if nothing else, a signal of intent from a society that, at amateur level, is building a reputation of producing captivating and quality theatre.

Of Mice And Men, Theatre Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool. full post

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

Le Gateau Chocolat, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Acclaimed opera singer and cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat brought a brilliantly intimate new solo show to the Unity Theatre as part of Liverpool’s ongoing homotopia festival occuring throughout the city as he charted his personal difficulties and triumphs with depression, identity and music.

Le Gateau Chocolat, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(333 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)