Reading Time: 2 minutesAs I read the program, I was initially perplexed by the diverse set list put together by Manchester Collective. It was difficult for me to discern the connection between a Wood Thrush, trains, and artificial intelligence. However, by the end of the night, I came to realise that, just as there are infinite paths to take when travelling by train, the human experience knows no bounds.
Reading Time: 2 minutesIt's hard to tell how many times a timeless tale can be retold without losing its appeal and becoming predictable or dull. However, Tanika Gupta's ambitious adaptation of the Dickensian chronicles of the British class convinced me that great stories can still be relevant today if they carry a message that resonates with current societal issues.
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Bodyguard has become synonymous with the 1992 movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Therefore, creating a musical rendition that surpasses the original is a daunting task. However, The Bodyguard musical puts up a strong fight, with amazing performances and clear vocals. It's such a shame that the show needs a modern update.
Reading Time: 3 minutesAn interesting display of talent, creativity, and commitment was showcased by the National Youth Theatre in a production of NEST, which occurred in a 355-hectare nature park. The story takes place in the year 2050, on the grounds of St Aidan's RSPB Nature Park in Leeds, where climate change has had disastrous consequences for the flora and fauna of our planet. As a result, bird watchers have no birds to watch, politicians are committed to the idea of net 0, and people are considering flying to Mars as a way to save themselves.
Reading Time: 2 minutesAlice Bunker-Whitney (writer) and Francesca Goodridge (director) combine tropes from well-known police dramas with suspense, a touch of insanity, and witty humor to create a killer show (pun intended). Mandy (Lindzi Germain) and Shanon (Hayley Sheen) have just murdered their boss at work. Without spoiling the plot of the show, the duo must navigate how to cover up their actions. However, they face obstacles such as a badge guy, a builder, a customer in desperate need of a skinny latte, and an aubergine seller who impede their efforts to cover up the bloodshed.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThere are a handful of jukebox musicals that can make you deeply reflect upon your life, and In Dreams is one of them. After leaving the auditorium, I found myself contemplating my existence, loved ones, and relationships with the deceased. While I am not a huge fan of Roy Orbison's music (which might betray my age), I thought the craftsmanship of David West Read (Schitt’s Creek, & Juliet) in creating both funny and heart-warming situations, along with the direction by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, In The Heights), and the talent of the cast, produced an amazing piece of theatre.
Reading Time: 2 minutesNoah's Flood was similar to the biblical myth: through it, Benjamin Britten, the composer returned to a purer form of art, similar to the Chester Miracle plays from the 14th century when ordinary, untrained performers put together a show for their besotted ones. But the production, similar to the catastrophic event, suffered from a watery chaos of uninspired choices.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThey, written by Kay Dick and adapted and co-created by Maxine Peake, Sarah Frankcom, and Imogen Knight, is an intriguing collection of 9 vignettes set in both the past and the future. In this world, where "no singles were speared" and "there's always danger in livings," artists and free-spirited individuals face constant danger. Violent vigilantes roam about, destroying anything that is aesthetically pleasing, cultivates sensibilities, or is poetry. They blind, mutilate, and even kill artists.
Reading Time: 3 minutes"How very" of a show was Heathers at Liverpool Empire. I was welcomed with open arms to Westerberg High. Full of dry humour, savageness, pure camp and a lot of energy, the production is a worthy adaptation of the 80s high-school cult classic – be it, a more sanitised one.