Reading Time: 2 minutes “A camp and scandalous romp” Just before the curtain rose on The Rocky Horror Show in the Liverpool Playhouse, I was aware that this would likely be no ordinary theatre-going experience, having seen at least three Dr…
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe festive season is swinging into full gear at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre, where the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is back, bigger and brighter than ever. This year, it’s time to “let your hair down” as Rapunzel takes center stage from now until 18 January 2025.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe first thing you might notice about this production of 1984 at Liverpool Playhouse is their excellent use of projection and set design to transport you into Winston Smith’s world and transform the theatre space from anything from backdrops or middle-ground scenery (achieved through clever use of a semi-transparent screen on stage) to video and computer screens. Before the show proper even begins the screen on stage displays an enormous eye, the camera roving the audience - we too are already under a state of surveillance.
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's recent concert showcased remarkable talent, featuring Anna Meredith's Nautilus, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Ning Feng, and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast led by Sir Bryn Terfel. The evening was charged with emotion and versatility, culminating in a heartfelt Welsh birthday tribute to Terfel, enhancing the uplifting atmosphere.
Reading Time: 3 minutesWith the nights drawing in and the temperature dropping, there’s no better excuse to cosy up with a loved one and bask in something unabashedly romantic - and if Rachmaninov’s Symphony No.2 fits the bill absolutely perfectly. Conducted by Adam Hickox in his Liverpool debut, this concert takes the audience on an emotive journey - starting with Anna Meredith’s Nautilus, then through the motions of Barber’s Violin Concerto, before finishing gloriously on one of Rachmaninov’s most moving pieces.
Reading Time: 3 minutesIf you’re looking for a musical experience that will stay with you, then catching a performance conducted by Matthew Halls should be a priority. If you’re a fan of Mozart, Angela Hewitt is probably the closest you’re going to get to the real deal, so experiencing Halls and Hewitt together is an absolute treat.
Reading Time: 2 minutes"A campy, colourful and explosive jukebox musical"
Reading Time: 2 minutes It's always wonderful to experience the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestra in full voice, and last night's performance of Gustav Holst's The Planets was no exception. Two shorter pieces by Walton and Bliss made up the first part of the evening's programme, with the main event of the planets taking centre stage post-interval. The orchestra - the full scope of which included two harps, the celeste, two sets of timpani, and tubular bells - was headed by Guest Conductor Andrew Manze, an animated stage presence with distinctive gesticulation.
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe appeal of Breach Theatre’s After the Act (A Section 28 Musical), especially to the Queer community, is clear. Through the use of the voices of those who lived through this pivotal part of UK legislative history, it tells the story of Section 28, from its conception to its repeal, and the legacy that it has left us with. Against an ever-changing projection of relevant images and information, emotive personal accounts of self discovery, discrimination, and revolutionary acts are brought to life in a delightfully camp, powerfully evocative manner.
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs October casts its enchanting spell, the English National Ballet’s performance of Mary Skeaping’s Giselle at the Liverpool Empire Theatre feels like the perfect embodiment of the season. The production artfully intertwines the celebratory feeling of Oktoberfest in act one at the Rhineland wine festival and act two follows with the ethereal dread of the afterlife mimicking the eeriness of Halloween. This sets the stage for a ballet that demonstrates what happens when you give love your all.