Category: Uncategorized

York Theatre Royal – 02 September 2022

Reviewed by Sal Marino

5***** 

Not being a jazz expert of any kind personally (apart from being a Miles Davis fan and enjoying some events over the years), I won’t embarrass myself by trying to say anything technical or ‘clever’ so this review is purely from a musical entertainment point of view and wow – entertained I most definitely was – to the brim and overflowing!  The Ronnie Scott’s Story at the wonderful York Theatre Royal (where the staff are so warm and accommodating – especially the lovely lady who looked after us in the circle seats), was not only awe-inspiring and fabulous but I came away being blown away and just want to see and learn more about this amazing musical genre!  

It’s hard to know where to start because every performer (James Pearson – piano, Alex Garnett – Saxophone, Chris Higginbottom – drums, Sam Burgess – bass and Natalie Williams – Vocals) and every number was outstanding, genius and mesmerising!  I felt privileged to be there, truly!  What also struck me about this concert, putting the the pure, unquestionable talent aside, was that the musicians were also seductive storytellers and made us laugh!  What could be better than music and laughter together – not much else!  

If being honest, I have never had any real appreciation for the drums before as it’s often the vocals or the saxophone that steal the show but seeing the Ronnie Scott’s Story has given me a new perspective (and I’m sure the rest of the audience too) because I was totally entranced at points during the show.   What we heard, saw and experienced was simply ‘magic’ – magic that was so magnificently weaved and crafted by this incredible instrument –  it was scintillating!  Every musician on the stage was enthralling (the band members are after all Ronnie’s ‘All stars’) but I think because I’ve never seen drumming like this before, I was quite taken aback and now I’m hooked!  Thank you to Chris for that spell-binding solo you performed in the middle of the show.  

Alex on the saxophone, who gave a most witty narrative as well as being a world-class player, actually performed on one of Ronnie’s own saxophone’s which felt like an honour and the perfect homage to the man himself.  I could not agree more with Alex when he commented that, “It’s important to support live music.” and we really must or we’ll lose it and that is unthinkable!  Rather than choosing to stay in and binge on the latest Netflix series, experiencing a ‘live’ musical performance – which has been scientifically proven to improve our physical and mental health – seems like the better choice to me and if it’s shared with others, even better – spread the love!  Obviously in today’s current climate it can be difficult to justify the cost but I’ll certainly be saving up to see another gig soon whenever possible.    

The Ronnie Scott’s Story will also teach you about some of jazz’s: greatest stars, styles, times and of course about Ronnie too. The legend that is Nina Simone (who the ‘All Stars’ did a phenomenal tribute to) said, “Jazz is not just music, it’s a way of life, it’s a way of being and a way of thinking.” and after last night’s performance I totally concur.  I would like to end this review by expressing much appreciation and gratitude to the Ronnie Scott’s Story All Stars – you’ve sent me and I’m sure many others on a beautiful and new musical journey.  

Jack Studio Theatre – until 17 September 2022

5*****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Arrows & Traps’ outstanding online films of reimagined Greek myths were a joy during the pandemic, and you should not miss the chance to see Persephone live on stage.

Ross McGregor takes the story of Hades’ snatching Persephone and making her queen of the underworld abduction and places the gods on earth in modern times. No longer worshipped or feared, they get on with their lives and jobs just like the little clay humans Zeus created on a whim. Hades doesn’t appear in the play and although Zeus looms large in the most dysfunctional of extended families, this is a story about motherhood and sisterhood told by the female gods.

The actors portraying Hestia, Demeter and Cora/Persephone lie on the floor in a formation echoing triple goddess symbolism as the audience enter before the play begins at Zeus’s trial, with Hestia called to give evidence as he faces human judgement for his actions. Hestia (Beatrice Vincent) and Demeter (Cornelia Baumann) relate their story of how the sisters left Olympus for their new life among the humans in vastly different styles. Hestia’s warmth and need for peace contrasting wonderfully with Demeter’s expletive riddled version, peppered with furious and vengeful anecdotes about humans destroying the planet. Demeter’s 15-year-old daughter Cora (Daisy Farrington), home-schooled and fed up with being used as a mouthpiece for Demeter’s environmental campaigns, spends most of her time online where she finds a kindred spirit in Hades – who runs a dogs’ home – and runs away to be with him, changing her name to Persephone. The reasons for the ferocity of Demeter’s love and the sisters’ need to protect her are all revealed to Persephone when her father Zeus (Jackson Wright) starts taking an interest in her for his own selfish reasons after he realises he has lost his family.

Ross McGregor’s writing is as clever, funny and heart-breaking as ever, exquisitely portraying the damage and succour created by the searing power of love and the bonds of sisterhood amongst these very human gods. The references to capitalism, ecology, climate change and social media scattered throughout the first act all build into a showstopping rant from Zeus as he bemoans humanity’s new gods – blessed are the meek for they shall have free shipping! The location of scenes is shown effortlessly by Laurel Marks’ video design and Jonathan Simpson’s lighting. There are some beautifully performed movement sections that add layers to the storytelling. The cast are exceptional: Daisy Farrington is a convincing teenager frustrated with her embarrassing family in a beautifully judged performance that never strays into stroppy stereotypes of rebellion. Jackson Wright as Zeus is vile, entitled, unrepentant and made my skin crawl – perfect! Beatrice Vincent is simply phenomenal as Hestia – seemingly afraid of her own shadow and full of apologetic fidgets, wonderfully awkward in the face of modern gadgets but ultimately showing the strength that love gives her. Cornelia Baumann is full of fire as Demeter, abrasive and unbending, but always keeping the character’s pain visible. The two actors are a formidable team, and the scene where Demeter apologises to Persephone is incredible, with Baumann emotionally and physically laying herself bare while Vincent tears your heart out with her silent reactions.

Everything we have grown to expect from Arrows & Traps is here in this wondrous reflection on family – an incredibly talented and connected cast, exquisite design and intelligent, sensitive, witty writing. Grab a ticket while you can.

One week to go

Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets

Northern Ballet premieres three new dance works at Leeds Playhouse

Next Saturday Northern Ballet will open their autumn season with the World Première of three exhilarating new dance pieces in Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets at Leeds Playhouse.

Yorkshire audiences will be the first to see exciting new works from award-winning choreographers Mthuthuzeli November, Stina Quagebeur and Dickson Mbi, performed by Northern Ballet’s world-class dancers. Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets will première at Leeds Playhouse from the 10-17 September before moving onto London’s Linbury Theatre from the 1-3 November.

Olivier award-winning Mthuthuzeli November’s Wailers is described as a work that gives thanks to life. To its struggles, beauty and its people. Those with us and no longer with us. It is a prayer for guidance.

Stina Quagebeur, Associate Choreographer with English National Ballet, will present Nostalgia, an exploration of that familiar state of longing, poignancy and piercing joy, the quiet force that transforms our pain and connects us together.

Following the release of a short film of the same title, world-renowned hip hop dancer and choreographer Dickson Mbi will reimagine Ma Vie on stage, exploring Giacomo Casanova’s thirst for love, his complex relationship with the church and his eventual downfall.

Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director Federico Bonelli said:

“We’re delighted to be premiering Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets in Leeds this autumn.

It is my passion to work with a wide range of creative talent and to allow our dancers to expand their horizons. Dickson Mbi, Stina Quagebeur and Mthuthuzeli November are all exceptionally talented choreographers with unique voices and perspectives which bring a wonderful quality to this programme.

It is also a great source of pride that this world-class trio of works has been created, rehearsed and brought to life in our home town of Leeds. I can’t wait for you to see how our dancers shine in these new pieces.”

Tickets are on sale now, to book visit northernballet.com/three-short-ballets

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THIS YEAR’S HIGH-FLYING PANTO AT DARLINGTON HIPPODROME STARRING CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS

Darlington Hippodrome has today announced further casting for this year’s high-flying family pantomime, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan.

Previously announced panto legend Christopher Biggins, who is returning to Darlington where his panto dame career began over 45 years ago, will be joined by comedian Rikki Jay, North-East panto favourite Steve Arnott, Darlington returner Peter Peverley, West End performers James Hameed and Tegan Bannister and newcomer Sheri Lineham.

Comedian Rikki Jay joins the line up as Smee. With a television career launched from ITV’s The Big Big Talent Show, Rikki went on to appear on comedy programmes across UK television including The Big Stage, Jay Walking and Gagging For It and is a regular on Sky TV. Rikki has been a mainstay of pantomime for several years starring alongside the biggest names in UK theatre and television. Rikki also regularly entertains global audiences on board the QE2 and world cruises, in cabaret venues across the United States, and has entertained British troops across the Middle East and the Falkland Islands.

Whitley Bay born, Steve Arnott started his professional career as a voice-over artiste for radio and television and appeared on national television as the original Dairy Crest milkman. He toured extensively with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra as the production manager. Steve has done many a panto in the North-East and returns to Darlington for a fourth time for The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan.

Peter Peverley trained at Newcastle College and spent three years with the RSC long ensemble performing in Stratford London and New York. He spent 15 years with the Northern Stage ensemble based at the Old Newcastle Playhouse Theatre appearing in many productions including Animal Farm, A Clockwork Orange, and 1984, touring nationally and internationally. His TV credits include Byker Grove (BBC/Zenith), Emmerdale (YTV), Harry, Spender and The Parables (BBC), The Bobby Thompson Story, Show People and Planet North. Peter returns to Darlington Hippodrome after a successful season in Cinderella last year.

The cast is completed with Sheri Lineham as Wendy and West End performers James Hameed, Tegan Bannister as Peter Pan and Tinker Bell.

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan will be a fun-filled Christmas extravaganza with a fabulous cast and orchestra, laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery and of course, plenty of audience participation.

Join Biggins and the rest of the cast on a swashbuckling trip this Christmas at Darlington Hippodrome where laughter is guaranteed by the barrel-load. Be part of the panto magic and hook your tickets today!

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan runs from Friday 9 to Saturday 31 December. Tickets are on sale now with early booking advised. For full details and to book visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the box office on 01325 405405

A UNION (J) MADE IN A CASTLE………. 

Casting Directors at Enchanted Entertainment are proud to announce JJ Hamblett from Union J will play the lead character of Prince/Beast at this year’s Christmas pantomime of Beauty & The Beast at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle. 

Alongside his character, Amelle Berrabah from Sugababes will play Good Fairy, stalwart panto funny man Charlie Richmond playing the Comic and panto regular Lewis Denny will be returning as Dame. 

JJ rose to fame as a member of the Top British boy band, Union J, who competed on the popular TV talent show The X Factor UK in 2012. They then released five top 10 singles, had an iTunes #1 and a sold-out UK Tour. 

Since JJ’s boy band days, he has been making the transition into his true passion that is acting. JJ made his feature film debut in ‘Tango One’ (Universal) in Spring 2018 playing ‘Parker‘.  

He then played ‘Bobby Warren’ in the feature film ‘Once Upon a Time in London’ and starred as the lead in film ‘Ethel’ alongside Miriam Margolyes, as well as recently supporting Christina Aguilera on stage, alongside Union J. 

JJ will tread the boards at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House from 9^th December to 8^th January 2023.  Tickets are on sale now – but selling fast.  To book your seats or for more information go to www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk 

Grand Opera House, York – Thursday 1st September 2022

Reviewed by Aimee Liddington

5*****

Al Murray, aka The Pub Landlord, has returned post-Covid to give us a well-deserved humorous run down of the past few years. From Brexit to the Pandemic and everything in between, Al Murray gives us an outlet to laugh at all the absurdity and idiocy of life as a Covid survivor.

With the people skills of a pub landlord and the intelligence of a cleverly crafted comedian, Al Murray welcomes the audience in with open arms and unsuspecting spectators become the backbone of his performance. It’s a talent to behold when a comedian is able to stand in front of hundreds of people and make them laugh but it’s something else entirely when they can do it spontaneously, designing new jokes on the spot in response to hilarious heckles from the audience.

People could mistake Al Murray for being unintelligent, foolish or ignorant due to the persona he adopts on stage but the truth is that The Pub Landlord has an incredible knowledge of the world and people who are in it. This show is relevant to everyone from young to old and is accessible to people from all walks of life. In all times of hardship, communities come together and Al Murray brings us even closer with a mutual mocking of our efforts in the face of a global pandemic in comparison to the efforts of our parents and grandparents in the face of world wars. As well as being an endearing mick take of British society and people over the past few years, the Gig for Victory is steeped in historical and political satire.

The Gig for Victory is packed full of new and hilarious content as well as providing the gimmicks and banter that Al Murray is known all too well for. If you want to be part of what feels like the best lock-in of all time after being locked down for far too long then the Gig for Victory is for you.

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present

Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie

• THE EIGHTH CAST IS ANNOUNCED FOR AGATHA CHRISTIE’S ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ AT LONDON COUNTY HALL AS THE PRODUCTION PREPARES TO CELEBRATE ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER.
• HARRY REID RETURNS TO THE CAST TO PLAY THE ACCUSED LEONARD VOLE ALONGSIDE NAOMI SHELDON AS HIS WIFE ROMAINE.
• DUGALD BRUCE-LOCKHART WILL PLAY SIR WILFRID ROBARTS WITH NICHOLAS DAY AS MR JUSTICE WAINWRIGHT, JUSTIN AVOTH AS MR MYERS QC, AND JONATHAN COOTE AS MR MAYHEW.
• THE CAST ALSO INCLUDES ROSANNA ADAMS, LORRAINE AMAKO, DANIEL BRAVO, MYLES DEVONTÉ, GREG FITCH, KEVIN N GOLDING, LAWRENCE HAYNES, ISABELLA KIBBLE, PAUL MCEWAN, SIMON RHODES, TOM SYMS, AND LUCY TREGEAR.

As this iconic production approaches its fifth anniversary, producers Eleanor Lloyd and Rebecca Stafford are delighted to announce the eighth cast to join Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution. Audiences can book to see Witness for the Prosecution until 16th April 2023 at the historic London County Hall.

Eastenders star Harry Reid returns to the cast to reprise his role as the accused, Leonard Vole. He is joined by Naomi Sheldon (The Comedy of Errors, RSC; Good Girl, Trafalgar Studios/ Roundabout/ Old Red Lion) as Romaine Vole. Dugald Bruce-Lockhart (Private Lives, Bath Theatre Royal/Nigel Havers Theatre Company – UK Tour; The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson, Park Theatre) will play Sir Wilfrid Robarts QC, with Jonathan Coote (The Crown, Netflix; The Audience, West End) as Mr Mayhew, Justin Avoth (My Brilliant Friend, National Theatre/ Rose Theatre, Kingston; Love From a Stranger, Fiery Angel) as Mr Myers QC, and Nicholas Day (Yellowfin, Southwark Playhouse; After All These Years, UK Tour) as Mr Justice Wainwright. 

The company is completed by Rosanna Adams (The Mirror and the Light, RSC/ Playful Productions), Lorraine Amako (Off the Record, Southwark Playhouse; Happily Ever After, Bunker Theatre), Daniel Bravo (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, King’s Head Theatre), Myles Devonté (BBC Doctor Who: Time Fracture), Greg Fitch (A Murder is Announced, UK Tour; The Verdict, UK /Ireland Tour), Kevin N Golding (SAD, Omnibus Theatre; Much Ado About Nothing, RSC), Lawrence Haynes (As You Like It, Tour), Isabella Kibble (making her West End debut), Paul McEwan (The Canterville Ghost, Unicorn Theatre; Othello, English Touring Theatre), Simon Rhodes (Posh, UK Tour;, No Man’s Land, Wyndham’s Theatre/ UK Tour), Tom Syms (Alice’s Adventures Underground, LET/The Vaults; Captain Flinn & The Pirate Dinosaurs, UK Tour) and Lucy Tregear (Room, Stratford East; Romeo and Juliet, Metcalfe Gordon Productions).

Witness for the Prosecution has captured the imagination of thousands gripped by the case of Leonard Vole, accused of murder in cold blood. Director Lucy Bailey (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe) thrillingly places the audience in the thick of the action as Christie’s enthralling tale of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

The twists and turns of the case are played out in a spectacular courtroom setting inside the atmospheric London County Hall as prosecution battles defence and witnesses take the stand to give their shocking testimonies. The production received Best Revival nominations at the 2018 Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards.

The production is designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Davey, sound design by Mic Pool, and casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG.

FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR BRISTOL’S MAGICAL FAMILY PANTOMIME, CINDERELLA

A magical star cast has been announced with the judge everyone loves to hate, Craig Revel Horwood starring as the Wicked Stepmother in this year’s Bristol Hippodrome family pantomime Cinderella, running throughout December 2022.

Joining the fab-u-lous Craig Revel Horwood will be Bristol panto favourite Andy Ford (The Royal Variety Performance) as Buttons marking his tenth pantomime appearance at the Bristol Hippodrome alongside popular musical theatre and cabaret artist Alison Jiear (Britain’s Got Talent) as the Fairy Godmother. Joining them in the title role is Lauren Hampton as Cinderella and Daniel Norford as Dandini.

Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters and meets her dashing Prince Charming. Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients, Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses along the way.

The clock is ticking, so don’t miss your chance to see the Fairy Godmother of all pantos at the Bristol Hippodrome. Book your tickets today – you shall go to ball this Christmas!

Tickets for Cinderella (Friday 2nd December – Saturday 31st December 2022) are on sale from Bristol Hippodrome Box Office tel: 0333 009 6690 or online at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/cinderella/bristol-hippodrome/

THE BARN THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST & CREATIVE TEAM OF

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

RUNS FROM 26 SEPTEMBER – 29 OCTOBER

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has today announced the full cast and creative team for their new staging of Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel’s adaptation of the gripping mystery, suspense thriller The Girl on the Train which runs at the Barn Theatre from 26 September – 29 October.

Based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins and the blockbuster DreamWorks film, The Girl on the Train follows Rachel Watson as she finds herself a witness and suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could have ever anticipated.

Kirstie Davis returns to the award-winning theatre to direct the new staging, having previously directed the theatre’s critically acclaimed production of the musical Daddy Long Legs. For six years Davis was the Associate Director of Watford Palace Theatre where she directed acclaimed productions of Top Girls, The Daughter-in-law and The Beauty Queen of Leenane and was CEO and Artistic Director of Forest Forge from 2009 to 2016 where she commissioned and directed over 20 new plays.

The full cast of The Girl on the Train announced today are Claudius Peters (HALO) as Scott Hipwell, Kareem Nasif as Kamal Abdic, Nick Read as D.I. Gaskill, Brinsley Terence (Cyrano de Bergerac) as Tom Watson, Emily Tucker (Blithe Spirit) as Anna Watson, Sophie Walter (Grantchester) as Megan Hipwell and Gemma Yates-Round as Rachel Watson.

Joining Kirstie Davis on the creative team are Charlotte Henery (MAGDALENE) as Set & Costume Designer, Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner (Stones in His Pockets) as Lighting Designer, Harry Smith (The Mozart Question) as Sound Designer and Kaitlin Howard (The Famous Five) as Fight Director.

Tickets for the production are now on sale at www.barntheatre.org.uk

York Theatre Royal Studio – until Saturday 3rd September 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

5*****

Coming straight from the Edinburgh Fringe, where it received a Fringe First, Tabby Lamb’s Happy Meal, has hit York and is currently performing in the Studio at York Theatre Royal.

On entering the studio, we are greeted by two penguins. One going about their own business, the other enthusiastically waving at the audience, making sure that nobody is excluded, even if you’re sitting there in your own world, until you realise that yes, it’s you who they’re waving at, you can’t help but excitedly reciprocate.

Directed by Jamie Fletcher, Happy Meal tells the story of Bette (Allie Daniel) and Alex (Sam Crerar) who find each other on the internet as young teenagers. Starting off playing Club Penguin, hence the costumes, we see their relationship evolving through social media platforms as they grow up, from MySpace to TikTok.

Through their online conversations we get to see their relationship grow, even though they have never met in person. They can present themselves as whoever they want to be. They both have different vulnerabilities, but Bette appears to be the more confident one of the pair, but it is Alex who embraces his gender identity and talk about transitioning into Alec. This only highlights Bette’s insecurities, not being confident enough to also come out as trans to her best friend. This ultimately leads to the friends falling out. As time goes on, they just can’t ignore the strong bond that they have and reconnect online and finally meeting IRL (in real life). Bette is now comfortable in her own skin and can share who she really is.

The set comprises of two booths, designed as clouds, with rainbow arches above. It wasn’t until the Q&A after that it dawned on me that they looked like Happy Meal boxes. Following the actors’ interactions with the set, video is projected onto the booths, depicting the chat of the two, just as you would see it on a phone or tablet screen. Interesting to see how the online world can be transferred to stage.

Both Daniel and Crerar are excellent in their roles, bringing the stage and story to life, compelling to watch. You could not help but be invested in both their characters, we laughed and felt heartbroken along with them. They share great chemistry and Bette’s statement of “I was born in exactly the right body. You were born in exactly the right body. These journeys we’ve taken were the journeys we were meant to take in order to find ourselves and maybe each other”, was very profound and so heartfelt.

Happy Meal is a show about friendship, identity and is ultimately a heart-warming love story, a lot to pack into a show that is about an hour long. This delightful two-hander is labelled as a joyful trans rom-com for the MySpace generation, and the roles played by two trans actors. As someone who isn’t a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I found it a really beautiful and insightful transgender narrative.

It is a wonderful piece of theatre, full of fun, and suitable for all. I implore you to go and see it. Playing in York until Saturday, then visiting Plymouth, Oxford and Coventry