Venue: The Bridgewater Hall
Date Reviewed: 30th April

Like many, I first heard about this brilliant Cuban band via the award winning Wim Wenders’ documentary, which focused on World music’s best-kept-secret and their rise to fame. Since then I have seen them at Hyde Park and followed individuals within the group, with keen interest, including the wonderful Omara Portuondo.

Sadly though, many of these talented musicians have since passed away leaving four original members: Cahaito Lopez, Guajiro Mirabal, Aguaje Ramos and Manuel Galban. When this spellbinding gig begins, you sit highly expectant but the cynic in you believes that the new additions and lack of classics within the set list will be detrimental to your enjoyment. (more…)

Venue: Palace Theatre
Date Reviewed: 29th April, 2008

Call it the Any Dream Will Do effect, as this latest touring version of Joseph is a huge sell -out, due to the casting of Craig Chalmers and Keith Jack in the lead roles. Add to the mix Wayne Smith from Grease Is The Word and two other ex Josephs; Chris Barton and Antony Hansen and fans of reality television are in musical heaven.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s family favourite still has all the best tunes, including “Jacob And Sons” and “One More Angel In Heaven.” They are delivered with real verve by the ensemble but the leads are only half good. Jack is a really commanding narrator with superb vocals and great stage presence. His accent is a bit too Celia Johnson for my liking but he acquits himself very well. (more…)

The TV show currently giving BBC1′s I’d Do Anything a run for its money, Britain’s Got Talent is going on tour featuring last year’s winner as the headline act.

Opera singer Paul Potts, will perform along with a host of other finalists. Potts’ audition for the show has been viewed by 50 million visitors on youtube. As a result has has toured extensively, visiting 13 countries, including the Far East, Australia and America.

This time last year, he was selling mobile phones. This success story contributes to the appeal of the hit TV show. Potts and a host of other finalists will perform at the Apollo on 13th June.

Expect wacky acts as well as conventional singers, sticking to the formula of the variety style show which is a huge hit on ITV1.

-Glenn Meads

This competition is now closed and the answer is Madness.

Congratulations to Linda Parsonage. Enjoy the show!

Hull Truck Theatre Company returns to The Lowry with Our House, following the huge success of Perfect Pitch (The Lowry, 2007) with another hit play by their Artistic Director John Godber.

THE PLAY:
Join May – widow, mother and grandmother – as she packs up her Northern council house and heads off for a life in the sun. She’s trading her neighbourhood nightmares for the Costa del Calm…but moving out is hard work – and moving on is even harder.

Forced to look forward without her husband Ted, as the van is loaded and the furniture and ornaments are boxed and sealed piece by piece, May remembers the hardship, laughter, sorrow and joy of the past 45 years one last time.

A tapestry of memories unfolds in this tale of changing times; a touchingly funny journey through life’s ups and downs, birthdays and Christmases, childhood pets and neighbours from hell!

(more…)

Venue: The Lowry
Date Reviewed: 23rd April, 2008

I was looking forward to seeing this strange hybrid of dance, dialogue and high drama, as I was blown away by the dazzling production, Park, which was part of the Dance Touring Partnership; bringing high-quality shows to theatres all over the country.

But Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre’s production is such a muddled mess, that I cannot see it having the same effect. The main problem here is that this show incorporates musical theatre, drama, comedy and dance, resulting in a chaotic piece of theatre, which although different, is not necessarily any good. (more…)