James Son Of James
April 23, 2008
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. Read more
Win Black Watch tix at the Lowry!
April 21, 2008
THIS COMPETITON IS NOW CLOSED
THE ANSWER IS EUROBEAT
Following its sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, performances in New York, Los Angeles and Australia, unanimous critical acclaim and a stunning audience response, the multi-award-winning Black Watch comes to Salford as part of a world tour.
THE SHOW:
Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armoured wagon in Iraq, Black Watch is based on recent interviews conducted by Gregory Burke with former soldiers who served in the Black Watch Regiment. Viewed through the eyes of those on the ground, Black Watch reveals what it means to be part of the legendary Scottish regiment, what it means to be part of the ‘war on terror’ and what it means to make the journey home again.
See a trailer for Black Watch here and see what audience members thought about the production.
John Tiffany’s production makes powerful and inventive use of movement, music and song to create a visceral, complex and urgent piece of theatre. Read more
Opening: Kali’s ‘Zameen’ at Contact
April 21, 2008
Contact hosts the world premiere of a new drama that reveals the devastating effects of a crisis that is currently playing out across much of India.
In the cotton fields of Punjab, a farmer pins his hopes on GM seeds and Western pesticides as his crops begin to suffer and fail. Frustrated by limited prospects, his son turns to drink and dreams of migration, while his daughter must choose between staying in poverty on the land she loves or following the man she adores to seek a better life in the West…
Zameen (Land) is a beautifully written new drama that explores the disastrous environmental damage and effects on real human lives triggered when the forces of nature, tradition and globalisation collide. This topical and timely work explores the reality of a major global issue that will ultimately affect us all. Read more
John Barrowman - ‘Very Cabaret’
April 18, 2008
I reviewed John Barrowman’s gig at the Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday night. I was really looking forward to it as I am a fan of his TV and stage work. But there was something really schmaltzy about the gig which left me feeling really detatched. The audience though went wild for him, screaming out his name at every opportunity.
He sang some brilliant musicals numbers, but the mediocre covers from his current album were really dull live too. No amount of talent could hide the fact that the gig was aimed squarely at housewives. A shame, as he has built up a real cult following in Torchwood. But cult appeal, alone does not fill a venue.
JB sure has some energy though. Every time you turn the telly on, he’s there. What with his quiz show, Torchwood, Dr Who, a new album in the pipeline and I’d Do Anything, when does he relax?
To read the review, click here.
Goodbye to a Real Pro
April 17, 2008
In the theatre world, you get the chance to meet some great and some not so great people. When I moved to Manchester from London in 2000, I met a very special lady. Her name was Angela Kendall-Carpenter. This friendly and witty lady was press officer at the Library Theatre, which quickly became my favourite venue.
After she left the Library, our paths have continued to cross over the years. She was on the M.E.N Theatre Awards Panel and bemoaned the exclusion of Angels In America (which she and I both adored) from the shortlist. She also covered the role of Press Officer at the Octagon for a few months.
Never one to sit still, this hard working lady also promoted zany comedy duo Lipservice, as they toured the North. Read more
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