Following a summer of sell-out of critically acclaimed US and European concert dates, the legendary Liza Minnelli is currently touring the UK. Last week she kicked off the tour with two nights at the prestigious London Coliseum and next week Liza visits Manchester!

You can also catch Ms Minnelli on BBC One’s I’d Do Anything this weekend.

This uniquely talented, multi-award winning singer/actress/dancer – her stack of international awards include the Oscar for Best Actress (Cabaret 1973), a Grammy, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and many others – will perform with a 12 piece orchestra, four dancers and singers and is certain to raise the roof of every venue she visits with That Voice…

Liza Minnelli In Concert will include many of Liza’s showstoppers such as Cabaret, Maybe This Time, New York New York – arguably her very own signature tune – all written especially for her by the legendary Broadway song writing partnership of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret.) (more…)

Patricia Routledge (pictured) will star as Queen Mary in a new production of Crown Matrimonial, Royce Ryton’s 1972 drama about Edward VIII’s abdication crisis. The revival, directed by David Grindley, commences a seven-week tour from Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on 4 June 2008, ending its run at the Lowry, Salford on 21st until 26th July.

The production has launched its website, which has been built by Whatsonstage.com. crownmatrimonial.whatsonstage.com - which can also be accessed via the shortened URL crownmatrimonial.com is the first show site to join, and be powered via, the new Whatsonstage.com Network of theatre-related web destinations.

Through the Whatsonstage.com Network, producers, theatres and performers can quickly and cost-effectively build a professional web presence – without worrying about data protection, web hosting and other issues – and plug in immediately into Britain’s biggest and best theatre website. Those with existing websites can also join the Network and benefit from Whatsonstage.com’s ever-rising traffic from avid theatregoers, who make nearly 500,000 visits a month to our main website, generating over three million page impressions a month. (more…)

Venue: The Lowry
Date Reviewed: 28th May, 2008

A woman arrives unannounced at Ray’s place of work at the end of an ordinary day. Una has a secret and longs for answers which connect her to this hard working man. Fifteen years prior, these two had a sexual relationship. Una is now 27 and Ray has done time, as has she, metaphorically speaking.

He has changed his name but ironically Una has spent years being constantly reminded of her sexual past by gossips and neighbours. She now seeks answers but not in the name of revenge. Armed only with a pack of tissues and the art of conversation, she sets out to gain some understanding of the situation. (more…)

Venue: The Lowry
Date Reviewed: 28th May, 2008

The Australian air stewardess with attittude is back and she is now selling out venues like The Lowry twice over! All of this success, without the aid of TV show is quite something. Since touring as Cher’s support act about 4 years ago, the sky has literally been the limit for this Aussie gay favourite.

On paper, an act revolving around the airline industry, complete with in jokes about each company from British Airways to Virgin should not work, as it appears to have too much niche appeal. But due to Caroline Reid’s attention to detail and air crews who willingly come along to be be torn apart by her alter-ego, it works wonderfully. (more…)

Last year saw the sell out success of Susan & Darren. This year, Manchester based Quarantine are embarking on their most ambitious project yet – to tackle the old show businesses chestnut “never work with….”

Their new show has been created with, and will be performed entirely by, over 60s, under 18s… and their pets. Featuring (amongst others) a live all-female indie band, a parrot, and ballroom dancing, it will take you on a poignant journey through modern life.

The show began life with a series of open call-outs that started appearing around Greater Manchester last year. These invited members of the public who matched certain descriptions to take part in a unique new theatrical event. Auditions and rehearsals at Contact followed.

The result is a cast that consists of 1 seventy year old man who plays jazz saxophone, 4 women in their sixties who dance, 3 teenage girls who play in an indie band, 1 four-year old girl on her ‘best’ behaviour, and an array of smallish mammals / birds. None of them have ever performed in theatre before. Using the performers own stories, this thought-provoking and vital show will explore our relationships and attitudes towards responsibility, hope and regret. (more…)