This competition has now closed.

The answer is Steve Brookstein and the winner is….. Tricia Yon. Enjoy the show!

Do you love Madness? Want to re-live the days of “Baggy Trousers?” Throw into the mix Tim Firth, writer of Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots and The Fleet Street Nativity, and you have a hit musical! Well, have we got a prize for you! We are offering one lucky theatre-goer two tickets to opening night of Our House- The Musical at the Lowry!

THE SHOW:
Direct from the West End on its first UK tour, The Lowry stages the award-winning Our House from Mon 15 – Sat 20 September. Starring Steve Brookstein, the first X Factor winner, in his stage debut and Only Fools and Horses familiar face Gwyneth Strong, Our House is a fun-packed, mad-capped, feelgood hive of boisterous activity!

Madness fans will be thrilled to hear 15 of the band’s classics with their original lyrics, including “House of Fun”, “It Must Be Love” and “Driving in My Car”. Front man Suggs explains how the Madness songs work on the stage, “they dramatise the story, which really is the best thing about the show – its continuity between the story and our songs.” Our House tells the story of sixteen year-old Joe, in love for the first time, and the fateful day when something happens to tear his world in two.
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Venue: Taurus
Date reviewed: 21st August, 2008

Woody Allen once remarked that if the human race was bisexual, the opportunity to get a date on a Saturday night would be doubled. Alice, played by Sarah Emmott, is a bisexual-singleton whose problem is not getting dates but making them last.

The Speed of Dating is a one-woman play, written by Sarah Evans, and we follow the trials and tribulations of Alice, from the break-up of her relationship through to a series of unsuccessful dates, therapy sessions and a drunken sexual encounter.

When faced with someone she finds attractive, Alice, although intelligent and articulate, becomes socially inept and creates embarrassment and frustration for herself, alienating any possible lovers. These situations are very funny but the play is not limited to in its scope, as it explores much more beyond dating stereotypes. (more…)

Rehearsals are underway for The Lowry’s community production of Salford Macbeth and the cast are all in fighting form, ready for action! With five weeks to go before the curtain goes up on Wed 24 September, the unusual rehearsal schedule includes boxing training at Moss Side Fire Station, performance poetry practice with a socialist transvestite and geographical history lessons from a Salford Blue Badge guide!

Salford’s Nigel Travis has volunteered to help his fellow cast mates by leading fight workshops in the community boxing gym that he opened earlier this year at Moss Side Fire Station. Nigel, Great Britain’s Silver medalist in the World Fire Fighter and Police Games 2003, will step out of the boxing ring to tread the boards at The Lowry, playing King Duncan in the contemporary adaptation of Macbeth. A fire fighter for the past 10 years, Nigel is adding a new notch to his middleweight belt by taking to the stage with other local aspiring actors who were cast in this year’s community production.

Nigel said “Since retiring from amateur and professional boxing I wanted a new challenge and it doesn’t get any more challenging than Shakespeare! I have acted on television before but acting on stage will be very new to me and I’m really looking forward to performing at The Lowry. The rehearsals are going to be intense and require dedication so it won’t be unlike training for a boxing competition. I’m the governor at my gym so that’ll get me in practice for playing the King of Scotland!” (more…)

The hit Madness musical Our House is currently on a UK tour, direct from the West End. The show arrives at the Lowry from Mon 15 – Sat 20 September. It stars Steve Brookstein, the first X Factor winner, in his stage debut and Only Fools and Horses’ familiar face Gwyneth Strong, Our House is a fun-packed, mad-capped, feelgood hive of boisterous activity!

Madness fans will be thrilled to hear 15 of the band’s classics with their original lyrics, including “House of Fun”, “It Must Be Love” and “Driving in My Car.” Our House tells the story of sixteen year-old Joe, in love for the first time, and the fateful day when something happens to tear his world in two.

This massive West End hit received rave reviews and public acclaim when it opened, winning the Olivier Award for ‘Best New Musical’ in 2003. Written by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Neville’s Island), the show is being staged by the entire original West End creative team, including Director Matthew Warchus (Lord of the Rings, and Art), and choreographer Peter Darling (Billy Elliott). (more…)

Rambert Dance Company returns to its partner theatre, The Lowry, with the world premiere of Eternal Light, a major new collaboration between Artistic Director Mark Baldwin, composer Howard Goodall, designer Michael Howells and fashion milliner Stephen Jones.

Set to an elegiac and evocative score, this powerfully beautiful and life-affirming celebration will be sung live by Ad Solem (Manchester University Chamber Choir), with soloists Elizabeth Atherton and Adrian Powter, accompanied by Rambert’s Associate Orchestra, London Musici.

The Company believes in the power of live music to enrich the senses and London Musici, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, superbly enhances the Rambert experience.

With dance commissioned by Sadler’s Wells and music commissioned by London Musici, Eternal Light is one of Rambert Dance Company’s most ambitious collaborations in recent years. Sumptuous designs from Michael Howells (Constant Speed, Galliano, Dior) feature sparkling crystals donated by Swarovski and a striking headdress design from Stephen Jones. (more…)