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Monkeywood Theatre - A Song For The Lovers blog

September 24, 2008

Hi there. I’m Francesca Waite from Monkeywood Theatre.

With only 2 weeks to go until A Song For the Lovers opens at The Lowry (Thu 9 October), rehearsals are well under way with our new Monkey member, director Jo Fisher.

Jo runs her own children’s theatre school, Footlights, and is a very experienced theatre-maker as actor and director, so we are all getting the opportunity to bring something very new to this production.

Although we performed the play as part of the 24:7 Theatre Festival in 2006, the show has undergone radical redevelopment and the script is very different now to the original.

Over the Summer we spent time devising the plot and characters before writer, Sarah McDonald Hughes, got to work on the script and returned with a superb play that we are all really happy with. Read more

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Another Opera House in Manchester?

September 7, 2008

Royal Opera House project lines up city centre sites - from Crains Manchester Business News

This is an interesting article but if this project came to fruition what effect would it have on the other three large Manchester Venues, the Palace, Opera House and Lowry?

The Lowry plays host to a lot of top quality Opera and Ballet. Could the regional companies who visit the lowry compete with one or maybe two major arts organisations based in Manchester? Would this lead to a downturn in business for the Lowry?

I doubt the Palace would be hugely affected as it rarely plays host to opera or ballet but what of the current Opera House? Would a name change be required? Would the increase in theatres result in not enough business for all the theatres to survive? If one were to close I would assume the opera House would be the most likely to go? Read more

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Calm before the storm

August 14, 2008

It is fairly calm in Manchester, with regards to theatre at the moment. There is not a great deal to see but there are some potential highlights on the way, including the return of the Manchester International Festival in 2009 (featuring the already announced Carlos Acosta) and Mary Poppins‘ Christmas run.

Rumours are abound that We Will Rock You will be booked into Manchester for 3- 4 months, also. Having missed/avoided this show in London, I am not sure how good this news is! But with enough theatres to go round, at least there are alternative plays/shows for anyone who tires of juke-box musicals.

I don’t know if it is just the Summer break, but I am waiting for something with a bit more pizaazz in some of the new season line-ups. The Royal Exchange have the odd gem, but on the whole the new season looks ’same old, same old’ unfortunately. The Library has what could be one it’s strongest seasons and The Lowry has some real aces up its sleeve, including Our House and Waves. Read more

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Abba-esque at Tatton

August 4, 2008

With the film Mamma Mia! still performing incredibly well at the UK box office, the stage musical showing no signs of a slow-down, despite the credit crunch and “Abba Gold” sat at the top of album charts, it would be fair to say that Abbamania has gripped the UK again.

Following The Spice Girls recent comeback gigs, many might have expected the Swedish four-some to follow suit, but they are not about to re-form and why would they when their other Abba-related ventures are so successful? One of the most successful tribute bands are Bjorn Again. This wacky act do more than simply sing the songs, they inhabit the roles of Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Frida. Read more

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Is 17 too young to play Sally Bowles?

July 30, 2008

I am sure that fans of Samantha Barks (pictured) are rejoicing at the recent announcement that she is to be cast as Sally Bowles in Bill Kenwright’s touring version of the Kander and Ebb classic, Cabaret. It will no doubt inspire many more contestants to line up ready to audition for the next search for a star reality tv show.

But, at 17, is Barks too young to take on the role immortalised by Liza Minnelli but also played by, among them; Molly Ringwald, Teri Hatcher, Brooke Shields, Amy Nuttall, Anna Maxwell Martin, Gina Gershon and of course Judi Dench? It’s not just her age that bothers me, it’s the lack of experience.

I, like any other theatregoer appreciate that a ’star’ name will attract crowds. In this case, the producers have shrewdly thought that Samantha will attract a younger crowd who would not normally see Cabaret and I can see their logic. But surely Nuttall, Kim Metcalfe or another older actress who has lived a bit more woud have been more appropriate.

Rufus Norris‘ recent version of Cabaret was not my favourite show, but it did attempt to do something different with the show, whether it be via the nudity or the racier staging. But I now cannot help think that the touring version will resemble a family-friendly Joseph style piece, with a young protagonist who will look like she is playing ‘dress-up’, as opposed to getting under the skin of one of musical theatre’s most flawed heroines.

What you you think?

Let us know whether you agree or disagree by leaving a comment here or go to our discussion board.

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