To those of you who read Private Eye you may have noticed a small article in the current issue (1223) about the proprsed plans for the Royal Opera House to establish a northern base at the Palace Theatre in Manchester which, it is also proposed, will benefit from a £100 million refurbishment. (more…)

WOS Manchester isn’t in the habit of supporting rival forms of entertainment but this is too good to miss. Not content with writing , directing and acting in plays local renaissance man Joe O’Byrne has added yet another qualification to his crowded CV. His first film, Lookin’ for Lucky (directed by Chris Leonard) , will have its world premiere at the Salford Film Festival.

This takes place at the Red Cinema in the Lowry Outlet Mall (facing the theatre) at 9pm on Wednesday, 19th November. Theatregoers familiar with Joe’s work will spot that the film is set in his fictional north-west community of Paradise Heights; as featured in The Bench which played to good reviews earlier this year. (more…)

With another jukebox musical touring and receiving bad reviews (All The Fun Of The Fair), is it time that this sub genre called it a day? The main criticism of the David Essex tune inspired show seems to be the lack of real winning songs. But critics have also mentioned the plot, or lack of one.

With Never Forget proving itself on tour, but not in the West End, where it’s about to close, is the tide turning? Mamma Mia! continues to pack them in, bolstered even more by the success of the film. We Will Rock You also continues to be absolutely critic proof. But for every two shows like this, there are a string of losers. Desperately Seeking Susan anyone? How about Tonight’s The Night or the awful Can’t Smile Without You? The list of disastrous shows is endless. (more…)

On 7th September I brought to your attention an August article from Crains Business News about tentative plans for the construction of a new Opera House in Manchester to house northern operations of the Royal Opera House.  More information was promised in September and finally, at the latter end of October, we have developements.

As reported in the Stage yesterday and on the Whatsonstage gossip pages, the plans have been rejigged and the intention is now to create a northern base for the Royal Opera at Manchester’s Palace Theatre.

But hark!  Do I not sniff a strong scent of deja vu?  Am I correct in thinking that this is a recycled plan? A tiny tot I may been in the early 1980’s but my understanding is that early in that decade the Royal Opera House had an attempt to establish a base at this very same theatre?  R. Swindells explains all in a letter published in the Stage newspaper on October 14th of this year in which he/she describles the ill fated escapade. (more…)

After reading the rave reviews for the Library Theatre’s production of The Glee Club, I fought my way through the rugby crowds on the tram, to see this brilliant production for myself.

And, I have to say, you can see why this bittersweet comedy/drama has been garnering plaudits from all sections of the press.  The performances are incredibly engaging and these six actors fill the stage with their larger than life characters.

The narrative could have so easily lapsed into sentimentality, as it steers a well worn path, but is written with such warmth and realism that you never feel manipulated into submission. The play is set in the 1960’s and beneath the brylcream, the ironed shirts and the braces of these miners, lies prejudice and betrayal. (more…)