Writer: Reginald Rose Director: Christopher Haydon Bill Kenwright Ltd, have previous form for turning some of Hollywood’ highly acclaimed films into theatre productions. Over the years there have been stage adaptations of The Exorcist and Rain Man which have had a live theatrical run. Undoubtedly one of the biggest success stories both critically and commercially is the live adaptation of 12 Angry Men and on the basis of tonight’s production it’s easy to see why: superb acting, a solid gold script and a unique ambitious stage design make for an enthralling and entertaining night at the theatre. In 1954 writer…
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On Before marks the return of world renowned dancer Carlos Acosta in this collaborative showcase of major UK and international dance makers including Russel Maliphant and Kim Brandstrup, as well as Carlos’ own choreography. Incorporating a myriad of dance styles, both naturalistic and abstract, each sequence captivates audiences and the silence of the auditorium reveals their enrapture in this breathtaking performance. As the lights dim, we are launched into the first dance, a duet between Carlos Acosta and Laura Rodriguez ,who’s effortless movements and ethereal grace is mesmerising. Their unfaltering connection and trust in one another is evident as they…
Book, lyrics and Director: Robyn Grant You are transported under the sea in the untold story of Ursula the Sea Witch – Unfortunate – currently showing at the perfect waterside venue, The Lowry. But rather than thingamabobs, expect brashness, expect expletives galore, expect queer references and expect queen power. This is a parody retelling that will leave you never seeing The Little Mermaid in the same light again. This show, directed by Robyn Grant (also book and lyrics), is similar to Six, gaining its popularity and fanbase from its time at the Edinburgh Fringe. And like Wicked, it gives a…
Director: Sean Mathias In 2021 Ian McKellen provoked a degree of controversy by playing Hamlet onstage despite being more than twice the age of the prince. The current film version has the same cast and director and is recorded at the same venue but is not simply a filmed version of the stage play. Ironically, the movie pays tribute to another form of entertainment -the enduring power of live theatre. A caption at the start gives the false impression filming took place in March 2020 when the covid pandemic necessitated the closure of theatres. The opening, therefore, features black and…
Writer: Lucy Campbell Director: Matt Vesely The covid pandemic is never mentioned in Monolith but its spectre hangs over the film. After all, the film features a single character, forced into isolation and communicating with other people over the telephone or via social media. Like many of us during lockdown the sole character, unnamed and referred to as ‘The Interviewer,’ has let her appearance slide, slopping around the house in unflattering over-large sweaters without make-up. However, far from being a documentary or social commentary, Monolith is a highly satisfying and deeply creepy horror film. When a journalistic exposé crashes and…
Director: Alex Lykos Alex Lykos’s documentary, Disconnect Me, has a certain home-made aesthetic what could be seen as endearing. Lykos, wondering about our current relationship with our phones, iPads and laptops, records his decision to go for a digital detox for 30 days. His personal rule is that the only screen he can look at is his TV screen. His wife is allowed to use all devices, but he mustn’t look at them. We see him resigning his kit to her, watching mournfully as she locks everything into a safe. It’s a funny little project. Alex admits at the beginning…
Writer and Director: Michel Franco Memory is a beacon of hope illuminating the darkness of trauma, guiding its characters towards healing and the transformative potential of human connection. The film’s central relationship is between Sylvia and Saul, a man suffering from early onset dementia, serving as a poignant metaphor for the fragility of memory and the human condition. Through the lens of Sylvia, a social worker and recovering alcoholic, grappling with the effects of her own memories of being abused as a child, we chart the relationship between this unlikely pair. As the bond deepens between the two, Director Michel Franco…
Writer: David Greig Director: Wils Wilson The sisters of the title revisit the caravan park of their youth. It’s quickly established that Emma (Jess Hardwick) is the sensible one, a corporate lawyer seeking headspace for her creative writing. Amy (Shauna Macdonald) is the gatecrashing wild one, needing a place to stay and some moral support after her husband has caught her cheating on him. Into the mix comes Lance (Erik Olsson), the site caretaker and resident DJ who used to be Amy’s slightly exotic older teenage crush. Decades on, he’s still there. The scene is set for some conflict and…