Author: The Reviews Hub - North West

Writer: Christy Lefteri Director: Anthony Almedia In a social state that very much reflects the story being told at Storyhouse theatre in Chester, The Beekeeper of Aleppo shares the journey of a Syrian refugee couple who have suddenly been thrown out into the world after the war starts. This depiction invites you to sit in between the sheds of families who have escaped war, to feel the freezing waters of the ocean as you’re tipped from a lifeboat, and leaves your ears ringing. From the very beginning, the production is an interactive experience. The auditorium lights remain on as the…

Writer: Onjali Q Rauf Adapter: Nick Ahad Director: Monique Touko Hot off its win last weekend of the Olivier for Best Family Show, The Boy At The Back Of The Class arrives at The Lowry. Onjali Q Rauf’s novel for the primary school age group was first published in 2018, winning both the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2019. At a North East London primary school there’s an empty chair in Year 5 classroom. But one day that chair is no longer empty. Ahmet is a nine year old Syrian refugee who doesn’t speak…

Writer: James Graham Director: Adam Penford Punch, written by James Graham after Jacob Dunne’s memoir Right from Wrong and directed by Adam Penford, tells the story of how Jacob Dunne’s future was irrevocably changed when a single punch on a night out in Nottingham ended the life of 28-year-old James Hodgkinson. The set of Punch, thoughtfully designed by Anna Fleischle, transports audiences to the heart of a Nottingham social housing estate, New Meadows. Built in the Radburn style to create an environment that should be supportive and create a sense of community, New Meadows closes its inhabitants off and separates…

Writer: James M Cain Adaptor: Tom Holloway Director: Oscar Toeman In the opening moments, the central protagonist speaks directly to the audience, laying out the story’s key themes of murder and greed. Much like Walter Huff, this reviewer has a confession to make: when they learned that Double Indemnity was being adapted for the stage, featuring star of the silver screen, Mischa Barton, their interest was immediately piqued. The 1944 film directed by Billy Wilder holds a special place for them, as it was the first film they studied academically and the first they wrote about critically. While the stage…

Choreographers: Hope Boykin and Mthuthuzeli November Ballet Black at 25 is a double-bill which celebrates the anniversary of the company with a new, abstract piece and an established, narrative based, dance. … all towards hope ,choreographed by Hope Boykin, is an abstract work in seven sections on the loose theme of individuals using hope as the guiding ideal in the formation of a community. Three of the sections feature a voiceover spelling out the theme in such detail as to be distracting. One wonders if the dancers are intended to reflect the narration in their movements and, if so, why…

The organisers behind the spooky spectacular Halloweenville are back, but this time with another seasonal offering – Springland, very much aimed at families with primary school aged children. Located at Partridge Lakes in Culcheth, Warrington, just a short drive from Liverpool, you can find a set up that is straight out of a child’s imagination. A place with giant colourful flowers, inflatables, sculptures of real and mythical creatures and a whole host of meet and greet opportunities with the Easter bunny, mermaid, fairies, princes and more. It’s worth noting that the trail is in a different spot to the one…

Writer: Noël Coward Director: Blanche McIntyre The Royal Exchange faces an unusual challenge with their production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives. There have already been two versions of the play recently staged in the region, at Hope Mill Theatre and Octagon Theatre, Bolton, so local audiences may feel the story is over-familiar. Amanda Prynne (Jill Halfpenny) believes that, in their private lives, all people are, depending on the circumstances, capable of extreme behaviour. As if to prove the point when she encounters her divorced husband Elyot (Steve John Shepherd) she impulsively elopes with him despite the fact he physically abused…

Writer: Bryony Kimmings Directors: Bryony Kimmings and Francesca Murray-Fuentes Previous works by Bryony Kimmings have been heavily autobiographical; taking inspiration from real-life events.  The opening of Bog Witch suggests Kimmings might now be considering a new career in stand-up comedy as, positioned behind a microphone, she delivers innuendos about trying to fill her (metaphorical) hole. Instead her new partner persuades Kimmings a way of finding fulfilment might be a change of lifestyle, getting back to nature in a tumbledown cottage in the wilderness. Much of Bog Witch is based around Kimmings being a fish out of water, she is urban…