Creators: Steph Greer, Marianna Pires and Samuel Perez Duran Director/Creator: Elinor Randle Christmas, although the most wonderful time of year, can also feel like the most rushed and commercialised and busy time of the year! As a parent of two small children aged 3 and 6, what a joy it was to discover ‘Sleep Can Wait,’ and take the time to sit, slow down and enjoy the awe and wonder which surrounds Christmas. As we were welcomed into the theatre already the festive mood was set with colour sheets and pens for the excitable and young audience. This welcome was…
Author: The Reviews Hub - North West
The Reviews Hub - North West
The North West team is under the editorship of John McRoberts. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.
Writer: Jim Cartwright Director: Jimmy Fairhurst A Christmas fair is a heart warming reminder of the importance of community. But, despite its strong casting and high production value, a night and day first to second act make this show’s target audience difficult to picture. The show is a fictionalisation of the community group behind Chadderton town hall’s Christmas fair, where the show is set. The story follows ‘keeping up appearances’ popular mum, Veronica, sweet and caring waitress, Lucy, out of towner and cynical young playwright, Johnny, Christmas humbug, the Caretaker, and the jovial and supportive Vicar. The ramshackle group set…
Music: Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab Lyrics: Suhayla El-Bushra Writer: Road Dahl Adaptor: Roald Dahl Story Company Director: Emily Lin Despite the ‘Secret plans and clever tricks’ of the Enormous Crocodile, myself and my two mini reviewers were brave enough to encounter and survive them all at The Lowry this weekend! The MUCH loved children’s writer and illustrator duo Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake are renowned for their witty and dark humour, peculiar characters, and underlining morals of how good can always out wit evil; and their story of The Enormous Crocodile is definitely not an acceptation to this with his protagonist…
Book & Lyrics: Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx Music: Tim Gilvin Director: Robyn Grant It’s that most wonderful time of the year again, when Christmas traditions return in full force: turkey, mistletoe, and an abundance of easy, comforting television. As the festive schedule is packed full of family friendly films and cartoons it’s only a matter of time before you stumble across a Disney classic like The Little Mermaid (1989) or its 2023 live-action remake. But one thing you certainly won’t find in the holiday lineup is a film giving the Little Mermaid’s antagonist in chief, Ursula,a fair hearing. Enter…
Writer: Ben Richards Director: Will Cousins Music: Eliza Waters Is it Panto season already? Oh yes it is! And if you’re looking for a festive evening of family-friendly silliness, look no further than Rumpelstiltskin at Contact. A joint production between The Big Tiny and Contact, the show is a whimsical, spirited adaptation of the traditional, much-loved tale in which a poor young village girl falls in love with a prince. When the prince begins his search for a bride, the girl seeks the help of a sinister imp to transform herself into a real princess. He agrees – but is…
Writer: Anne Odeke Director: John Young The festive period has arrived at Storyhouse, Chester, and with it comes the venue’s annual Christmas twist on a classic fairytale. This year’s offering is the perfect family show: colourful, warm and a vibrant start to the season. Guiding us through it all is Fairy Lavender, played by Emmy Stonelake, who, true to her name, is positively violaceous and full of spirit. Stonelake carries much of the comedy, thriving on audience interaction and quick improvisation. She introduces Belle (Katarina Zofia), daughter of the Fromage Village Mayor, who brings grace, charm and a lovely voice…
Writers: Harry Michaels, Jason Manford and Ben Nickless Director and choreographer: Gary Lloyd During a scene where props malfunction and dialogue is flubbed Jason Manford adlibs the observation it is lucky the press are not in attendance tonight. Robin Hood, from Crossroads Pantomimes at Manchester’s Opera House, contains all the traditional elements of a panto but takes a refreshing irreverent approach to avoid being stale or ritualised. The comic highpoint of the evening is the traditional ‘list’ song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ during which the singers constantly undermine and sabotage each other until the sketch concludes with a deliberately…
Writer/Director Ben Richards The season of all-out family entertainment is here. Like everything else about Christmas, panto season seems to come around so quickly, and with so many choices in the North West it might be hard to decide where to spend your ticket money. After all, taking the family to the theatre is quite a stretch. So, if you’re anywhere near Bury, The Met’s offering this year might just be the answer. The Met is a friendly, welcoming theatre, full of cheer all year round, with ticket prices kept as affordable as possible. The ideal place, then, to kick…