Writers: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Sheilds Directors: Mark Bell and Sean Turner For those readers unfamiliar with Mischief Theatre, which rock have you been hiding under for the past ten years? With a plethora of awards to their name, a range of hit stage shows, TV specials and even their own TV Series The Goes Wrong Show, Mischief Theatre is one of the most prolific companies in the UK, and their iconic work The Play That Goes Wrong is back for another UK tour. It’s a format that will never lose its comedy value, the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society…
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: Shamia Chalabi and Sarah Henley Director: Sepy Baghaei It is unwise to judge a book by the cover. Yet the poster for Habibti Driver, a stylish tribute to the movie Baby Driver, certainly raises hopes as to the possible quality of the play. Egyptian-born divorcee Ashraf (Dana Haqjoo) resides in Wigan and drives a taxi for his older brother Yusuf (Hemi Yeroham). The latter is critical of the behaviour of Ashraf’s daughter Shazia (Shamia Chalabi who co-wrote the play with Sarah Henley) for refusing to conform to Muslim norms. Shazia is trying to get up the courage to tell…
Writer: Seiriol Davies Director: Alex Swift In the heart of Snowdonia, the town of Milky Peaks has just been nominated for Britain’s Best Town, and the residents are of course pulling out all the stops to ensure the town gets the recognition it deserves… and why wouldn’t it? Especially when the bid is being helmed by generic CIS businessman Alun John and Linda who runs the arts centre is going to put on a showstopping revival of My Fair Lady, but like all good stories nothing is as easy as it could be, and everybody has a secret or two…
Writer: Reece Sibbald Director: Olivia Sloyan Jack and the Beanstalk is the second official pantomime at the Epstein Theatre since Regal Entertainments and Bill Elms took over the management of the building. Between the two producers, it’s clear there is a lot of love not only for the building but also for the products they are putting on inside, and Jack and the Beanstalk is a complete and utter success. This is a Jack and the Beanstalk that celebrates its Liverpudlian roots, from the accents to the local references and even the songs which celebrate the city’s history. The cast…
Music/Lyrics: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss Director: Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survive” and this week they are live at the Liverpool Empire Theatre! The story of Henry VIII and his six wives is taught in schools up and down the country (you will know it if you took GCSE History!) and has been for many years. We may have learned the divorced, beheaded, died rhyme and even may have learned the names of the six wives, but do we actually know their stories? Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Six was originally produced…
Book: Alain Boubil & Claude-Michel Schönberg Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer Directors: Laurence Connor & James Powell After being seen by over 120 million people and following countless tours and special performances, one could be forgiven for assuming there’s not much left to say about Les Misérables. However, within seconds of the opening of the new staging of the show, the Lowry audience is reminded of the power and accomplishment of Les Miz. Jailed for 19 years for stealing bread (and a few other misdemeanours), Jean Valjean (Dean Chisnall) is reluctantly released by Javert (Nic Greenshields). He soon discovers…
Writer: Sophie Anderson Adaptor: Sophie Anderson Music and Lyrics: Alexander Wolfe and Oliver Lansley Directors: Oliver Lansley and James Seager Myths and legends are rarely consistent but those concerning Baba Yaga vary widely. She is reported to be a witch who eats her victims, maybe one of three sisters who all have the same name or may simply be a midwife. One consistent feature of the legends is that she lives in a house with chicken legs. In Sophie Anderson’s The House with Chicken Legs (adapted for the stage by Oliver Lansley) Baba(Lisa Howard) is a Psychopomp, guiding newly deceased souls…
Book: Catherine Johnson Music and Lyrics: Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus Director: Phyllida Lloyd Since opening in London’s West End in 1999, Mamma Mia has been seen by over 65 million people in more than 450 cities and judging by it’s current performance at the Liverpool Empire, it’s clear to see why this musical as been so successful. We are transported to a Greek island where young Sophie is getting married to the lovely Skye however, as we all know, planning a wedding is never as simple as it sounds. After discovering her mother’s diary, Sophie learns that after years…