Author: The Reviews Hub - Yorkshire & North East

Writer: Martha Godber Director: Millie Gaston This latest offering from the John Godber Company is described by playwright/sole performer Martha Godber as a “fearless” depiction of modern life, but it isn’t really. Jesse North is a 25-year-old carer from Hull, working with old people, and at the outset there is the merest glimpse of her working life taking blood pressure, administering medication and all the messier aspects of her job. The final 10 minutes or so find her caring for a 94-year-old woman, comparing her in her youth with Jesse’s crazy life-style and aiming the odd shaft in the direction…

The boys are back! The Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys returns for a major UK and Ireland tour for its 20th anniversary. Jersey Boys offers a look behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, from the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The show features all their hits, including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Beggin’, Oh What A Night and more. The musical is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.…

Writer/Lyricist: Lucie Raine Director: Elvi Piper Composer: Amal El-Sawad To an extent Wensleydale Whey is a typical Mikron Theatre production: four actor/musicians, a brand new script, plenty of witty songs, a production and design style that makes it easy to transport by van or narrowboat and set up anywhere from arts centres to beer gardens. There are one or two surprises, however, in the text and, especially, the music. Unusually the script features two distinct sets of four parts. In the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey (in Wensleydale, be it noted) the ghostly Prior (James McLean) who thinks he has a direct line…

Thirty years on from the film that changed everything, Trainspotting the Musical is gearing up for its limited West End run this summer before a major UK tour. The original Trainspotting film was released in 1996 and became the biggest grossing UK film of the year taking more than $76 million worldwide and won numerous awards including a BAFTA for Best Screenplay. In 1999, it was ranked 10th in the British Film Institute’s ‘Top 100 Greatest British Films of the 20th Century’. Now, three decades later, the industrial drug crazed working-class heroes of British youth culture are back, live on stage in musical form. Trainspotting…

Music: Mike Oldfield Musical Director: Phil Toms The stage set-up for Phil Toms’ Tubular Bells Live promised much: at the back the tubular bells took pride of place next to the drum kit, looming over two keyboards, assorted guitars and, tucked away upstage left, vibes and an array of percussion. With a certain amount of doubling, the ten-piece band was able to reproduce Mike Oldfield’s studio sounds, even though, in a final light-hearted encore, they had to call upon two kazoos for In dulci jubilo. The title of the show was not strictly accurate. At the start of the second…

Leeds Playhouse announces the full cast for Brassed Off, a major new staging directed by Amy Leach. Marking the 30th anniversary of Mark Herman’s 1966 film, the production brings together a talented company of stage and screen performers. Leading the cast is David Birrell as Danny, returning to Leeds Playhouse following his appearances in Wendy and Peter Pan and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He is joined by Robin Morrissey as Phil who also returns to the venue following his appearance in Animal Farm. Maddie Hansen stars as Gloria, who was seen in Aladdin and Jack and the Beanstalk at Leeds City Varieties, while…

Rodney Crowell describes himself as “the songwriter’s songwriter” and reckons there’s every chance that your favourite country song came from his pen. It’s certainly true that most of the songs in his mammoth set were at least half-familiar. The music was pretty much continuous, Crowell occasionally pausing to tell the tale behind a song, but never breaking step to announce a title – there was probably no need as a majority of the sell-out audience seemed long-term devotees. Crowell’s songs are mostly autobiographical, the words regular speech with a poetic twist. When he told of being in a freezing New…

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming UK tour of 9 to 5 the Musical which is produced by Landmark Theatres by arrangement with Music Theatre International. It marks a major milestone as Landmark’s first in-house production to tour nationally. Inspired by the 1980s film, the musical tells a joyful story about friendship, courage and stand up for what’s right, all set to toe-tapping tunes by country music legend Dolly Parton. Bringing sass, style and a whole lot of ‘Dolly’ sparkle, the company includes: Jessica Martin as Roz, Karla Tracey as Doralee, Kayla Carter as Judy, Jade Marvin as Violet and…