Comedy

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Frank Sinatra used to open his gigs by gazing at the audience and wondering aloud what all those people were doing in his room. One half-wonders if Phill Jupitus is taking the line literally. As the audience enters The Lowry, 20 minutes before the curtain goes up, Jupitus is already on stage with his back to them listening to records. ...

Reviewer: Jay Nutall It’s a tough ask to announce yourself as the “Genius Simon Evans” prior to walking onstage. Immediately acknowledging this dilemma it feels like we will be in the safe hands of a comedian wishing to deconstruct intelligence and aptitude - nothing particularly original as David Gorman currently has a television series of the same name but one ...

Writer: Compton Mackenzie Adaptor: Philip Goulding Director: Kevin Shaw Reviewer: Donna Kelly As Britain marks 100 years since women first gained the right to vote, Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Hull Truck Theatre and New Vic Theatre present a brand new, all-female adaptation of Compton Mackenzie’s comedy classic Whisky Galore. Set in 1955, Whiskey Galore tells the story of the islanders of ...

Writer: Told By An Idiot, based on the book by Simon Leys Director: Kathryn Hunter Reviewer: John Kennedy Told by an Idiot theatre company invites its audience to enter into a conspiratorial ‘Just what if?’ hypothetical premise where historical givens are given a severely anachronistic anarchical shaking up. What if Bonaparte was not alone in his part of an elaborate escape hoax? Escape from St ...

Writer: Lauren Maul Reviewer: Jamie Rosler Humor and music are powerful weapons in the face of inhumane and abusive behavior, and comedian Lauren Maul wields them adroitly. Primarily on the piano, with a switch to guitar for one song, Maul and her talented backup ensemble (Alyson Greenfield, Jen Kwok, Chase O’Donnell, Tahlia Robinson, Alexius Smith, and Lady Kate Weber) perform eight ...

Book: Heather Hach Music and Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin Director: Anthony Williams Reviewer: Matthew Jackson Legally Blonde the Musical started its latest tour of the UK last year. Since the tour started, there has been a lot of negative attention in the press regarding the abuse of power by men, which adds an extra punch to this already ...

Director:  Joe Douglas Reviewer: Paul Maguire There is much comedy and drama that comes out of adversity, and there can’t be many more wretched conditions in which to produce a stand up comedy show than a refugee camp in the West Bank. Mark Thomas, the veteran political comedian, activist and journalist brings to The Lowry his production, Showtime From the ...

Writer: John Godber Director: Jeni Draper Reviewer: James Garrington John Godber wrote Up ‘N’ Under as an attempt to recreate the famous Rocky movies, set in Yorkshire and with a backdrop of Rugby League in place of boxing. It’s a classic underdog story. The Wheatsheaf Arms seven-a-side team is a bit of a joke – they don’t have seven players, ...