Festive 15/16

Writer: Andrew Ryan with additional material by Anthony Williams, Jon Monie and Michael Gattrell Director: Michael Gattrell Musical Director: Oliver Rew Choreographer: Danielle Drayton Reviewer: Harry Mottram A sparkling finale from a production that is kind-hearted to the core and delivers beautifully choreographed dancing and musical set pieces with the fabulous vocals of Loula Geater as the Slave to the ...

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: Victor Smirnov-Golovanov Conductor: Igor Shark Reviewer: Sarah O’Toole Although the end of the holiday season has just past, Moscow City Ballet’s production of seasonal favourite The Nutcracker still manages to hold on to the magic of the season as they make a welcome return to the Palace Theatre in Manchester. The ballet which is filled ...

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Artistic Director/Choreographer: Tony Mercer Reviewer: Stephen Bates   In a wet December during which temperatures have seldom dropped below 10 degrees, there is a certain irony in having to step inside the Royal Albert Hall to be reminded of what winters look and felt like traditionally. Snowflakes fall from the domed roof, landing on an ice ...

Writer: Emma Reeves Director: Wendy Harris Reviewer: Jay Nuttall What if a little girl, made of snow, miraculously came to life? With a jam-packed Christmas season at The Lowry, this is a new adaptation of a Russian folk tale you may never have heard of, often entitled The Little Daughter of the Snow. It is a curious narrative, which has ...

Music and Lyrics: Alan Menken &Lynn Ahrens Book: Mike Ockrent &Lynn Ahrens Original story: Charles Dickens Director: Kyle Davies Reviewer: Matt Forrest   Panto season is in full swing at this time of year, but fairytales and jolly japes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea so, if you’re looking for something a little different to get your festive juices flowing, then ...

  Book and Lyrics: Ben Horslen and John Risebero Music: Christopher Peake Director: Ben Horslen and John Risebero Reviewer: Maryam Philpott   A Christmas Carol is probably the second most famous Christmas story – behind a slightly more influential tale about a baby, three wise men and a stable – and the reason that it has lasted so long is ...

Writer: Charles Dickens adapted byBryony Lavery Directors: Dale Rooks and Jake Smith Reviewer: Jo Payne It is rare to see such a stunning piece of theatre among professional productions nowadays; let alone from an entirely youthful cast. From the first view of the exquisite set and the hauntingly sharp opening, right through to the delightfully heart-warming close, it is clear ...

Writer: Alan McHugh Director: Stewart Nicholls Reviewer: John Roberts   Describing your show as “The Greatest Pantomime of them all” is a big assumption to live up to, but QDOS Entertainment and the Crewe Lyceum have more than lived up to the hype producing, in this production of Cinderella, what could be the best pantomime in the North West. Alan ...