Review

Written by: William Golding Director: Emma Jordan Reviewer: Beth Steer Set on a remote island, where a group of crash-landed school children are creating a new, temporary, and terrifying society, Lord of the Flies is every bit as enthralling as it is uncomfortable. As the kids ‘rip up the rule book and start all over again’, their island adventures soon turn into a chilling, ...

Film Director: William A. Wellman Composer: Carl Davis Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North Conductor: Carl Davis Reviewer: Ron Simpson At the end of the showing of Wings at Huddersfield Town Hall, a sizable proportion of the audience rose in a standing ovation. Who or what were they applauding? William Wellman, dead these 40-odd years, for an inspired piece of film-making? ...

Book, Music and Lyrics: Scott Alan Director: Scott Alan Reviewer: Scott Matthewman Scott Alan’s songwriting has a definite cachet among musical theatre cabaret performers. His pensive, yearning ballads provide a great opportunity for a singer to emote and demonstrate emotional depth as part of their set. A whole evening of such numbers, though, can risk monotony. There’s an earnestness to ...

Music: Dave Brock, Mike Batt Conductor: Mike Batt Reviewer: Jo Beggs The first and only other time this reviewer has experienced Hawkwind live was in a packed tent at the Bluedot Festival at Jodrell Bank last summer, the perfect backdrop for their particular brand of space rock. The Lowry’s Lyric Theatre has quite the opposite vibe, although the bar is doing ...

Writer: Adam Ward Music: Tom Wilson Director: Alex Medlicott Reviewer: Jamie Gaskin In the past there has been some talk of Anne Bonny and some of Rachel Wall, but in Liverpool, when it comes to woman pirates, they are talking of Long Joan Silver. An outrageous cartoonesque new musical by Liverpool Arts Society tells of young Joan O’Malley determined to ...

Writers: Mark Bomback, Bathsheba Doran, David Harrower, James MacInnes, David Mackenzie Director: David Mackenzie Reviewer: Maryam Philpott Every nation has its myths and heroes, ones they return to again and again to explain their identity. England recently discovered that its Empire heritage is still ingrained in spirit if not in practice, while Scotland looks to its pre-medieval freedom fighters to ...

Writer: David Hare Director: Ralph Fiennes Reviewer: Maryam Philpott On 16 June 1961 anyone passing through the departure lounge of Le Bourget Airport in Paris would have witnessed an extraordinary scene, Rudolf Nureyev gave his Soviet minders the slip and defected to the West. A celebrated star in his home country and a rebellious personality, Nureyev’s introduction to European audiences, ...

Musical Director: David Mackay Performer: Fisher Stevens In January of this year, singer/songwriting legend, Neil Diamond sadly announced his retirement from touring due to his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Those lucky enough to see him live (myself included) were treated to a fantastic show from a prolific songwriter, those who didn’t, missed out on something truly special. However, fear not because ...