North West Reviews

Lyrics: Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel  Additional Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Director: Lawrence Connor and James Powell Reviewer: Jane Fleming Almost a decade has gone by since Les Misérables last embarked on a sell-out UK tour. Whilst remaining a favourite in the heart of London’s West End and following a successful Hollywood movie adaptation, the critically acclaimed musical ...

Writer: Jerome Lawrence and Robert E Lee (book) and Jerry Herman (music and lyrics) Director and choreographer: Nick Winston Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Hope Mill has earned a reputation for producing high-quality shows. However, the theatre has exceeded its own high standards with a blissfully intoxicating Mame. The title song is so famous it is easy to think you have already seen the ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Gregory Doran Reviewer: Sam Lowe Measure for Measure is an interesting case study for a Shakespeare play. It’s known for not really fitting agreeably into either genre box of comedy (meaning it possesses a happy ending) or tragedy. Shakespeare’s plays can be divided into the following: Tragedy, History, or Comedy. Some academics have even referred to ...

Book: David West Read Music: Max Martin and Friends Lyrics: Max Martin and Friends Director: Luke Sheppard Reviewer: Jo Beggs What if Juliet had woken up, discovered her beloved Romeo dead, and thought ‘Meh…what the hell…I’m only young and it would be a shame to waste all this”. When Anne Hathaway gets a night away from the kids and turns ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director:  Justin Audibert Reviewer: Richard Hall The Taming Of The Shrew is one of three plays that the Royal Shakespeare Company has brought to The Lowry for a much anticipated two week season. Having previously played at Stratford-Upon-Avon, this production has generated a lot of interest due to its fresh portrayal of gender politics. What makes this ...

Writer: Melanie Blake Adaptation: Melanie Blake & Fiona Looney Director: Joyce Branagh Reviewer: Matt Forrest There is a trend in popular music these days for bands of yesteryear to come out of the woodwork for a couple of big paydays and then disappear like thieves in the night. Of course, they make a huge wedge of cash at the end ...

Writer: Daniel Kanaber Director: Adam Quayle Reviewer: Sam Lowe Box of Tricks are undertaking inspiring and wonderful work. Sharing playwrights and their new writing with audiences around the country. They move forward with the times; asking what's been talked about right now and how can that creatively manifest itself on the stage? Manchester is just the start when it comes ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Kimberley Sykes Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Director Kimberley Sykes uses the current production of As You Like It to examine whether, as is opined in the play, the world really is a stage.  The show opens in what might be considered the traditional manner- a bleak monochrome court from which the increasingly paranoid Duke has banished many ...