North West Reviews

Writer: Simon Reade after Arthur Conan Doyle Director: David Grindley Reviewer: Dave Cunningham  Sherlock Holmes has been revived and re-imagined so many times finding a new twist must be a challenge. For Sherlock Holmes – The Final Curtain writer Simon Reade steps outside fiction to take inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle’s real-life belief in spiritualism. However, bearing in mind the very flat ...

Reviewer: Dave Cunnningham The title of Chris Ramsey’s new show gives a good indication of the intended target audience and the likely nature of the material. The Just Happy To Get out Of The House Tour sounds like it is aimed at people who are so devoted to their families or careers that they really don’t get the chance to ...

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham  Bowjangles have a reputation as classically-trained musicians who are capable of singing and dancing while also performing note-perfect versions of classical and popular tunes. It is a difficult Act to describe and takes the audience at The Lowry some time to adjust to such an original routine. The atmosphere becomes more relaxed when one of the group ...

Writer: Bryony Lavery Director: Katie Posner Reviewer: Abbie Rippon Host the Jolly Roger flag, grab your oars and get ready to set sail on a voyage of adventure with Grosvenor Park’s family-friendly adventure Swallows and Amazons. Adapted by Bryony Lavery from the stories by Arthur Ransome and based on his own childhood adventures in the Lake District, Swallows and Amazons ...

Writer/Director: Stephen Fletcher Reviewer: John Roberts Having first been performed six years ago and revived in a bigger, stronger production in 2016 at Liverpool’s Royal Court, Mam! I’m ‘Ere is back once again and by all accounts, it’s the best outing of the production to date. Just off the coast of North Wales, island holiday camp Boogie Wonderland is on ...

Katy Lipson is a one-woman theatrical whirlwind who has become one of the UK’s leading fringe and Off West End musical theatre producers. It would appear that every musical she is involved in turns into theatrical gold. Having recently opened her latest show, Aspects of Love at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre to a stunning set of 5-star reviews, Lipson’s extraordinary ...

Book: Amy Fletcher Music and Lyrics: Ashley M A Walsh Director: Joseph Meighan Reviewer: Abbie Rippon The Jury premieres this week at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn, a brand new musical exploring human behaviour and how a person’s life experience impacts their judgements. Set in a jury deliberation room, twelve people from various walks of life consider and debate whether a ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Composer and Musical Director: Olly Fox Director: Bill Buckhurst Reviewer: Abbie Rippon Picnics at the ready; pop open the prosecco and uncork the Malbec! Sit back, relax and enjoy your journey to Messina at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Written in 1598, when women were expected to stay chaste and subservient in a world ruled by ...