North West Reviews

Writer: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss Director: Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage Reviewer: Frances Scott The chopped and changed wives of Henry VIII have moved heaven and earth to tell their side of the story. Overshadowed by their husband’s reign, these queens have taken over the Quays theatre to upgrade the audiences limited knowledge of their lives. Assuming that you ...

Writer: Jessica Lea Director: Sam Donovan Reviewer: Jamie Gaskin It was probably the title that made the team change the ancient rules of pantomime: Instead of a girl as the principal boy they decided to bring A-lad-in. [Editor: Groan] The lad in question being Adam McCoy who wastes no time using his youthful good looks to win over the audience ...

Reviewer: Jo Beggs There’s never been a better time for a sharp, honest look at the United States, and Rich Hall, with his sardonic outlook on life, does it with style. The Virginia-born Anglophile comedian has truly come of age thanks to the current state of the union. With his Radio 4 Rich Hall’s (Election) Breakdown he attempted to make sense ...

Writer: Sarah A Nixon & Mark Chadderton Director: Mark Chadderton Reviewer: John Roberts This year’s Rock’n’Roll pantomime from The Everyman theatre is a loose take on the Hans Christian Anderson tale The Snow Queen, and while it may not be as slick as last year’s Little Mermaid offering, it’s still a funny, engaging and energetic offering that ensures its place as ...

Writer & Director: Sarah Punshon Reviewer: May Mellstrom With just a sprinkling of fairy dust, J.M. Barrie's timeless tale of the boy who never grew up is brought to life in this years festive production from The Dukes.  Artistic Director Sarah Punshon writes and directs this new version of Peter Pan and ensures there is something for everyone to enjoy. ...

Writer/Director: Kevin Fearon Reviewer: John Roberts The Royal Court has firmly become the place to go for the more adult and alternative fayre to the traditional pantomime. But if truth be told, while the cast have always been at the top of the game, the end results have always been a little hit and miss, for every Scouse of the ...

Writer: Aeschylus Adapted by Kerry Frampton Director: Kerry Frampton Reviewer: Abbie Rippon A story of blood-for-blood revenge crime as a family seeks vengeance on each other, The Oresteia is the story of the fall of the house of Atreus. An ancient Greek myth, originally staged two-and-a-half-thousand years ago by Aeschylus, Splendid Productions have turned this ancient story into a hard-hitting ...

Writers: Tim Firth & Gary Barlow Director: Matt Ryan Reviewer: John Roberts Tim Firth is no stranger to Calendar Girls having penned the original movie screenplay in 2003 and then the stage production in 2008. Now working in partnership with singer/songwriter and lead singer of Take That, Gary Barlow, the pair have re-worked the cheeky true story of a group of ...