North West Reviews

Writer: Agatha Christie Adaptor: Frank Vosper Director: Lucy Bailey Reviewer: Lizz Clark The Agatha Christie 'whodunnit' is a tried-and-tested story format with enduring appeal, whether on screen, stage, or page. But Love from a Stranger, adapted by Frank Vosper from a Christie short story, is more of a 'whodunwhat' - a slow-building, suspenseful story with a murderous climax which leaves ...

Writers: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields Director: Mark Bell Reviewer: John Roberts There’s nothing like a good murder mystery… and this is nothing like a good murder mystery, in fact its abysmal and the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society should be ashamed of their shocking attempt at staging the illustrious Murder at Haversham Manor, in fact one almost walked out ...

Writer: Robert Louis Stephenson Adaptor: Phil Wilmott Director: Gaynor La Rocca Reviewer: John Roberts Mate Productions have been running community programmes in Liverpool and Knowsley for many years and one of their biggest projects each year is their annual outdoor Shakespeare, however this year breaking from the norm, they have produced a fresh, lively and at times outright bonkers production ...

Reviewer: Matthew Forrest It is said that you shouldn’t work with children or animals and whilst comedian Owen Roberts may not have roped in any pets for his debut Edinburgh Fringe solo show, he has taken the rather brave decision to turn the writing of this show over to a child, with some uniquely entertaining results indeed. Following a severe ...

Devised by The Pappy Show Reviewer: Katherine Kirwin What makes up a man; his heritage, his parents, his relationships, his strength, his heart, his abs, his endurance, his mind? Boys is a fun, cheeky, timely, physical, theatrical exploration of manhood performed by a talented cast of young men of colour. The show could be seen as a messy mix of ...

Devised by Clown Funeral Reviewer Katherine Kirwin Things We Chose to Save presents a near future in which we can record, store, replay and even sell memories at will. All of this is overseen by a magnanimous company who seek to change the world and prevent anything passing out of ‘living memory’ for the greater good of everyone’s collective memories. ...

Writers/Directors: Matt Rogers and Natalie Bellingham Reviewer: Sam Lowe Incoming Festival recently landed in Manchester. Before you know it the festival is almost finished, ready to take off until next year. Tonight's offering is Uncanny Theatre's last show of Outrage. This is a contemporary performance, performed in a presentational style, about social media and how everyone wants to be famous. ...

Reviewer:  Richard Hall Now in its fifth year, the Incoming Festival is visiting HOME as part of a celebration of the best of emerging theatre companies across the UK. Manchester has a long-established tradition of hosting festivals dedicated to new writing and emerging theatre and this festival has a dynamism and freshness about it that is perfectly suited to HOME ...