Concept: Jerome Robbins Book: Arthur Laurents Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim. Director: Sarah Frankcom Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Nowadays audiences are accustomed to perceiving West Side Story as a classic musical perfect for viewing on Sunday afternoons so it is hard to accept that, when first staged, its depiction of gang violence was controversial. Now the UK has become a racially divided ...
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Music: Various artists Directors: Sharon Watson, Aletta Collins, Christopher Bruce CBE Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Phoenix Dance Theatre opens this season with a mixed programme and features the world premiere of Windrush: Movement of the People. This season is special as the company takes the opportunity to recognise the multicultural society of this country and also celebrate black British culture. The ...
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Composer: Gioachino Rossini Director: Aletta Collins Conductor: Wyn Davies Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Although promoted as part of their season of dark fairy tales Opera North strip away all supernatural elements from their modern-day production of Rossini’s Cinderella. Director Aletta Collins takes inspiration from the alternate title for the opera Goodness Triumphant. Angelina (known by the nickname Cinderella and played by ...
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Music: Gioachino Rossini Director: Aletta Collins Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Opera North’s new production Cinderella (La Cenerentola) opened on its first night at the Leeds Grand Theatre and is part of the company’s fairy tale season this winter. Premiering in 1817, Rossini’s version is based on the libretto by Giacomo (Jacopo) Ferretti after Charles Perrault’s Cendrillon. There is no wicked stepmother, ...
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Book: Neil Simon Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Director: Derek Bond Reviewer: Tate James This musical theatre comedy makes a sweet Christmas treat at the Royal Exchange. When Sweet Charity burst onto the Broadway Stage in the 60s, it encapsulated the spirit of the decade and, 50 years later, it still charms and delights as we follow our happy-go-lucky ...
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Writer: Julian Fellowes Music and Lyrics: George Stiles, Andrew Drewe Director: Rachel Kavanaugh Reviewer: David Jobson After more than a century, The Wind in the Willows still enchants children with its charming tale. It has been adapted countless times for stage, movie and TV. Now it’s traipsing the open road with songs to match in this new musical adaptation of ...
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Book: Julian Fellowes Music &Lyrics: George Stiles &Anthony Drewe Director: Rachel Kavanaugh Reviewer: John Roberts There is something endearing about Kenneth Grahame’s story of friendship and survival among the animals of the woodland. It’s appeal never seems to weaken as new generations are introduced to the tales of Mole, Ratty, Badger and the eponymous Mr Toad. So it was no ...
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Composer : Leoš Janáček Libretto: Leoš Janáček after the play by Gabriela Preissova Director: Tom Cairns Conductor: Aleksandar Marković Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Opera North’s visit to The Lowry offers variety if nothing else with a comic opera, a musical and, tonight, a tragedy. Jenůfa is a dark and oppressive tale and no mistake. Composer Leoš Janáček melds a bleak subject ...
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