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Evita – Churchill Theatre, Bromley
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics Tim Rice Director: Bob Thompson and Bill Kenwright Reviewer: Crystal Alonsi [rating:3.5] If football is a game of two halves Evita is surely a musical of three thirds,...
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Hi-de-Hi – Darlington Civic Theatre
Writers: Jimmy Perry & David Croft Adapters: Paul Carpenter & Ian Gower Director: Bruce James Reviewer: Steve Burbridge [rating:2] Hi-De-Hi’, the BAFTA award-winning television sitcom which ran...
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Oklahoma – Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Writers: Rodgers & Hammerstein Director: Julian Woolford Reviewer: Malcolm Wallace [rating:3] Premiering in 1943, Oklahoma! is arguably the strongest and most fondly remembered of Rodgers and...
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Beverley Knight, 100% on Tour – Lowry Theatre, Salford
Reviewer: David Leith [rating:5] After the success of 6 albums, numerous chart hits and the acclaim as one of Britain’s most celebrated soul singers it would have been easy for Beverley Knight to sit...
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The 39 Steps – Curve , Leicester
Writer: Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon Director: Maria Aitken Reviewer: Rebecca Taylor [rating:4] Adapted from John Buchan’s 1915 novel, The 39 Steps is more famously remembered by the dramatic,...
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Stop Messing About – New Theatre, Oxford
Writer: Johnnie Mortimer & Brian Cooke Director: Michael Kingsbury Reviewer: Talisker Macleod [rating:5] Stop Messing About at the New Theatre in Oxford was, from start to finish, pure delight. A...
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Fascinating Aida – Lowry Theatre, Salford
Music and Lyrics: Dillie Keane and Adele Anderson Director: Frank Thompson Reviewer: Helen Jones [rating:5] Fascinating Aida are on their 25th Anniversary tour (although they freely admit they’ve...
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Rhod Gilbert and the cat that looked like Nicholas Lyndhurst – Lowry Theatre,...
Reviewer: Ruth Lovett [rating:5] Instantly recognisable as that Welsh bloke off the Welsh tourism board adverts (who knew there was wine made in Wales?), Rhod Gilbert returns to the Lowry to update us...
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Jo Caulfield: Won’t Shut Up – Lowry Theatre, Salford
Reviewer: Helen Jones [rating:4] Jo Caulfield, a regular guest on TV shows such as Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You and the star of her own radio shows, brings the penultimate performance of her...
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Cinderella (English National Ballet) – Palace Theatre, Manchester
Writer: Prokofiev Director/Choreographer: Michael Corder Conductor: Alex Ingram Reviewer: Malcolm Wallace [rating:4.5] It’s a special year for English National Ballet. It’s sixty years since the...
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Stop Messing About – Darlington Civic Theatre
Writer: Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer Director: Michael Kingsbury Reviewer: Ian Cain [rating:4] It’s a strange idea to produce a theatre show around the format of a ‘live’ radio recording of a...
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The Gruffalo – Seymour Centre: Everest Theatre – Sydney, Australia
Writer: Julia Donalsdon Adaptor: Tall Stories Director: Stephen Colyer Reviewer: David Kary [rating:4] The Seymour Centre’s Everest Theatre is currently home to the return season of ‘The Gruffalo’,...
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INTERVIEW: Kim Hartman
In stark contrast to her iconic role as the domineering Private Helga Geerhart in ’Allo, ’Allo, Kim Hartman is currently starring as Hyacinth Bucket’s nervy next-door-neighbour, Elizabeth Warden, in...
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Keeping Up Appearances – Darlington Civic Theatre
Writer:Roy Clarke Director: David Graham Reviewer: Ian Cain [rating:4.5] ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ is one of those programmes that is so deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness that it seems...
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Globe @ Bodleian Quad, Oxford
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Raz Shaw Reviewer: Joshua Ray [rating:5] Shakespeare’s most fun play… the Globe company on tour… the Bodleian quadrangle on a July evening… interval drinks in the...
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Forgotten Fortress – Theatre in the Quarter, Cheshire
Writer Helen Newall Music Matthew Baker Director Russ Tunney Reviwer Lorna Andrewes [Rating:4] ‘Theatre in the Quarter’ is a Chester-based company serving the whole of Cheshire and specialising in...
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Sex & Docks & Rock ‘n’ Roll – The Seven Arts Theatre, Leeds
Music & lyrics: Boff Whalley Director: Rod Dixon Reviewer: Nicola Harrison [Rating:4.5] ‘Just ignore the party leaders, With all their dirty fingers in the pie.’ This musical comedy, brought to us...
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INTERVIEW: Andrew Dunn
Theatre-goers will be served a generous portion of culinary comedy when the stage production of Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies stops-off in the region. Andrew Dunn, who leads the cast, reveals the recipe...
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Stephen K Amos: The Best Medicine – The Lowry, Salford
Reviewer: Cathy Crabb [rating:5] Stephen K Amos really is quite something. I suppose his show could be summed up in the moment when this hard-faced soft shelled gay black comedian got an eighteen year...
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Jon Allen – The Lowry, Salford
Reviewer: Dave Cunningham [Rating:4] ‘Blood on the Tracks’ and ‘Pirates’ are just two of many albums inspired by the break-up of a relationship. Singer/ songwriter Jon Allen adds ‘Sweet Defeat’ to the...
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