In the programme notes, writer and director Conor McPherson describes Girl From the North Country as “a conversation between the songs and the story”. Having received a package of 40 Bob Dylan albums (sent to him by Dylan), McPherson has woven around 20 songs into the narratives of a similar number of characters who congregate… Continue reading Girl from the North Country
Month: March 2023
Macbeth in Southwark
Flabbergast Theatre brings The Tragedy of Macbeth to the Southwark Playhouse March 14–April 8. Flabbergast’s Macbeth fuses a respectful approach to text and storytelling to a lucid interpretation of Shakespeare’s blood-soaked tragedy. The company presents an interpretation of Shakespeare’s most wretched tragedy, working to draw out the parallels with modern society. At its heart, the… Continue reading Macbeth in Southwark
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
At this point, despite only four years since it premièred at the Dorfman Theatre, The Ocean at the End of the Lane’s reputation precedes it. Through word of mouth or the marketing materials, the audience is promised something it has never witnessed on stage before. So, when one enters and takes their seat in the… Continue reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Swan Lake
Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s 1981 production of the perennial favourite Swan Lake never fails to enchant. Gothic and sumptuous, dark and light: Tchaikovsky’s romantic ballet encompasses the full gambit of emotion from the opening staid funeral procession to the frivolity of partying, from soaring love to deep despair. Mathias Dingman’s diminutive stature belies his… Continue reading Swan Lake
Laying Bricks in Manchester
Red Brick Theatre and 53two in Manchester are staging Bricks, a night of brand-new theatre from March 24–April 1 with BSL and relaxed performances. Bricks consists of six new plays by six new playwrights, each with a running time of approx 15 minutes and using the North West’s top directors and actors. Writers Luke Barnes (National Theatre,… Continue reading Laying Bricks in Manchester
Heathers the Musical
Heathers the Musical is a dark, dark comedy shown in Technicolor. Despite an uncomfortably difficult subject matter, Andy Fickman’s directing still manages to hook us in and make us laugh. The musical is based on the 1988 cult movie classic Heathers which inspired so many subversive high school movies. The film is a cynical, subversive… Continue reading Heathers the Musical
Seven up from Opera North
Opera North has announce seven productions for autumn and winter, including the company’s first full sustainable season of three operas designed to minimise environmental impact. Falstaff: a new production opens the Green Season. Directed by Jo Davies, conducted by Garry Walker and with Henry Waddington in the title role. Masque of Might: the world première… Continue reading Seven up from Opera North
Jumping the Shark
Have you ever thought you had a great idea for a TV sitcom, wondered how to turn it into a reality? You might pick up a few tips here, for that is the dream that has driven the characters in David Cantor and Michael Kingsbury’s new play to sign up for a course in scriptwriting… Continue reading Jumping the Shark
Killer Tomatoes on tour
After a run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Soho Playhouse in New York, Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life tells the inspirational true story of Keith Alessi, a well-known CEO in North America who, two weeks after quitting his high-flying job to pursue his dream of becoming a banjo player (he… Continue reading Killer Tomatoes on tour
Time
Gaynor O’Flynn, whose show Time premièred this week, could be considered someone to admire. She has decades of experience as an artist, film-maker and campaigner in the arts across the globe, working with organisations ranging from Channel 4 to UNESCO, collaborating with a kaleidoscope of people from Bjork to the Dalai llama by way of… Continue reading Time