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‘Live entertainment has come back with an encouraging roar’: Alun Hood celebrates his Top 20 new theatre shows of 2022

In Broadway, Features, London theatre, Manchester, Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Alun HoodLeave a Comment

As somebody who loves a listicle plus a bandwagon to jump on, how could I NOT compile my list of my top 20 new (to me) shows of 2022? It’s been 12 months in which live entertainment has come back with an encouraging roar, although the impending cost of living crisis is inevitably, and understandably, causing anxiety in theatrical circles. Please do get out there, if you can, and support your local venue in 2023.

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‘Hugely entertaining show’: THE PANTOMIME ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN – Manchester ★★★★★

In Manchester, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Pantomimes, Regional theatre, Reviews by Kristy StottLeave a Comment

It’s panto season! (Oh no it isn’t, etc…) Full disclosure: I haven’t seen a panto since I was a kid, and went in to the Opera House’s Peter Pan frankly a little bit cynical. I’d assumed it was just for parents wanting to introduce their kids to theatre – a great aim, but one with not much to offer someone like me. How wrong I was.

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‘I left having cried tears of both joy & empathy’: BETTY! A SORT OF MUSICAL – Manchester ★★★★★

In Manchester, Musicals, Opinion, Regional theatre, Reviews by Kristy StottLeave a Comment

Reviewer: Daniel Shipman Upstaged Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Royal Exchange has a solid reputation for outstanding, non-pantomime Christmas shows, and Betty (written by and starring Maxine Peake) is no exception. Described as ‘a sort of musical’, Betty follows the misadventures of…

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The post Review: Betty! A Sort of Musical appeared first on UPSTAGED MANCHESTER.

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‘Razor-sharp &captivating’: FRANTIC ASSEMBLY: OTHELLO – Touring ★★★★★

In Manchester, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Kristy StottLeave a Comment

Lean, mean and totally uncompromising, Frantic Assembly bring a newly updated and gritty version of Shakespeare’s Othello to The Lowry as part of their UK tour. Razor-sharp and captivating, Frantic Assembly’s pulsating and athletic physical style adds new depth to Shakespeare’s text.

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‘Bloody unmissable’: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN – Manchester ★★★★★

In Manchester, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Kristy StottLeave a Comment

Since the Royal Exchange announced their new season back at the end of 2021, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this production. Adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne, Let The Right One In is everything I envisioned it could be and much more. Suitably timed for Halloween, the performance delivers – it’s brutal, jumpy and at times, quite bloody – but it’s also threaded with innocence, sweet humour and heart.

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‘Two spectacular performances’: Switch_MCR Double Bill – Manchester ★★★★★

In Manchester, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Fairy Powered ProductionsLeave a Comment

Switch_MCR are a Manchester-based theatre company creating new and exciting accessible work. The company was founded by Royal Exchange Young Company members and is now one of the biggest independent theatre companies in Manchester. This Double Bill performance was a collection of two new and exciting plays, Lekhani Chirwa’s Senses of Responsibility and Joseph Conway’s Blue Moss.

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NEWS: Covid self isolation guidance forces West End opening night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella to be postponed

In London theatre, Manchester, Musicals, Native, News, Press Releases by Press Releases

Following the cancellation of weekend performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre, due to one member of the company testing positive for Covid-19, the composer has announced today that the opening night and gala evenings (19 and 20 July 2021) will also not go ahead.