Theatre and performance in Greater Manchester & other places.
Welcome to my Circles & Stalls look back at 2024. As in previous years, this is very much a best of Manchester theatre list. So, it doesn’t include any shows that were passing through on tour or that were revivals from elsewhere. It’s exclusively focused on productions that either premiered in Greater Manchester or could [...]
Review of 42 Balloons at The Lowry, Salford. On seeing an online video of Larry Walters flying in a lawn chair over Los Angeles held aloft by a load of balloons, Jack Godfrey didn’t just think OMG - his overriding thought was “THIS IS A MUSICAL!” Six years later, Godfrey has written that dream into [...]
After a break for the last two years, my ‘best of’ list is back! As in previous years, I’ve only focused on productions that either premiered in Greater Manchester or could only be seen here. Which means I’ve not included any shows that were passing through on tour or that were revivals from elsewhere. It [...]
The Lowry at The Welcome Inn, Salford. News that an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, would undoubtedly focus the mind. Whether, as the end of the world approaches, most people would choose to channel that heightened state of mental alertness into pondering some trivia questions down the pub is certainly open to [...]
26 September 2019. Box of Tricks at The Lowry, Salford. "We're not friends okay, and that's fine, more than, but could you just . . . I don't want to talk, alright?". Paul's desperate plea to Michael to be left alone isn't the most obvious indication that a friendship is about to form, and yet [...]
16 May 2019. The Lowry, Salford. As the tram winds it way from town to Salford Quays, the view from the window is a rapidly evolving blur of construction sites and new buildings. As well as the seemingly never-ending apartment blocks, glass fronted office complexes and trendy business parks loom large. What goes on inside [...]
When Leeds Playhouse announced the formation of its first young company in April last year it was a bit of a wake up call for me. The Playhouse were looking to support a group of young people to collaborate in "making and producing bold and socially resonant work", as well providing opportunities for them to [...]
It's all change in Manchester this month, with lots of new theatre and performance. The following are three shows I'm particularly excited about. As well as these three choices, there are many more new openings and touring productions that are worth checking out in March, and I've included a brief overview of some of those. [...]
Although many of the big Christmas shows (and pantomimes) keep on going well in to January, there's also some really interesting new theatre to look forward to this month. HOME's PUSH festival is packed with local talent and generates lots of interest but that doesn't mean there isn't also great stuff on elsewhere in Greater [...]
The Lowry, Salford. 17 November 2017. Until this month, my only recent experience of opera was a slight obsession with a recording of John Adams' 'Doctor Atomic' and seeing members of Opera North’s Chorus perform in a production of Sondheim's 'Into The Woods' at West Yorkshire Playhouse last year. Apparently the involvement of the Chorus [...]
Circles & Stalls 