Interviews
Drag fans are in for a ball this Christmas at Contact with not one but two Manchester drag queens taking centre stage in this year’s pantomime. But will there be room for Cinderella herself in all this fabulousness? Carmel Thomason meets Lady...
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Comedian Harry Hill and composer Steve Brown have joined forces to create a new musical from Britain’s Britpop era. Tony! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] arrives at The Lowry in October. So, what can we expect? Harry: “We’ve tried to make it...
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In 2019, just before we were in the grips of Covid Pandemic, I alighted my train at Platform 2 in Manchester Oxford Road station, and immediately noticed some wonderful art work on the wall beyond the tracks in front of me. I began my research to...
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Message in a Bottle is a new show set to the music of Sting which promises gravity-defying lyrical dance and breath-taking music alongside a moving story of humanity and hope. Ahead of its run at The Lowry, we talk to director and choreographer...
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If asked to name last year’s overall bestselling author in the UK, who would you pick? Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling? Horror writer Stephen King? Master of mystery, Richard Osman? You’d be wrong on all three counts. In fact, Julia Donaldson took...
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Starring in the UK’s first ever tour of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom is a childhood dream come true, Kevin Clifton and Faye Brookes tell Quays Life: When Kevin Clifton was 10 years old he watched the film of Strictly Ballroom and, as...
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Christine Mackie, aka Coronation Street’s Dr Gaddas, is taking a break from the cobbles to take on the title role in an all female and non-binary production of King Lear. She talks to Carmel Thomason about preparing for one of theatre’s...
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Musician and producer, Eliza Marshall brings her award-winning album, Freedom to Roam – The Rhythms of Migration back on tour, with a stop at Bury Met on 11 May. The event, which includes the screening of a documentary film by Director...
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How a new contemporary dance work was inspired by African dance and song, traditional cleansing rituals – and the meerkat. Dada Masilo brings The Sacrifice to Salford Acclaimed South African choreographer and dancer, Dada Masilo brings together...
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Buxton International Festival is touring for the first time with a production to enchant the whole family. At just 75 minutes long, Cinderella is the perfect introduction to opera for all ages and was a sell-out success for the festival last year...
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Carmel Thomason
Lorraine Worsley-Carter
Diane Parkes