Alexandria SlaterSlumber Party Massacre is a gory and gritty remake of Roger Corman’s 1982 cult classic, directed by Amy Holden Jones, with even more jolting twists and turns than the original. Danishka Esterhazy pays homage to the best parts of the 1982 slasher...
Steve TimmsEveryone loves Morecambe & Wise, right? Not necessarily. My dad had a strange dislike of ‘Britain’s best loved duo’, and so their show was never allowed in our house (though we did watch Stanley Baxter, The Two Ronnies, and Les Dawson). Trailer...
Nic DowlingNo balloon bosoms, garish make-up, gravity defying skirts or audience taunting here. The not-so-ugly sisters are far from the usual dames you’d see stomping around in more traditional Christmas pantos. But this isn’t your usual Christmas panto. Barb...
Georgina WellsJoe’s Pie Diner has opened its doors in Manchester for the first time, with the arrival of Waitress at the Opera House. Boasting a female creative team and a female-fronted cast and storyline, this heart-warming musical focuses on Jenna (Lucie...
Niamh MelodyFrom the roaring standing ovation to the audience hum of “You can’t stop the beat” following us into the street, it’s abundantly clear the opening night of Hairspray at the Palace Theatre was a resounding success. After more than 30 years on the...
Niamh Melody gives an affirming shantay you stay to the first UK tour of new drag murder mystery, Death Drop. Seeing a production that’s only been on the stage for a year or so is always a treat for the well versed theatre-goers. There’s a different...
What is comedy? Many actors have tried to give a suitably succinct description. For Charlie Chaplin, ‘Life is a tragedy when seen in close up but a comedy in long-shot.’ Stan Laurel chose to be less analytical: ‘What is comedy? I don’t know. Does...
Carmel ThomasonThere is probably little I can tell you about From the Vine you can’t grasp from the poster alone. But, in the midst of one of the most chaotic 18 months I can remember, familiarity and predictability wrapped in the warmth of Italian sun make for an...
If we think about 1980’s comedy, we think of revolution. The alternative crowd burnt the rule book, and the likes of Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, Jennifer Saunders and Ben Elton barged their way to the front of the television queue. But some...
Martin ThomassonThe Play That Went Wrong is a relentlessly inventive, immaculately choreographed farce. For the first time ever, I have to begin a review with a health warning: please don’t try drinking white spirit, and don’t (for a joke) put it in anybody else’s...