Carmel ThomasonFifty years after her 1960s heyday, Dusty Springfield remains one of Britain’s best loved and most successful singers, with a place in both the US Rock and Roll and UK Music Halls of Fame. But while her breathy, soulful voice may be instantly...
Growing up in a north east mining village I know all too well the part miners’ wives played in supporting the miner’s strike of 1984-85. Their protests were often ones of survival; sitting for hours on the cold city streets, raising awareness of the...
It’s more than 10 years ago since I first saw Mamma Mia! and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen it on stage, at cinema and on TV since then. But as the band strikes its first note, ABBA’s feel-good, disco beats hook me right back in...
At a time when Cold War rivalries are re-emerging, we could once again be facing a period of history where Russia appears a very different land. A new translation of Chekhov’s final play, The Cherry Orchard, by Rory Mullarkey promises to be truer to...
Dance: Sampled is exactly what the title suggests – a taster of different dance styles from several dance companies. It is a chance to see some of the finest dancers from across the globe for a fraction of the price and to discover new acts and...
Rosie Fleeshman’s one woman play, Narcissist in the Mirror, won critical acclaim when it premiered at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival in July 2017. A lyrical, witty and wise comedy about life, ambition and millennial expectation, Narcissist...
Pantomimes are made for unlikely pairings, but few seem stranger than matching Torchwood star, John Barrowman with comedy duo, The Krankies. If Qdos Entertainment were to return to Manchester after 10 years with a bang, it didn’t feel like this line...
Debbie Isitt, writer and director of Nativity! The Musical, tells Quays Life about bringing the much-loved festive movie to the stage. For anyone who hasn’t seen the hit Christmas film, what is Nativity! The Musical about? It’s a classic story about...
Hedda Gabler is a gift of a part that can be played by a star name or make one of the actor playing her. The last time I saw it staged, Amanda Donohoe was Ibsen’s anti-heroine in Braham Murray’s production at The Royal Exchange. I remember the...
MTA first reviewed this production from Manchester comedy duo, LipService when it premiered at Oldham Coliseum in January. I missed it that time around, so was delighted to catch it at the Lowry, where Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding kick off their autumn...