Carmel ThomasonThere’s a true sense of the hero returns as Operation Mincemeat opens its first ever world tour at Lowry’s Lyric Theatre. Now a West End and Broadway hit with numerous awards, it is hard to imagine the musical’s humble beginnings in front of an...
Leslie James Kerwin“We’re all born naked and the rest is drag” is an immediate thought on the first watch of ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’. RuPaul’s most famous catchphrase comes from the idea that there is more to a person than what is outwardly visible. The story...
In the early 2010s, when Ray Davies was first telling his story of 60s icons The Kinks on stage, who would have thought flying the Union Jack flag and talk of Britishness could be so controversial? Forget the high jinks of an intoxicated Dave Davies...
There’s a definite buzz at Manchester’s Palace Theatre for the launch of the new Jesus Christ Superstar UK tour. The musical’s 50-year history gives the show its own superstar status, and this production, from London’s Regent Park Open Air Theatre...
If I could turn back time, I would have been hot on the phone for a ticket to see Cher’s 2019 Here We Go Again tour at Manchester’s AO Arena. Given the level of audience excitement at hearing the opening bars of one of her hits at the start of this...
Niamh MelodyFor those who’ve never seen Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show before, it can be summed up in three words: crazy, catchy and confusing. In fact, the plot is so baffling and nonsensical that it is hard to explain. Directed by Christopher...
Steve TimmsThe genre of films that combine live action with animation is notoriously small, probably because of the huge technical challenges involved. Try and think of a dozen such movies and you may struggle – though Anchors Aweigh, Mary Poppins...
Alison RuckThe classic musical ‘Tell Me on a Sunday’ is on tour and back in front of audiences where it belongs! The first of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black collaborations, this one-woman play is a perfect show to be touring following the pandemic: it...
In 1985 ‘Back to the Future’ was a box office sensation that spurned two sequels and has stood the test of time as a classic favourite. If you didn’t grow up watching this series of movies – one, go see them and two, those who did are still huge...
Mr Popper’s Penguins tells the story of a man who dreams of Antarctic adventures only to find a penguin delivered to his front door. The children’s fantasy tale originated as a book and won Hollywood’s heart when it was turned into a film starring...