Martin ThomassonSeven-(almost eight)-year-olds, Mickey and Eddie form an immediate bond when they meet by chance in a Liverpool park in the 1960s. Unruly, foul-mouthed Mickey thrills and appalls Eddie (‘Edward’ to his parents) with his unfettered language and...
Nic DowlingThere was no shortage of Elf devotees in Manchester this week for an early slice of Christmas fun. We could tell by the amount of elf hats, Christmas sparkles and Elf merch adorning the crowds outside the Palace, that this show has a serious...
Paul ThomasonGrease is back in Manchester for a welcome return with this energetic touring production featuring a youthful cast. This current version is a blend of one of the greatest movie musicals of the last half century and the original 1971 stage show it...
Carmel ThomasonMichael Flatley may have retired from dancing some years ago, but his unique stamp is still clearly on this record-breaking show he created more than 25 years ago. In this updated version, fans of the superstar Irish dancer are in for a treat. And...
If you’re one of millions of dog lovers who thinks love is a four-legged word, then 101 Dalmatians is the musical you’ve been waiting for. Dodie Smith’s children’s book is most well-known for its Disney screen adaptations: the classic 1961 animation...
A whole new world has arrived at Manchester’s Palace Theatre, as Disney’s Aladdin takes to the stage for a six-week run as part of its first ever UK tour. The story and music will be familiar to many as it is based on the popular 1992 animated film...
Some titles tell you all you need to know about a show. In the case of Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle, like the show, all is not quite what it seems. Here Mischief Theatre, the team behind smash hit comedy ‘The Play that Goes Wrong’, take...
English National Ballet’s production of Akram Khan’s reimagining of Giselle constructs a wonderful evening of performance art at its most integrated and rewarding. The bare bones of it: Act 1: Rich boy (Albrecht) disguised as poor boy, falls for...
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...
Steve TimmsFinisterre, the sixth studio album by English pop group Saint Etienne, features a series of spoken word interludes from actor Michael Jayston. ‘Rock could be so good’, he solemnly intones, ‘but we make it all so rubbishy.’ It’s hard to disagree...