Reviews

REVIEW - SPEND, SPEND, SPEND | ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE | 20/12/2024

Spend, Spend, Spend tells the astonishing rags-to-riches-to-rags story of Viv Nicholson, a working-class woman from Castleford who won a...

REVIEW - CHRISTMAS LIGHTS | Z-ARTS | 15/12/2024

Z-arts knows how to make Christmas truly magical, and this year’s festive offering, Christmas Lights , is a sparkling treat for the...

REVIEW - SNOW WHITE PANTO - SHEFFIELD LYCEUM - 12/12/2024

It’s that magical time of year again, and the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre has truly outdone itself with its latest pantomime, Snow White ....

REVIEW - STICK MAN | THE LOWRY | 13/12/2024

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler has been a beloved bedtime story in our house for years. Alice (7) and Leo (5) are avid...

REVIEW - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS | CRUCIBLE THEATRE, SHEFFIELD | 12/12/2024

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s Little Shop of Horrors holds a special place in my heart, blending sci-fi, horror, comedy, and rock and...

REVIEW - MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET THE MUSICAL | HOME MANCHESTER | 11/12/2024

The Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street has enchanted audiences for decades, and this season, HOME brought a dazzling new musical...

REVIEW - THE BEAR | WATERSIDE, SALE | 07/12/2024

The Bear, based on Raymond Briggs' beloved 1994 book, is at Waterside this Christmas season. The show brings to life a heartwarming tale...

REVIEW - MR SNOW | LEEDS PLAYHOUSE | 05/12/2024

Leeds Playhouse has a gift for sprinkling festive magic, and this year’s Mr Snow is no exception, offering the perfect holiday...

REVIEW - COME FROM AWAY | THE LOWRY | 04/12/2024

"Come From Away" is a global phenomenon, celebrated for its deeply moving and profoundly uplifting narrative. Now bringing its magic to...

REVIEW - THE JUNGLE BOOK | OCTAGON THEATRE BOLTON | 26/11/2024

For Christmas 2024, the Octagon Theatre in Bolton has reimagined Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book as a lively and festive musical...

REVIEW - THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE | LEEDS PLAYHOUSE | 22/11/2024

Returning to Leeds Playhouse after a triumphant UK tour and a six-month run in the West End, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is...

REVIEW - THE ROCK 'N' ROLL PANTO RAPUNZEL | LIVERPOOL EVERYMAN | 21/11/2024

The Liverpool Everyman Theatre has long been known for its innovative and uproarious Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantos, and this year’s offering,...

REVIEW - MATTHEW BOURNE'S SWAN LAKE | THE LOWRY | 20/11/2024

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is a production that redefined the dance world when it premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 1995. Shattering...

REVIEW - AFTER THE ACT | HOME MANCHESTER | 13/11/2024

After the Act , the vibrant 80s-inspired musical from Breach Theatre, boldly tackles the controversial legacy of Section 28, the UK...

REVIEW - WONDER BOY | THE LOWRY | 12/11/2024

“Wonder Boy," a powerful play by Ross Willis and directed by Sally Cookson, centers on the journey of a young boy navigating the...

REVIEW - RUN REBEL | THE LOWRY | 01/11/2024

Run Rebel arrives at The Lowry as a powerful adaptation of Manjeet Mann’s novel, capturing a poignant story about courage, rebellion,...

REVIEW - HERE YOU COME AGAIN | THE LOWRY | 29/10/2024

Here You Come Again brings Dolly Parton’s infectious spirit and iconic music to the UK stage in a way that is both endearing and...

REVIEW - & JULIET | LIVERPOOL EMPIRE | 28/07/2024

Having first seen & Juliet at its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in 2019, I was struck by its unique, vibrant reimagining...

REVIEW - THE ELMER ADVENTURE | THE LOWRY | 25/10/2024

Tall Stories brings the much-loved Elmer books by David McKee to life in their colourful new production, The Elmer Adventure, and it’s...

REVIEW - RAMBERT DANCE IN PEAKY BLINDERS: THE REDEMPTION OF THOMAS SHELBY | THE LOWRY | 22/10/2024

Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is a thrilling adaptation of Steven Knight’s iconic TV series, brought...

REVIEW - DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE | THE LOWRY | 18/10/2024

Dinosaur World Live , the Olivier Award winner for Best Family Show 2024, has made a triumphant return to The Lowry, and we couldn’t...

REVIEW - PLAY ON! | LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE | 15/10/2024

Play On! brings a fresh, vibrant twist to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night , transporting the classic tale of mistaken identities and love...

REVIEW - CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG | LIVERPOOL EMPIRE | 08/10/2024

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one of those timeless stories that captures the imagination of both young and old. Based on Ian Fleming’s...

REVIEW - BLUE MAN GROUP BLUEVOLUTION | THE LOWRY | 02/10/2024

Blue Man Group’s return to the UK with their Bluevolution World Tour after seven long years is an absolute treat. Known for their quirky,...

REVIEW - A DOLL'S HOUSE | CRUCIBLE THEATRE SHEFFIELD | 27/09/2024

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House has long been regarded as a groundbreaking play, challenging the social norms of its time with its...

REVIEW - DIZZY | TANYA MOISEIWITSCH PLAYHOUSE, SHEFFIELD | 27/09/2024

Dizzy is a thought-provoking and inventive collaboration between Sheffield Theatres and Theatre Centre, written by Olivier-nominated...

REVIEW - A RAISIN IN THE SUN | LEEDS PLAYHOUSE | 26/09/2024

A Raisin in the Sun , originally written by Lorraine Hansberry, was the first play by an African American woman to be performed on...

REVIEW - KING ARTHUR | THE LOWRY | 24/09/2024

Le Navet Bete, known for their high-energy physical comedy, return with their latest production, King Arthur , bringing slapstick,...

REVIEW - WAR HORSE | THE LOWRY | 22/09/2024

War Horse has long been celebrated as one of the most remarkable productions in modern theatre. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s poignant...

REVIEW - THE HIDDEN GARDEN | Z-ARTS MANCHESTER | 21/09/2024

In a world of towering grey buildings, where patches of greenery are often hard to come by, The Hidden Garden blossoms into a vibrant...

REVIEW - HEATHERS THE MUSICAL | STORYHOUSE CHESTER | 17/09/2024

Heathers the Musical has garnered a cult following since its inception, much like the 1989 film it’s based on. With music, lyrics, and a...

REVIEW - NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A MUSICAL | SHEFFIELD LYCEUM | 10/09/2024

"Now That's What I Call a Musical" celebrates the 40th anniversary of the iconic NOW compilation albums. Set in Birmingham, 1989, and...

REVIEW - MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS | THE LOWRY | 10/09/2024

Agatha Christie’s legendary Murder on the Orient Express has found a new life on stage at The Lowry, in this captivating adaptation by...

REVIEW - BRASSED OFF | OCTAGON THEATRE BOLTON | 06/09/2024

The Octagon Theatre's latest production of Brassed Off brings a much-loved modern classic back to the stage, celebrating the resilience...

REVIEW - MY SON’S A QUEER (BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?) | HOME MANCHESTER | 20/08/2024

"My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?)" is a triumph of heart and humour, and it's no surprise that Rob Madge’s autobiographical show...

REVIEW - QUEENS THE EXHIBITION | THE LOWRY | 25/07/2024

Last month my husband and I ventured to Salford to visit the Queens exhibition at The Lowry, and what a royal treat it was! The...

REVIEW - SHARK IN THE PARK | HOME MANCHESTER | 03/08/2024

I recently had the delightful experience of watching "Shark in the Park" at Home Manchester with my husband and our two children, aged 5...

REVIEW - BLUEY'S BIG PLAY | THE LOWRY | 31/07/2024

As a family of devoted Bluey fans, we were over the moon when we discovered that "Bluey’s Big Play" was coming to The Lowry. The Emmy®...

REVIEW - CHARLIE COOK'S FAVOURITE BOOK | THE LOWRY | 26/07/2024

Our family recently celebrated my birthday with a special outing to The Lowry's Quays Theatre to see Charlie Cook's Favourite Book, a...

REVIEW - A CHORUS LINE | THE LOWRY | 23/07/2024

A Chorus Line has captivated audiences since its debut in 1975, showcasing the trials and triumphs of Broadway dancers through their...

REVIEW - PARANORMAL ACTIVITY | LEEDS PLAYHOUSE | 12/07/2024

"Paranormal Activity" at Leeds Playhouse is a stage adaptation directed by the visionary Felix Barrett and written by the talented Levi...

REVIEW - CHARIOTS OF FIRE | CRUCIBLE THEATRE SHEFFIELD | 11/07/2024

In his final production as artistic director at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Robert Hastie showcases his talent for large-scale...

REVIEW - COME FROM AWAY | SHEFFIELD LYCEUM THEATRE | 10/07/2024

"Come From Away" has taken the world by storm with its heartfelt and powerful narrative, and its UK tour at the Lyceum Theatre in...

REVIEW - I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL | HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER | 03/07/2024

Hope Mill Theatre offers a delightful peek behind the curtain with Seabright’s production of Alexander S. Bermange’s "I Wish My Life Were...

REVIEW - LIFE OF PI | THE LOWRY | 02/07/2024

Life of Pi has been captivating audiences since its premiere at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in June 2019. Adapted from Yann...

REVIEW - SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL | STORYHOUSE CHESTER | 24/06/2024

Sister Act The Musical , a beloved adaptation of the iconic 1992 film, has made its way to Storyhouse in Chester, and it’s nothing short...

REVIEW - CORAM BOY | THE LOWRY | 21/06/2024

The revival of Helen Edmundson's "Coram Boy," adapted from Jamila Gavin's acclaimed novel, is a testament to the enduring legacy of...

REVIEW - HERE YOU COME AGAIN | LEEDS PLAYHOUSE | 30/05/2024

"Here You Come Again" at Leeds Playhouse marks a refreshing addition to the realm of musical theatre, combining the timeless allure of...

REVIEW - TEN IN THE BED | Z-ARTS MANCHESTER | 01/06/2024

A Delightful and Thought-Provoking Journey with "Ten in the Bed" " Ten in the Bed" is an imaginative and moving production by Half Moon,...

REVIEW- THE 100 STORY HOTEL | Z-ARTS MANCHESTER | 28/05/2024

A Magical Adventure at the 100 Story Hotel! Our family had the most enchanting experience at the 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts in Manchester!...