Theatres - 2/7/09

Jul 2 2009 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

STARTING NEXT WEEK

0.0008 (The Studio, Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, July 8-18)

AN UPLIFTING and thought-provoking new play by Sonia Hughes receives its premiere. When the universe is a million million million million light years edge-to-edge – or would be if it had edges – how come our thoughts and feelings matter so much? Comparing the age of the Universe with the time mankind has occupied the Earth, why does it matter what we do, how we do it, how we feel, what people think of us when we’re just a small fraction of the time? Using lighting, sound and imagination, this intriguing and intimate show asks the big questions. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

THE END OF THE LINE (A BRIEF ENCOUNTER) (Piccadilly Station, Manchester, Saturday)

STATIONS are the places where journeys begin and end – the hope of arrival, the regret of departure, the euphoria of meeting, the melancholy of parting. As the day comes to a close, more than 200 Royal Northern College of Music musicians come together to perform Peter Wiegold’s unique musical installation that explores these themes, conceived to fill the public spaces of Manchester Piccadilly train station. You can catch many of the individual elements of the piece in the station over the day before the hour-long performance in the evening. Visit www.rncm.ac.uk or ring 0161 907 5555.

LES HOMMES DANS ROBES DE CHAMBRE (The Lowry, Salford Quays, Saturday and Sunday)

IN 1940s Britain, two Music Hall comedians in a theatre during the Manchester Blitz grow increasingly bored in their dressing room –with explosive results. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5788.

THE LAST RESORT (The Stiwt, Broad Street, Rhos, Wrexham, today and tomorrow)

CHRIS Owen’s affectionate and amusing portrait of a day in the life of a bustling seaside town. Beginning in the early morning with the dawn milk float and finishing on the cliffs high above the town 24 hours later. Everything from the lads on the make to the elderly day trippers, from the boy racers to the skinheads. Yet among the comedy is a darker side with the dreams of a young pregnant girl threading their way through the tapestry of seaside revelry. Visit www.thestiwt.co.uk or ring 01978 841300.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (St John’s Church gardens, Vicars Lane, Chester, Sunday)

AN EXCITING cutting edge production, packed full of entertainment and fun, ideal for all the family. Guaranteed performance with marquees provided. This Shakespearean classic follows four lovers as they escape the City Walls into the woods where anything goes. Suddenly caught up in a colossal argument between the King and Queen of the Fairies, all hell breaks loose as the lovers come head-to- head in a rugby scrum as a lovers’ tiff becomes a full-on fight, and Bottom the weaver makes an ass of himself. Ring 01257 453956.

THE MOZART QUESTION (The Lowry, Salford Quays, July 6-7)

PAOLO Levi is the greatest violinist in the world but he refuses to play Mozart. Why? This new dramatisation of Michael Morpurgo’s extraordinary story takes us from the beauty of Venice to the horrors of the Nazi gas chambers in a tale that will move and inspire all ages. A poignant piece from the team behind Private Peaceful, performed by actor/violinist Andrew Bridgmont. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5788.

ONE NIGHT IN ISTANBUL (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, July 9-18)

SCOUSERS Tommy Kelly and Gerry Edwards arrive in Istanbul to see their beloved Liverpool team take on Italian champions AC Milan. In order to pay for their trip to Turkey, first they have to find the Grand Bazaar to sell Adolf Hitler’s cufflinks while their sons, Jamie and Joseph, are simply desperate to find tickets. In Nicky Allt’s first show since Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, a football fairy tale is about to unfold. Tom and Gerry tell the story of their own and Liverpool’s past European conquests, while all the time dreaming of that ninth big win that’ll mean it’s for keeps. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, July 3-4)

FOOTSTEPS Dance presents a fun-filled show to entertain all the family with extracts from popular musicals including High School Musical 2, West Side Story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and My Fair Lady. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

ROOM ON THE BROOM (Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Wirral, July 5)

HOW the cat purred and how the witch grinned as they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind. When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch. And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Songs, laughs, and scary fun for children aged three and up and their grown-ups. This family show is adapted from the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo. Visit www.floralpavilion.com or ring 0151 666 0000.

SCOOBY-DOO AND THE PIRATE GHOST (Opera House, Quay Street, Manchester, July 8-11)

SCOOBY-Doo and the gang are back. The ultimate cartoon classic bursts on to the stage once again with a new show to entertain the whole family. Join Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred as they encounter a new case to solve in their trademark Mystery Inc style. They will be mixing their familiar blend of classic physical comedy, popular tunes and special effects into a theatrical experience that will appeal to the kids and their parents who grew up with the TV show. Visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2484.

SUBITANGO! (The Brindley, High Street, Runcorn, July 3)

FROM virtuoso choreographed dance to the exquisite sounds of 1930’s Buenos Aries, subitango is a breathtaking journey into the heart of Tango Argentino. Performed by the UK’s leading tango dancers: Giraldo Escobar, Vicky Sierra, David Benitez and Kim Schwartz with live music by Tango Siempre. Visit www.thebrindley.org.uk or ring 0151 907 8360.

THE TWEENIES (Venue Cymru, Llandudno, July 7-8)

THE CBeebies favourites present Top of the Tots, an all-new music show, packed full of family favourites and includes tot-tastic tunes such as Gonna Build a House, Incy Wincy Spider, Wheels on the Bus and Do the Lollipop. Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk or ring 01492 872000.

THE WICKED LADY (New Vic Theatre, Etruria Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, July 3-25)

A SPECTACULAR action adventure, specially written by one of Britain’s finest playwrights, Bryony Lavery. Directed by Theresa Hawkins, this breathtaking production has thrilling, mid-air action created with the help of specialist aerial company Upswing. Lady Barbara Skelton is beautiful, wild and truly wicked. Forced into a respectable marriage with a man she can’t love, she soon becomes bored and embarks on a secret life of gambling, highway robbery and murder. Visit www.newvictheatre.org.uk or ring 01782 717962.

WHAT’S STILL SHOWING & WHERE

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET (The Lowry, Salford Quays, until Sunday)

BRB return to The Lowry with two different programmes. On Wednesday and Thursday, they present Love and Loss, three contrasting one-act ballets exploring the depths of joy and sorrow including Galanteries by David Bintley and Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream. On Friday and Saturday, BRB presents two very different classical masterpieces from Ashton and George Balanchine, the two most celebrated choreographers of the 20th century. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5788.

EVERYBODY LOVES A WINNER (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, until August 1)

IT WILL be eyes down for a full house at the Royal Exchange Theatre this summer when the building is transformed into a working bingo hall. This remarkably devised show opens a door on a secret world – a world of dreams, dabbers, camaraderie and cash. Combining drama, comedy, music and choreography, the production deploys a tightly choreographed cast of 20 to delve beneath the surface of a day in the life of a Manchester bingo hall. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

FAME THE MUSICAL (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, until Saturday)

SEEN by more than five million people in the UK alone, this is the smash hit dance explosion that has captivated the country for more than a decade, having been inspired by the Alan Parker film from 1980, which also led to the fondly remembered cult TV series. Packed with breathtaking routines and unforgettable songs, the multi-talented cast perform with explosive vitality. Former teacher turned musical theatre star Beverley Trotman – who appeared on The X Factor – takes the role of Ms Sherman. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC (Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool, until July 11)

FOLLOWING his triumph last year with Tartuffe, Liverpool writer, Roger McGough has returned to the works of Moliere for another adaptation. Argan is a perfectly healthy, wealthy gentleman, convinced he is seriously ill. But his sharp-tongued servant has a cunning plan to reveal the truth and open her master’s eyes. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or ring 0151 709 4776.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, Until Saturday)

TIP Top Productions revive Alan Ayckbourn’s breakthrough comedy from the 60s. Greg and Ginny are living together and planning to get married. But Greg is becoming increasingly suspicious that he is not the only man in Ginny’s life. So when she plans to “visit her parents”, he decides to secretly follow her. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk.