9 minute read
THEATREZONE
Feb 4-26:AnAdventure. Octagon, Bolton. The journey of Indian husband and wife, Rasik and Jyoti, spanning seven decades and three continents, as they navigate political tensions in 1950s Kenya the trurbulance of first-generation life in 1960s Britain. Captioned Tue Feb 15; BSL Wed Feb 16; audio described Feb 22. Feb 7-12: Chicago. Empire, Liverpool. Power-packed musical starring Russell Watson, Faye Brookes and West End star Djalenga Scott.
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Feb 22-26: Bedknobs and
Broomsticks. Empire, Liverpool. New musical. Enter a world of magic and fantasy. Feb 10-12:Alice in Wonderland. Palace Theatre, Manchester.
Feb 11-12: Black is the Colour of My
Voice. Everyman, Liverpool.Asuccessful singer and civil rights activist seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father.
Feb 11: Roger McGough: Saftey in
Numbers. Playhouse, Liverpool. New collection from Liverpool’s world famous poet. Feb 12:Andy Fairweather Low. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Top musician back on the Wirral. Feb 13: Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Feb 13: The Carpenters Story. Opera House, Manchester.Amusical journey through the glittering career of pop’s most famous brother and sister duo. Feb 13: You WinAgain. Lyceum, Crewe. The music of the Bee Gees. Feb 14-19: The Da Vinci Code. Theatre Clwyd, Mold. The curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered, and alongside his body are a series of baffling codes. Audio described and captioned Wed Feb 16.
Feb 14: Russian State Ballet of Siberia
– Romeo and Juliet. Empire, Liverpool.
Feb 15: Russian State Ballet of Siberia
– Snow Maiden. Empire, Liverpool. Feb 15-26: Blood Brothers. Palace Theatre, Manchester. Captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. Feb 15-19. Private Lives. The Lowry, Salford. Nigel Havers and Patricia Hodge star in Noël Coward’s classic tale set in the 1930s. Audio described / touch tour / BSL Thur Feb 17.
Feb 16: Russian State Ballet of Siberia –
Swan Lake. Empire, Liverpool.
Feb 17:An Evening with Ian Rush.
Empire, Liverpool. Feb 18: The ELO Experience. Empire, Liverpool. Tribute show.
Feb 18-19: Tomorrow is not Promised.
The Lowry, Salford.Awoman awakens to find?herself homeless and alone after an earthquake. Her house destroyed, leaving only her door which she can’t seem to leave behind. While deciding if to rebuild or to start again, she encounters Suzanne who has suffered her own loss. BSL Sat Feb 19.
Feb 19: Islands In
BOX OFFICE CONTACTS
BLACKPOOL
Grand Theatre: 01253 290190
BOLTON
Octagon: 01204 520661
CHESTER
Storyhouse: 01244 409 113
CREWE
Lyceum: 01270 368 242
LIVERPOOL
Empire: 08444 999 999 Everyman & Playhouse: 0151 709 4776 Royal Court: 0870 787 1866 Unity 0151 709 4988
LLANDUDNO
Venue Cymru: 01492 872000
MOLD:
Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565
MANCHESTER
Opera House: 0870 401 9000 Manchester Palace: 0870 401 3000
SALFORD
NEW BRIGHTON
Floral Pavilion: 0151 666 0000
PRESTON:
Charter Theatre: 0845 344 2012
RHYL:
Pavilion: 01745 330 000
RUNCORN
The Brindley: 0151 907 8360
SOUTHPORT:
Floral Hall: 0844 847 2380
ST HELENS:
Theatre Royal: 01744 756000
STOKE:
Regent Theatre: 0844 871 7627
SUSPENSE
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Theatr Clwyd, Mar 8-12.
COMEDY
BONFIRE Night 2019 and Sheila, Denise, Julie, and Fay are Team C in their firm’s team-building weekend in the Lake District. But things don’t go to plan!
Sheila’s Island – The Lowry, Mar 29-Apr 2 and Playhouse, Liverpool.Apr 5-9.
TAKE YOUR SEAT
The Stream. Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Grand Theatre, Blackpool. The songs of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
Feb 18-22: Faulty Towers – The
Dining Experience. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.
Feb 22: In Conversation with Stacey Dooley –Are You Really OK. Understanding Mental Britain’s Mental
Health Emergency. Storyhouse, Chester.
Feb 22-26: Fatal
Attraction. Opera House, Manchester. Stylish movie thriller comes to the stage with Kym Marsh , Oliver Farnworth and Susie Amy. Feb 22-26: SIX. Theatr FATAL ATTRACTION Clwyd, Mold. Hit musical. From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of girl power. Audio described Sat Feb 26. Feb 22: That’ll Be The Day. Lyceum, Crewe. Rollercoaster ride through the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll and pop.
Feb 26: Sir Ranulph Fiennes – Living
Dangerously. The Lowry, Salford. Sir Ranulph talks about his childhood and school misdemeanours, his army life and early expeditions, right through the Transglobe Expedition to his current Global Reach Challenge – his goal to become the first person in the world to cross both polar ice caps and climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents.
Feb 26-27: Dragons and Mythical Beasts.
Storyhouse, Chester.
Feb 26: Ray Mears: WeAre Nature.
Lyceum, Crewe. Feb 27: Paul Carrack. Venue Cymru, Llandudno. “The man with the golden voice” returns with his six-piece band. Feb 28-Mar 5: Footloose. Opera House, Manchester. Musical. SIR RANULPH Mar 1-5: Nutcracker!. Empire, Liverpool. Clara’s journey through a shimmering, iceskating wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland. Mar 1-5: 9 to 5 the Musical. Palace Theatre, Manchester. Claire Sweeney is clocking in with Dolly Parton’s musical. Mar 1-5: The Three Musketeers. Theatr Clwyd, Mold. Comedy adventure.Armed with only a baguette and his questionable steed, join hot-headed d’Artagnan as he travels to Paris to become a Musketeer.
Mar 2: RUSHAJoyous Jamaican
Journey. The Lowry, Salford. The story of Reggae music and the Windrush Generation.
Mar 2-3: Dara O Briain: So Where
Were We? Storyhouse, Chester.
Mar 4: Jason Mountford: Like Me. Mar 4-5: We Will Rock You –
Young@Part. Lyceum, Crewe.
Mar 6: Tim Peake – My Journey to Space.
The Lowry, Salford.
MORE and more theatre lovers are demanding captioned live performances.
And as the public return to live venues, the number of captioned events will not keep track with demand, according to charity Stagetext.
Their research revealed just 1% cent of live performances had captions prior to lockdown.
Stagecraft say if more captioning was offered, a third of the general public would be more likely to increase their attendance at live shows. This includes people who would take friends or relatives who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing to an event, or arrange a visit for the whole family.
Daniel Jillings, 15, who is deaf and relies on captions and subtitles, said: “Because of captions, I could enjoy lots of the theatre shows that were streamed online during lockdown. Now that theatres are opening again, it’s important that providing captions for shows continues.
“Deaf people like me need captions to access live shows in theatres, so we can understand what is happening on stage. I am studying GCSE drama, so it is crucial for me to be able to access theatres, and captions enable this to happen.
“If access is ignored, then theatres will lose customers, especially deaf people and the friends and family who normally visit with them. ”
Stagetext’s study also found the public are more likely to back venues offering such a service, with almost a third suggesting they deserve more funding from grant-giving organisations and the Government.
Nearly a quarter felt it should be a legal requirement for venues to make captions or subtitles available.
HORSEPOWER: The War Horse production shows just what can be done
CAPTION CAMPAIGNER: Daniel Jillings
CAPTION SHOWS BENEFIT EVERYONE
Mar 7-12: Catch Me If You Can. Grand Theatre, Blackpool. US stars, Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl fly in from Hollywood & star alongside Gray O’ Brien. Audio described.
Mar 8: Menopause the Musical 2.
Lyceum, Crewe. Fast forward five years to catch up with the same four characters for tales of their lives, loves and losses as they set off on the high seas. Starring Crissy Rock (Benidorm), Rebecca Wheatley (Casualty), Nicki French (Eurovision) and Susie Fenwick (West End Star). Mar 8-12:As You Like It. The Lowry, Salford. Northern Broadside’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.
Mar 8-12: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Theatr Clwyd, Mold. Ichabod Crane enters an eerie world of secrets and unsettling tradition as he arrives in Sleepy Hollow to become the town teacher. But not all is as it seems.
Mar 8-12: TheAddams Family.
Empire, Liverpool. Everyone’s favourite kooky family are back on stage in this spectacular musical.
Mar 8-12: The Curious Incident of the Dog
in the Night-Time. Opera House, Manchester. Mark Haddon’s international best-selling novel come to life. Fifteen-yearold Christopher has an extraordinary brain. He is exceptional at maths, while everyday life presents some barriers. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbour’s dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world.
Mar 8-26: Cherry Jezebel.
Everyman, Liverpool. From the boudoirs to the bathrooms of Liverpool’s gloriously gobby drag scene, Cherry Jezebel is a riot of lipstick and split lips, of bitching and bruises. It’s a play that celebrates queerness while spilling the tea on the pain behind the polish. Mar 9.ADHD The Musical. Royal Court, Liverpool. New, exciting and heartfelt work explores the highs and lows of having the most common neuro developmental disorder worldwide. Mar 10-Apr 2: Kes. Octagon, Bolton. Moving and powerful story coming of age story about Billy Casper and his love for a kestrel hawk, set in Yorkshire in the 960s. Audio described Mon Mar 21; captioned Wed Mar 23; BSL Wed Mar 30. Mar 11-Apr 9: The Royal. Royal Court, Liverpool. Comedy. Reporters and celebrities are waiting outside the brand new Royal Liverpool University Hospital on the day that it is set to open its doors. The wards are ready, the machines are plugged in and all of the patients have been moved across. Well, nearly all of them… Mar 12: The Carpenters Story. Venue Cymru, Llandudno.Amusical journey through the glittering career of pop’s most famous brother and sister duo. Mar 14-19: We Will Rock You. Empire, Liverpool. Ben Elton’s futuristic comedy.
Mar 14-19: Dreamcoats & Petticoats:
Bringing On back the Good Times. Palace Theatre, Manchester. Bobby & Laura, Norman, Sue and the gang get back together for the follow-on musical.
Mar 15-19: Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
The Lowry, Salford. Enter a world of magic and fantasy. Mar 15-16:ATale of Two Cities. The Lowry, Salford.An alternative to the Dickens’ classic. BSL Tue Mar 15.Audio described / touch tour Wed Mar 16.
Mar 15-20: Magic Goes Wrong.
Storyhouse, Chester. New show created with magic legends, Penn & Teller. Mar 16: Herman’s Hermits. Lyceum, Crewe. One of the biggest selling bands of the 60’s - not just in the UK - but the world. Mar 16-19: Cats. Theatr Clwyd, Mold. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical phenomenon.
Mar 20: The Illegal Eagles.
Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Continued – p26
