THEGAYUK

Author: Paul Szabo

  • THEATRE REVIEW | To Kill A Mockingbird, Sheffield Lyceum & National Tour

    ★★★★ | To Kill A Mockingbird, Sheffield Lyceum & National Tour

    Harper Lee’s classic American novel, which many will remember from their schooldays, is beautifully presented in this classy and stylistic play.

    Set in the deep south of America in the 1930s, issues of racism, prejudice and optimism are explored through the eyes of the young narrator, Scout, as she learns of the flaws in those who live amongst her in her neighbourhood and counterbalances this by watching her Father, an idealistic lawyer, as he defends a black man accused of raping a white girl. As tensions build within the small community, Scout learns about the impact of both hatred and of standing up for your beliefs, regardless of external pressures.

    Despite its somewhat heavy themes and the dramatic tension displayed on stage, the play still maintains a good mixture of very gentle humour and childhood innocence which lifted it slightly, ably aided and enhanced by a strong cast who provided universally excellent performances. In particular, Zackary Momoh stood out as the accused Tom Robinson, the young leads performed well and Luke Potter provided some delightful and atmospheric musical accompaniment. The staging of the play was impressive, with scenes interspersed with the cast members reading directly from the novel, acting in the role of narrator, before seamlessly morphing into various characters in the story as another narrator took over. The actors entered and exited the stage though the audience, and placed the audience in the shoes of the Jury during the trial scenes. The set was deliberately sparse, with simple props being used to set the scene, allowing the performances and writing to be the focus and avoiding the drama being overshadowed by being style over substance. Director, Timothy Schrader cleverly utilises these techniques to provide an absorbing and engaging presentation which draws the audience in.

    To Kill A Mockingbird is a thought provoking and timely reminder of the impact of blind prejudice and despite being written around 55 years ago, it’s themes are still pertinent today, especially when considering the persecution of the gay community in various parts of the world. Overall, this is a high-quality production which is engrossing, engaging and enjoyable.

    To Kill A Mockingbird is playing at Sheffield Theatres (www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk) until 31st January 2015 before continuing on its national tour (http://www.tokillamockingbirdplay.com/).

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Blood Brothers – Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    Over the last 29 years, Blood Brother has nuzzled its way into the hearts of theatre goers with its blend of music, comedy, pathos and social commentary.

    The show tells the story of Mrs Johnstone, a single mother struggling to make ends meet. Finding herself pregnant with twins, she realises that she can only afford to keep one of them, so enters into a pact to give one of them to a well-to-do neighbour, Mrs Lyons. The boys meet and become best friends, never knowing that they were twins secretly separated at birth. But as they grow up, their friendship is tested; as their lives take different paths, leading to tragedy. Featuring the songs “Bright New Day”, Marylyn Monroe” and the heart-breaking “Tell Me It’s Not True”, the show still packs out theatres up and down the country and is affectionately known as “the standing ovation musical”.

    There is a reason why this play has been so enduring, and that is primarily down to the superb writing by Willy Russell. The loud first act establishes the characters nicely and is very comedy orientated, if sometimes a little bit too shouty in its presentation. But it is in the second act where the writing shines through, with both the progression and changes of the characters and the genuine drama which captivated the audience as it unfolded, leading to the ending which still packs an emotional gut-punch. The production values of the show were very high indeed, with its detailed sets, costumes and props and the presentation as a whole was relatively polished.

    There are some very good performances in this production, primarily from Sean Jones, who portrays the transition of Micky from giddy schoolboy to troubled young adult with ease, having made the role very much his own over the years. Kate Jarmon as Mrs Lyons provided an impressive turn as a woman descending into madness and paranoia and rounding off the leads were Joel Benedict as Eddie and Danielle Corelass as Linda, both of whom were equally as strong.

    With those performances in mind, it’s a real shame that Marti Pellow disappoints as the Narrator, looking awkward and uncharismatic as he skulks around the set utilising an indeterminable accent whilst over singing and over emphasising every syllable of every word he delivered. Maureen Nolan, offered a really warm portrayal of Mrs Johnstone garnering a genuine empathy from the audience, but whose singing voice was not quite on form on the evening, which is a shame when I have seen her perform much better.

    Having seen the show many, many times, this was the first time I felt that Blood Brothers is now starting to show its age a little, with its overuse of electric drums and echo microphone; but it could be said that in some way, that adds to the nostalgia and emphasises that the socio-economic issues addressed when the play was first written are still relevant nearly 30 years later.

    Blood Brothers is opening its 2015 tour at the Sheffield Lyceum (www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk) before touring the country until May, details of which can be found at http://www.kenwright.com/index.php?id=590

  • Moscow City Ballet’s Swan Lake – Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    ★★★ | Moscow City Ballet’s Swan Lake – Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    It is a tidal wave of tights, tutus and tiaras in this presentation of one of Tchaikovsky’s most famous ballets, performed in typical traditional style by the Moscow City Ballet.

    Telling the story of a Prince who finds his youth slipping away and being pressured into marriage, he meets and falls in love with Odette, Queen of the Swans, who is under a curse from which only true love can free her. But their love is thwarted by Von Rothbart when he tricks the Prince into being betrothed to another. When the Prince realises he has been a victim of such cruel treachery, he battles to save Odette from her curse.

    Having not been overly impressed with my first visit to Moscow City Ballet (for their performance of The Nutcracker) I was not sure what to expect, but found that Swan Lake proved to be a more entertaining and gentile evening that I anticipated. The company as a whole were very talented, and the number of stumbles and heavy footed landings was significantly less than when I had seen them before. The dancers individually were all very talented and quite natural in their performances, and there is no denying the technical ability and suppleness of the cast, but when dancing as an ensemble, there were still some flaws in the performance, with the unison of the dancers not being as tight and synchronised as one would hope for and anticipate, especially from such a prestigious company.

    That aside, the vivacious and playful score by Tchaikovsky sounded as vibrant as ever, and proved absorbing, especially during the first act. There were times when the ballet sparkled brightly, nowhere more evident than the sight of a sheer volume of swans and signets in the latter portion of the second act, which amounted to a fairly mesmerising vision. The tapestry based static set was functional and place the audience in mind of the time when this ballet was first performed; and the costumes were beautifully put together. There was a romantic pas de deux and the soloists portraying the potential suitors displaying their wares at the opening of Act 3 were quite captivating.

    For those seeking a traditionally presented ballet, then this version of Swan Lake is a safe bet and a pleasant evenings entertainment, albeit one which is let down to an extent by a lack of unison within the performance, which is a shame when compared to the tightly performed routines by companies such as Northern Ballet and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. However, there remain many aspects of the show to enjoy and it is an easy, accessible ballet which is more focussed on dance and performance than detailed narrative.

    Further details can be found at www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and www.moscowcityballet.com/en

  • Madonna Releases New Material

    Madonna has given her fans an early Christmas present, by releasing six tracks from her Rebel Heart album on iTunes and the chance to pre-order her new album, Rebel Heart, which is due for release in March 2015. The six tracks are Living for Love, Devil Pray, Ghosttown, Unapologetic Bitch, Illuminati and Bitch I’m Madonna which was recorded with Nicki Minaj.

    Madonna has been teasing fans for some time on social media with the hashtag #unapologeticbitch and has been posting photos of her in the studio on her Instagram account. The new studio album includes work with Diplo, Kanye West and Bilboard.

    The official release comes after unfinished versions of some of the tracks from the new album were leaked online. According to Madonna’s official website, she stated “I was hoping to release my new single ‘Living For Love’ on Valentine’s Day with the rest of the album coming in the Spring. I would prefer my fans to hear completed versions of some of the songs instead of the incomplete tracks that are circulating. Please consider these six songs as an early Christmas gift,”

    Madonna has also promised to release additional music on 9th February 2015 and the full album is due for release in the first week of March 2015.

    According to www.madonna.com “the six songs are currently available for purchase now via pre-order at iTunes and other music outlets with purchase of the album. The music will also be available on all streaming services”.

    The track listing for the album suggests that it will have 19 tracks and gives away that one of the other tracks is called “Joan of Arc”.

  • THEATRE REVIEW: Northern Ballet’s Peter Pan, Leeds Grand Theatre

    Join Peter, Wendy, Michael and John as they fly off against a backdrop of stars to Neverland in search of adventure. Teaming up with the Lost Boys, the friends are never far away from Captain Hook and his band of pirates, who have a score to settle with Peter Pan. But as the battles ensue and the Lost Boys are captured by the pirates, it is down to Peter Pan to save the day, with a little bit of help from Tinkerbell. ★★★★

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Anything Goes – Sheffield Crucible Theatre and National Tour

    ★★★★★ | Anything Goes – Sheffield Crucible Theatre and National Tour

    It’s all aboard for high camp on the high seas, as the SS American sets sail from New York to Southampton and Billy Crocker stows away on board to chase the love of his life, Hope Harcourt. When he discovers that Hope is due to marry hapless fop, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, Billy teams up with a gangster, Moonface Martin, Erma, the Gangster’s Moll; and a sassy lounge singer, Reno Sweeny, in an attempt to win her hand. But can Billy avoid the sailors hunting the stowaway, get away with a number of dubious disguises, avoid his unsuspecting boss and get Hope to agree to marry him before the ship docks in Southampton?

    Featuring the songs “I Get a Kick out Of You”; “You’re The Top”; “De-Lovely”, and “Anything Goes”, this 1930’s set musical comedy, which was written 80 years ago, is still an utterly joyous delight. The story has everything you could want from a whimsical musical – a will they/won’t they love story, a genuinely funny, laugh out loud script, some subtle slapstick and elements of farce, mistaken identity, disguises of varying quality, feisty heroines and, of course, a delightful and timeless score and songs which make it impossible for you to resist tapping your feet.

    This art deco tinged production is packed with well-timed comedy, spectacularly choreographed set pieces, good vocal performances and an uplifting sense of fun which proves utterly irresistible. Stephen Matthews delights as the naïve, bumbling toff, Lord Oakleigh, who is bursting with a dark family secret. Hugh Sachs (from TV’s Benidorm) shows his comedic talent as Moonface Martin, in a performance which is reminiscent of Nathan Lane in The Producers; and Debbie Kurup was a sassy bundle of energy in her performance as Reno Sweeney, heading up the tap dancing, show-stopping denouement to the first act and a lively and vivacious opening to the second act.

    The show is well directed and choreographed and is brimming with such energy and you can’t help but get swept along by it. This production is a welcome and well-timed revival of a criminally underperformed show, which has a surprising number of parallels between the 1930s and modern day, in terms of the economy and the public’s interest in celebrity. But the rapturous standing ovation and the number of people singing, tap dancing and laughing as they left the theatre is the most accurate measure of the success of the show.

    Sheffield Theatres annual Christmas musical is rapidly garnering a national reputation as one of the most hotly anticipated theatrical events, and after their award-winning productions of My Fair lady and Oliver! over the last two years, Anything Goes continues the trend.

    Anything Goes is playing at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre until the 17th January 2015, before embarking on a national tour covering a total of 30 venues up and down the country between now and October 2015. Visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and http://anythinggoestour.com for information, tickets and tour details.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | White Christmas, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

    ★★★★★ | White Christmas, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

    Army pals turned song and dance men, Phil Davies and Bob Wallace, are on their way to Florida for Christmas, when they stop by at Jimmy’s Nightclub to audition Betty and Judy Haynes, a sister act, for their new show. For Phil and Judy, it is love at first sight, but for Bob and Betty, it is a frosty start. Phil secretly swaps their train tickets and the pair follow the sisters to Vermont, where they are booked to play at the hotel which is owned by Phil and Bob’s former Army General, and, which is on the brink of closing. Calling in favours from their showbiz contacts and their old army pals, Phil and Bob try to put on a show to save the hotel and make it a Christmas to remember, but, as Bob Wallace discovers, falling in love can be very distracting.

    Written by Irving Berlin, and containing a number of classic songs, including Love And The Weather, Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me, Sisters, You’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm and, of course, White Christmas, this feel-good Christmas story is welcomed back to the stage in a simply brilliant production by West Yorkshire Playhouse.

    The production contained a well-rounded and consistently solid cast throughout, with the vocal performances across the board being of a very high quality. Melanie La Barrie belted out Let me Sing and I’m Happy, somehow seeming to channel the spirit of Ethel Merman into her performance. Darren Day was much better vocally than expected in his understated performance, but the standout cast member was Oliver Tompsett, whose charisma filled turn as Phil Davies showcased his ability to sing, dance, act and take on the comedy aspect of his role superbly.

    The set allowed the stage to open up into an abundance of space to undertake the well-choreographed and enthusiastically performed set pieces. There was a real tinge of 1950’s Americana in the costumes, certain aspects of the set, and the large set pieces; which were reminiscent of the old MGM Musicals. The on stage orchestra were spot on and the sound in the theatre was crisp, clear and well balanced between vocals and orchestra.

    If pushed to find fault with the production, the dancing in the set pieces could have been slightly tighter and the set did seem a touch sparse at times, but with a production that was so enjoyable, such quibbles seem slightly unfair.

    This is certainly one of the theatrical highlights of the year for me, and notwithstanding the twee nature of the show itself, you can’t beat a bit of good, old fashioned, family friendly and feel good entertainment at this time of the year.

    Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is currently playing at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until the 17th January 2015. For information, to book tickets or for details of their new season, visit their website at http://www.wyp.org.uk

  • TRAVEL GUIDE | Christmas in Budapest

    An authentic Christmas Market cannot fail to get you in the mood for the festive season, so why not treat yourself to a break in the run up to Christmas. Often described as “the Jewel of the Danube”, Budapest is a spectacular city, which is easy to get to and can make an excellent city break for a long weekend or an extended stay.

    Christmas is a big deal in Budapest, with the main attraction being the Christmas Market held in the heart of the city at Vörösmarty Square, which is at the top of the main shopping district, Vaci Utca. As you approach, you can smell the scent of mulled wine, home-made biscuits, cinnamon and fir trees luring you into the square. The square is filled with little wooden huts, selling a selection of gifts, from woolly hats and nick naks to handmade Christmas tree decorations and gifts. There are a number of traditional foods available and locals huddle together to chat in the seating areas, warming their hands on cups of mulled wine and eating the fresh street food served up.

    The square itself is dominated by Gerbeaud Coffee House, a traditional and lavish patisserie, which serves a vast and tempting array of handmade cakes. But from the end of November, the building turns itself into a giant advent calendar, with numbered windows. At 5pm daily, there is a light show, a brass band emerges onto the balcony and the crowd gather to watch the day’s picture being revealed. It is a lovely tradition which never fails to charm its audience. There are also two stages which have performances on them throughout the day, ranging from marionette shows to world music. The town is dotted with nativity scenes around the streets and outside the churches. Christmas trees line the streets, with the biggest outside the Parliament building and outside St Stephens Basilica.

    St Stephens Basilica is a simply stunning cathedral and they often hold classical concerts in the evenings. Hearing the elegant sounds of opera and classical music, alongside the huge church organ, soaring into the dome and echoing around the cathedral is breath-taking. You can also climb the dome for great views of the city.

    Heading out of the town centre a little, there is an open air ice rink just behind Hero’s Square at the entrance to the City Park and if you are lucky enough to have snow, walking around the park and the area where the Vajdahunyad Castle stands is a joy. The weather in Budapest can be variable, but one thing for sure is that it will be cold at this time of year, so thermals, coats, hats and gloves are strongly recommended. That said, there are often cold, crisp, clear and sunny days which will give you chance to explore.

    But Budapest has much more to offer than solely a festive atmosphere. Taking time to explore this beautiful city by day and by night is well worth it and the place as a whole is very easy to get around. There is an efficient public transport system, combining trams, busses and a subway which make this city very accessible. Tickets can be bought from tobacconist stands and the public transport operates the European method of validating your tickets immediately before or at the time of travel. Beware, plain clothes ticket inspectors are rife, so don’t get caught out.

    You can’t walk very far in Budapest without stumbling across a park, square or statue, so there is plenty to look at and explore by foot. Whatever you do, don’t miss the opportunity to have a walk down the banks of the Danube at night. Walk on the Pest side to get great views of the castle and Fisherman’s Bastian lit up and check out the illuminated bridges which span the river – the Chain Bridge being the most spectacular. If you want piece of tranquillity in the middle of the city, head to Margaret Island, where you can have a stroll around the open spaces away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

    One of the first things you will notice about Budapest is the eclectic mixture of architecture – ranging from historic buildings and cathedrals in a variety of styles which have survived war and revolution to the concrete blocks built during the Russian occupation and the modern architecture springing up. Budapest is city not only straddling both banks of the Danube, but is a city which straddles both historic and modern.

    The city itself is split into two halves, divided by the River Danube – namely Buda and Pest. Buda is the more historic part of the city and is dominated by Buda Castle, which stands over the city, aside the Fisherman’s Bastion and the Matthias Church with its ornately decorated roof. From the castle district, there are superb panoramic views over the entire city, and in amongst the medieval, Baroque and 19th Century architecture are a number of museums, shops and restaurants. The castle itself houses the Hungarian National Gallery for those interested in art. The interior of the Matthias Church has to be seen to be believed, with its warmly coloured and intricately detailed decoration. It is truly unique. The Fisherman’s Bastian also provides stunning photo opportunities and beautiful views of Pest, Margaret Island, the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Danube. Access to the castle district is either by walking up the steep streets or by funicular railway which runs up the steep hill from the Buda side of the Chain Bridge. For those up for a steep hike, there is a small museum, some military vehicles and stunning views of the city and surrounding area at the summit of Gellart Hill which can be accessed by a maze of criss-crossing paths that wind their way up the hill.

    Pest is the more modern side of the city, with its shopping and business districts. The main shopping area is Vaci Utca, which is bookended by the historic market at one end and Vörösmarty Square at the other. A number of restaurants line the street at the bottom end and yield to a number of clothing shops as you progress, ideal for picking up those Christmas gifts.

    Wherever you go in Budapest, you are never very far away from a patisserie. Taking afternoon tea is the done thing and generally, each patisserie makes their cakes every morning and they all have a special, unique signature cake which is exclusive to them. Sitting with a huge slab of cake and a hot chocolate whilst watching the world go by is the perfect way to spend an hour in the afternoon.

    There are a number of museums dotted around the city, although they are all closed on Mondays. The National Museum presents a broad history of Hungary, whereas the Ethnographic Museum is more focussed on the people of Hungary rather than the country itself. But for an experience which is both fascinating and humbling, the Terror House is a must see. This museum is set in the building which had been the headquarters of the Nazi’s during their occupation of Hungary in World War Two and subsequently occupied by the secret police after Stalin imposed a communist government on the people of Hungary after the war. This brilliantly put together museum deals sensitively with a dark period of recent history. There is also the Museum of Fine Art and the Palace of Arts which flank opposite sides of Hero’s Square.

    Budapest is also a spa town, with bathing being a huge tradition. There are a number of thermal baths around the city. The Rudas Baths is one of the oldest in the city and the coloured glass stars in the dome of the building penetrate the steam rising from the warm waters with beams of coloured light. The stone building also houses a sauna and steam room and you can have a massage there, but it is more akin to a Turkish massage than anything relaxing. Prepare to be roughly manhandled if you decide to give it a go. The bathhouse operates separate days for male and female guests, and still operates the apron policy – where all bathers are nude save for a small apron worn at the front for modesty and turned around to the rear when seated. Very little is left to the imagination once you have dipped yourself in the water. For mixed bathing, head to the Gellart Spa and Hotel, which is luxurious and welcoming. Standard swimwear is required at the Gellart. But for those who are brave enough or want a slightly different experience, then head to the Széchenyi Baths in the City Park, which has huge outdoor pools, where you can sit and enjoy the thermally heated mineral waters whilst it is snowing around you.

    Budapest offers a lot to the gay traveller, with a broad range of places to suit everyone. There are a number of gay pubs, clubs and restaurants which range from the discrete and low key to brash and sleazy. The rainbow flag is often displayed in venues and restaurants and the Hungarian word for gay is “Melag”, meaning gentle.

    If you want a gay friendly place to eat, then head to the Pizzeria Club ’93 which offers an abundance of pizza and pasta in a low key atmosphere and Ruben which offers a reasonably priced menu of traditional Hungarian and international food.

    For pubs and clubs, gay men are catered for more than lesbians, although there are some venues including Club Underground have a mainly lesbian clientele (although there is a minimum drink policy at this club). For gay men, there are an abundance of pubs and clubs ranging from the quiet to the cruisy. Action bar and CoXx are both well known for their cruising and darkrooms, whereas Why Not and the Mystery Bar are more social. Just beware that a number of the bars don’t have an entrance fee, but have a minimum drinks policy which can prove quite costly, so be careful. One thing that is common in all of the bars are the number of male escorts offering sex quite openly and freely. Even if you are sat with your boyfriend, they will come and talk to you, and some of them can be quite persistent.

    Alterego is a cabaret bar and club which is very popular with both locals and tourists, with a nightly cabaret show, and Score is the newest gay club in Budapest. The Capella Club has a nightly drag show, but has a more straight clientele base than a gay one.

    There are a number of sauna’s in the city, including the Magnum Sauna, but a lot of the thermal baths are quite cruisy in any event.

    Getting to Budapest is fairly easy, with a number of budget airlines offering flights or flights and accommodation packages. There are plenty of apartments for rent and these can be fairly easily tracked down on line. Hotels can be booked separately online, or a number of travel agents offer a package deal, which are usually quite reasonably priced.

    There are a number of hotels in the city, ranging from traditional to modern. For sheer Art Deco indulgence, stay at The Astoria Hotel, with its beautiful patisserie which transports you back to the decadent age of the 1920’s and 30’s. For something luxurious, stay at the Gellart hotel with its quality food, famous buffet breakfast and grand, opulent thermal bath.

    Vegetarians may find it difficult to eat out, as the Hungarian diet is very meat based, so unless you fancy living on chips and cheese sandwiches for the duration of your stay, then you may prefer staying in a self-catering apartment. Unfortunately, vegans will really struggle to eat out.

    Most people in shops and restaurants are able to speak English and most tourist information can be found online or at access points which are written in English (especially useful when buying tickets etc at the stations).

    So what are you waiting for? Wrap up warm and head out to see what this superb city has to offer.

    Useful links
    For general information, head to http://www.budapest.com/ which also has a gay section. A lesbian website can be found at http://www.labrisz.hu/ and plenty of information for the gay traveller can be found at http://budapest.gayguide.net/

    by Paul Szabo

  • THEATRE REVIEW | STOMP – Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    ★★★★ | STOMP – Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    Mixing tap dancing, street dance, percussion, juggling, humour and incredible feats of physical performance, STOMP enters its 25th year with a show which utilises everything from paint pots to bin lids to create rhythmic set pieces which are dazzling, fresh, funny and exhilarating.

    Initially, one did wonder, having only seen the odd set piece from STOMP before on TV variety shows, how they would be able to fill a continuous one hour forty minute show without it becoming repetitive, but they were able to move from one set piece to the next seamlessly, always managing to add something new and different from what had come before. Using everything from brooms, sinks and dustbin lids through to shopping trollies, cigarette lighters and giant rubber rings, the variety of set pieces was more than enough to keep the show rattling through its running time, and the show arrived at its curtain call before you knew it and before you wanted it to.

    You couldn’t help but admire the sheer physicality of the performers, whose stamina throughout their relentless performance was undeniable. Their precision and sense of timing was impeccable, demonstrated nowhere better than in a routine involving a rapid flickering of cigarette lighters creating an effect which was reminiscent of a string of Christmas lights. The physical prowess of the performers impressed as they undertook what can only be described as a percussionist parkour; utilising and clambering over the set and props and leaving you in no doubt that they were giving it their all.

    With a static backdrop, covered in objects which transform into impromptu percussion instruments, the set was straight forward, but both the set and the performance were enhanced by some subtle but very intelligent lighting which also worked as a distraction tool, allowing the performers to disappear and reappear elsewhere, adding to the energy and vibrancy of the piece. The sounds of the beats, bangs and stomps, as the cast belted them out, were so loud that they resonated in the chest and added to the excitement of the performance.

    The show was also peppered with a lot of humour. A few looks, glances or exaggerated gestures exchanged between the cast members conveyed a simple narrative and each individual performer managed to develop an unassuming on-stage persona, which separated out the cast members from each other.

    The show was far better than expected and the combinations of skills on display were both impressive and enjoyable. STOMP is certainly deserving of their reputation after 25 years of tours and performances and the show has much more to it than you might expect.

    STOMP is at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre until 8th November 2014 (http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/ ) before continuing on its national tour. For details, visit http://www.stomp.co.uk/location/uk/

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Rock Of Ages

    ★★★ | Rock Of Ages

    The Bourbon Room is the hottest club on the Sunset Strip, being the epitome of rock ‘n’ roll excess. Run by Dennis and Lonny, the club finds itself under threat from an over-eager property developer and so tries to raise money by staging a farewell gig by Arsenal, the biggest rock band around, fronted by the charismatic Stacee Jaxx. Meanwhile, bar tender Drew craves to be on stage and Sherrie, who is just a small-town girl, arrives in LA to chase her dreams. Drew and Sherrie fall in love, but neither quite say it, so when Stacee Jaxx comes between them and the club is about to be pulled down, can Rock ‘n’ Roll win through?

    This jukebox musical was crammed full with a truckload of guilty pleasure soft rock classics, including “We Built This City”, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, “Just Like Livin’ in Paradise”, “Here I Go Again”, “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “Don’t Stop Believin’”, with the musical numbers coming thick and fast, accompanied by the live band a scantily clad ensemble.

    Ben Richards, as Stacee Jaxx, was criminally underused, but spent most of his time making the audience swoon as he stripped to the waist and swaggered around the stage. Cameron Sharp stole many scenes as the camp German, Franz, and treated the audience by displaying his thighs which would make a pro-rugby player jealous. Noel Sullivan exceeded expectations as Drew and Cordelia Farnwoth was a versatile lead. But the energy and enthusiasm of Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Lonny, the comedic narrator, made him stand out from the remainder of the cast.

    The stage was busy and detailed, combining a static background, video projection and moveable props, all complimented by some well-designed lighting. The live band was good, and the balance between music and vocals were about right. The costumes reflected the stonewashed denim and excessive lace of the era, but the choreography and dancing could have been tighter than it was.

    Rock of Ages is energetic, bold, brash, loud and in your face – reflective of the rock movement at the time – and nestles neatly between being an affectionate tongue in cheek tribute to the times and a knowing, self –mocking piece of fun with an abundance of flesh on display and a playful feel to it. It amounts to a generally fun but throwaway piece of musical theatre which was lapped up by the crowd and the finale garnered whoops and cheers, bringing everyone to their feet and singing along.

    Rock of Ages is currently playing at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre until Saturday 1st November 2014, before rounding off its national tour. For more detail, visit the official website at: www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk/

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Woman In Black, Sheffield Lyceum Theatre & National Tour

    ★★★★★ | The Woman In Black, Sheffield Lyceum Theatre & National Tour

    et in an old theatre in the late 1950’s, a solicitor, Arthur Kipps, enlists the assistance of a young actor to tell his story. His tale revolves around a terrifying incident when he was younger, when he travelled to the Eel Marsh House to settle the estate of a long standing deceased client. Initially finding a conspiracy of secrecy from the locals, he makes his way across the Nine Lives Causeway, which is cut off at high tide. Alone in the mansion, he is plagued by the sound of a pony and trap, an unexplained banging noise and a door which appears to be locked from the inside. What secrets does the estate hold, what lurks in the swirling mist… And who is the woman in black he keeps seeing?

    This chilling and effective ghost story is beautifully crafted and used simple techniques to create an immensely taught atmosphere in the theatre. The lighting design in particular was exceptional. Who would have thought that a dark stage with just a door highlighted would draw worried mumblings from those around you? This is a theatrical experience like no other.

    The production slowly cranks up the tension, which quite literally draws you to the edge of your seat and then throws you back into it with “cattle prod” jolts that elicited genuine screams of terror from the audience. The narrative of the piece completely draws you in; and the production avoids spoon feeding you the story, leaving you as the audience to create your own horrors in your imagination. The set, staging and props were remarkably effective in their simplicity and created an atmosphere where you held your breath with the central character as he explored the darkness. Setting the show in a theatre made you instantaneously part of the production and the dark atmosphere and low level lighting only add to the gloominess and intimacy of the piece.

    The performances from the two leads were both excellent, with Matt Connor playing the part of The Actor and Young Kipps, and Malcolm James providing the elderly Kipps and the other characters he comes across. It came as a surprise just how effective a simply staged double hander could be and the way in which the audience is manipulated via the events unfolding on stage is testament to the outstanding writing behind the show.

    This show is not akin to the recent film, so those expecting the Daniel Radcliffe version will be disappointed. It is faithful to its original source material, the book by Susan Hill. If anything, it is more reminiscent of “The Haunting” (1963) which leaves everything to the imagination. Here, the effective equivalent of the tradition of sitting round an open fire and telling ghost stories proves that there is more to what is unseen than what is seen; and is an absolutely perfect pre-Halloween treat or a superbly chilling way to spend a dark, stormy winter evening.