Theatres - 9/4/09

Apr 9 2009 by Michael Green, Flintshire Chronicle

STARTING NEXT WEEK

ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, April 13-18)

DAVID Essex returns to his roots and takes the title of his big selling debut album from the 70s as the inspiration for a musical set against the backdrop of a travelling funfair. Visit LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

CINDERELLA (Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl, April 10)

THIS magical and most enchanting of all fairy tales is presented by the successful and exceptionally popular European Ballet company of international dancers under direction of a principal dancer of The Bolshoi Ballet, Stanislav Tchassov. High-class dancers from Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria and the UK, many of whom are international competition winners, will perform in the production. Visit www.rhylpavilion.co.uk or ring 01745 330000.

FLASHDANCE (Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl, April 13-18)

THE 80s movie is transformed into a stage musical featuring choreography by Arlene Phillips and a cast headed by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Bernie Nolan and Bruno Langley. The score includes Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria, I Love Rock and Roll and the Academy Award-winning title track Flashdance – What a Feeling.

Visit www.rhylpavilion.co.uk or ring 01745 330000.

LOOK BACK IN ANGER (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, April 15-18)

CLASSIC British drama from John Osborne which sparked the ‘angry young man’ phase of the late 50s. Jimmy Porter is the original ‘angry young man’. Funny, clever, charismatic: he should have it all. Has the world let him down? Or is he intent on destroying himself and everyone he loves? Alison, his wife, suffers his furies on a daily basis and the arrival of her best friend can only inflame Jimmy some more. The cast is headed by former Coronation Street star Bill Ward. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

LUCKY SODS (The Lowry, Salford Quays, April 14-18)

HULL Truck return with another line up of TV faces and a ‘winner’ from BAFTA award-winning playwright John Godber. Jean and Morris have won the Lottery. But with the pressure of deciding what to do with the cash and jealous in-laws after a slice of the spoils, can Jean and Morris keep their lives from turning downside down? Gordon Kane, Jacqueline Naylor and James Weaver head the cast. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

SCARAMOUCHE JONES (Emlyn Williams Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, April 16-17)

ANCIENT clown Scaramouche chooses 11pm on Millennium Eve to break his 50 years’ of silence to give his final performance and charts a bizarre odyssey through crumbling empires, comic misadventures and the 20th century’s darkest episodes. Writer Justin Butcher finally takes on the role he originally wrote for Pete Postlethwaite. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS – THE SPONGE WHO COULD FLY (The Lowry, Salford Quays, April 15-19)

JOIN Spongebob, Patrick and their zany Bikini Bottom pals in a new musical as Spongebob embarks on his dream to fly with the jellyfish. Will he take flight or will his dream come crashing down to the ocean floor? Find out in this exciting musical about dreams, friendship and soaring to new heights. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

STONES IN HIS POCKETS (The Lowry, Salford Quays, April 9-11)

AFTER five years in the West End, Marie Jones’ multi award-winning comedy is back. When a major Hollywood film studio descends on a village in rural Ireland, the demand for extras from the local community is huge. As the story unfolds, just two talented actors bring to life more than 15 characters. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

WIDOWERS’ HOUSES (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, April 15-May 9)

TV ACTOR Roger Lloyd Pack heads the cast for a timely revival of Bernard Shaw’s wicked comedy. The action of the play centres on hot-tempered young doctor Harry Trench who falls in love with wealthy heiress Blanche. He thinks nothing can stand in the way of true love. But after discovering that his prospective father-in-law is the worst landlord in London, he finds his morals and desires are pitted against each other. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or 0161 833 9833.

WHAT’S STILL SHOWING & WHERE

CHICAGO (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, April 6-11)

LEGENDARY singer Jimmy Osmond will star as Billy Flynn in this national tour of the award-winning musical which was turned into an Oscar-winning film. Still best known for his chart-topping debut single Long Haired Lover From Liverpool back in 1972, Jimmy is a member of one of the most famous musical families in the world. He will be joined by EastEnders’ star Emily Barton as Roxie Hart. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

CINDERELLA ON ICE (Venue Cymru, Llandudno, April 7-11)

THE Imperial Ice Stars invite you to enter a world of magic and dazzling skating brilliance having previously wowed audiences with productions of Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk or ring 01492 872000.

CLOCKHEART BOY (Royal Exchange Theatre Studio, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, April 8-11)

FOLLOWING a successful run at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Dumbshow’s energetic ensemble revive their imaginative tale with an original script, story and musical score. When a boy with no heart is washed ashore, the Professor and his creations vow to bring him back to life. With wide-eyed wonder Clockheart Boy learns the joys of stargazing, dancing, romance and friendship. Yet he soon discovers that a shadow lies over this secluded castle in the form of the Professor's daughter, who disappeared some years before. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

GATES OF GOLD (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, March 20-April 11)

REGIONAL premiere of Frank McGuinness’ exploration of the character of love and celebration of a remarkable partnership between two great men of the Irish theatre – Hilton Edwards and Michael MacLiammoir who co-founded the Gate Theatre in Dublin in 1928. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

HONEYMOON SUITE (New Vic Theatre, Etruria Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, April 3-25)

EARTHY and affectionate comedy by Richard Bean, rooted in the salty working class life of the Hull-born writer’s hometown. It uses the time shift techniques of an Ayckbourn or a Priestley in a portrait of idealised love and the realities of marriage. Visit www.newvictheatre.org.uk or ring 01782 717962.

HORRID HENRY – LIVE AND HORRID! (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, April 8-11)

HENRY makes his stage debut joined by Mum, dad, Perfect Peter, Moody Margaret and Rude Ralph in an adaptation of Francesca Simon’s popular characters by acclaimed writer John Godber of Bouncers fame. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

LAZYTOWN LIVE! – THE PIRATE ADVENTURE (The Lowry, Salford Quays, April 8-12)

GET ready for power moves, sing-along songs and dancing in the aisles when children’s TV series Lazytown goes live with a new adventure on the high seas in a story full of parrots, pieces of eight and buried treasure. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

MACBETH (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, February 25-April 11)

A STRIKINGLY contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s gripping tragedy. Guest director Matthew Dunster stages this edge-of-the-seat story of overarching ambition firmly in the present – kick-starting this thrilling new production with vivid images of three young women brutalised by conflict.

Played out against a backdrop of a war-torn state ripped apart by an invading force and a rebel army, the drama unfolds as a triumphant Macbeth discovers he is destined to become the next King of Scotland. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

NEVER FORGET (Opera House, Quay Street, Manchester, April 3-18)

THE hit musical featuring the songs of Take That returns to the Manchester stage. Join the ride of a lifetime as Ash and his mates take a roller coaster journey of fame, fortune and friendship on the way to realising their dreams. Featuring such chart-topping smash hits as Relight My Fire, Back For Good and Pray. Visit www. palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.

WE WILL ROCK YOU (Palace Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester, March 21-June 6)

SINCE 2002, more than six million theatregoers worldwide have thrilled to this awe-inspiring production, written by Ben Elton and featuring 24 of the greatest hits of supergroup Queen. Now it comes to Manchester for a limited season. Visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2484.

WEIRD MUSIC (Unity Theatre, Hope Place, Liverpool, April 7-9)

TOM is an ordinary man. So ordinary that he and his wife, Ann, have separate rooms. But after being omitted from the first authorised biography of an old school pal, Tom decides it is time to become extraordinary. Then he meets Marcus, dangerous, exciting and half his age. Offside Productions looks at the current climate of celebrity worship and the blurring of reality with fiction. Visit www.regenttheatre.co.uk or ring 0870 060 6649.