Theatres - from 27/8/09

Aug 27 2009 Flintshire Chronicle

ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, August 31-September 5)

ONE of the West End’s biggest comedy hits is set to take the UK by storm as Bill Kenwright’s acclaimed production of Alan Ayckbourn’s play goes on tour. Lisa Kay from Heartbeat, Elizabeth Carling from Casualty, Coronation Street’s Stephen Beckett and Robert Duncan from Drop The Dead Donkey, head the all-star cast. It’s party time at the Hopcrofts’ and the only present they want is to succeed in scaling the social ladder. Havoc ensues at the drinks party they hold to impress their high-powered friends but that’s nothing compared to what happens over the next two years when the friends return their hospitality. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

F...ING MEN (The Lowry, Salford Quays, August 27-29)

FREE-wheeling comedy of sexual manners which has been one of London’s biggest fringe successes of recent years. Inspired by La Ronde, this is a portrait of 10 men searching for love, sex and intimacy in modern day America. The insightful drama looks at a succession of male couples and strangers as they negotiate the before and after of lust, love and betrayal. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

MAGIC OF THE DANCE (Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, September 1-2)

THEY tap on tables, jump over boxes, and stomp the ground until their shoes catch fire. This is a fast paced, energetic show where sparks really do fly as dancers celebrating the history of Ireland in one exciting dance production. Featuring high-octane choreography by eight times world champion John Carey and a haunting narrative by legendary actor Christopher Lee. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke or ring 0844 871 7649.

MILKSHAKE! LIVE (The Lowry, Salford Quays, August 28-30)

FOR the first time ever, children can join their favourite TV characters and Milkshake! presenters in a new musical extravaganza. Fifi and Bumble, Peppa and George, Rupert Bear, Little Princess, Noddie and Tessie Bear and Mr Bump and Little Miss Daredevil will be deonstrating the tunes and dance steps that have made Milkshake! one of the most successful children’s TV experiences ever. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

THE MISER (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, September 2-October 3)

THE penny-pinching Harpagon reckons there’s a mint to be made in marriage and intends to cash in on both his children and himself – but Elise and Cleante believe in love and have fallen head over heels for suitors of their own. As Harpagon plots to stop his credit being crunched, nothing and nobody is as it seems in Moliere’s rapid fire comedy. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

NEVER FORGET (Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl, September 1-5)

ONE of the big success stories of recent musical theatre history. The producers have gone out of their way to point out this is not just a hastily strung together list of Take That hits and with a script by Shameless writer Danny Brocklehurst, they may be right. The story is not Take That’s but of a group of aspiring musical stars who find themselves forced to take the tribute band route. Visit www.rhylpavilion.co.uk or ring 0870 060 6649.

PRICK UP YOUR EARS (The Lowry, Salford Quays, August 31-September 5)

SET in the 1960s Kenneth Halliwell (Matt Lucas) and Joe Orton (Chris New), aspiring playwrights and sometime lovers, plot their rightful place at the centre of London’s literary scene while engaged in a secret crusade to improve the local library books, all in the worst possible taste of course, and acting out their own versions of popular radio dramas. But after a short interlude at Her Majesty’s pleasure, Joe is about to become the greatest and most notorious comic playwright since Oscar Wilde, while Ken stays indoors redecorating, reduced to sharing Joe’s success with their neighbour, Mrs Corden (Gwen Taylor), over tea and a slice of Battenburg. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

QUADROPHENIA (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, August 25-29)

SET in London and Brighton at the height of the Mod era, this story is told through the eyes of Jimmy, a hedonistic style-conscious teenager searching for a place to belong and a girl to love. Misunderstood by his parents and stuck in a dead end job, he sets off on a trip to Brighton that will change his life forever. The evocative world of Sixties Britain is emulated by the stunning Pete Townshend score. Visit www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

RAINBOW LIVE! - ZIPPY SUPERSTAR DJ (Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Wirral, August 30)

ZIPPY’S life suddenly changes when he wins a record contract with Yellow Peril Records. His record is a huge hit and earns him superstar status but when Zippy starts to miss his Rainbow friends, he has to decide where and who he would rather be. This live show features all the fun ingredients from the famous TV series and includes lots of sing-a-long songs and games. Visit www.floralpavilion.com or ring 0151 666 0000.

STILL SHOWING

THE BFG (Palace Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester, August 25-29)

ROALD Dahl has enchanted young minds for decades with stories that still fire the imagination. Here is one of his most popular, adapted for the stage by David Wood who has specialised in bringing Dahl’s works to a live audience. A young girl ends up befriending a big friendly giant who takes her on an adventure that results in her meeting the Queen. Visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2484.

CARRY ON UNCLE ERIC (New Vic Theatre, Etruria Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, August 18-29)

BACK for a 10th anniversary visit. Uncle Eric and the rest of the gang are carrying on in the latest musical instalment in the life of the ultimate dysfunctional family. When Eric goes to the cinema to see Carry On Camping, he finds himself inspired – a camping holiday at a nudist camp. He’s soon made a booking at the Paradise Camp site but when Madge finds out and tags along, all his plans start to go wrong. Filled with comedy, nostalgia and loads of great 60s music. Visit www.newvictheatre.org.uk or ring 01782 717962.

BLOOD BROTHERS (Venue Cymru, Llandudno, September 7-12)

WILLY Russell’s deeply moving story of a mother’s haunting secret and the reunion of twin brothers, separated at birth, always guarantees a standing ovation on home ground. Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk or ring 01492 872000.

CANRIF/CENTURY (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, September 8-9)

FOLLOWING the huge success of the National Youth Theatre of Wales’ 2008 production Magnificent Myths of the Mabinogi, writer Manon Eames once again brings her remarkable ability to combine both the epic and the intimate with her new play for the company. Directed by NWTW artistic director Tim Baker, this is a portrait of Wales asnd beyond through the turbulent, traumatic and triumphant years of the 20th century. Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk or ring 01492 872000.

THE CARETAKER (Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool, October 2-31)

CELEBRATED actor Jonathan Pryce returns to the theatre where he began his career for Christopher Morahan’s production of this Harold Pinter classic story of two brothers and a tramp. Davies is down and out when Aston takes him in for the night. Lost in a shoeless world, chasing papers in Sidcup, he soon fancies his chances at something more permanent. But then Mick shows up. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or ring 0151 709 4776.

DINNERLADIES (The Lowry, Salford Quays, September 7-12)

VICTORIA Wood’s hit BBC TV sitcom is brought to the stage in a world premiere UK tour, starring Andrew Dunn and Shobna Gulati from the original series. Follow the reluctant love story of Bren and Tony, egged on by Dolly, Jean. Twinkle and Anita. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 787 5793.

THE RAPE OF LUCRECE (Emlyn Williams Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, September 7-8)

FOLLOWING a five-star winning run at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe and countless sell-out shows elsewhere, Olivier Award nominee and RSC actor Gerard Logan presents his tour de force solo performance of Shakespeare’s great narrative poem, bringing emotional intensity to this account of the terrible crime of rape and its dreadful consequences. Visit: www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.