Theatres - Starting This Week - January 21 onwards

Jan 15 2010 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

STARTING THIS WEEK

CHINESE STATE CIRCUS (The Lowry, Salford Quays, January 27-31)

THE Chinese State Circus returns to The Lowry with a new production. Narrated by the Monkey King, this spectacular show brings together world class martial arts warriors and acrobats, as well as a dizzying succession of plate-spinning divas, Beijing bicycle dancers and the Lion Dance. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

LABUTE TRILOGY (Emlyn Williams Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, January 26-27)

DIALOGUE Productions make their Mold debut with this stunning trilogy by award-winning playwright, screenwriter and film director Neil LaBute featuring The Furies, Land of the Dead and Helter Skelter. In a chic restaurant in New York, a husband and wife meet to take a break from Christmas shopping. He doesn’t know she has already seen him today. Elesewhere in town, a couple part. He goes to the office, she visits a clinic. Two loves meet to talk about their relationship - no easy task with a surprise guest. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

OUR DAY OUT (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, January 21-30)

AN AMATEUR production of Willy Russell’s hilarious but moving story of a bunch of under-privileged school children taken on a day out to Conwy Castle by their teachers. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, January 27-February 20 2010)

LORRAINE Hansberry’s play was the first written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for best play of 1959. Lena’s life on Chicago’s Southside has always been about staying alive with “a pinch of dignity”. Now the insurance money from her husband’s death is coming through, her family sees the chance to make their dreams come true. But when those dreams conflict, it becomes harder than ever to retain that dignity. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

RE:PLAY FESTIVAL 2010 (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, January 26-February 6)

FIRMLY established as the primary platform for theatre companies to present the best productions first seen in smaller venues in manchester and Salford to a wider audience. Details of the programme will be available on the Library website. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.