Theatres - Still Showing - January 21 onwards

Jan 15 2010 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

STILL SHOWING

BLITHE SPIRIT (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, December 9-January 23)

NOEL Coward’s glorious supernatural comedy comes to the Exchange with a cast headed by Suranne Jones. When Charles Condomine and his wife Ruth hire the services of eccentric Madame Arcati, they don’t realise they are in for an evening of high spirits - especially with the madcap mystic accidentally brings Charles’ ex-wife Elvira back from the beyond. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

DICK WHITTINGTON (Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool, November 28-January 23)

THE Everyman rock ‘n’ roll panto is one of the highlights of the festive season on the North West stage. Writers Sarah Nixon and Mark Chatterton have taken on the classic story of London’s most famous pre-Boris Johnson Mayor in a production which is also directed by Chatterton and packed with rock ‘n’ roll numbers. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or ring 0151 709 4776.

GRIMM TALES (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, December 5-January 23)

THE Brothers Grimm’s dark and spooky stories have been brought to life on stage by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy in this new Library Theatre Company production which promises to provide a feast of physical, musical and mythical theatre. Suitable for ages six and upwards. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

KINDERTRANSPORT (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester, January 18-23)

THE Chester company present Diane Samuels’ poignant story of seven-year-old Eva Schlesinger who, in 1938, was put aboard a train with other Jewish children and evacuated from Nazi Germany. Torn between her German heritage and her desire to wipe the kindertransport experience from her memory, Eva tries to become “English” herself. Visit www.chestertheatreclub.co.uk or ring 01244 322674.

LES MISERABLES (Palace Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester, January 19-February 13)

CAMERON Mackintosh present this 25th anniversary production of the world’s longest running musical. Heading an impressive cast is Broadway and West End star John Owen Jones as Jean Valjean, Earl Carpenter as Javert and Pop Idol winner Gareth Gates as Marius. The legendary score includes I Dreamed A Dream, Master of the House and Do You Hear The People Sing. Ring 0844 847 2484 or visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.

MERRY DING DONG (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, December 11-January 23)

FRED Lawless, co-writer of Slappers and Slapheads, has created a festive play specifically for the audience at the Royal Court. A combination of scouse comedy and rock and roll panto the show will have audiences singing and laughing as events unfurl. The cast includes Jake Abraham, Stephen Aintree, Eithne Browne, Stephen Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Rachel Rae and Alan Stocks. Visit www.royalcourtliverpool.com or ring 0870 787 1866.

ROBIN HOOD & THE BABES IN THE WOOD (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, November 20-January 23)

THE same team who produced Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella - The Panto With Soul return to Mold for what is sure to be another sell-out show. Robin Hood tries to outwit the Sheriff of Nottingham and save the babes and their Nanny and marry Maid Marian. A talented cast of actor/musicians serve up more than 20 rock ‘n’ roll classics along the way. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, January 20-30)

SINGER Jonathan Ansell has been announced as the star of this production of the smash hit musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman, based on the classic British film and featuring the best-selling song No Matter What which Boyzone took to number one for six weeks. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (The Lowry, Salford Quays, January 18-23)

MORE than seven million people have dared to watch this chilling stage version of Susan Hill’s best-seller which is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. A lawyer obsessed with a curse he believes has been cast over him engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.