Theatres - Coming Soon - March 4 onwards

Mar 1 2010 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

COMING SOON

BALLET CENTRAL (The Lowry, Salford Quays, March 16)

THE performing company of the Central School of Ballet celebrate their 25th anniversary tour with an extensive repertoire from some of the world’s leading choreographers. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

BLOOD BROTHERS (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, April 12-24)

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.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (The Lowry, Salford Quays, March 15-20)

DIRECT from a smash hit West End season, this multi-award winning production is a deliciously funny tale of family values. The idyllic existence of Georges and drag artiste Albin is threatened when Georges’ son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right wing politician. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

CLUNK (The Brindley, High Street, Runcorn, March 25)

TWO women and an incoherent male live together but can’t quite work out why. The radio is broken, another mysterious relative has died and there’s a parcel on the step. It’s like this every day. Conjuring an evocative world of mutinous rag toys, donestic wormholes and poignant forgotten dramas, this Suitcase Ensemble production is a darkly rebellious feast of unhinged humour. Visit www.thebrindley.org.uk or ring 0151 907 8360.

THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester, June 28-July 3)

THE Chester Little Theatre season comes to a close with this classic George Bernard Shaw play. Set in colonial America during the revolutionary era, it tells the story of Richard Dudgeon, a local outcast and self-proclaimed “Devil’s Disciple”. In a twist, Dudgeon sacrifices himself in a Christ-like gesture despite his professed infernal allegiance. Visit www.chestertheatreclub.co.uk or ring 01244 322674.

A DOLL’S HOUSE (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester, May 10-15)

THE Chester company present Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play, his first to create a sensation and now perhaps his most famous work. The play is an important piece from the naturalist mivement, in a departure from previous forms. It is often referred to as the first “feminist” play. Visit www.chestertheatreclub.co.uk or ring 01244 322674.

1888 (The Brindley, High Street, Runcorn, March 13)

LONDON'S East End, 1888. The inmates at Colney Hatch lunatic asylum put the eminent Dr Jekyll on trial for the crimes of his murderous alter ego...Jack the Ripper! The Bankfield School presents an hour long interpretation of RL Stevenson's classic tale of the duality of man in a thrilling production incorporating elements of Artaud's Theatre of Cruelty. Be prepared for a terrifying theatrical trip into the heart of darkness within us all. Visit www.thebrindley.org.uk or ring 0151 907 8360.

GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, March 12-April 3)

MEET four desperate Chicago real estate salesmen.This month’s top guy wins a gleaming Cadillac, the runner-up takes home a set of steak knives, the rest get the sack. David Mamet’s sizzling drama of hard-driven men on the edge won a Pulitzer Prize. The production contains strong language and smoking on stage. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

GOOD WILL (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, April 23-25)

IN A local government office, one woman searches for the courage to keep her dignity and finally voices the truth. Card-maker Margaret Gallagher is a lonely widow who is cajoled into teaching by Clare, a newly promoted manager at the local authority. Margaret is needed to cover a staff shortage but is unaware of a pending inspection set to shape the future of the service. This thrilling drama by Paul Kelly is a story of exploitation, betrayal and integrity. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

HANSEL AND GRETEL (Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool, March 16-April 3)

KNEEHIGH Theatre will take you by the hand and lead you into the deepest part of the forest. Prepare for a world of darkness, wit and wonder, of earthy delights and crooked shadows. This terrifying new version of the classic story is told through lively music, rough poetry and some amazing gadgets and gizmos, Suitable for ages 7+. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or ring 0151 709 4776.

HOLD TIGHT IT’S 60S NIGHT (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, March 18-27)

CINDERELLA revisited with the beehives, the minis, Dusty, Cilla and much more. Suburban England in the middle of the Swinging Sixties. Downtrodden teenager Ruby dreams of meeting her handsome prince, falls asleep and is suddenly whisked away to the arms of Rock Hard at the Plastic Palais de Dance. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

THE HOT DOTS (The Lowry, Salford Quays, March 15-16)

FRANK is a juggler who is happy with his lot. But from the moment he meets Evie, his world is turned on its head. They begin performing together, wowing crowds from miles around. But as their reputation grows, so does Evie’s thirst for fame. Set against a backdrop of the 1930s Music Hall and combining film with stunning acobatics, So & So create an unforgettable theatrical experience. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, April 5-10)

A MUSICAL based on tghe life story of pop music’s survivor Neil Sedaka. From the innocent 50s to the cynical 70s and beyond, Sedaka has written and performed some of the world’s most enduring and beloved pop songs ranging from Oh Carol through to the title track of this musical which also examines his darker years of the 60s when his career collapsed as everyone embraced Beatlemania. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

A LITTLE VOICE A LONG WAY FROM HERE (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, April 9-10)

WHEN Amber was 11, her mother disappeared, leaving her to be raised by her father. Upon his death when Amber is 17, she discovers he wasn’t her father at all. Abandoning her life as she knows it, she travels north to unearth not only her family’s secrets but also the truth about herself. The Norfox Young People’s Theatre stage a production suitable for ages 14 upwards, written and directed by Liz Postlethwaite. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

MAINE ROAD (The Lowry, Salford Quays, March 18-20)

FOLLOWING the 5-star success of A Song for the Lovers, Monkeywood Theatre returns to The Lowry. Already a hit at Manchester’s 2009 24:7 Theatre Festival, Maine Road is a Manchester story about football, family, bricks and mortar. Leo loves football; loves City. Saturdays mean car-minding and listening to the match from the backyard. That is, until his world is bulldozed around him. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

MR HAPPINESS (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, March 31-April 2)

MR HAPPINESS sits alone giving advice to those he will never meet. He chooses the problem and the remedy but how will he manage his own troubles? David Mamet’s ironic short drama is set in a New York radio station in 1934. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

THE MOMENT I SAW YOU I KNEW I COULD LOVE YOU (Axis Arts Centre, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, March 12)

NEW performance by Leslie Hill and Helen Paris made in collaboration with film-maker Andrew Kotting, composer and sound designer Graeme Miller and performers Claudia Barton and Joseph Young. The piece is about gut feelings, flight, flight and freeze reactions, impulse, love and undefended moments.

Visit www.axisartscentre.org.uk or ring 0161 247 5302.

MORECAMBE - THE MAN WHAT BROUGHT US SUNSHINE (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, April 15-17)

BOB Golding’s extraordinary portrayal of Eric Morecambe, direct from the West End, commemmorates the 25th anniversary of his untimelyfinal curtain and celebrates the wonderful life of one of Britain’s best-loved comics. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

PASIO’N DE BUENA VISTA (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, March 14)

FILLED with hot rhythms, delicate dances and beautiful melodies, this will take you on a tour through an exciting Cuban night, allowing you to experience the unspoiled rawness and joy of Cuban life.The show features top Cuban singers, dancers and a live band that will infect you with the heat and passion of Cuba. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

PORRIDGE (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, March 22-24)

SHAUN Williamson of EastEnders and Extras fame bravely steps into the shoes of the late, great Ronnie Barker for this stage revival of the classic BBC TV sitcom which has been written by the show’s creators Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

THE RAT PACK – LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS (Lyceum Theatre, Heath Street, Crewe, March 31)

FRANK Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr and Dean Martin – names that have been immortalised on the silver screen and in the wider sphere of popular music. This spectacular production celebrates the incredible singing talent of three world famous entertainers and performers and some of the finest music and song that has ever been recorded. Visit www.lyceumtheatre.net or ring 01270 537333.

SHAKESPEARE’S WILL (Emlyn Williams Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, March 18-April 3)

IT IS the day of Shakespeare’s funeral in 1616. The burial over, the mourners have gine and Anne Hathaway awaits the visit of her sister-in-law Joan to read the will. In the hour before she comes, Anne looks back on her relationship with the great writer. This beautifully imagined portrait of a marriage was written by Vern Thiessen, one of Canada’s leading playwrights, and was first produced in 2005. It will be performed by acclaimed actress and Mold regular Vivien Parry. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

SHERLOCK HOLMES…THE DEATH AND LIFE (The Brindley, High Street, Runcorn, March 12)

INŠTHIS wryly humorous tale of murder, mystery & the occult, the world's greatest detective refuses to leave the stage. A fantasy based upon a fiction, starring Roger Llewellyn, finds Conan Doyle tiring of his ‘intolerably arrogant Sherlock Holmes’, and inventing the malevolent Moriarty, to dispose of him. But Doyle's dangerous strategy, combined with his passion for raising the spirits of the dead, hasŠrather more surreal andŠdramatic consequences than he bargains for! Visit www.thebrindley.org.uk or ring 0151 907 8360.

SNOW WHITE ON ICE (Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, March 17-21)

THE world famous Russian Ice Stars will take you on a magical journey to the heart of the best loved fairy tale of all time. The original story of an enchanted mirror, a beautiful girl, the ultimate Prince Charming and a shiny red apple comes to life on ice, with ballet, gymnastics and aerial aerobatics to create a breathtaking and mesmerising experience. This spell-binding show promises to be lavish and spectacular, dazzling the whole family with its sheer beauty and elegance. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke or ring 0844 871 7649.

SOMETHING ELSE (Pyramid, Palmyra Square, Warrington, March 14)

BASED on the award-winning picture book, this magical show about the fantastical friendship between two unusual creatures features storytelling, upbeat songs and a lot of laughs for children aged three and up. From the company that produced The Gruffalo and Room On The Broom. Ring 01925 442345 - or visit www.pyramidparrhall.com.

STOP MESSING ABOUT (Venue Cymru, Llandudno, March 15-16)

FROM the team responsible for the hit revival of Round The Horne comes a tribute to the late, great Carry On star Kenneth Williams. Set during a live recording and packed with outrageously funny sketches, which reunited Williams with his Carry On co-star Joan Sims, this show transports you back to a time when comedy meant being funny with scarcely a swear word in sight. Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk or ring 01492 872000.

STOP MESSING ABOUT (The Lowry, Salford Quays, March 17-20)

FROM the team responsible for the hit revival of Round The Horne comes a tribute to the late, great Carry On star Kenneth Williams. Set during a live recording and packed with outrageously funny sketches, which reunited Williams with his Carry On co-star Joan Sims, this show transports you back to a time when comedy meant being funny with scarcely a swear word in sight. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

THEY SHOOT HORSES DON’T THEY (LIPA, Paul McCartney Auditorium, Liverpool, March 25-27)

THE livs of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely gruelling dance marathon during America’s Great Depression of the 1930s. They dance hour after hour to get enough to eat. Final year acting students perform Ray Herman’s adaptation of Horace McCoy’s novel. Ring 0844 873 2888 or visit www.lipa.ac.uk.

UP ‘N’ UNDER (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, May 8-15)

JOHN Godber’s classic rugby-playing comedy. The Cobblers Arms have been the best and most feared amateur rugby league team for the past 10 years. But then ex-pro Arthur bets their boss that he could train a bunch of deadbeats to defeat them in a local rugby sevens tournament. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

A VILLAGE LIFE (Bickerton Village Hall, Heath Road, Chester, March 13)

MARGARET loves Aldale - the idyllic village she remembers from childhood holidays with her grandma but love can be blind. And when she and husband Colin retire there and lead Aldale into the Best Village competition, she begins to realise there’s more to village life than she had imagined. This Northumberland Theatre Company production takes a hard look at village life today. Visit www.cheshireruraltouringarts.co.uk or ring 01244 972835.

WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (Opera House, Quay Street, Manchester, March 22-April 3)

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. Ring 0844 847 2484 or visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, March 15-20)

THE Agatha Christie Theatre Company pay a welcome visit to Mold with this masterpiece from the lady of suspense. Emily French, an elderly woman who recently left a considerable estate to the charming Leonard, is found dead. Leonard protests his innocence but the appearance of a mysterious young woman has everyone guessing. A cast full of familiar faces is led by Honeysuckle Weeks, Robert Duncan and Ben Nealon. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

THE WOMAN WHO COOKED HER HUSBAND (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, April 9-11)

FOOD for thought from playwright Debbie Isitt for any man with an appetite for adultery. Hilary is a housewife with all the tricks of the trade when it comes to keeping her home shipshape. the only problem is husband Kennth takes his dinner and clean clothes for granted. Then Kenneth decides to have an affair with a younger woman who can’t cook to save her life. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

WORD IN MOTION (The Lowry, Salford Quays, March 13-14)

THE region’s top youth dance companies showcase new choreography inspired by the words of former New York City Ballet principal dancer and choreographer Jacques d’Ambroise. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.