Threads with Connection

Last Saturday, we headed to Manchester to see  Something Rotten!  at the Opera House — and I suspect this is a show that is going to surprise a lot of people. It is not a musical that I think is particularly well known to UK audiences. Many people will probably arrive without knowing the story, the songs or even quite what to expect. That may actually be one of its greatest strengths. Because  Something Rotten!  is very, very funny. Set in the world of William Shakespeare, the story follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom as they desperately try to create a theatrical hit while living in the shadow of the most successful writer of the age. Desperate to discover the secret of future theatrical success, Nick turns to Nostradamus for help and asks him to look into the future. What does he see? Musicals. And, with Nostradamus not always getting every detail of the future quite right, that glimpse of what is to come provides the show with some of its funniest moments. From...

Some theatre trips are enjoyable. Others become unforgettable. Our recent trip to London to see Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club was firmly in the second category. The performance was the centrepiece of a wonderful day exploring the capital. By the time we finally made our way home, we’d walked 13,297 steps (8.8 km ) , taking in the sights of London both before and after the show. It was the perfect combination of sightseeing, theatre and time together—and a reminder that sometimes the journey is every bit as memorable as the destination. Yet, as impressive as the day itself was, everything changed the moment we stepped inside the Kit Kat Club. More Than a Musical One of the most remarkable things about Cabaret is that the experience begins long before the opening number. From the moment you enter, you’re transported into the world of the Kit Kat Club. The theatre itself has been completely transformed, creating an intimate, immersive environment where the line between audience an...

Every now and then you walk into a theatre with one set of expectations and leave wondering why you ever had them in the first place. On 30th May, I had the opportunity to see  Jekyll & Hyde  at Hull Truck Theatre, performed by the Northern Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA). Before the show began, I knew this wasn't a touring West End production or a major professional company. What I didn't expect was to leave feeling that I had seen a production every bit as good as many professional shows I have watched over the years. In fact, one of the strongest compliments I can give is that after a few minutes the distinction simply stopped mattering. The quality of the performances, music, staging and storytelling completely drew me into the world of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale. Hull Truck Theatre itself deserves a brief mention. It remains one of my favourite regional theatres, combining a welcoming atmosphere with comfortable surroundings that make for an enjoyable ...