As the fake snow fell on the stage and the chorus sang ‘it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’, for the first time this year I did actually feel a little Christmassy. That is early for me. Very early. In fact the feeling generally doesn’t kick in until around Christmas Eve (sometimes later if…
As the award-winning opera producer brings tours of Bizet’s Carmen and Puccini’s Tosca to Manchester, Ellen Kent gives her thoughts on opera production, touring and working with local stage schools: YOU HAVE BEEN PRODUCING ACCLAIMED OPERAS FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS, THAT’S AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. I had a hugely creative and colourful childhood which played a…
Award-winning opera producer Ellen Kent makes her return to Manchester, bringing along with her two of her most popular productions – Puccini’s Tosca (27 November) and Bizet’s Carmen (28 November). Kent has been producing highly acclaimed operas for the past 24 years. The two Manchester dates form part of a sensational new season and countrywide…
Proud and Loud Arts is set to present a very modern take on Ovid’s classic tale of Pyramus and Thisbe at Manchester’s Contact Theatre. The company, founded in 2000, are experimenting with the latest digital projection technology, to allow projected and real actors to perform live in the same space. Taking advantage of the super-speed…
It’s a show with a difference, as Hans Christian Andersen’s SNOW QUEEN becomes a meddling online virus and the heroes; Kai and Gerda are brought together within the care system. A modern story of friendship triumphing against the odds, Manchester arts venue, Z-arts wants to offer children in care FREE tickets this Christmas – but,…
Home has announced that it is to host a major new solo exhibition of film, drawing, installation and live concert hall performance by British artist and filmmaker duo AL and AL. The epic sci-fi odyssey entitled Incidents of Travel in the Multiverse investigates a new era of scientific exploration, both real and imagined, navigated and…
Guys and Dolls has proved to be one of the most popular musicals of all time, regularly featuring in lists of the top and favourite productions. It’s easy to see why, with its winning combination of humour, romance, dance and catchy songs. The latest tour of Guys and Dolls, directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed…
The Last Tango is the third and final stage show from world Argentine Tango Champions and Strictly stars, Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace. Following the sell-out success of their hit shows, Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn, their final production sees them telling the tale of a couple from their first meeting until their last…
Director Walter Meierjohann has announced details of the cast of Inkheart, Home’s first Christmas show, which is due to run from 4 December until 9 January 2016. The family production, based on Cornelia Funke’s worldwide best-selling fantasy novel will see Katherine Carlton taking the central part of Meggie, the 12-year-old hero drawn into a world…
I suspect it is fair to say that when the original John Waters Hairspray movie was released in 1988 to only moderate success, many people didn’t expect it to spawn a musical (admittedly 14 years later), a movie remake and still be performed around the world almost thirty years after the cult movie hit the…
