Darlington Visual

                                                                                         REVIEW: Band of Gold

Strong, sassy Northern women were certainly doing it for themselves in the stage adaptation of Kay Mellor’s Band of Gold, when it arrived at the Darlington Hippodrome last night. Based on the TV drama of the same name, it follows a group of women in Yorkshire who have turned to prostitution to find their way in the world.

Set in the early 1990s, when Pretty Women hit the big screen, it certainly doesn’t glamorise street work like the Julie Roberts film. Instead struggles with mental health, drug addiction and debt are at the forefront of these women’s reasons why they have chosen to work on ‘the lane.’

Full to the brim of famous faces such as Eastenders’ star, Laurie Brett, who has an impressive vocal range to fellow soapstar, Gaynor Faye who is the tough yet hilarious ‘Rose’ in the production. This drama is really about how these women hold onto their own power despite having to sell their bodies to men.

Emma Osman as single mother, Carol was really the standout performance for me with her sharp-tongued one liners and vulnerability about her mental illness and love for Inspector Newall (Shayne Ward).  Steve Garti who plays Curly also gives the performance of the night, if you go to see it, you will know exactly what I mean 😉

Band of Gold is full of the authenticity of a poor, northern town from 30 years ago and little touches such as advertising the next ‘meat raffle’ to the ladies getting their own thrills of owning a new sofa to rocking the karaoke in the local to help reinforce that. 

The set, sound and lighting is second to none and there are moments where you truly believe a car has arrived on the stage. So huge kudos to the tech team behind Band of Gold, who truly helped to transport the audience to a different, underworld level full of vice.

Despite covering hard-hitting subjects, Band of Gold never loses its humour and with an beyond amazing cast, it is a sure fire hit but prepare yourself for a second-half shocker!

Band of Gold runs until Saturday 1st February at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                  REVIEW: Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical

Forget  ̶C̶h̶r̶i̶s̶t̶m̶a̶s̶ when it comes to holidays, I’m all about Halloween 🎃 so it was only right that I should kick-start this spooktacular period with classic gothic production, Jekyll & Hyde at the Darlington Hippodrome...

Time-travelling back to the late Victorian era was the cast of Darlington Operatic Society; who if you have seen perform before, know they are nothing but first class!

Julian Cound takes the lead of Dr Jekyll, wowing audiences straight away with his strong vocal range and ability to build up tension before his regrettable and dramatic transformation into Mr Hyde.

Beth Hopper as ‘Emma Carew’ and Rhiannon Walker as ‘Lucy Harris’ also gave breath-taking vocal performances, their duet was nothing short of stunning and really stood out for me!

Away from the main characters, the supporting cast performed a number of tight dance routines, with kudos to choreographer, Joanne Hand for pulling it all together. They also showcased a wide range of vocal talent demonstrating any one of them could have took the leading parts!

A round of applause 👏 has to go to the live orchestra who made it all seem effortless as they performed live alongside the actors. And those costumes; they were just wonderful and made me want to dress up as a Victorian lady too!

Darlington Operatic Society maybe classed as an ‘amateur’ company, but Jekyll & Hyde was certainly no amateur performance! Full to the brim of stunning vocals, dark twists & turns and humour; there is certainly no weak link in this production, from the chorus to the main characters!

Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical runs until Saturday 2nd November at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                           REVIEW: Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

2019 has seen Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story ‘rave on’ and celebrate their 30th anniversary on the stage. The best selling West End musical stopped off at the Darlington Hippodrome Theatre this week and ‘oh boy’ was it energetic!

If 1950s rock ‘n’ roll is your bag, be prepared to be instantly transported back to the era even before the production starts with a selection of classic tracks teamed with commentary from a vintage radio jock being broadcast throughout the auditorium.

We are introduced to Buddy and The Crickets at the very start of their influential yet short career and the sheer talent of key cast members just shines through immediately! 

Birmingham born Buddy actor, AJ Jenks gave a ‘bosting’ (my favourite Brummie word) performance in the title role, full of charm and self-belief. 

He was backed up by amazingly talented supporting cast; Joe Butcher and his double bass + Rhiannon Hopkins who was a keys machine; stood out for me the most. I’ve got so much respect for people who can play an instrument and manage to dance at the same time!

It was also great to hear renditions of the likes of ‘Reet Petite’, ‘Shout’ and ‘La Bamba’ demonstrating the incredible vocal range of cast members!

What I would have liked to see more in this show is more narrative about Buddy’s life and his family; but the production’s main focus is of course on his music.

If you fancy a nostalgic trip to 1950s rockabilly central, Buddy is the musical for you, as it is full of  drama, passion and excitement!

Buddy runs until Saturday 21st September at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                       REVIEW: Educating Rita

With the music of the likes of Kim Wilde + Julian Cope + Echo & the Bunnymen (cue Liverpudlian connection) flooding the auditorium of the Darlington Hippodrome last night, I immediately felt Education Rita was right up my northern, working class street!

Set in the early 1980s, this Willy Russell composed play tells the story of the two meeting of minds from very different backgrounds. Frank (Stephen Tomkinson) is a frustrated older university professor & poet, who would much rather spend his time down the pub, takes on young, married hairdresser, Rita (Jessica Johnson) on an Open University course, who hopes to expand her horizons. 

From the off, these two have instant on-stage chemistry; I instantly warmed towards Johnson’s Rita who is confident, sassy and certainly knew what she wants in life and did it wearing some amazing outfits! She felt like an old friend who would give you a much-needed energetic boost when you saw her!

Tomkinson’s Frank was equally as engaging as the self-pitying frustrated poet, who also showed his vulnerability to Rita. The pair gave an energetic performance and bounced off each other effortlessly with lots of northern wit!

Although the performance takes place entirely in Frank’s office, through lightning, music and some clever costume changes, the audience are transported easily through time. So HUGE kudos to the production team for pulling it off so well!

I left Educating Rita feeling uplifted, as it was pure joyful escapism! Although filled with serious themes and issues throughout, the performance was vibrant, thought-provoking and beyond hilarious! I only wish I could see it again and again!

Educating Rita runs until Saturday 17th August at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                           REVIEW: Stones in his Pockets

Nothing quite causes some ‘mania’ amongst the locals than when a blockbuster film crew takes over your village. And that’s exactly what happens in Stones in his Pockets!

Set in a small village in Ireland, the inhabitants collide with Hollywood divas in  the hope of some much needed glamour and excitement.

Actors, Owen Sharpe and Kevin Trainor take centre stage, where they appear to be only two male actors, but through an incredible feat of acting, they seamlessly inhabit the roles of 15 characters!

Through the occasional prop but mostly just physicality, movement and voice, the actors move through male, female, Irish and American characters with fluidity.

I thought the physical comedy works well and the Irish Jig finale had the me in stitches, demonstrating just how talented Sharpe and Trainor are!

At times, the narrative can be slightly confusing with the speed of the character transitions, but after a while your brain soon catches up!

Although simplistic, the set and props are used effectively to instantly transport the audience through various locations and time frames. Lightning is also used well to demonstrate a change in mood or character.

Stones in his Pocket is simply a feelgood performance with lots of laughs throughout. But just make sure you concentrate, as the pace is very much 100mph!

Stones in his Pockets runs until Saturday 20th July at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                  REVIEW: The Picture of Dorian Gray

It seems fitting on ‘World Theatre Day’ to be blogging about a production that really captures why theatre is top notch!

Last night, Oscar Wilde’s classic tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray opened at the Darlington Hippodrome. Dark in nature, that narrative follows Dorian as he is led down a bad path in the quest to remain young and beautiful for all eternity. This production isn’t all doom and gloom though, you will find yourself sniggering along to some top comedy moments and one-liners!

From the off, Jonathan Wrather’s portrayal of Lord Henry Wotton was of high calibre, convincingly pulling off the sophisticated gent with a dark personality.  Gavin Fowler is the perfect Dorian Gray, he make the transition from the untainted young man to his eventual haunting downfall with ease.

The supporting cast are also second to none, playing multiple roles convincingly and adding perfectly to the narrative, especially during choreographed scenes. 

The use of the set + lighting + music are really spectacular during this performance and instantly transports the audience through location and time, whilst building up the level of suspense as the play progresses.

The Picture of Dorian Gray maybe ‘gray’ by name, but it certainly isn’t gray by nature. Dark, thrilling and full to the brim of surprises, this gothic tale really does have it all!

PS - If you get chance, grab a programme for this production, as it is easily one of the best designed programmes out there!

The Picture of Dorian Gray runs until Saturday 30th March at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                       REVIEW: Octopus Soup

Brand sparkling new comedy, Octopus Soup described as a ‘British farce’ arrived at the Darlington Hippodrome last night, where we are introduced to  Seymour Norse, (Nick Hancock) a straight-laced insurance professional. A chance meeting with a career burglar, Marvin Haynes (Paul Bradley) sees his ordinary world unravel, when the unlikely pair team up to bring Seymour’s working life crashing down.

From the off, Paul Bradley who you will know best as Nigel from Eastenders (used to love his curls in the 90s) delivers a standout performance. He has superb comic timing and plays the bumbling but lovable idiot well. At times, his word mix-ups often remind me of the TV character, Count Arthur Strong.

It would have been good to see more of Marvin’s shenanigans in a different setting, for instance when he was performing the ‘planned burglaries’ instead of always being set in Seymour’s home.

More at home presenting TV shows such as ‘Room 101′ I thought Nick Hancock did well in the role of Seymour and added some great ‘slapstick’ moments to the show.

I always loved Seymour’s wife, Gloria’s (Carolyn Backhouse) impression of a particular North East female TV detective who wears a mac, and laughed out loud when she exclaimed ‘canny b***h.’ The Bill’s Eric Richard was also well cast as underworld boss, Alan.

Although the principal of the plot is an interesting concept, I felt at times the narrative could have been at a much quicker pace, especially at the beginning when establishing the characters.

This show however uses technology in a great way, especially with the ‘live video calls’ being broadcast on the big screen and the use of ‘security cameras’ to further add comic input to the piece.

A fun and at times surreal, this production is certainly worth a shot and I also would has loved to have seen more of Terry the Octopus. (he was very cute)

Octopus Soup runs until Saturday 2nd March at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                                REVIEW: Rain Man

My first theatre trip of 2019 saw me take in some drama, mainly in the form of classic film, Rain Man which first hit our screens in 1988.

And guess who is guilty of not catching the original silver screen version - that would be me! 🙆‍♀️ However that’s the way I prefer it if I am going to see a stage adaptation, as I hate comparing the two mediums.

The piece opens with struggling businessman, ‘Charlie Babbitt’ portrayal by Hollyoaks star, Chris Fountain failing to make ends meet, when an unexpected call out of the blue explaining that his estranged father has died, completely transforms his world. He is soon catapulted into meeting his his long-lost autistic brother Raymond (Adam Lilley) in a bid to grab his share of inheritance.

‘Outstanding’ is the only word to describe the performance of both Fountain and Lilley who play the two brothers.’ - Both pull off a very convincing portrayal, which at times will also pull at your heartstrings.

The supporting cast are also second to none with particular strong performances from Elizabeth Carter who plays Charlie’s girlfriend, Susan and Dominic Taylor’s role of ‘Dr Bruener’ especially standing out.

Of course being set in the 80s, the music in this production is top drawer and features everything from New Wave staples to classic rock ballads. 

At first the set design appears simple, however with the clever use of lighting and seamless props changes, it convincingly transforms from anything from a hospital to a Vegas casino!

Heartwarming, brutally honest and at times, hilarious Rain Man will take you on an emotional roller-coaster journey of two brothers finally coming together.

Ps. - My weekend plans now include finally watching the original film! 🎞

Rain Man runs until Saturday 23rd Februrary at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                   REVIEW: Cilla The Musical

If time travel was possible, I would 100% head back to the the swingin’ 60s when hair was big, skirts were short and music just simply rocked! And last night at the Darlington Hippodrome, I got a little taster of that world when Cilla The Musical took to the stage!

Set at the very beginning of her career, the title role is taken by hugely talented, Kara Lily Hayworth who just shone from the off and that girl can certainly hold a note! I was taken aback by her rendition of classic track, ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ which gave me huge goosebumps, as if Cilla herself was in the room.

The narrative is also full to the brim of working class sass, with hilarious one-liners coming from Cilla’s parents (performed by Jayne Ashley and Neil Mcdonald) and her two best friends, Pat and Pauline (Billie Hardy & Gemma Brodrick)

But its Cilla’s relationship with Bobby portrayed by Alexander Patmore which is a real delight! The pair pull off a killer performance and their partnership is 100% believable.  In fact Cilla and Bobby’s relationship reminds me of my own, as I would definitely need my husband in my eye-line if I was recording a hit at Abbey Road Studios!

Away from the plot and characters was the fabulous clothing, each outfit was to die for! In fact the clothing had such a HUGE impact on me, that during the interval I hopped onto google and immediate bought a pair of white tights, so I could be Darlo’s version of Cilla! 

Of course, no musical wouldn’t be complete without its range of songs. And bursting onto the stage of The Cavern was The Beatles, who blasted out a couple of the fab four’s classic hits. I especially LOVED Michael Hawkins’ portrayal of John Lennon, who captured his naughty and cheeky sense of humour just perfectly.

It was also fantastic to have an appearance from The Mamas and the Papas who belted out a stunning version of ‘California Dreaming’ to add to the music offering.

Quite frankly anyone who has a heart for sixties culture, will adore this musical adaptation of the rise to fame of a true sixties starlet! Full to the brim of talent, working class humour and of course bagfuls of style, this musical is a sure winner!

Cilla The Musical runs until Saturday 24th November at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                      REVIEW: The Full Monty

The cast of the UK tour of The Full Monty may have kept their hats on at the Darlington Hippodrome last night, but they certainly lifted the roof with a ‘hot stuff’ performance!

Based on the 1997 film of the same name, the plot followers a number of jobless steelworkers in Sheffield who cast aside their typical ‘working class male’ tenancies to become Yorkshires answer to the Chippendales.

Headed by Gaz and played by Hollyoaks star, Gary Lucy brought the production to life with his cheeky chappie persona and lively dance moves! Kai Owen successfully brought the nervous character of ‘Dave’ to the stage, who overcame his own insecurities to finally go ‘The Full Monty.’

Another stand out character for me was Gaz’s son, Nathan who was portrayed by Fraser Kelly. This young actor is certainly one to watch for the future as he give an emotive and convincing performance. However all the main cast members came into their own throughout the performance telling each of their individual stories.

Fans of the film will rejoice to hear that plenty of the original scenes are included in this stage version. That ‘dole queue’ scene really never gets old no matter how many times you’ve watched it!

While there is laughs a-plenty, the production doesn’t shy away for covering complex issues affecting the group of men including struggles of excepting homosexuality + suicidal tenancies and of course being unemployed.

These struggles are reflected even further by the excellent choice of music played throughout scene changes such as Joy Division + The Cure.

Hilarious, moving and 100% full of filth, the stage production of The Full Monty is a much watch for anybody who LOVES the film and for those who are yet to see it...

The Full Monty runs until Saturday 17th November at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                         REVIEW: Rock of Ages

Darlington Hippodrome’s slogan is ‘a place that can take you anywhere’ and Rock of Ages certainly did that last night, as the production took audience members to the 1980s, when rock ‘n’ roll was big and the hair even bigger!

Currently on a UK tour, the Broadway + West End smash hit is fast paced, funny and full to the brim of pure naughtiness! Set in 1987 L.A. the story centres around the turbulent relationship of young couple, Drew and Sherrie and the characters that surround them at the Bourbon Room bar.

Of course no musical wouldn’t exist without its signature hits and Rock of Ages will have you wanting to do your best ‘air grab’ as the cast burst into classic tracks such as ‘We Built This City on Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and Reo Speedwagon’s ‘I Can’t Fight This Feeling.’

Tying everything together was narrator, Lonny played by the hugely charismatic, Lucas Rush. Huge kudos to this talented fella, who had it all from acting to singing to dancing. He really was my star of the show and a complete pro at what he does!

It was also great to have Zoe Birkett back home, who provided the ultimate diva stage presence. And after that performance, she is 100% gonna rock panto season in Darlo!

In fact the whole cast were just pure star quality with Andrew Carthy's Franz and Rhiannon Chesterman's Regina particularly standing out for me, who were complete ‘couple goals!’ 

The racy, fast paced choreography was second to none and executed just right by every single cast member. And the vibrant set and fab-u-lous costumes also helped to compliment the production perfectly. 

Simply put Rock of Ages was pure escapist bliss and quite possibly the most fun I’ve ever had on a Monday!

Rock of Ages runs until Saturday 13th October at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                      REVIEW: Cirque Berserk

A circus that says ‘au revoir’ to the big top? That’s exactly what Cirque Beserk have done this week at the Darlington Hippodrome, as they ‘tumble’ an adrenaline fulled show into the theatre. 

Devised to celebrate the 250th anniversary of when the very first circus took place in London, these performers are certainly not ‘clowning about’ when it comes to showcasing daredevil stunts within the constraints of a theatre stage. 

Mesmerising from the off, I couldn’t take my eyes off the Timbuktu Tumblers who gave an energetic opening performance of somersaults and forming human pyramids! 

The heart in mouth moments just kept on a-coming in this show, as the audience were treated to a husband and wife team knife throwing duo,high flying acrobatics and of course the show highlight,  the risky ‘Globe of Death’ where motorbikes ride round at high speed in a metal cage.

Keeping things more lighthearted are the ‘Moustache Brothers’ who played the classic ‘clown’ role and kept the young and old laughing out loud with their slapstick antics!

This show is also great, as they activity encourage the audience to use their phones to snap photos and tweet about them. This is certainly music to my ears as a marketer!

It is clear to see that all these performers have several things in common; great physical strength and a high level of mental discipline. And for that, I take my hat off to them for their polished performance and thought last night’s standing ovation was very well deserved. 

Fun, fabulous and not for the fainthearted, Cirque Berserk is certainly an amazing night of entertain for all of the family and will have you wanting to run off and join them at the big top!

Cirque Berserk runs until Sunday 22nd July at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                              REVIEW: Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Before I entered into the auditorium at the Darlington Hippodrome last night, I couldn’t help but ‘fan girl’ slightly, as I was about to be in the presence of Quadrophenia legend, Phil Daniels which made my little mod dreams come true.

Daniels is taking the lead in the latest production of tense Victorian thriller, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Which sees the Doctor unleash an alternative, evil personality in the shape of Mr Hyde. The production follows the sinister actions caused by this character, as well as exploring deeper themes which affected the Victorian society such as high morals, class struggles and nature vs nurture.

As the piece begins, the audience are instantly plunged into darkness reflecting the grim reality of 19th century London as we are introduced to Jekyll, his widowed sister and her children. From the off, it is clear to see that Jekyll is ‘unhinged’ as he desperately seeks to recreate his father’s experiment in secret.

Back in Jekyll’s lab, the ‘beast’ begins to emerge and it is obvious this isn’t going to end well as Jekyll’s Maid (Grace Hogg-Robinson) and Butler, Poole (Sam Cox) become ravelled in the world of Mr Hyde.

Daniels is superb in both parts of Jekyll and Hyde, it’s like he flicks a switch as the transition is so seamless between the two characters. When in ‘Hyde’ mode, he is seriously creepy and believable to a be totally different person who is capable of horrid things. He can also do a pretty convincing Scottish accent to boot.

Grace Hogg-Robinson shines in the role of maid, Annie who goes through turmoil in the hands of Hyde. And Rosie Abraham’s eerie singing is one to listen out for, which really adds to the spooky atmosphere of this production.

Tense thumping music, a glowing red door and ‘haunting’ stage hands further support what a dangerous world these characters are part of in this thriller and it is clear to see the special effects are very well put together.

Creepy, tense and at times shocking, I just simply loved this old tale which had been redeveloped for a modern audience. After all, there is a little bit of Mr Hyde in us all.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde runs until Saturday 19th May at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                               REVIEW: Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Before I dig deep into the main review, to enjoy the f͟u͟l͟l͟ fab-u-lous Priscilla experience, I cannot advise you enough to go and grab a ‘Between a Frock and a Hard Place’ gin cocktail from the bar beforehand, which is the ‘official drink’ of the performance.

Also a pre-show must is to go and view the new photography expo in the Heritage Gallery entitled ‘On the Street Where You Live’ which features pictures of local people and businesses around the theatre and is right up my social history street! (Mind the pun).

Anyway moving onto the show, before it even begun, I knew that the performance was gonna be a good ‘un as every single show I’ve seen by Darlington Operatic Society has been AMAZING and these people have some serious talent!

Set in Australia, this 90s cult classic musical follows two drag queens, Tick (Nicholas Fletcher-Holmes) and Adam (Luke Oldfield) alongside a transgender woman, Bernadette (Julian Cound) as they trek cross country in a van called ‘Priscilla’ to play a gig in Alice Springs. The road trip sees the flamboyant trio encounter friendship, love, self discovery and unfortunately homophobia.

From the off, the show is full to the brim of sass, extravagant outfits and full on naughtiness! The audience is guided through the narrative with dance floor classics which pop pickers and groovy disco lovers alike will just adore! The songs are teamed with high energy dance routines, which are polished to perfection.

While I couldn’t pick out one cast member in particular, as they all gave such a strong performance, the main trio (Nicholas Fletcher-Holmes, Luke Oldfield and Julian Cound) were out of this world fabulous and received lots of laughs from the audience.

I also really warmed towards ‘The Divas’ portrayed by Rhiannon Walker, Jenny Poole and Tori McDougall who provide glamour, sass and stunningly powerful voices. The supporting cast made up of 16 DOS members also gave a 100% sterling performance and were well deserving of their standing ovation. 

‘Cowboys,’ ‘paint brushes’ and ‘cakes’ were the theme of just some of the eccentric costumes on display throughout the piece and they looked truly breathtaking! Plus I was a little jealous of all the men who can successfully walk (and dance) in a pair of heels!  

Overall I found seeing Priscilla truly inspiring, the amount of hard work that each and every cast and crew member of Darlington OS puts in is truly remarkable and it really shows, kudos to you all. I honestly had the BEST Wednesday night  and would see it again in a heartbeat!  

Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs until Saturday 28th March at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.

                                                                                           REVIEW: Gallowglass

Darlington Hippodrome marked yesterday’s ‘World Theatre Day’ with their very first Facebook Live broadcast (top stuff, guys!) and with brand new thriller, ‘Gallowglass’ performing their opening night on the stage. 

Starring a range of well known faces such as Paul Opacic (Bad Girls, Hollyoaks), Richard Walsh (London's Burning) and Dean Smith (Last Tango in Halifax/Waterloo Road). This performance explores some serious themes such as mental health, unrequited love and kidnap. 

We’re introduced to the piece where Joe (Dean Smith) is waiting on a train platform in London, alongside Sandor (Joe Eyre), then the play suddenly takes a very dark turn resulting in Joe owing Sandor ‘his life.’

As the plot develops, it is clear to see that Sandor has a clear plan of action for the local well off couple, Ralph (Richard Walsh) and Nina (Florence Cady) and their employee, Paul. (Paul Opacic) and has roped in Joe and his sister, Tilley (Rachael Hart) to do his dirty work. 

Sandor’s plans soon end in anguish for both Nina and Paul with plenty and twist and turns along the way before a very surprising ending.

Although set in 1990, the play explores important themes which are very much relevant today. It’s great to see them breaking down the barriers and bringing mental health to the theatre’s audience. 

From the off, Dean Smith was the shinning star for me, he managed to pull off low and depressed, Joe perfectly and took the audience on a roller-coaster of emotions. Rachael Hart who played Tilley brought some much welcome comedy into the piece and I just loved her sass! Eva Sayer who played Paul’s young daughter, Jessica also did a sterling job of playing a school child even though she is 21!

The set also perfectly supported the narrative of piece and helped it to flow easily. I also enjoyed the ‘digital snippets’ of videos and ‘phone calls’ been played to the audience. 

Personally, I enjoyed the second act the most and felt there were lots of twists and turns to keep the audience on the edge of the seats. It would have been great to see a little bit of that in the first act, as I felt at times it took a little long to develop the characters. 

Overall Gallowglass is an enthralling psychological thriller, which is bound to please crime fans and possess a very strong cast to boot! 

Gallowglass runs until this Saturday 31st March at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website. 

                                                                  REVIEW: The Play That Goes Wrong

The Play That Goes Wrong first rolled into the Darlington Hippodrome four  whole years ago, and I was lucky to be apart of the audience that night as well. And second time around proved to be just as successful with the audience.

From the off, the lines were blurred between on-stage and backstage, as ‘production staff’ playfully interacted with the audience by looking for a ‘missing dog’ and fixing up the set with gaffer tape.

The plot follows amateur dramatic group, ‘The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’ as they perform their version of 1920s murder mystery, ‘A Murder at Haversham Manor.’

Whether they are positioned ‘on’ or ‘off’ stage, each and every cast member had superb comic timing and it was clear to see that this cast knew the script inside and out to perform each slapstick routine effortlessly.

Miss Collymore, portrayed by Elena Valentine particularly stood out for me, I loved her dramatic ‘episodes’ which ran throughout the piece. - I defo hold my hands up to having one or two ‘episodes’ myself in my time. Benjamin McMahon’s representation of loyal butler, Perkins provided even more laughs with his constant mispronunciation of common words and proved to be a real crowd-pleaser.

Nigel Hook’s incredible set design is absolutely first class in this piece, as floors, walls, fireplaces seamlessly fall apart around cast members to add to the never-ending chaos.

The team behind the production, ‘Mischief Theatre’ really have come along way since they first formed 10 years ago, which at one point saw the amount of cast members outnumber the amount of people in the audience. Since then, the show has been performed on Broadway and they have been broadcast on the BBC. The people behind this theatre company really are a rags to riches story and it’s great to see their success.

The Play That Goes Wrong really is a production that hits all the right buttons for the audience, it will have you laughing your back off from start to finish with a glorious set and an even glorious cast.

Ps - Has anyone seen a Duran Duran CD?

The Play That Goes Wrong runs until this Saturday 10th March at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website. 

If you can’t catch the show this week, don’t fear as it returns to the North East at the Newcastle Theatre Royal from the 2nd - 7th July and at the Billingham Forum from the 17th - 22nd September. 

                                                                                      REVIEW: Blood Brothers

Okay, I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but I have never ever seen Blood Brothers, even though it has been such a prominent musical here in the UK and across the world for the past 30 years. But I guess there is always a first time for everything...

Set in 1960s Liverpool, the production documents the story of twin brothers, Eddie and Mickey; who are separated at birth and grow up on two very different side of the tracks. As the plot develops, we meet the twins during different periods of their lives as their stories continue to intertwine. Themes relating to class, nature vs nurture, education and religion present themselves very strongly throughout the narrative.

From the off, it is clear to see that there is certainly no weak link in this cast, with every single member of the company giving a powerful performance. Matthew Craig who portrayals ‘The Narrator’ particularly stood out for me, giving a dark, menacing performance while weaving in-between other characters. If you have ever watched time travelling cop drama, ‘Ashes to Ashes, you will definitely make a connection between him and the character, ‘Jim Keats.’

The most convincing performance came from Sean Jones who played ‘Mickey’ the twin who grew up in the poor household. I don’t know how quite he did it, but he managed to portrayal a seven year old child up until a fully grown man perfectly. Sarah Jane Buckley stepped up to play Mickey’s mum, Mrs Johnstone and give a strong vocal and emotive performance throughout.

A musical couldn’t be a musical without the songs and this production is jam-packed full of ear worms which you will continue to sing long after you’ve left the theatre. I’ve already added ‘Marilyn Monroe,’ ‘Shoes Upon The Table’ and ‘Miss Jones’ to my playlist.

Moving away from the singing and acting, the set was superb and a Liverpool of yesteryear was brought alive with a sparkling skyline of the Liver Building juxtaposed against the slum housing of the poor.

From start to finish, I totally fell in love with Blood Brothers and I definitely think it has now taken the crown as my favourite musical. Hilarious, emotional and with a stunning soundtrack, this production well and truly deserved its standing ovation. 

Blood Brothers runs until this Saturday 24th February at the Darlington Hippodrome. For tickets + further info, please visit their website.