Review

High Times and Dirty Monsters

★★★★☆

High Times and Dirty Monsters is like no show we have seen before. Combining acting, dancing, and beatboxing, this fast paced, episodic production is raw and hard-hitting. A collaboration by Liverpool based 20 Stories High, Graeae Theatre Company, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and LEEDS 2023, this show is the output of workshops that have been held throughout the last year asking what’s good (the high times) and what’s bad (the dirty monsters) about being young in 2023.

TONY! The Tony Blair Rock Opera

★★★★★

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you crossed The Book of Mormon with Spitting Image, and then added a smidge of Harry Hill’s TV Burp insanity, then Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera has the answer! Telling the story of former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s rise to power, and his transformation from pop-rock hippy front man of Ugly Rumours to a warmongering multimillionaire, this hilarious musical comedy is written by Harry Hill and Steve Brown.

I,Daniel Blake

★★★★★

If you have never been in a theatre where the end of the show is met by massive amounts of tears by the audience and a standing ovation for a phenomenal cast, then you probably haven’t been to watch I, Daniel Blake.

Based on the Ken Loach directed film, this stage production has been adapted by Dave Johns who starred in the original film as the titular character, and is a co-production between tiny dragon Productions andEnglish Touring Theatre, in association with Northern Stage.

The Crown Jewels

★☆☆☆☆

Based on the true story of 17th Century Irish Rebel Thomas Blood (Aiden McArdle), and his attempt to steal The Crown Jewels from King Charles II (Al Murray), a play written by the person behind Men Behaving Badly and featuring some of Britain’s most critically acclaimed comedy performers should, in theory, result in an outstanding stage show full of satire and humour. In reality, this production is the antithesis of this.

Jesus Christ Superstar

★★★★★

Jesus Christ Superstar is arguable the original rock musical. Telling the story of the final days of Jesus, the sung through musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice hasn’t toured for a number of years, but seems to go through a revival every decade. This revival was directed by Timothy Sheader in his capacity as Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre where this production originated, and where it won an Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival in 2017.

Cuckoo

★★★★★

Birkenhead born playwright Michael Wynne has a Midas Touch when it comes to creating thought provoking plays that perfectly encapsulate Merseyside family life. His latest offering Cuckoo is absolutely no exception.

Created in partnership with the Royal Court Theatre London, BAFTA and Olivier Award winner Wynne has created a dark comedy that showcases multi-generational family dynamics, the different ways of coping in an unpredictable world, and the different responses people have to societal issues.

42nd Street

★★★★☆

Tapping it’s way into Liverpool for a limited time, the UK and Ireland tour of 42nd Street brought Depression-era Broadway glamour in a way that only this classical musical within a musical can.

Based on a 1933 film, which itself is based on an earlier novel, 42nd Street as a stage show originated in the 1980’s and features well-known musical numbers such as We’re In The Money, Keep Young And Beautiful, and the eponymous 42nd Street. There have been numerous revivals over the years, with this latest tour choreographed and designed by Olivier Award winners Bill Deamer and Robert Jones, and directed by Jonathan Church.

Macbeth

★★★★★

Co-produced by English Touring Theatre, Northern Stage, Shakespeare North Playhouse and Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, this contemporary production of Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth is not only unafraid to provocatively subvert the genre of the play, but to also rearrange the scenes to create a powerful stage show that mirrors the political landscape of modern Britain. This fresh perspective of is a commendable modernisation, which director Richard Twyman has ensured still honours the Scottish roots of the original play.

Locomotive For Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit

★★★★☆

Ahead of taking their show to the Edinburgh Fringe, Pinch Punch improv group’s Locomotive For Murder pulled up in Liverpool as part of the annual Liverpool Theatre Festival.

Performing on one of the wettest July night’s ever, in the very much open air space of St. Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Pinch Punch transported the audience back to a world of Agatha Christie for an hour of quick-witted, unexpected and surreal comedy, mixed in with solving a murder.

Improvised Rubbish Shakespeare

★★★★★

Improvised Rubbish Shakespeare isn’t quite as the name suggests. Yes, there is improvisation with a Shakespearean twist, but this is far from rubbish. The Rubbish Shakespeare Company have created an engaging format that is a creative introduction to the language and style of Shakespeare, whilst also being an hilarious comedy.

The premise of the show is William Shakespeare has failed to turn up for a performance meaning the cast have no scripts. With the King in the audience, they can’t let him down. Instead, they decide to improvise a show using audience suggestions of a time period, a situation and a location. Over the course of an hour, the cast create a 5 act play fit for a King.