Jack and the Beanstalk - Altrincham Garrick


WHEN actor Martin Deighton-Brown was suddenly taken ill, director Joe Meighan stepped in at the last minute to give a show stealing performance as the Dame in the Garrick’s always popular panto.

He enjoyed an instant rapport with the audience, with the children needing little coaxing to shout and scream in all the right bits.

Meighan’s rapport was also evident in the rest of the cast, with Daniel Ellis great fun from the start as the daft as a brush Silly Simon and Bev Stuart Cole a suitably heroic Mother Nature.

The one thing I took away from this production is the comforting feeling you don’t need a screen to entertain the kids with all of them, with one or two exceptions, captivated by this larger than life tale.

Or to put it another way, kids can still be kids.

The script combines child friendly jokes about things like breaking wind and a sprinkling of innuendo that is sure to go above the heads of the little ones while keeping the adults entertained..

Personally, as someone with a sense of humour that has an immature streak, I enjoyed both.

Now I’ve going to break with tradition and praise the production’s lighting designer who has created effects of a professional standard. The lighting was spectacular on occasions and of a professional standard on more than one occasion. Take a bow, James Merrington.

If I have a criticism, Jack and the Beanstalk is a few minutes too long. But hey, it’s Christmas and when as a child can you not stay up late once or twice?

The only exception being Christmas Eve, when Father Christmas comes calling.

Until January 5.

Tickets are selling fast and anyone interested in booking them should call 0161 928 1677 or you can book online at www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - ***

Photo - Martin Ogden.


Come From Away - The Lowry


Fabulous - Come From Away at The Lowry.

GANDER, a small and sleepy town in Newfoundland, was swamped when 7,000 air passengers were stranded there in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

But the new arrivals were warmly welcomed by its inhabitants and were able to overcome the anxiety and uncertainty that ultimately enabled them to get through a traumatic, uncertain five days.

The end result is a musical telling of this remarkable true story and it certain is one of the most inspiring and affecting shows I’ve seen for a very long time. It is certainly the best of 2024 for me and its easy to see why Come From Away is a multi award winner.

The performances feel very natural, the songs are stirring without resorting to cliches and the choreography is sure to take your breath away. Don’t be fooled there isn’t much of a story here, with all the characters lifting the lid on their lives and loves,

It offers the audience a microcosm of what the world could be, a celebration of community and a call to care for each other. We were also greeted by a guest appearance by several of the real people who figure in the show on press night including the town’s Mayor who gave us a moving speech about the importance of caring for others.

Singling out individual performances feels wrong here as there simply aren’t any weak ones under the direction of Christopher Ashley who has created along with others a piece of theatre that’s sure to live long in the memories of those who see it.

The end of press night was greeted by a spontaneous standing ovation which was so richly deserved. It was pleasing to see and I for one could easily see this twice.

Come From Away is life affirming and then some, with a perfect finale. Even if you never set foot in a theatre for the whole of 2025 make sure you see this unforgettable and uplifting and brilliant show.

Until January 5. The box office is on 0343 208 6000 or you can book online at www.thelowry.com.

Star rating - *****

A Vicar of Dibley Christmas - The Second Coming


WHEN I was growing up in the 70s and early 80s, any vicar I came across in sitcoms were dull and forgettable.

Then alone came Geraldine Granger, a breath of fresh air, prone to some harmless flirting with her male parishioners,, a gregarious character with at times, a sometimes naughty sense of humour.

This was a great vehicle for Dawn French and its creators, as they took great pleasure in driving over our expectations.

While Meg Brassington gives us a flavour of French, this isn’t an impersonation and she manages to bring her own interpretation to the much loved role and there are some memorable exchanges and a natural rapport between her and her verger Alice, a character whose train of thought defies description while acting as a major source of laughs.

As Alice, Helen Swain is fun from the very start and its impossible not to warm to her and her husband Hugo, played with a perfect degree of silliness by Dan Ellis. Both are adult children, full of disarming innocence that’s the main source of their appeal.

Another aspect of the TV show which made it so appealing was the strength of all those in it, including Owen the farmer, a man totally devoid of social skills and the boringly meticulous Frank Pickle, both a gift for Andrew Higson and Bill Platt.

Director Pete Brassington’s production is sure to get audiences in a festive mood. Even Victor Meldrew would raise a smile or two watching this.

At the time of writing there were just a few tickets left.

Until November 23. Anyone interested in booking them should call 0161 928 1677 or they are available online at www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - ****

Photo - Martin Ogden.

The Wizard of Oz - Altrincham Garrick


DESIGNER Barry Purves certainly wasn’t kidding when he told me his latest set is colourful.

But it provides the perfect backdrop for a tale that has lost none of its power to engage and entertain even though the movie of the same name is 85 years old.

Anyone who follows Barrington Road to the Garrick this week can expect an evening of theatre magic that’s destined to be a huge hit, as it was with big kids in the audience like me.

A pity then that Barrington Road isn’t paved with yellow bricks. But you can’t have everything.

While I know this story backwards it has lost none of its power to capture the imagination and if you’re looking for an antidote to these dark and dank early autumn nights this is most definitely it.

Ciara-Alexandra Booker is a perfect Dorothy, the heroine of the piece, treating us to a show stealing performance as early as the musical’s first number, the immortal classic Over The Rainbow.

After being whisked away to the magical land of Oz, which can be summed up in the phrase expect the unexpected, she makes friends with a group of characters as colourful as the show’s set.

There’s a natural bond between Booker and Ronan Pilkington, Connor J Ryan and Matt Spilsbury as they bring The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Cowardly Lion so effectively to life, each character with their own dreams.

Director Joseph Meighan has taken this talented company to the next theatrical level and, at the time of writing, very few tickets remained.

Meighan even found time to co-design the set.

Until November 3. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

Photo - Martin Ogden.

Peaky Blinders The Redemption of Thomas Shelby - The Lowry


EVERY so often there’s a TV show that makes a lasting impression on me and so it was with Peaky Blinders, inspired by the unsavoury antics of a bunch of Birmingham gangsters who brought fear and violence to the city’s streets for more than 40 years.

But never for the life of me did I imagine this compelling story could be told using the medium of dance.

How wrong I was.

Steven Knight, its creator, and choreographer/director Benoit Swan Pouffer have created an evening of theatre that saw me experience the whole gamut of emotions.

This production from Rambert Dance begins with a trip to the hell on earth that were battlefields of Flanders in the First World War before taking us to the university of hard graft, a factory in a city that was once a hot bed of heavy industry..

This is also a story of love and loss and we follow Thomas Shelby - Conor Kerrigan - as he sinks to the depths of despair. While I wouldn’t go as far to say we empathise with the afore mentioned character - obviously - those feelings felt very real.

Particularly memorable for me was Shelby’s wedding scene. All the scenes are performed against a live and uplifting musical backdrop that includes the super cool theme of the TV show.

It’s surely a result of Pouffer’s choreography and a group of dancers who take exciting agility, grace and energy to a whole new level and make it all look so, so easy.

While it probably helps a little to know something of the Peaky Blinders it’s not essential and this production is so good it's sure to win over plenty of converts to dance, of the world class variety here, thanks to Rambert Dance.

Astounding and unmissable.

Until October 26. The box office is on 0843 208 6000 or you can buy tickets at www.thelowry.com.

Star rating - *****

0 Likes



Jane Eyre - Altrincham Garrick


IT’S almost impossible to believe, by today’s standards, that one of English literature’s most iconic novels had to be written under a pseudonym in order to guarantee its publication.

But so it was with Charlotte Bronte who gave us a tale of courage and quiet determination in the sense of overwhelming odds that would break anyone’s spirit. Jane Eyre is every inch the literary heroine.

Then there’s the romantic stuff - totally devoid of any degree of sentiment or slushiness. The course of true love never did run smooth. And then some.

I really enjoyed watching the relationship between Jane and her initially distant and aloof employer Mr Rochester grow, thanks to the natural chemistry between Melanie Beswick and Loui Quelcutti.

With an engaging effortlessness Beswick makes you care about her character which is remarkable really, when you remember she only exists in the author’s amazing imagination and ability to write from the heart.

It’s also a tribute to director Carole Carr who more than makes the most of a multi-talented cast, including one who plays Rochester’s dog.

The production’s final scene also has the power of a film.

Altrincham Garrick is theatrically the place to be at the moment. Fabulous and unmissable.

Until October 12. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

Photo by Martin Ogden.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane - Lauriston Studio at Altrincham Garrick


THE plot of The Beauty Queen of Leenane will strike a chord with far, far too many people.

A 40 year old spinster has been forced to put her life, including her love life, on hold for more years than she’d care to remember to be at the beck and call of her mother, a woman constantly criticising her daughter’s unwavering devotion.

But supposing she had the chance to escape?

Director Mark Goggins has spent decades entertaining theatregoers in these parts with his top class and hugely memorable productions of musicals and he’s just as adept when it comes to straight plays as anyone lucky enough to have tickets for this will testify.

At the time of writing only a few tickets remained for a play that is both warmly funny and in certain parts, deeply disturbing. Let’s face it, nobody tells a tale quite like an Irishman and that gift is certainly part of Martin McDonagh’’s DNA.

Under Goggins’ accomplished direction, the performances are strong and very natural, with Kathryn Worthington have to do very little to win our sympathy as the poor put upon Maureen and Sarah Kirk suitably horrendous as her mother, Mag. Think Hitler in a pinny.

Timmie Lee Murphy and Ryan Jay are also really good value as Ray and Pato Dooley.

I was delighted to hear The Beauty Queen of Leenane attracted the audiences theatre this good richly deserves, even if the play sometimes does depict the ugly side of human nature.

Until Occtober 6. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - 4.5 out of 5.

Photo - Martin Ogden.

New Year treat for Sondheim fans from SAMT

I WAS delighted to discover Sale and Altrincham Musical Theatre will perform one of the best modern musicals around when they stage from March 26-29.

As someone who forever feels starved of Stephen Sondheim in these parts, this was great news, the production coming from a company I have a deep seated affection and respect for.

I saw Company for the first tine at the old Library Theatre in Manchester and I’ve been a self-confessed Sondheim nut ever since, without the desire to be cured.

Company will be performed at Altrincham Little Theatre.