We know it’s summer but if you prefer spending your evenings indoors it doesn’t get better than going to the theatre.
If you’re looking for a comedy fix then the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival is on for the whole month of July, and the continuing phenomenon that is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is coming to Liverpool’s Empire Theatre from July 7-11. Also, now on at the Liverpool Royal Court Theatre until August 1 is the smash hit disco musical, Mam! I’m E’re!
Manchester International Festival (MIF) has a host of theatrical treats available to see this month, starting off with wonder.land on until July 12 at Manchester’s Palace Theatre. This is a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in Wonderland, with music by Damon Albarn and book and lyrics by Moira Buffini (Tamara Drewe, Handbagged). Two more MIF plays are Neck of the Woods, which is playing at HOME between July 10–18, and The Skriker, in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre, which tells of two sisters who encounter a shape-shifter. Be sure not to miss this highly-rated performance featuring Maxine Peake which runs throughout the month.
For something a bit different, the Sheffield People’s Theatre in association with Slung Low will present Camelot: The Shining City, a contemporary reworking of the myth of King Arthur, from July 9-18 at The Crucible, and for two nights only at the Manchester Opera House, South African choral legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo collaborate with multi-award winning choreographer Mark Baldwin to present Inala. There will be three shows across July 24–25 (Friday and Saturday).
If you’re a musical lover then these three shows will be just the ticket. From the producers of Hairspray, Midnight Tango, West Side Story and The Rocky Horror Show comes a feel-good musical featuring Elvis Presley’s greatest hits, Love Me Tender, which will be performed at the Sunderland Empire from July 13-18. The Grand Theatre and Opera House in Leeds will be showing The Sound of Music, a new production which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the film’s release, from July 20 until August 1. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar will also be performed at The Grand Theatre in Leeds between July 6–11.
And finally, the 10th Anniversary of the Agatha Christie Theatre company presents arguably her greatest work, And Then There Were None, performed at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle from July 27 to August 1, and there will also be a live screening of the RSC’s The Merchant of Venice on July 22 at The Brewery, Kendal.
Main image by Chris Payne
If you would like your venue included in next month’s preview send us your links, blogs and press releases to stephaniealderson@northernsoul.me.uk
