Peter Ruddick

3 weeks ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Peter Ruddick

Jennifer Jennings, Phillip McMahon, Niall Sweeney and Carys D Coburn, Alma KelliherTHISISPOPBABYAviva Studios, ManchesterApril 17-21, 2025; 1hr 35minSome shows need to be experienced to be truly understood. The publicity material for WAKE describes the theatrical offering as a "variety phenomenon", which "remixes traditions" in a night of "aerial artistry, tap, cabaret, slam poetry, pole dancing and more". On one hand, of course, this is totally accurate.

1 month ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Peter Ruddick

PL Travers and Julian Fellowes, Richard M Sherman & Robert B Sherman and George Stiles & Anthony DreweCameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical GroupPalace Theatre, ManchesterApril 9-May 17, 2025; 2hr 40min(Also Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, May 21- June 9; Sunderland Empire, October 1-25; Liverpool Empire, Jan 14-Jan 31, 2026)There are very few examples of musicals that take a genuine classic, tweak it, add to it, take away from it and create another genuine classic.

2 months ago | northwestend.com | Peter Ruddick

The fascinating story of Florence Foster Jenkins was brought back to mainstream attention by Hollywood in 2016. Hope Mill Theatre’s production of Glorious! covers much of the same ground but does so in a way that feels a lot more focused and a lot less condescending about the ‘worst singer in the world’. The ever-versatile Ancoats stage is, once again, utterly transformed. Clam shell footlights, a dusky velvet curtain and a vintage gramophone player set the scene.

Feb 13, 2025 | northwestend.com | Peter Ruddick

Some theatre shows can be appreciated by being described. Others, on the other hand, just need to be experienced. Hold On To Your Butts is a prime example of the latter. On paper, a screen to stage adaptation of the dinosaur classic Jurassic Park shouldn’t work. Not without a big animatronics budget, the latest in visual effects and a host of instruments to recreate that iconic John Williams score. As the name suggests, the Recent Cutbacks ensemble have none of that.

Jan 14, 2025 | northwestend.com | Peter Ruddick

The word ‘unforgettable’ is overused. Especially in reviews. So many “unforgettable” theatrical experiences soon fade from the memory. However, the hundreds of innocent Ukrainian civilians who took shelter in Donetsk Regional Academic Drama Theatre will never be able to forget the time they spent in a space they hoped would be safe. Mariupol Drama is the story of some of those who survived the deadly bombing that followed. Told by the survivors themselves. It is, truly, unforgettable.