Peter Ruddick

Manchester

Broadcast Journalist and TV Producer at BBC Breakfast

Business Reporter & Presenter for BBC News.

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Articles

COCK – Hope Mill Theatre - North West End UK

2 weeks ago | northwestend.com | Peter Ruddick

When you strip away the peripheral elements of existence what are you left with? Remove the career that will end, the possessions that will gather dust and the places that will fade in the memory. What remains? Love, human relationships and a sense of self perhaps. Mike Bartlett’s COCK is the theatrical equivalent of this exercise. Strip it all away and lay bare the stark reality of life. Distraction-free analysis of identity, of sexuality, of power, of interaction. It all sounds so simple.
The Pornstar Martini Effect: A Bartender’s Guide to not K*lling Yourself at Christmas – The King’s Arms - North West End UK

3 weeks ago | northwestend.com | Peter Ruddick

It’s that time of the year when theatre companies and productions gear up for Edinburgh. The team behind The Pornstar Martini Effect will be taking their show to the fringe and, judging by the Manchester previews, they are pretty much ready. Even if the first performance at the Kings Arms in Salford didn’t get going until a good half hour after the advertised start time.
WAKE, Aviva Studios, Manchester

2 months 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.
Mary Poppins, Palace Theatre, Manchester

2 months 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.
Glorious! – Hope Mill Theatre - North West End UK

Mar 6, 2025 | 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.
Hold On To Your Butts – The Lowry - North West End UK

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.
Mariupol Drama – HOME Mcr - North West End UK

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.
Spend Spend Spend

Nov 28, 2024 | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Peter Ruddick

Steve Brown and Justin GreeneRoyal Exchange CompanyRoyal Exchange, ManchesterNovember 23, 2024-January 11, 2025; 2hrs 30minsIn the week a UK ticketholder won £177m on the Euromillions, there is something wonderfully nostalgic about watching a musical comedy based on a woman who won £152,319 on the pools - even if that works out at more than £4m in today’s money.
Blood Brothers, Palace Theatre, Manchester

Nov 20, 2024 | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Peter Ruddick

Willy RussellBill Kenwright LimitedPalace Theatre, ManchesterNovember 19-30, 2024; 2hrs 50mins(Also Grand Theatre, Leeds, December 3-7; Liverpool Empire, March 11-22, 2025; York Grand Opera House, April 1-5)A twinkling Liverpool skyline backdrop. Fog slowly clearing. Those spine-tingling opening vocals. The cast take their final positions and within moments the audience is up to speed and fully on board. It isn’t just punters who can’t keep away from Blood Brothers, the Merseyside melodrama.
Post Office scandal: Who knew what and when?

Nov 15, 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Theo Leggett |Nalini Sivathasan |Peter Ruddick

After months of evidence, the Post Office Inquiry heard from its final witnesses this week. Closing statements will follow next month before inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams publishes his final report next year. Much of the evidence centred around who knew what and when, so what did we learn from the key players? And what questions still need to be answered? Paula Vennells was the chief executive of the Post Office from 2012 to 2019.