North West End UK

1 week ago | northwestend.com | Olivia Cox

Back in the summer of 2010, the nation was glued to their news channels as police carried out the country’s largest manhunt for Raoul Moat after he shot three people, one fatally. True crime is a morbid fascination for many, but one that usually transfigures into podcasts, TV dramas, or Netflix documentaries. This time, Robert Icke is dissecting the life and mind of one of the UK’s most renowned criminals this century through his new play Manhunt, which is making its debut at the Royal Court.

3 weeks ago | northwestend.com | Kathleen Mansfield

What began as slightly self-conscious soon developed into a showcase of joy for this young collection of enthusiasts. The premise was simple: a tavern with a collection of characters who told their stories through song and dance. It reminded me of Jim Cartwright’s TWO but the stories were somewhat thinner, each tale being bound by the lyrics of a particular song. My favourite was the traditional Irish ballad, Aililiú Na Gamhna, sung by second-year, Lily Hodge.

1 month ago | northwestend.com | Carole Baldock

We embark on this evening with a little bit of a mystery of our own: do we have press tickets? Fortunately, we did, although not a press night. But no programme so that’s where I could slip up, getting the characters’ names wrong; just have to colour them in. For that matter, when is a review not a review? When a play is not a play. As this hilarious show is based on improvisation, it’ll be totally different every time, so we’ll just try and give you a taste of it. And for it.

1 month ago | northwestend.com | Max Eden

Moira Buffini’s Handbagged has been revived and brought back to the stage and is currently at The Lowry as part of its UK Tour. Directed by Alex Thorpe; this revival is as sharp, funny, and thought-provoking as ever. Exploring the imagined private conversations between Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher, the play deftly balances political satire while exploring power, duty, and legacy from these two iconic women in UK’s history.

1 month ago | northwestend.com | Wendy McEwan

Jennifer Reid performs nineteenth-century Lancashire dialect and Victorian broadside ballads. She comes from Rochdale, “but I admit it”. Reid sings unaccompanied throughout the evening but provides percussion for one of Carthy’s songs in the form of clog dancing. Eliza Carthy describes herself as a “modern English musician”. She sings centuries-old traditional songs, and more modern pieces including her own compositions. She mostly sings unaccompanied and occasionally brings out her fiddle.