Showing posts with label shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shows. Show all posts

Wednesday 11 July 2018

Dates for your Diary - A Whole Host of Family Fun at the Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

With the summer holidays fast approaching, The Epstein Theatre has a fantastic selection of exciting family entertainment with theatrical experiences that are certain to keep the whole family entertained throughout the school holidays and beyond!

On Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th July, the Liverpool based Theatre Company Cuckootales present an enchanting new play Pinocchio: The Boy Within. Set to an original musical underscore, the production is a modern retelling of a classic tale, which is not to be missed.

Join a tiny snail on an enormous adventure from Wednesday 25th to Friday 27th July as Olivier Award nominated Tall Stories presents their magical musical production, The Snail and the Whale.

Take a trip down the rabbit hole on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd August for an unforgettable retelling of Lewis Carroll's classic tale Alice in Wonderland. This panto-esque style show guarantees entertainment for the whole family.

Milkshake! Live "The Magic Storybook" takes audiences on a journey through the world's favourite fairytales on Sunday 5th August. Starring Milkshake! favourites; Bob the Builder, Little Princess, Noddy, Fireman Sam, Shimmer & Shine, Pip from Pip Ahoy!, Winnie and Wilbur, Wissper, Milkshake's very own Milkshake! Monkey and two Milkshake! presenters.


The family fun continues into the Autumn when critically acclaimed Scamp Theatre present Stick Man on Saturday 6th October. The award-winning production is packed full of puppetry, songs and live music.

How to Hide a Lion provides a magical adaptation of Helen Stephen's popular children's book on Sunday 14th October. See the story come to life with playful humour, dazzling puppets and jazz.

The timeless tale Guess How Much I Love You comes to the Epstein stage on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th October. This family favourite is brought to life by Selladoor Family and guarantees feel good family theatre.

Heigh ho, heigh ho it's off to the Epstein we go this Christmas. It is never too early to grab your panto tickets, (oh no it isn't), and this year's festive offering from renowned LHK Productions is the fairest panto in all the land, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. With a star-studded cast to be announced very soon, it comes to the Epstein Theatre from Friday 7th December 2018 to Tuesday 1st January 2019.


Book your tickets in advance for this amazing array of family friendly theatre which is sure to sell out fast.

Listing Information

Pinocchio: The Boy Within
Date: Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th July.
Times: 23rd - 2pm & 6pm, 24th - 11am, 3pm & 7pm
Tickets: Standard £10, Concession £9, Family £35

The Snail and the Whale
Date: Wednesday 25th to Friday 27th July
Time: 25th at 4pm, 26th & 27th at 11am & 2pm
Tickets: Standard £14, Concession £12, Family £48

Alice in Wonderland
Date: Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd August
Times: 2nd at 2:30pm, 3rd at 1pm & 5:30pm
Tickets: Standard £15, Concessions £13, Family £52

Milkshake! Live "The Magic Storybook"
Date: Sunday 5th August
Time: 12pm and 3:30pm
Tickets: Standard £15.50, Children £14, Family Ticket £56

Stick Man
Date: Saturday 6th October
Times: 1pm & 3:30pm
Tickets: Adult £14.50, Children £12.50, Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children) £50

How to Hide a Lion
Date: Sunday 14th October
Time: 1pm
Tickets: Standard £14.50, Children £12.50, Family Ticket £50

Guess How Much I Love You
Date: Tuesday 16th & Wednesday 17th October
Time: 16th at 1:30pm & 4:30pm, 17th at 11am & 1:30pm
Tickets: Adults £13.50, Children £12.50, Family Ticket £45

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Date: Friday 7th December 2018 to Tuesday 1st January 2019
Times: Various
Tickets: From £11

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk* or in person at The Epstein Theatre Box Office from 12pm - 6pm Monday to Saturday.

* Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

For more details check out www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk and join their mailing list. Alternatively you can follow them on Facebook or Twitter using the following channels:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre
Twitter - @EpsteinTheatre

Disclaimer: Details provided are correct at time of writing, however listings can be subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the venue's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Tuesday 10 April 2018

Legally Blonde The Musical at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool - Review

Last night my daughter and I attended the opening night of Legally Blonde The Musical at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool. The show is based on the 2001 hit film and apart from a few slight changes to the original story, it is very similar to the popular on-screen version. It is packed full of high energy dancing, singing, drama and lots of pink!

Directed and Choreographed by Anthony Williams, the show tells the story of Elle Woods who is a popular and fun loving girl, that sadly suffers heartbreak when her boyfriend Warner decides to end their relationship for someone more serious. Elle becomes determined to win Warner back and therefore studies hard to become a student at Harvard Law School. Facing many challenges along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself, never goes out of style.

On arrival we were informed that the lead role of Elle Woods would actually be played by the understudy Rebecca Stenhouse, instead of the advertised star Lucie Jones. I was a little disappointed on hearing this news initially, as I had heard so many great things about Lucie's performance in the show. However it soon became apparent that Rebecca Stenhouse was absolutely amazing as Elle with the most beautiful, yet powerful voice. She stepped up to the role perfectly and my earlier dismay was immediately forgotten as soon as she took to the stage. Her comedic timing, flawless dance moves and superb vocals allowed Rebecca to excel in the role of Elle and both my daughter and I were extremely impressed with her performance abilities throughout the whole show.

Photo Credit: UK Productions Ltd
Rita Simons, who is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in BBC's Eastenders, stars as Paulette Bonafonte. I always think that it must be hard to take on a new role when viewers are so used to seeing you perform as another character, so I was keen to see Rita's portrayal of Paulette.

Her first salon scene with Elle gave Rita the chance to show off her amazing singing voice with her performance of Ireland. This was a fabulous song that was not only funny and entertaining, but also showed a range of emotions too. There was a slight problem during the song where one part of the Irish flag failed to drop onto the stage, but this only provided Rita with the perfect opportunity to show her professionalism as she continued undistracted with the song.

Displaying a strong sassy attitude and a bold american accent, Rita made the character of Paulette her own, which had the audience laughing on plenty of occasions. The Bend & Snap scene with the UPS Guy was certainly one of my favourites and I just loved the positive energy and enthusiasm.

Photo Credit: UK Productions Ltd
Starring as Professor Callahan is Bill Ward, who had a great stage presence. His opening number of Blood in the Water, gave the ideal introduction to his character which showed Callahan to be a formidable and successful lawyer who knows exactly what he wants. He also provided plenty of entertaining moments too with his dancing and facial expressions during the show.

David Barrett stars as Emmett and he delivers some lovely moments with Elle, where their on-stage chemistry comes across as very believeable. I loved the scenes that just featured the two of them, as these also displayed some important messages, such as believing in yourself, working hard to achieve your dreams and how you can also find love when you least expect it. It is great to watch a show that has so much positivity and happiness throughout.

Warner Huntington III is played by Liam Doyle and both my daughter and I really enjoyed his first scene with Elle where they sang Serious together. Their comedic timing was perfect during this performance making what was a 'Serious' matter, actually appear rather amusing.

Photo Credit: UK Productions Ltd
My daughters favourite part of the show was the Gay or European court room performance which, like the rest of the show, was packed full of energy, drama and comedy. It has a really catchy tune and we both found it to be absolutely hilarious, as well as being extremely well choreographed.

Credit also has to go to Helen Petrovna as Brooke Wyndham for the incredible opening scene of Act 2. Her rendition of Whipped into Shape, involved the creative use of skipping ropes that was extremely impressive. Helen somehow managed to make this look effortless and the fact that she was also able to continue acting after such a routine, without even looking short of breath, was incredible.

The remainder of the cast also worked extremely hard and were well supported by two very special canine performers in the form of Bruiser and Rufus who gained immediate popularity the moment they stepped out onto the stage.

Photo Credit: UK Productions Ltd
Overall Legally Blonde The Musical is a really uplifting & feel-good show that can't help but put a smile on your face. The finale saw the audience get up from their seats to clap, sing and dance along to the musical medley and the cast rightly deserved their standing ovation. Packed full of fast paced dancing, catchy songs and positivity, it is a must see musical that offers something for everyone.

Legally Blonde The Musical, will be performing at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool until Saturday 14th April. Tickets can be bought online on their website here: Grand Theatre

Alternatively, you can ring the box office on 01253 290190

Listing Details

Show - Legally Blonde The Musical
Dates - Monday 9th to Saturday 14th April 2018
Times - Evenings at 7:30pm, Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2pm
Venue - Blackpool Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HT
Ticket prices - Prices vary, so please visit the Grand Theatre website to obtain the most up to date information.
Box Office - 01253 290190
Website - www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/legally-blonde-musical


Disclaimer: We were provided with press tickets for the purpose of writing an honest review of the production. Opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

Friday 2 March 2018

Dates for your Diary - LHK Youth Theatre present A Night of Musicals at The Epstein Theatre on 11th-12th March

LHK Youth Theatre are back at The Epstein Theatre next week with A Night of Musicals on Sunday 11th and Monday the 12th of March.

The talented young stars from Liverpool's renowned youth theatre company are bringing to life all the hits from some of the biggest musicals around including Shrek and Mamma Mia, in a show that promises to be a fantastic production for the whole family. Become a Dancing Queen for the night and sing, dance and laugh along to what will be an incredible performance by this highly talented cast.

Be sure to catch some of the best young talent around as these stars in the making perform a selection of the greatest and most loved musical numbers.

LHK Youth Theatre is run by LHK Productions - one of the most acclaimed and unique theatre and pantomime production companies in the UK.

Formed in 2005, LHK Productions has quickly put its stamp on the UK's theatre scene hosting countless shows in some of the biggest and most prestigious venues in the country.

LHK Productions Managing Director, Lee Kelly said: "All of the cast have been working incredibly hard on this production. I am extremely proud of each and every one of them, and they should be proud of themselves for everything they have accomplished. They are all superstars and when the show opens next week I am sure audiences of Liverpool will agree!"

A Night of Musicals comes to The Epstein Theatre on Sunday 11th and Monday 12th March and tickets are on sale now.

Listing Details

Show - A Night of Musicals
Dates - Sunday 11th March & Monday 12th March
Times - 7:30pm
Venue - The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ

Tickets - Standard £16 / Concessions £15

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

Box Office - 0844 888 4411
Website - www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

Tickets can also be booked in person at the theatre box office (open 2pm-6pm Mon-Thu & 12pm-6pm Fri-Sat)


Sunday 10 December 2017

Our Theatre Visit to see The Bear at Waterside, Sale - A Review

I have been so excited these past couple of weeks to take Riley to see The Bear, which is taking place at Waterside in Sale until the 6th January 2018. This was a new venue for us all to visit, having never ventured there before, so it was a nice opportunity to enjoy such a lovely production in this beautiful arts centre.

This was to be Riley's first real drama experience and I was a little nervous about how he would take to it, especially with it featuring "The Bear" in large puppetry form. I was a little anxious that he would be scared and demand to leave, however from start to finish, he was absolutely captivated by the whole performance.


On arrival we received a warm welcome from the friendly staff on reception and we made our way over to the cafe area to purchase a couple of cappuccino's and collect Riley's slumber pack. Evening performances are classed as slumber shows, where children can bring along a teddy, enjoy a slumber pack and even wear their pyjamas or onesie! The slumber pack is a really nice idea for younger guests and for a small charge of £2, children can collect a little brown paper bag, containing a carton of milk and a large cookie. Admittedly Riley did eat half of his cookie before the show even began, but it was nice for him to have an evening snack and drink whilst watching the show, which made him feel more relaxed and comfortable.

The entrance area was beautifully decorated with hues of blue and white, which were accompanied by paw prints decorating the floor. Once the doors to the auditorium opened, we followed the paw prints and found our seats, where we made ourselves comfortable for the show. The seating was nicely tiered which made it easy for little ones to see the main stage area without any complaints of not being able to see. The main character of Tilly walked amongst the seating with her teddy bear, taking the time to speak to the children and chat to their teddies too.

The Bear is based on the much loved story by Raymond Briggs and the theatrical adaptation has been brought to life by Pins & Needles productions. Although my older children had heard the story before, it was one that both Riley & I were less familiar with. We both looked excitedly at the set which was visible on the stage and wondered what would happen. After a short while, the show began and Riley immediately began to laugh at the opening performance of Tilly's band.

Photo credit: Jason Lock
The show features three cast members, Tilly, Mum & Dad, with all of them providing an entertaining and enthusiastic performance. Mum and Dad are also the puppeteers of the stunning Bear who comes to visit Tilly one night for lots of fun and frolics. Riley clung on tightly to his own teddy bear when The Bear first appeared on the stage, a little wary of his size and growl, however he soon settled back into the show giggling his way through the various antics that Tilly and her new best friend were getting up to.

We followed Tilly as she and The Bear explored the various rooms of her home, whilst playing hide and seek, enjoying a bath and dressing up. The set was very cleverly designed in that the same objects could be changed or turned to create new scenery. For example Tilly's bed also became the bath and sofa in other parts of the show. This also brought an element of magic to the performance, with Riley questioning just how they did it!

The Bear features the perfect mix of drama and comedic moments, that are subtly supported with enough emotion to bring a tear to your eye in the closing parts of the show. The production had suitable accompanying music, that matched the scenes being portrayed perfectly. From jovial catchy melodies, to eerie and gentle tunes, which were ideal for both the bears arrival and departure.

Riley was mesmorised from start to finish, just waiting to see what Tilly and The Bear would get up to next. It was great to see his reaction to certain moments in the show, as well as being able to hear all the other children in the audience enjoying the production too. There were parts where the children could call out, as well as a very funny scene that saw everyone laugh out loud, when Tilly ran into the audience with a very large......(well I will leave this as a suprise)!

Overall, we had a lovely experience watching The Bear, and found this to be the perfect introduction to theatre for Riley who is 4. I felt that it was just the right length of time to hold his attention and although he was a little nervous of The Bear to begin with, he thoroughly enjoyed the show and the fun and adventure that took place. He couldn't wait to tell his brother and sister about it this morning, which also shows that it has left a good impression with him, that he is keen to share with others. A lovely evening in a nice venue watching a beautiful wintry tale of fun and friendship. Perfect!

Photo credit: Jason Lock

The Bear will be at Waterside until Saturday 6th January 2018. There are both schools and public performances available and show times vary. For further information please visit thebearlive.com

Listing Details

Show - The Bear
Venue - Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Dates - 5th December 2017 to 6th January 2018, with preview, relaxed and BSL performances also available on selected dates. 
Times - Show times vary, so please see thebearlive.com for the most up to date information.
Box Office - 0161 912 5616
Ticket prices - £16.50/ £14.50/ £12.50
School tickets - £10 - 1 teacher goes free with every 9 students booked.
Running time - Approximately 60 minutes with no interval.


Disclaimer: We attended the show as guests for the purpose of providing a review. Opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.


Friday 19 May 2017

Milkshake! Live Open the Pages of 'The Magic Storybook' at the Epstein Theatre


There's just over two weeks to go until Milkshake! Live, The Magic Storybook comes to Liverpool's Epstein Theatre just in time to entertain our little Epsteinies over the school half term holidays.

Milkshake! Live, The Magic Storybook is the fourth nationwide live tour from Channel 5's Milkshake! It comes to Liverpool on Friday 2nd June with two fun filled, family friendly performances at 12pm and 4pm.

The show stars Milkshake! favourites Bob the Builder, Little Princess, Noddy, Toyland Detective, Fireman Sam, Shimmer and Shine, Pip Ahoy!, Winnie and Wilbur, Wissper, as well as Milkshake!'s very own Milkshake! Monkey, and two Milkshake! presenters at every show. It will take audiences on a journey through their favourite fairy tales including much-loved stories that will be familiar for everyone - young and old - with lots of music, singing and dancing.

Milkshake! presenter and director Derek Moran said: "We cannot wait to be back touring the country with our brand-new show, The Magic Storybook. It's a magical show full of audience participation. The Milkshake audience will love the classic fairytale storylines, the songs and seeing lots of their favourite Milkshake! characters live on stage."

"It's incredibly important that we are able to take Milkshake! to our audiences around the UK so that everyone can have the opportunity to experience the brand in an immersive way," added Sarah Muller, Head of Children's, Channel 5.

"Through our live tours, we can give families a Milkshake event that they won't find anywhere else, one where they can meet their favourite characters and presenters whilst enjoying a brilliant family day out."

Theatre manager, Rebekah Pichilingi, said: "We are looking forward to welcoming the Milkshake" Team for a day of guaranteed family fun."

UK families can find out more about Milkshake! Live 'The Magic Storybook' by visiting facebook.com/milkshakelive or by following the tour on twitter @milkshaketour or Instagram @Milkshakelive.

Show Listings are as follows:

Milkshake! The Magic Storybook
Date: Friday 2nd June
Time: 12pm and 4pm
Tickets: Adults £15, Concessions £13.50, Family ticket (2 Adults, 2 Concessions £54).

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk * or in person at The Epstein Theatre Box Office from 2pm-6pm Monday to Thursday and 12pm-6pm Friday to Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket restoration levy.

For more details check out www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk and join their mailing list. You can also follow on facebook www.facebook.com/epsteintheatre and twitter @EpsteinTheatre.




Friday 10 February 2017

What's On in Liverpool this February Half Term?

If you are a regular visitor to the blog, you will know that Liverpool is one of my favourite cities, as you can always be sure that there is plenty to do to keep the children occupied during the school holidays and this February half term is no exception.

Here is a round up of some attractions and shows that are available to visit during the February Half Term:

The Narnia Experience


The Narnia Experience has returned to St George's Hall following its sell-out run back in 2013. The critically acclaimed walk-through experience is open from the 10th February to the 25th February and tickets are now on sale for this fabulous event.

Visitors will be invited to step through the enchanted wardrobe where they will discover a wintery forest scene and whisked off to the magical land of Narnia.

The Great Hall will be beautifully transformed as visitors go on a journey through the White Forest, and across the land of Narnia, in this large-scale, immersive and interactive trail. There will also be the opportunity to meet your favourite characters along the way including Mr Tumnus, Mrs Beaver and The White Witch.

St George's Hall General Manager Alan Smith said: “We are delighted to welcome back the team at In Another Place, their previous productions of Narnia and Alice Experience were incredibly well received by the public. The creativity and vision in their set designs and the characters they bring to life are always astounding. I would definitely recommend booking fast as I imagine this to be another sell-out!”

Tickets are available to purchase online through Ticketquarter and are available at various prices which are:

Mondays/Tuesdays - Adults £8 and Children £6
Wednesdays/Thursday - Adults £10 and Children £7
Fridays/Saturdays - Adults £13 and Children £10
Friday 10th February - Adults £8 and Children £6
Tuesday 21st February from 6pm - Adults £8 and Children £6

There will also be 4 Autism friendly performances on Tuesday 21st February between 6:15pm - 7pm which have been specifically designed to welcome visitors who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment. A BSL performance will also be available at 7:30pm on Saturday 19th February.

This event is ideal for families, though is not recommended for under 3's. The experience should last approximately 90 minutes.


Superbooty at The Epstein Theatre


SuperBooty is a fun-filled show for all the family which tells the story of a brand-new superhero we can all relate to - an ordinary girl with an extraordinary gift. It is a brand new musical comedy brought to you by The Epstein Theatre's very own panto dame, Michael Chapman.

Boasting a fantastic cast including Jordan 'Weekender' Davies, Boogie Storm's Lewis Pryor, Liverpool Singing Sensation Hayley Hampson, BBC's 'Young Dancer of the Year' finalist, and the award winning Anamal Dance Company from Hoylake, this is a show that promises to kick some serious booty!

The audience can look forward to watching crazy characters literally flying across the stage, lots of daft jokes and world class dancing provided by Harry Popper and Anamal Dance Company! There is also some very funky music courtesy of Michael and Danny Smith, the musical director.

To book tickets call 0844 888 4411, visit www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk or book in person at the theatre box office (open 2-6pm Mon-Thu, 12-6 Fri-Sat).

The show runs from Friday 17th February - Sunday 19th February, and performance times are as follows:
Friday 17th February 7pm
Saturday 18th February 2pm and 7pm
Sunday 19th February 2pm and 6pm

Tickets cost £17 with concessions at £15.
*All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.



Monstersaurus


Bring your little monsters to the Epstein Theatre for an afternoon of magic and mayhem on Tuesday 21st February when Big Wooden Horse present...Monstersaurus!

This brand new show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants is monstrously good! Follow the young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of wacky inventions and incredible monsters, but now he has made them all, how is he going to get rid of them?

This energetic show full of thrills and spills, magic and mayhem will delight the whole family - with original music and plenty of audience participation.

The show runs for 50 minutes and is suitable for children aged 3 and over. Ticket details are as follows:

Tuesday 21st February 2017 - £13.50* per ticket or a family ticket is available for £43*.

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411 or go online to www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk. Alternatively you can purchase tickets in person at The Epstein Theatre box office from 2pm-6pm Monday to Thursday, and 12pm-6pm Friday to Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice



This brand-new adaptation of the timeless tale The Sorcerer's Apprentice will be staged at The Epstein Theatre on Wednesday 22nd February.

Brought to life by the brilliant Blunderbus Theatre Company, the show tells the story of Charlie Hubble, a little boy with a very big dream - he wants to be a world class magician. So, he saves up all his pocket money to buy The Big Book of Magic for Trainee Magicians.

He set's off to Mr Zacoor's Toy Shop to buy his spellbook. But Mr Zacoor is no ordinary shopkeeper, he is a real-life sorcerer! And he has a very special job for Charlie....

Little people aged three to seven will love this delightful new show which comes to life with an irresistable blend of music, puppetry and storytelling. There's also an enchanting toy shop setting filled with all sorts of magical surprises.

Ticket details are as follows:

Wednesday 22nd February 2017 with two shows available at 11:30am and 2pm - £11* per ticket or a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) is available for £40*.

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411 or go online to www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk. Alternatively you can purchase tickets in person at The Epstein Theatre box office from 2pm-6pm Monday to Thursday, and 12pm-6pm Friday to Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

The World Museum



If you are thinking of attending one of the above shows or attractions, then why not make it a full day out by also visiting the fabulous World Museum located on William Brown street which is only a short walk away from Liverpool's Lime Street station.

This is my favourite place to visit whilst in Liverpool,with an extensive array of exhibits and hands on activities to fascinate the whole family. My children absolutely love visiting The World Museum and always manage to find something new to see and learn about.

Admission is free which makes it a low cost enjoyable day out, which will also provide you with a fantastic learning experience.

It is also extremely baby & child friendly with baby changing facilities on levels 2, 3, 4 and 5, a pram storage area, lifts, an indoor picnic room, a cafe with staff that will be happy to warm bottles, highchairs which are available on request, and a children's menu. The World Museum also encourages and supports breast feeding.

The World Museum is open between the hours of 10am to 5pm Monday to Sunday and at present there is also a fascinating exhibit which explores Ancient Egyptian animal mummies! This exhibit is available until the 26th February.

If you would like to find out more then please visit their website here: World Museum Liverpool



Disclaimer - Dates and ticket prices correct at time of writing.