I’m a Rocky Horror virgin and had no idea what I was letting myself in for. It was an experience. I had been informed I needed to dress up but I hadn’t considered the difficulty of making my way to the Grand via public transport in questionable attire, writes our reviewer Mel Neale...
Walking to Wakefield Kirkgate station was like running a gauntlet, but eventually I made it to Northgate and on approaching the theatre I was with ‘my own’, if anything my outfit was tame. There were characters and creatures in all shapes and sizes mostly wearing suspenders and of note; someone wearing a huge pair of home made lips. The colourful, joyful deviant audience was like a strange family reunion. This feeling continued into the theatre with nearly as many shout outs and in jokes as there was script. The cast received and volleyed beautifully. The cast without exception were brilliant. Duncan James makes a fabulous Frank-N-Furter. The set design was great, it was incredibly effective and enveloped us in to the world without distracting from the impact of the stunning characters. The show flew by in a whirlwind before I knew it I was up on my feet dancing to the Time-warp for the final time and applauding the cast, then tumbling out of the theatre in to the real world. Rocky Horror aficionados will not be disappointed. New comers may find themselves a little confused and overwhelmed but will enjoy the ride and like me I hope will enjoy the initiation in to this family of misfits. About Rocky Horror Show Live Dammit Janet, Richard O’Brien’s legendary musical, The Rocky Horror Show, is on at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 August 2019. Since first opening in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical, having been performed worldwide for 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into over 20 languages. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the musical extravaganza will star Blue singer and Hollyoaks actor Duncan James as Frank, Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton as Janet, James Darch (Maggie May) as Brad, and writer, comedian and actor Steve Punt as The Narrator. Musical numbers include Sweet Transvestite, Science Fiction/Double Feature, Dammit Janet and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, The Time Warp. On the press night, we attended The Narrator was played by a fabulous and funny Kristian Lavercombe.Riff Raff was played by Reece Budin and Maddie Coelho covered Reece’s track. The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank-n-Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget. Duncan James said: “Frank is such an iconic role, it’s an honour to be able to play him and a role that I have always wanted to do. I’m so excited to be touring with such a fun and vibrant show, and to be working with this fantastic cast.†Joanne Clifton added: “I've always loved Rocky Horror. I learnt the Time Warp in my dance classes in Grimsby when I was 4 years old ... 30 years later and I’ll be jumping to the left on the actual Rocky Horrorstage, I can't quite believe it!†Be warned, this show has rude parts! The Rocky Horror Show is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 August 2019 Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700​
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 Leeds audiences are invited to put on their Boogie Shoes and strut on down to Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 27 toSaturday 31 August 2019 when Bill Kenwright’s Saturday Night Fever will ignite a Disco Inferno. Based on the 70s classic movie starring John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever tells the story of Tony Manero and his reckless, yet thrilling, road to dancing success. The show features the greatest hits of the Bee Gees, including Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy and More Than a Woman; the original album remains the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time.
 Returning to the iconic role of Tony Manero is Richard Winsor. Winsor previously performed worldwide as the principle dancer with Matthew Bourne for 10 years before landing the lead role in the cult dance film StreetDance 3D and going on to play Caleb Knight in the BBC’s Casualty.
Whilst paying homage to the movie, this new stage version promises more drama, more music and new choreography. It is directed and produced by Bill Kenwright with choreography by Olivier award-winning Bill Deamer. Saturday Night Fever is at Leeds Grand Theatre fromTuesday 27 to Saturday 31 August 2019 Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700 8/13/2019 10 Comments BINGLEY WEEKENDER: Music Festival featuring Ocean Colour Scene, James and Doves + local Yorkshire bands James, Doves and Ocean Colour Scene headline the first Bingley Weekender, a three day festival at Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club from 30th August- 1st September. Friday’s headliners Ocean Colour Scene achieved both critical and public success in the 90s. The band released 5 top ten albums. One of which, Marchin’ Already reached number one in 1997. The band’s biggest hits include The Riverboat Song and The Day We Caught The Train. Continuing with the theme of Brit Pop icons, James Walsh of Star Sailor Fame will be appearing to play some stunning cuts from his recent album ‘Tiger On The Bridge’ and more. Giving some strong yorkshire representation on Friday are Fling, an up and coming Bradford band who specialise in creating self described ‘wonky pop’ tunes. Recently they signed to iconic Leeds label Dance To The Radio who are responsible for publishing work from bands including Forward Russia, Dead Naked Hippies and Grammatics. Also performing on this day are Idles. Idles are at the epicentre of the punk revival that has taken the industry by storm recently and sold out an entire UK tour last autumn off the back of their album Joy as an Act of Resistance. Saturday provides a compelling mix of established and emerging indie acts. After taking a long hiatus from 2010 till late 2018, Doves are well and truly back. The band are responsible for brilliant tracks including Black & White Town and There Goes The Fear Again. The second day of the festival includes performances from Tom Grennan, Circa Waves, Anteros, The Blinders and more. Tom Grennan has managed to gain a legion of fans, release some fantastic tracks such as ‘Royal Highness’ and ‘Sober’ and even bag a world record for performing the most gigs in 12 hours. Circa Waves, one of the newly announced acts are one of the UK’s best loved indie acts. Their sunny indie first caught people’s attention back in 2015 with their debut album Young Chasers. Doncaster band The Blinders have quickly risen to the top of the indie pile for their political lyrics and wild live shows. Their dystopian debut record ‘Columbia’ is a strong statement of intent. Another Yorkshire band playing who will need little introduction are Leeds natives Marsicans who the national music press can’t get enough of. Sunday 1st September at Bingley Weekender has a billing of epic proportions. Headliners James are regarded as one of the prolific bands that arose from the Madchester scene. Their discography includes tracks such as Sit Down and Laid. In addition, Sunday includes performances from iconic British acts Miles Kane and Billy Bragg. Bookings including The Night Cafe, The Snuts, Ten Tonnes and local lads The Indigo Project ensure that festival goers get to see some of the next generation of up-and-coming bands. Although music is the primary focus of the fantastic new festival, there is so much more to Bingley Weekender. The boutique, family friendly festival will include street art, comedy, great food and opportunities to camp/ glamp depending on your preferences. Although there are no more early bird tickets left, a limited number or tier one tickets are now on sale for adults and children. For tickets and more information head to: https://www.bingleyweekender.co.uk   Dammit Janet, Richard O’Brien’s legendary musical, The Rocky Horror Show, returns to Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 August 2019. Since first opening in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical, having been performed worldwide for 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into over 20 languages. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the musical extravaganza will star Blue singer and Hollyoaks actor Duncan James as Frank, Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton as Janet, James Darch (Maggie May) as Brad, and writer, comedian and actor Steve Punt as The Narrator. Musical numbers include Sweet Transvestite, Science Fiction/Double Feature, Dammit Janet and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, The Time Warp. The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank-n-Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget. Duncan James said: “Frank is such an iconic role, it’s an honour to be able to play him and a role that I have always wanted to do. I’m so excited to be touring with such a fun and vibrant show, and to be working with this fantastic cast.” Joanne Clifton added: “I've always loved Rocky Horror. I learnt the Time Warp in my dance classes in Grimsby when I was 4 years old ... 30 years later and I’ll be jumping to the left on the actual Rocky Horrorstage, I can't quite believe it!” Be warned, this show has rude parts! The Rocky Horror Show is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 August 2019 Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700 The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs. It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre, 1973-79 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End, 1979-80. Many stars, including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason Donovan and Meatloaf have appeared in the iconic stage show over the past 45 years. In 1975 it was transformed into a film called The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This film adaptation took over $135 million at the Box Office and is still shown in cinemas around the world more than 40 years after its premiere, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. In 2015, as part of a sold-out season at London’s Playhouse Theatre, a special star-studded Gala charity performance in aid of Amnesty International was broadcast to over 600 cinemas across the UK and Europe. The live screening - featuring a host of celebrities playing The Narrator, including Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Emma Bunton, Ade Edmondson, Anthony Head and Richard O’Brien - smashed box office records and was the biggest grossing film in cinemas across the UK. The performance was subsequently screened on the Sky Arts channel. Cast Columbia – Miracle Chance; Eddie/Dr Scott – Ross Chisari; Rocky – Callum Evans; Magenta/Usherette – Laura Harrison; Phantom – Reece Budin; Phantom – Shelby Farmer; Phantom – Katie Monks; Phantom – Jake Small; Swing & Resident Choreographer – Andrew Ahern; Swing & Dance Captain – Maddie Hope Coelho Twitter: @rockyhorroruk I Facebook: /rockyhorrorshow 8/6/2019 0 Comments DIRTY DANCING THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE: Final stage of UK Tour mambos into Leeds Grand Theatre - Review “Nobody puts Baby in a corner…” is one of the most memorable quotes from Dirty Dancing as the story dances into the finale, but whilst we all love the film, how does it fare on stage? Sophie Mei Lan went to review Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage at Leeds Grand Theatre as it concludes its 2018/19 UK tour. Dirty Dancing is one of the only films I can watch time and time again. From the lifts and the steps to the love story and comical moments. It’s an absolute timeless classic. So I jumped at the chance to see Dirty Dancing in Leeds and what better way to spend a Monday evening? The show stars Michael O’Reilly making his professional debut as ‘Johnny Castle’, Katie Eccles (normally it’s Kira Malou) as idealistic ‘Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman’ and Millie Hood (normally it’s Simone Covele) as ‘Penny Johnson’. The inside of the theatre was all lit in pink to mark the occasion and I just knew we were in for a feel-good treat. Straight away we’re immersed into the Summer of ‘63 as we watch the various love and lust stories unfold at the holiday resort. It’s a simple setting with all the cheese from the original film and it’s everything we want it to be. It doesn’t veer off from the original and why should it, as we all love it as it is? The cast are all strong and believable and shimmy in to all the classic moments with good humour and sensitivity. It's hard to believe that it's O'Reilly's professional debut as Johnny as he fills the shoes of his character perfectly. France aka Baby is exactly as you expect - loveable, naive and optimistic. It’s particularly comical as Baby and Johnny practice the lifts in the water. You can’t not help but laugh and love this simple timeless production, perfect for Dirty Dancing fans like me. We all squealed when Johnny returns through a side door of the theatre and leaps on stage to do the final show with Frances/Baby. Produced by Karl Sydow and written by Eleanor Bergstein - script writer of the phenomenally successful 1987 film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray - the production features all the much-loved characters, original dialogue from the iconic film (plus extra scenes) and countless hit songs, including Hungry Eyes, Hey! Baby, Do You Love Me? and the heart stopping (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life. Dirty Dancing story It’s the summer of 1963 and 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life - as well as a thing or two about dancing. On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, she shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles across an all-night dance party at the staff quarters. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort dance instructor. Baby’s life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off, and two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.  You can’t help but want to join in playing Simon Says or learning to dance with them. Luckily, we were all up dancing in the auditorium at the end to finish the night off perfectly. Dirty Dancing on Stage is everything you want it to be. And I promise you’ll be singing and dancing your way home… or maybe that’s just me. I just want to watch it again and again! Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 5 to Saturday 17 August 2019 Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700 |
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