NW productions

Published: 30 March 2012
Reporter: David Upton

Connie FisherThree of the region's powerhouses of performance combine their talents next week for the eagerly-anticipated Wonderful Town at the Lowry in Salford. It's the culmination of a landmark collaboration between the Royal Exchange Theatre, The Hallé Orchestra and The Lowry and after several years in development this brand new production of Leonard Bernstein's musical, starring Connie Fisher, is already booked in for an extra week, prior to a UK tour.

Details: www.thelowry.com

Weekend Breaks, by playwright John Godber, comes to The Lowry in Salford with a cast of familiar faces from stage and screen.

This comedy of culture clashes sees aspiring film writer Martin Dawson trying to patch things up with his wife and his disapproving working class parents after an extra marital fling. It runs from Monday to Saturday.

Details: www.thelowry.com

RigolettoLancashire's own professional opera company Heritage Opera is back on the road from next week, with performances around the region of Verdi's dark masterpiece Rigoletto.

These include Haigh Hall, Wigan next Wednesday; Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe, Good Friday; Burnley Central Library the following Sunday afternoon; Grand Theatre, Lancaster April 12; Preston Minster April 13.

Details: www.heritageopera.co.uk

A huge hit at last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe is heading to Lancaster Grand Theatre next week.

Dust explores the Thatcher legacy and the on-going human cost of the Miners' Strike on communities. It is also a humorous, tragic snapshot of Britain today.

It runs from Tuesday to Thursday.

Details: www.lancastergrand.co.uk

Vicky Binns in AlfieA Coronation Street favourite who was killed off in one of the soap's several tram crashes finds a new lease of life at The Dukes in Lancaster next week.

Vicky Binns is unlucky in love again when she appears in Alfie playing the title character's young, naïve girlfriend, Annie, in the 1960s classic.

It's the Bolton Octagon production which will be played in The Round at The Dukes from Tuesday to Saturday.

Details: www.dukes-lancaster.org

Blackpool rolls out its brand-new Comedy Carpet, unveiled on the prom only recently, with a festival of shows taking place over—appropriately—April Fool's weekend, March 31-April 1.

Details: www.visitblackpool.com

TiddlerA children's favourite comes to the Grand in Blackpool when Tiddler and other Terrific Tales takes to the stage for two performances on Tuesday afternoon.

It's a brand new show from the award-winning Scamp Theatre.

Details: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Legendary 80s radio DJ Mike Read ‘virtually hosts' Europe's official 1980s tribute concert, 80s Mania, when it comes to the Grand in Blackpool next Thursday!

Mike Read presents it all on video links to two projectors on stage.

Details: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Move Over MoriartyComedy double act LipService returns to Oldham wearing a new disguise in Sherlockian skit Move Over Moriarty. It runs from April 3-7 at the Grange Arts Centre, Rochdale Road, OL9 6EA.

Details: www.coliseum.org.uk

Sinful: 7 Comedy Shorts for 7 Deadly Sins, Carly Tarett's seven off-beat comedy shorts based on the deadly sins, is at Studio Salford, The King's Arms, 11 Bloom St., Salford from Wednesday to Saturday.

Details: www.studiosalford.com

The Wizard of Oz is at St Helens Theatre Royal from Wednesday to the following Monday. The Regal Entertainment production is aimed at the whole family.

Details: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

Today sees the kick off for the first year of Manchester's Afflecks Fringe festival. Acts range from Burlesque to stand up to vintage film nights, to theatre and plenty more!

Details: www.threeminutetheatre.co.uk

Rob Johnston's play The Opposite of Claustrophobic is at the Taurus Bar on Manchester's Canal Street, twice, on Monday April 2. It features Natalie Husdan and Anthony Crank and is directed by Ian Townsend.

Details: 0161 927 7992

Liverpool's TiLT Dance Studio sees their bi-annual TiLT Dance Platform back next Wednesday and Thursday at the city's Kazimier venue. It's two evenings of dance performance from the best up and coming dance companies from across the region.

Details: www.tiltdance.co.uk or www.thekazimier.co.uk

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