Theatre feature: Review of the Year

Review of the Year - the north west stage

Date: 31 December 2013
Reporter: David Chadderton

Kenneth Branagh as Macbeth at MIF Credit: Johan Persson

Gillian Bevan as Mrs Lovett and David Birrell as Sweeney Todd at the Royal Exchange Credit: Jonathan Keenan

Robert Robson in the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry in 2007 Credit: Eddie Garvey

Topthorn and Joey work out who is in charge in the officers' stables in War Horse (New London Theatre) Credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg

Helen Power as Roxie Hart and Marianne Benedict as Velma Kelly in Chicago at Oldham Coliseum Credit: Andrew Billington

Duncan Birt as Seymour carrying the growing Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors at the Kings Arms Credit: Mike Ruth

Fringe

Outside the festivals and the studios of the larger venues, the fringe scene, especially in Manchester and Liverpool, was as active as ever.

A new fringe venue, Korova Arts Café, opened in Preston, and Liverpool's Epstein Theatre celebrated its 100th birthday—although obviously it hasn't always had that name. In Southport, The Atkinson, combining Southport Arts Centre, the Atkinson Art Gallery, Botanic Gardens Museum and Central Library, finally opened its doors on Lord Street after major refurbishment.

JB Shorts reached number 10 of its biannual showcases of new writing and its 100th performance at Joshua Brooks in Manchester.

Over in Salford, the Kings Arms has been moving away from the old Studio Salford name for its upstairs performance space. Assembled Junk artistic director James Baker, who directed the musical Spring Awakening in the tiny venue earlier this year, has taken over programming for the space, ending the year by somehow squeezing a full—and very entertaining—production of Little Shop of Horrors complete with a live band into the theatre.

Right at the end of the year, I paid my first visit to Z-arts, just outside the city centre of Manchester, for a family production of Duck! that was as good as any Christmas show I'd seen on the region's stages.