What's on in the North West

Published: 13 January 2013
Reporter: David Upton

John Hickey as 19th century journalist Anthony Hewitson in Preston
Hidden, revived for Library Theatre's Re:Play Festival
Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, revived for Library Theatre's Re:Play Festival
V For Vendetta at the Lass o'Gowrie

Next Friday sees a second opportunity to catch a one-man performance about the life of a 19th century Preston journalist.

Dr Andrew Hobbs, a research associate in the city’s School of Journalism, has also worked as a journalist in Preston and has been transcribing the work. He then enlisted the help of actor John Hickey, playwright Derek Martin and pianist Malcolm Sim for the production The Hewitson Diaries: A journalist’s life in Victorian Preston, which will be performed at UCLan’s Media Factory Theatre 1.

Details: 01772 253731.

A play that was given its première in Preston two years ago turns up as part of a Best of Manchester fringe festival next week

Hidden made its debut as part of Preston’s own summer festival of theatre, The Tringe, in 2011. Since then it’s had some significant structural changes, along with an original music score being added.

Unholy Mess Theatre's production of Can't Stand Up for Falling Down has also been selected for Manchester Library Theatre’s re:play festival—the only inclusion in this year's programme chosen as a stand out performance of an established play.

Details: www.librarytheatre.com

Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre stages The Accrington Pals—Peter Whelan’s poignant drama based on the real-life story of a group of young men from the Lancashire mill town who left their homes and lovers for the trenches of the Somme.

This new production—directed by James Dacre—runs at the Exchange from next Thursday to February 16.

Details: www.royalexchange.co.uk

Moscow City Ballet returns to the Opera House in Manchester next Tuesday to Thursday with performances of Swan Lake performed in all its original splendour with lavish sets, dazzling costumes and stunning choreography.

Details: www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester

The Octagon Theatre in Bolton returns to big American dramas, with one of the most powerful stories, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.

The writer’s own stage version of his classic novel tells the story of fast-talking farm hand George and his innocent companion, Lennie, who accompanies him in a life of casual labour in 1930s America.

Details: www.octagonbolton.co.uk

V For Vendetta at the Lass o’Gowrie in Manchester until January 27 is a brand new fringe adaptation of Alan Moore’s classic 1980s comic strip from Scytheplays.

Adapted by Sean Mason, this is a futuristic story about a shadowy freedom fighter, known only as V, who uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society.

Details: www.thelass.co.uk

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