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Month: November 2022

Wilmslow road

Honestly? I don’t quite get the Fallowfield hype

Written by Jacob Hartley on . Posted in Opinion.

Last year, during my first year of Uni, I lived in Whitworth Park. I was warned of many things: that it was quiet, small, and ugly. But, most frequently of all, I was told I was so far away from the other students that I’d die of boredom by week three.

Others always said that I needed to get myself into Fallowfield, a veritable student oasis – a cornucopia of perfect nights out and flat parties with queues stretching down the corridor. I got the impression that simply by not living in Oak House, there was so much of the student experience that I would miss out on.

But that simply, to me, just wasn’t the case. My flatmates were great, and I had a full social life. I left for my 9am lectures at 8:50 and was – mostly – on time. But when the time came to look at new houses, there was only one place to look. You’ve probably guessed that I, inevitably, found myself in Fallowfield for year two.

And so far? Honestly? I don’t get it.

Instead of waking up twenty minutes before my lecture, I have to walk ten minutes to a bus stop, where I wait about ten minutes for a bus that isn’t full by the time it gets to me. I had to get a bus pass and that alone cost me nearly a month’s rent. About half the time, I end up standing on that bus for 20 minutes. Cheap and cheerful Lidl has been replaced by the eyewatering prices of Sainsbury’s. Don’t try to tell me this is an upgrade.

I will give you this – the pubs are quite good. When you can get a seat that is. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m excited for the day it does. I’m already having nightmares about finding somewhere to watch the World Cup when it starts.

I do like living in a house instead of last year’s breeze-block den, but, then again, there are houses everywhere. I wouldn’t need to live in Fallowfield for a house, so it gets no points for that. We have a mouse though – that’s fun. In fact, the house is split down the middle on whether to try to tame it or not.

These are fairly small problems. To be more serious, what strikes me most is the total disconnect you feel from ‘Manchester’ as a place. There is no interaction with people who aren’t students – people who aren’t in the same bubble as you. Last year, living by the university, you could get to Fallowfield without much effort, but you also were under half an hour from the city centre. At Big Hands (the best pub in Manchester – don’t @ me), I frequently met people who were local to the area, who lived lives so distinctly different to my own.

This isn’t to say I hate students – of course I don’t – but there was something quite unique about the intersection of these two communities. You bonded with someone over a pint, and you had a little glimpse of their life, and then moved on. Fallowfield is so introspective, so concerned with navel-gazing, that you no longer feel part of a city. You are part of Fallowfield, not a part of Manchester anymore – and I think that’s quite sad.

All in all, I don’t love Fallowfield.

That’s not to say I don’t mind it, but overall, it seems like the cons balance out the pros. Here’s the thing though, I’m going to live here again next year. The FOMO of not living in Fallowfield is real, and the people I’m living with are going to want to stay here.

But if you’re a first-year, and you didn’t get Oak House, or Unsworth, or wherever your heart was set on, then don’t stress about it. And, when it comes to find a house for next year, please don’t feel you need to limit yourself to just looking in Fallowfield. Look in Withington – look in Rusholme too. Mostly, you get more for your money, and getting into Fallowfield is hardly difficult to do.

I’m not saying don’t live here. What I am saying is, it’s not the be-all and end-all. Just live with people you like (and people who do their washing up).

Two golden retrievers sleeping on orange yoga mats

Lifestyle Loves: Puppy yoga

Written by Imogen Mingos on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I’m an unashamed dog lover. For years I wanted my parents to buy me a puppy, I played Nintendogs until I was probably about 15, and I follow multiple dog accounts on social media. Since coming to university, the one thing I missed the most is my dog, so when I saw that there were puppy yoga classes in Manchester, I knew I had to go!

After following @pawyoga_mcr for several weeks and waiting for their new classes to start, I finally secured a spot in mid-October to take part in a yoga class with golden retriever puppies. You can imagine my excitement.

My class took place in the city centre at Yoga Soul, which was about five minutes away from Piccadilly Gardens. We waited outside before taking our shoes off and then we were introduced to the puppies. Of course, they were super cute and cuddly which made it very hard to resist playing with them throughout the yoga session. The classes are structured so that there is half an hour of yoga and half an hour of pure puppy cuddles.

The staff were lovely and offered to take photos throughout. I’m not much of a yogi myself but the class was fun, and it felt very zen despite the puppies running around everywhere! There was no pressure to do anything beyond your ability and you were more than encouraged to stroke the puppies if they came over to you.

It wasn’t a particularly advanced class as every move had to be done at floor level for the safety of the puppies, so if you’re an avid yogi looking to learn new skills then this probably isn’t for you. But if like me, you just want a bit of a stretch, good vibes, and a serotonin boost then this is perfect.

Everyone was very friendly, and it was great to meet new people whilst you sit with puppies on your lap listening to calming music. Needless to say, the puppies were incredibly sweet, and it was an absolute delight to spend time with them.

I personally can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to be surrounded by dogs and working the mind and the body. I will definitely be going back to one of Paw Yoga’s classes again.

Review: UoM Musical Theatre Society autumn showcase

Written by Hanna Patla on . Posted in Theatre.

With an assembly of songs from last year’s productions Pippin, A Very Potter Musical, Company, and A New Brain, the musical theatre society wowed their audience with perfect pitch, fantastic comedic timing, and unadulterated joy for their craft that shone through in each performance.

A Very Potter Musical was a brilliant beginning, with Ginny (Hannah McCoy) singing with a cheeky romantic look in her eyes and a bright, youthful voice. She was accompanied by Harry and Ron (Xavier Moras Spencer and Charlie Steggall) as backup dancers. They swayed to the music before joining in, a creative decision which sparked many well-deserved laughs from the audience.

Arran Kemp continued the fun with a rendition of ‘Be Polite to Everyone’ from A New Brain. The number was sung in a gorgeously deep voice with a humourous tone that worked well to establish a sassy villain persona.

Next up was Charlie Steggall, who sang (to my disappointment) the only song from Pippin that was included in the line-up. Nevertheless, his performance of ‘Corner of the Sky’ was enough to have me berating myself for not seeing the full production last year.

Rosa Gatley weaved sincerity through her character when singing ‘Not Getting Married Today’ from Company. Although her timings were a little off in places. Her voice overlapping with Rowan Wilson’s and Aimee Wilmot’s at the end was goose-bump worthy.

‘Mother’s Gonna Make Things Fine’ from A New Brain was possibly my favourite song from the whole performance, deftly sung by Lucy Whelan. She not only captured the fraudulent positivity of the character at this moment, but the power of her voice gave the song a sustained momentum that had the audience captured. She reminded me of Stephanie J. Block, which as any theatre lover will know, is a huge commendation.

The whole cast had an amazing understanding of harmonies, which was especially noticeable in ‘Granger Danger’, sung by Charlie Steggall and Ella Kendrick. Their performance was another highlight for me.

Having seen the 2018 run of Company at the Gielgud Theatre in London, I had a high bar for Fran Wolfin’s ‘Ladies who Lunch’, and she certainly did not disappoint. Her projection was strong and, the development the audience followed her with on stage was a masterclass in performance. In the future, I’m certain she could give Patti LuPone a run for her money.

Aimee Wilmot’s ‘Change’ from A New Brain was not only technically glorious but commanded a strong stage presence. She sprinkled in an appreciated bit of humour at the end by giving a few lucky audience members some coins she had in her pocket.

The pianist, Leo Gatty, must also be given major props as, despite apparently having only four days’ notice, he handled each song with the nimbleness of a professional.

Technical issues were handled well, eliciting laughs from the performers and audience alike. My particular favourite was the moment one of the microphones seemingly fell to pieces in one of the cast member’s hands. However, the accompaniment being a tad too loud during ‘Being Alive’ (sung by Xavier Moras Spencer) did sadly drown out some of the softer moments of one of the most impressive renditions of this song I’ve heard to date.

The showcase overall exceeded all expectations I sat down with. The obvious camaraderie and glee the performers get from each other and what they do had me grinning all the way through. It wasn’t just me either; the whole room seemed to buzz, whether from the sound system, the fact that most of the audience was indulging in a drink from 532, or from the pure energy that flowed through each song. I personally think it was a perfect combination of all the factors. I couldn’t tell whether freshers’ flu hadn’t affected a single member of this cast, but the beautiful tones they sang with certainly suggests not.

Upcoming projects for the Musical Theatre Society include a production of Spring Awakening in November, which judging by today’s talent, is certainly not one to miss. I for one would love to see queues rivalling those for the 142 bus back to Fallowfield after a long day of lectures.

Review: The Black Blues Brothers

Written by Rosemary Russett on . Posted in Theatre.

The Black Blues Brothers, a group of acrobats from the Nairobi-based circus trust Sarakasi, finished their UK tour at The Lowry last weekend.

I was interested to see how a small group of performers with one focus would engage me – as someone who is more used to variety-style performances, where a number of acts take turns to show off different skills.  The audience was made up of parents with children on the one hand, and presumably, those hoping for the nostalgia of the original film on the other.

For a show that bills itself as being based on the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, a surprising amount of the music was not from the film, nor even blues at times. Doris Day’s rendition of ‘Dream A Little Dream Of Me’ came back multiple times in the short sketch-like segments that broke up the leaping and balancing.

Even ‘Gangnam Style’ and ‘Waka Waka’ (This Time for Africa)’ made an appearance in an uncomfortable segment near the end of the first act. In it, an audience member was brought onstage to be ‘wooed’ by the performers while she sat in the corner looking increasingly uncomfortable. As various leaps and tricks occurred on a rickety table in the centre of the stage, I was sadly distracted by the relatable discomfort of the woman whose presence could easily have been left out.

Other people gasped around me, but this really did ruin this part of the show for me. As one audience member near me declared of the woman on stage: “She’s not sure what to do.” In the background, Aretha Franklin begged the performers to ‘Think’.

When it came to the acrobatics itself, the technical skill and trust between The Black Blues Brothers can only be marvelled. They seemed to balance on every part of the human body it is possible to balance on. The acrobats jumped over and through every prop they had on stage. During these sections, the performers showcased their strengths. Both in a physical sense and in the way they encouraged each other, helping the audience see how skilful each trick was.

This was especially impressive during the first couple of routines. For, the Brothers‘ performed in full suits, sunglasses, and hats, true to the eponymous film. To avoid doing the whole show in suits, they performed a strip routine to the song ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’, a show that was loudly popular with the middle-aged women in the audience.

Unfortunately, this scene ended with a forced stripping of one of the performers, which did make me wonder about the message the many children in the audience might take from this.

The second act was definitely the stronger part of the show, with children being brought onstage to try their hand at limbo. One lucky adult audience member was also brought on. His lack of acrobatic skill helped to further highlight how flexible and skilled the acrobats are (although he did manage an impressive number of push-ups)!

This segment showed how audience participation can be used to enhance performance, rather than making members of the audience uncomfortable. It was also good to see children being engaged in circus skills and show them the joy of performance. This engagement really helped focus the second part of the performance, which was further honed by some rather impressive fire tricks, as well as balances involving all five men.

Despite the fact that some of The Black Blues Brothers were clearly trained as ‘bases’ while the others balanced on them, all five performers proved their ability to jump through literal hoops and do flips through the air. The diverse range of abilities really drove home the level of skill and training held by all of these men.

Although the narrative continued between sections, the tricks were well built-up towards a final climax. Overall, I found the skill exhibited very impressive and the soundtrack fun and engaging. What was lacking was a strong, clear narrative to take this performance from a showcase to a performance.

 

The Black Blues Brothers finished its UK tour on October 29 at The Lowry.

The Lion King

Palace Theatre Manchester feels the love

Written by Jay Darcy on . Posted in Theatre.

Disney’s award-winning musical The Lion King explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects, and enchanting music. It follows the powerful story of Simba as he journeys from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Disney’s multi-award-winning musical is a unique theatrical experience that you will remember forever.

As you will surely already know, the stage musical is based on the 1994 Disney film of the same name. But you probably don’t know that the film is inspired by William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, with elements from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses – as well as Disney’s own Bambi (1994).

After a try-out in Minneapolis in 1997, the musical premiered on Broadway later that year – and it has been there since. It opened on the West End in 1999, the year I was born, and it is still going strong. The musical did not tour the UK until 2012. Subtitled “The Zebra Tour”, it visited venues around the UK until 2015.

This current tour, the second, subtitled “The Rhino Tour”, began in 2019. However, due to the pandemic, two engagements were rescheduled: Manchester and Bradford. The tour reopened last year and has visited several cities ahead of a whopping four-and-a-half-month residency at the Palace Theatre Manchester.

The musical features the iconic songs from the film (music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice), with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. An elaborate production with huge sets and mind-blowing puppetry, this is one for the senses.

So, hop on a plane to Africa this Autumn. We’ve been waiting two years; let’s celebrate the Circle of Life!

The Lion King began its run at the Palace Theatre on October 27 2022. It has just been announced that its run has been extended once again; it is now playing until March 11 2023. After this huge run, the UK tour visits Sunderland Empire from March 16 to May 6 and Birmingham Hippodrome from July 6 to September 16 – with more venues to be announced.

Disney on Ice

AO Arena freezes over

Written by Jay Darcy on . Posted in Theatre.

Disney just announced UK plans for its 100th anniversary, including Disney 100 – The Concert, which will be coming to Manchester’s own AO Arena. But first, the arena welcomes the return of Disney on Ice – with its current Dream Big tour.

“Believing is just the beginning at Disney On Ice presents Dream Big. Miguel aspires to be a musician and journeys through the Land of the Dead to unlock his family’s history. Moana and Maui bravely restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti, Anna and Elsa save their kingdom and the Disney Princesses inspire with stories of strength, determination and kindness. Share every magical moment filled with breathtaking ice skating and beloved Disney songs and stories that give everyone a reason to believe at Disney On Ice!”

Disney on Ice presents Dream Big runs at AO Arena from November 2 to 6 and tours the UK until December 31. Then, Disney on Ice: Discover the Magic tours the UK from February 23 to March 26. If you want to look through all the dates, head to the website.

The Lowry redeems itself

Written by Katie Bray on . Posted in Theatre.

The Shawshank Redemption is a play based on novella by Stephen King, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, that was later brought to life on-screen in an Oscar-winning film, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

The story follows Andy Dufresne, a man who is falsely accused of murdering his lover and sent to the titular Shawshank Prison. He faces harrowing experiences as a prisoner and is forced to take matters into his own hands to escape the cruelty of prison guard Warden Stammas.

The show stars Joe Absolom (EastEnders, Doc Martin) as ex-banker Andy, and Ben Onwukwe (London’s Burning, Professor T) as Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, Andy’s closest friend and a man who “knows how to get things” in the hostile prison.

Known for its notorious escape attempts, insights on prison brutality, and the desperation of an innocent incarcerated man, the story boasts shocking twists that takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster of hope, claustrophobia, despair, and frustration as the friends try to survive their prison days under the watchful eye of a corrupt and cruel warden.

 

The Shawshank Redemption is at The Lowry in Salford from October 31 until November 5 before it escapes to the final stop of its UK tour: The Alexandra, Birmingham from November 7 to 12.

Friendsical

Head to The Lowry with your Friends

Written by Jay Darcy on . Posted in Theatre.

Whether you love it or hate it, you cannot possibly deny that it is one of the most iconic television series ever. It launched the careers of now-A-List celebrities, and it will remain a pop culture phenomenon until the end of time.

I am, of course, talking about Friends.

The series is now so iconic is that it is now, not a musical, but a parody musical.

Friendsical puts the focus on Ross: “When Ross’s wife leaves him for another woman, he fears he will never find love again. But then Rachel runs back into his life… will he end up with his one true love?”

With original new songs such as ‘(He’s her) Lobster!’, ‘Richard’s Moustache’ and ‘You’re Over Me, When Were You Under Me?’, the gang take on naked Thursdays, a power cut, and a dinosaur convention! What could possibly go wrong?

Each city stars a celebrity in a guest role. Previous special guests have been Harry Judd (Dartford), Jake Quickenden (Bristol, Northampton, Colchester, Aberdeen, Leicester), Jay McGuiness (Bath), Joanne Clifton (Cardiff, Bradford), Kimberley Wyatt (Cardiff, Northampton, Huddersfield, Horsham, Bath), and Lawrence Chaney (Sheffield, Harrogate).

Salford, meanwhile, stars Louise Redknapp in evening performances and Ella Vaday on the matiness on November 4 and 5.

None of these celebs are strangers to the stage. I’ve previously seen Quickenden in both Hair and Footloose (whilst I reviewed neither, I interviewed him ahead of the latter), Clifton in The Addams Family, Wyatt in Z Bo Jackson Dance Gala, Redknapp in Cabaret and 9 to 5, and Vaday in Drag Fest 2022.

 

Friendsical runs at The Lowry (Quays Theatre) from October 31 to November 5 – the final stop of its UK tour.