Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
Ever since I saw that this was a play by Inua Ellams, the writer responsible for the brilliant Barber Shop Chronicles, I have been in a state of eager anticipation. Thankfully I was not let down as, although this is a piece in total contrast to the last in content, it is just as wonderfully…
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As you may have gathered from my previous reviews of films which have been turned into stage productions, the results can vary wildly between brilliant, and why did they waste time, money and talent on that? The effect often magnified by turning a conventional comedy into a musical. Mrs Doubtfire – The Musical, against all…
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A funny thing happened to me on my way to the theatre. For all of you younger readers, i.e. those under 60, that was the stock opening line for a lot of comedians in the last century. You obviously know by now that I am not a comedian, and this really did happen a few…
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Before you start reading this I must stress that it is the review of a play and not the third in a series of food articles. Having said that, the chana masala (chickpea curry) and rice I had in the Playhouse Kitchen before the play, would have got a great write-up, had it been. The…
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I can think of few more opulent surroundings in which to celebrate a birthday, especially your first, than the Queens Hotel in City Square, Leeds. This is the most iconic hotel in the city and a part of City Station, which has just had a facelift and is now also looking magnificent – from the…
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During July and August there was a lull in proceedings in Theatreworld, but fortunately opportunities presented themselves which allowed me to revert to the subject on which I cut my writing teeth – literally – food and drink. In the interests of transparency I must reveal that this visit was made as the plus one…
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I had never really been a history buff, or even a fan of period drama, but lately I have begun to get more into it. Perhaps because I feel like a relic from a bygone age myself, so want to find out how to handle it, or that the present world order is so dire…
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I still think of myself as a newcomer to opera, so, when I write about a work I have seen before, especially as it was four years ago, it comes as something of a shock. It is the same production, directed by Femi Elufowoju jr. using the original costumes and scenery, so it is taking…
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When I saw that this was a musical about someone with dementia I was a bit sceptical but, and here is a statement of transparency, as it featured a pal of mine, I just had to go see it. I won’t mention any names but they know who they are and that, if they were…
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When Tchaikovsky was pitched the idea of writing an opera of the ‘novel in verse’, Eugine Onegin, he was reluctant to do so as it was based more on relationships than action. Thankfully he had second thoughts and came up with this stunner. It was so brilliant that I am not going to whinge about…
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