Theatre in the North
Kristy Stott, Theatre EditorHappening this month…a feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. We’ve got a bit of everything in this month’s eclectic theatre guide.
Her Productions present the Noel Coward classic, Blithe Spirit in the intimate setting of Hope Mill Theatre. Fierce, funny and feminist, expect to see Coward’s flamboyant wit dialled up to the max in this sassy Northern production.
Meanwhile, in a similar vein, a wonderful spring season gets underway at the Royal Exchange with two incredible short plays by the legendary playwright Caryl Churchill. Domesticity collides with the apocalyptic in this extraordinary pairing of Escaped Alone and What If If Only. Placing the lives of older women front and centre, this is an unmissable evening of theatre.
Over at Aviva Studios, Factory International present the world premiere of Figures in Extinction, co-created by choreographer Crystal Pite and Complicité theatre director Simon McBurney. As big fans of Complicité’s work, this show has been on our radar for a long time – we’re thrilled Northern audiences are among the first to experience this timely triptych of dance.
In contrast, we’re made up that Oldham Coliseum are back with an original off-site show and everybody’s invited. Head to Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham for The Engagement Party, a lively, celebratory drama that plays out around the audience in a cabaret-style setting.
What else? Lowry continue their awe-inspiring season of contemporary dance; Sue Ryding of LipService Theatre presents Funny Stuff, an intimate, humorous and creative evening examining grief and letting go; Gandini Juggling present their magical new circus show, Heka at Lancaster Arts and the ever-brilliant Motionhouse bring their newest dance-circus spectacle, Hidden to the Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield.
Read on for details of all of this and more.
