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< Back Fur Coat and No Knickers ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 7 August 2013 Extravagantly funny, this play centres round the wedding of Deidre Ollerenshaw and Mark Greenhalgh, introducing first the Ollerenshaw clan, then the Greenhalgh family. We go with the lads on their increasingly disastrous stag night followed the next day by a chaotic wedding when half the guests, including the priest conducting the wedding, are suffering from blinding hangovers. The events are brought to an unnatural conclusion with the final entrance of Father Molloy most inappropriately dressed and embracing a blow-up, talking doll. The perfect antidote to December blues CAST The Ollerenshawe Family: Edith - Janet Slade Deirdre - Paula Taylor Nip - Geoff Noar Harry - Nev Roby Kevin - Charlie Tomlinson Peter - John Keen The Greenhalgh Family: Mark - Andrew Higson Muriel - Ruth Metcalfe Ron - Roger Metcalfe Hamish - Trevor Lee Brown Kirsten - Ellie Greenwood Wendy - Emma Robinson Jimmy/Policeman - Mike Shaw Father Molloy - Bill Platt Speciality Dancer - Paula Taylor Bouncers/Waiters/Old Men/Barmaids played by: Ian Richardson, David Walton, Roger Metcalfe, Sandy Maguire, Juliette Wilson, Carol Gibson, Stella Fogg.

< Back Jonah and the Whale ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Angell, Laura Billcliff, Arthur Blackburn, Lydia Blore, Noreen Bond, Mary Burton Ruth Cary, C W E Coventry A F Cummings, Amy Duncan, E D Fullerton, Irene Gow, Ronald Haken, Bessie Marsh, Russell Matley, Henry (Harry) Mendelsohn, Maurice T Pennington, Muriel Waddington, R H Wood, Pamela Whitehead, Gerald

< Back The Winslow Boy ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2013 England 1912. Based on a real life legal case, the play concerns 13 year old cadet Ronnie Winslow, who is expelled from military college for the theft of a five shilling postal order. His father, believing in his son's innocence and moreover that the boy has not received a fair hearing, will not let the matter lie. He embarks on a case that will last several years and becomes the source of much attention from the press and public with some admiring Winslow's perseverance and others perplexed by his unwillingness to drop what they see as a trivial matter, especially given what is brewing in Europe. Set in the years leading up to the First World War, the play has a familiar English drawing room feel. There is a sense of events taking place during a brighter, better time that exists no longer, and this is echoed in the light, airy set - but it is also an utterly compelling piece of theatre. CAST Ronnie Winslow Daniel Shaw Grace Winslow Jane Marsh Arthur Winslow David Reynolds Catherine Winslow Ali Davenport Dickie Winslow Chris Mawson John Watherstone Jon White Desmond Curry David Ades Miss Barnes Sandy McGuire Freda Di Boyer Sir Robert Morton Martin Oldfield Violet Lindsey Andrews Review by Sale & Altrincham Messenger by Rick Bowen Blood is Thicker Than Water in The Winslow Boy THE crime that gets Ronnie Winslow kicked out of naval cadet school wouldn't raise any eyebrows these days. What does make an impression when watching 'The Winslow Boy' is the way his family fight like tigers to clear his name. Particularly his father, Arthur, whose appetite for the struggle remains undiminished even when his health starts failing him. There are some touching scenes between Ronnie and his dad, a character hopelessly set in his ways and these are perfectly played by Daniel Shaw and David Reynolds in Altrincham Garrick's latest production. David has the sort of voice I could listen to for hours and they look and sound like a real father and son. The Winslow Boy tells an uplifting story at a sedate pace and there are some wonderful lines in Rattigan's thoughtful and at times witty script. In Catherine Winslow, Ronnie's sister, the writer gives us a woman who dares to speak her mind in an age where many were still subservient to the men in their life. For me, this is Ali Davenport's best performance to date on the Garrick stage and Catherine memorably clashes with cold fish of a lawyer Sir Robert Morton, played by Martin Oldfield. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that this man is incapable of a bad performance. The Winslow Boy is based on a true story which ends far more sadly than this hugely enjoyable play. Star Rating ★★★★

< Back Natural Causes ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 11 December 2013 No information available at this time

< Back Four Plays for Coarse Actors ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 27 July 2013 Green describes a coarse actor as one who can remember his lines, but not the order in which they come. Often the scenery will fall down. Invariably his tights will fall down. Ages can vary from young to the practically senile. The three plays are presented as parodies of dramatic styles, in the performance of which everything which can conceivably go wrong in a production does, but the Coarse Actors struggle gamefully on throughout. THE COMPANY Ali Davenport, Adam Gonet, Chris Mawson, Dave Midgley, Stephen Moss, Christine Perry, David Richardson, Janet Slade, Graham Simmonds, Hannah Williams & Steve Williamson If you would like to have the latest Garrick News e-mailed to you directly, then please subscribe to our News 'blog' on the?front page ? and be sure of not missing any of our latest announcements.

< Back The Mortimer Touch ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Brewer, Brian B Frost, Kenneth Glazebrook, K Harry Hobbs, Olive Nellie Hopper, Kenneth Hughes, Edward D Lightowler, Ronnie R Morrison, Elspeth Pimlott, (Allman) Emmie Purcell, Allison

< Back NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE - Jack Absolute Flies Again ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 13 July 2022 A rollicking new comedy by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors ) and Oliver Chris (Twelfth Night ). An hilarious wartime farce with plenty of heart. After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to win the heart of his old flame, Lydia Languish. Back on British soil, Jack ’s advances soon turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own, very particular, terms. Emily Burns directs this spectacularly entertaining new version of Sheridan’s The Rivals. Featuring a cast including Caroline Quentin, Laurie Davidson, Natalie Simpson and Kelvin Fletcher. ‘One of the funniest productions in the National’s history.’ Guardian on One Man, Two Guvnor

< Back One Man in His Time ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 1 July 2014 CAST Atkinson, Bobbie Blackburn, Lydia Bramwell, Madge Bullivant, Erick Dykes, Tom Evans, Gwynn Gow, Ronald Gregory, Arnold I Lawley, Mollie Lowe, Edgar M Mason, Edward Mason, Edith A Nixon, Beryl Nixon, Walter S Stevens, Catherine Wallis, Brian Wallis, Ruby Warburton, George A Wilson, Tom Winn, Rex Wood, Kathleen Wilkinson, John

< Back Solve-A-Long-A-Murder-She-Wrote ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 20 October 2021 Cult hit event Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote comes to Altrincham, with an interactive screening of the classic Murder, She Wrote episode “Broadway Malady”. Jessica Fletcher heads to New York City but soon gets caught up in a murder mystery only she (or you!) can solve! Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote is a unique and hilarious night featuring games, prizes and audience participation, with special permission from NBC Universal Television. See the show Time Out rated one of 2021 and 2019’s 50 Great Nights Out in London that has played to sell-out audiences across the UK and Australia. Hosted by super-fan Tim Benzie, Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote features: * A race to solve to the crime, via the Fameometer and the Suspiciometer! * A Cabot Cove quiz! * A singalong to the theme tune with new lyrics! * Clips and biogs of the campy guest stars! THE CRITICS SPEAK! “ You’ll be swept away with Jessica Fletcher feels … it has the BEST HOST.” ( Time Out London) “ I’d challenge anyone to sit through this show and not get utterly invested in figuring out whodunit, whilst smiling at the comfort that this 80’s drama brings.” 4 stars **** ( West End Wilma) “It didn’t take long for Benzie to have the audience in stitches and he had the whole crowd in the palm of his hand the entire evening.” ( Bristol 24/7) “A unique and thoroughly enjoyable theatre experience” ( Blue Curtains Brisbane) Tim Benzie is obsessed with Murder, She Wrote , having watched the original series when it was first broadcast, and now relishing the repeats on television everywhere. An award-winning playwright and co-writer of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s 2017, 2018 and 2019 pantos (‘Goosed’, ‘Rubbed’ and ‘Slipped). He is the co-producer of the camp club night PopHorror. Our reasonably priced bar will be open before, during the interval and after the show. Free car park for customers and in easy walking distance of Altrincham and local tram and train stations. So what are you waiting for? BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

< Back NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE - Best of Enemies ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 11 January 2023 By James Graham Directed by Jeremy Herrin, inspired by the documentary by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon David Harewood (Homeland ) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek ) play feuding political rivals in James Graham’s (Sherwood ) multiple award-winning new drama. In 1968 America, as two men fight to become the next president, all eyes are on the battle between two others: the cunningly conservative William F. Buckley Jr., and the unruly liberal Gore Vidal. During a new nightly television format, they debate the moral landscape of a shattered nation. As beliefs are challenged and slurs slung, a new frontier in American politics is opening and television news is about to be transformed forever. Jeremy Herrin (All My Sons ) directs this blistering political thriller, filmed live in London’s West End.

< Back The Nutcracker (theatre screening) ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 16 November 2020 This lovely ballet competes with Swan Lake for the title of "most popular ballet" globally. It has become a firm family favourite for the festive season. Composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and first performed in St Petersburg in 1892, this was not originally a success. However, since then it has grown in popularity and, in recent years, is famous for providing the background music to many television commercials. The most recognizable pieces in the ballet include Russian Dance , Waltz of the Flowers , March , and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy . This screening is a recording of a performance by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, London in 2019. It is shown to you "as-live" in the Garrick's cosy and welcoming auditorium, on both the 22nd and the 29th of December. With sumptuous period designs, spellbinding stage effects and (of course) Tchaikovsky's iconic score, this version of The Nutcracker will enchant audiences of all ages. This screening will (as always) be introduced by Barry Purves with informed trivia, anecdotes and some background of the production. Come and join us in a friendly, informal and Covid-19 safe atmosphere, to take advantage of sensational screening facilities as well as our low prices and free car park.

< Back As You Are ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Billcliff, Arthur Bonsier, Frederick H Brierley, Norman Cavanagh, Cliff Creacall, Edward Hibbert, Sydney Hooper, Alfred Osborne, Edgar Pimlott, (Allman) Emmie

< Back The Second Mrs Tanqueray ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Allen, Michael Allman, William Carter, Harold Hughes, E Jones, Gordon McEntee, Angela Taylor, Pegeen Walker, Kathleen Yuille, George

< Back Arabian Nights ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 9 June 2015 Main Stage 12 to 16 year olds Friday 26th & Saturday 27th June at 7:00pm Directed by Peter Birch & Helen Lawrence Main Stage 5 to 8 & 8 to 11 year olds Saturday 27th June Matinre at 2.30pm Directed by Dean Sumner, Matt Stead & Helen Lawrence

< Back Antony and Cleopatra ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Abbott, John Ablewhite, Stanley Birch, Gwen Briggs, Michael Brown, Gerald S Capper, Barry Cullen, Leslie Dunn, P R Elliott, Margaret Hanily, Peter Hopkinson, Isobel Jefferson, David Lightowler, Ronnie R Marsland, David Pearse, Bette Rowbottom, Jack Royle, Dudley Smart, Brian Stansfield, John Sutherland, Gavin Winning, Joyce Wilding, Tony

< Back The Adult Panto: Little Red Riding...! ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 23 June 2021 They’re back again! Oh yes they are! Following the sell-out success of their 2020 show ‘Peter Panties’, the Market Theatre Company are out to corrupt another fairy-tail classic beyond recognition with an Adult Panto like no other. The fearless company of 3 actors return to bring you an evening of corny jokes, raunchy plots and blatant sexual innuendo using a minimum of set props and costume. Prolong that all too short seasonal spirit and get ready for another evening of slick, fast-moving, farcical fun and bawdy sexual innuendo (did we mention the innuendo?) for adults only. Not suitable for under 16’s. ‘It’s fast, furious and very funny…’ – Choice Radio, Worcester (on Hansel & Gretel Go Down in the Woods) ‘Some of the sketches are worthy of The Two Ronnies with their extensive wordplay, faultlessly delivered.’ – Choice Radio, Worcester (on Peter Panties) ‘Quintessentially British…Like a Carry On film made by a Rugby Club!’ 
- The Stage Newspaper 'Lone hetrosexual interlopers in the thoroughly gay world of adult panto, Market Theatre Company...' - Time Out Our reasonably priced bar will be open before, during the interval and after the show. Free car park for customers and in easy walking distance of Altrincham and local tram and train stations. So what are you waiting for? BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

< Back Alty Fringe: Something About Simon ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 24 October 2020 In a poignant evening of song, story and reminiscence, brilliant Liverpudlian singer-songwriter, Gary Edward Jones, honours the genius of Paul Simon. Weaving the unforgettable melodies with biography and cultural history, Jones leads us deep into Simon's extraordinary life and straight to the heart of his music. Spanning seven decades from Garfunkel to Graceland, Jones holds his rapt audience deftly in the palm of his hand. This show should have been playing off-Broadway this autumn; instead it entertains you in Altrincham ! This show is part of the Alty Fringe 2021 - socially distanced and safe for all! The theatre has extensive COVID-19 safety measures in place, including a redesigned socially distanced auditorium, contactless tickets, regular deep cleans after each performance, timed entry slots, hand sanitiser stations around the theatre ... and much more. The Alty Fringe is proud to be appearing at the Altrincham Garrick from 12 March to 28 March 2021 . #altyfringe

< Back Corrie! ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 13 May 2019 World Amateur Premier The first and most iconic TV soap began in December 1960. This play covers the period from that first episode and for 50 more years. Do you remember the legendary rows between Elsie Tanner and Ena Sharples, Hilda Ogden's 'murial' and Gail's many husbands? They are all here alongside the Ken, Deidre and Mike Baldwin affair and there is Alan Bradley's demise under a Blackpool tram plus Richard Hillman's fatal car crash into the canal. Humour, excitement and tragedy are all part of this wonderful celebration of 50 years of Corrie! CAST Martin Oldfield Janet Slade Beverley Stuart-Cole Val Watkinson Adele Higson Graham Simmonds Charlie Gallagher Ruth Metcalfe Sam Evans Laura Therese Carmel Price Andy Withers Andrew Higson James Merrington Sarah Kirk Kim Armston Michael Gallagher Josh Bluer Lottie Warburton Eddie Beasley Natalie Hinchliffe Adam Rogers REVIEW by Nicky Lambert for North West End Coronation Street is a national institution, set in the fictional area of Weatherfield in Salford – and if you don’t know that, then you must have been hiding under a rock (or a cobble) for the past 60 years. “Corrie” is a play featuring characters from 1960-2010. Written by Jonathan Harvey, himself a Coronation Street writer with over 200 episodes to his credit, it promises to be a celebration of the first 50 years, featuring many familiar and much loved characters. Tonight was the World Amateur Premiere and it was surprising and disappointing to see the very low attendance on opening night – at a rough estimate, I think were less than 60 people in tonight’s audience. I wasn’t really sure what to expect and I have to say I found the premise quite odd to start off with. There is a narrator (Martin Oldfield) who also doubles as St Peter at the pearly gates and the opening scene is him debating with Blanche Hunt (Deirdre’s mother) whether she can get into heaven or not. It was all a little surreal. Elsie Tanner (Beverley Stuart-Cole) then appears under a street lamp and says a few words about the street itself, then the play begins in earnest and that most archetypal of stern, northern women, Ena Sharples (Val Watkinson – who also played Vera Duckworth absolutely superbly), makes her presence known in a scene from the very first episode of Coronation Street. The play is a compilation of vignettes really. We are literally hurled down the cobbles as numerous iconic scenes are recreated, including the confrontation between Ken, Mike and Deirdre when Mike and Deirdre’s affair came to light and also the demise of Alan Bradley under a Blackpool tram! Some of the scenes worked very well and were absolutely hilarious but I do think this play will only hit the mark for those who have watched Coronation Street over the years and are familiar with the characters and storylines. There is a lot of humour in some of the linking narrative and asides by the characters which will be lost on people who aren’t fans. A lot of the interlinking humour relies on the audience already having knowledge of the storylines otherwise it probably wouldn’t make sense or be that funny on a standalone basis. As someone who watched Coronation Street through the 70s, 80s and 90s, I found the asides absolutely hilarious. A lot of the scenes crammed in potted versions of various storylines and the pace was sometimes frenzied and a little chaotic but once you realise this is how it’s going to be, you really get into it. By contrast, however, I found a couple of the scenes in Act 2 to be overlong and I was surprised they had been chosen over others. Most of the actors played various roles tonight to great effect. The nuances of the characters were, on the whole, captured perfectly. Many of them were instantly recognisable even if they didn’t look like them. Beverley Stuart-Cole as Elsie Tanner and Bet Lynch caught the essence of these two man-eaters perfectly. Her Elsie Tanner was particularly impressive and realistic. Andrew Higson’s Ken Barlow was eerily similar and as for Eddie Beasley’s Roy Cropper, well, he absolutely nailed the part, right down to the shopping bag which he never let out of his clutches! I think my favourites, however, were Michael Gallagher as the sinister and homicidal pantomime baddie, Richard Hillman and also Charlie Gallagher as Hilda. Hilda had one of the best lines of all time and Charlie paid tribute to it superbly: after Stan has kissed her and asks “what’s that lipstick taste of?”, Hilda replies “woman, Stanley. Woman!” The set was imaginatively done using railway arches to great effect with the actors appearing out of them on sliding scenery and the infamous tram crash from December 2010 was recreated in such a way that it got the loudest laugh of the night but no spoilers here, you’ll have to go and see it! By the end we have gone full circle and are back with Blanche and St Peter to round it all off. It might be grim up north but it’s also laugh-at-yourself hilarious at times and to sum up, I would say that this is a warm and affectionate tribute which doesn’t take itself seriously and is a wonderful trip down a cobbled memory lane . Star Rating: ★★★★ REVIEW by Rick Bowen for Stagestruck All your favourite soap characters are here in Jonathan Harvey’s love letter to Weaterfield, as are some of the story lines that helped turn the show into a much loved TV institution. While I’ve not watched the programme on a regular basis since I was a student - more years ago than I can remember - I really loved spending time with its lovable clown figures like Jack and Vera Duckworth (pictured being played here). It is fair to say that none of today’s characters have the same mystique as Elsie Tanner, who always looked so out of place on those world famous cobbles. It’s as if she’s just stepped out of one of those old black and white films they used to show on soggy Saturday afternoons when I was a kid. Harvey takes a largely lighthearted look at the famous plot lines but managed to add a dash of poignancy too, such as the scene in which we find Hilda Ogden mourning her late husband, Stan. Oh yes, the mural provides the backdrop of course. We also see Rita’s dodgy beau Alan Bradley meet his end when he’s hit by a tram in Blackpool. Guiding us through proceedings is Martin Oldfield. While some of the actors are more successful than others when it comes to capturing the mannerisms and look of the Coronation Street characters, I’m sure I’ve not the only one who relished an opportunity to escape the long running farce that is British politics at the moment. By ‘eck, this is great fun. Star Rating: ★★★★ REVIEW by John Kristof for Number 9 reviews ‘A national institution’, northern soap opera Coronation Street approaches its celebration of 60 years on our TV screens; in our living rooms; in our lives; and in our hearts, and many characters have duly earned the title of ‘national treasure’. To mark the golden milestone of 50 years, back in 2010, long-standing scriptwriter for the show, Jonathan Harvey, penned Corrie!, the play looking back on a period of 2,000 thousand storylines, 37 births, 115 deaths, 86 marriages and countless iconic and memorable characters, emulating and mirroring normality and real life. The comedic play, written as a string of scenes from the serial drama, premiered at The Lowry in Salford Quays in August 2010 and a musical of similar style followed, written by a co-writer, entitled ‘Street of Dreams’ - it opened for the only time at Manchester Arena for a surprisingly short run and was matched by an almost unheard album called ‘Rogues, Angels, Heroes & Fools’ which also featured iconic characters and scenes. Another institution is that of the arts, particularly theatre, and those within a society or company could indeed be local heroes and treasurers. That is true for one Altrincham Garrick Playhouse, who/which plays host to the play for its World Amateur Premiere! With stalwarts of the theatre’s own society, newcomers and those who have performed there as members of both theatre itself and the various societies who have used it as a receiving house, the cast - doubling up on some parts - of 22 are brilliant at portraying a whole selection of characters, aided by wigs, accents and carefully matched mannerisms. It really is a joy to behold. Directed by seasoned performer himself, Bill Platt, we are treated to narrator Martin Oldfield guiding us through the scenes, starting with the unforgettable “battleaxe”, Blanche Hunt (played by Janet Slade) at the pearly gates of Heaven, with Oldfield as St Peter. With reference to her renowned presence at the funerals of strangers, often for the free buffet, and attendance at the court trials of murderers, complete with a packed lunch, her portrayal is the first of many perfect replications of the originals. We also experience the reminiscence of {apologises for some of the missing pieces} Ena Sharples (Val Watkinson), Elsie Tanner (Beverley Stuart-Cole), Gail Potter/Tilsley/Platt/Hillman/etc. (Kim Armston), Brian Tilsley and Denis Tanner (Sam Evans), Sarah-Lou Platt (Lottie Warburton), Martin Platt (James Merrington), Ken Barlow (Andrew Higson) and Deidre Rashid/Barlow (Sarah Kirk), Valerie Barlow, Ray Langton (Jame Merrington), Raquel (Kim Armston), Mike Baldwin (Graham Simmonds), Audrey Roberts, Ivy Tilsley and Rita Littlewood/Tanner/Fairclough (Carmel Price), Len Fairclough (Andy Withers) and Alan Bradley/Richard Hillman (Michael Gallagher), Hilda Ogden (Charlie Gallagher) and Stan (Andy Withers), Jack and Vera Duckworth (Andy Withers and Val Watkinson), Minnie Caldwell (Graham Simmonds), Martha Longhurst (Adele Higson), Roy (Eddie Beasley) and Hayley Cropper, Hylda Baker, Annie Walker (Ruth Metcalfe), Peter Barlow (Sam Evans), Tracy Barlow, Steve McDonald (Adam Rogers) and one-time wife Karen and Shelley Unwin (both Beverley Stuart-Cole), florist Lucy (Laura Therese), Becky Grainger/McDonald (Kim Arnston), Eileen Grimshaw (Ruth Metcalfe) and sons Jason (Adam Rogers) and Todd (Charlie Gallagher), and even Fred Elliott and son Ashley Peacock, wife Maxine, Emily Bishop, Tony Gordon (Andy Withers), Carla and Michelle Connor, as well as the only reference to the John Stape/Colin Fishwick fraud saga, Gail’s many husbands and lovers - we forgot boat-sailing fraudster Joe - and Peter’s son Simon and his many love triangles, Tracy’s daughter Amy and her tricking Roy and Hayley into paying to look after her before admitting her biological father s Steve McDonald, Hayley’s ‘coming out’ to Roy as transgender, the Sally-Kevin/Molly-Tyrone hoo-har, as well as Ken and canal boat/barge owner/writer, Martha. {Sorry I have omitted Josh Bluer and Laura Therese and the actress playing Hayley} The clever use of the well-though out and constructed set for scene changes via rolling platforms through archways was slick and effective, contributing to the comedy at times. These depicted the famous living rooms, Blackpool (including tram), a Metrolink tram that derailed off the viaduct, the florist, corner shop and, of course, The Rovers Return, among other nostalgic event settings.

< Back Romeo and Juliet ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 20 June 2016 In a world of music, fame and money, Shakespeare's classic play about love is brought to life in a brand new telling. The Montague and Capulet families are embroiled in a long-running feud and the hatred seems to be impossible to shift. When Romeo, a Montague, attends a Capulet ball in disguise, he falls in love with the beautiful Juliet, and she returns the love. A secret marriage takes place between the two young lovers, but happiness and harmony are not quite in reach as circumstances and fate continue to keep them apart. Perhaps one of the most famous plays of all time will be brought to the main stage in 2016, marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. [gallery columns="4" ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_6494.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSCF0817.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSCF0704.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_6651.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_6829.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_6882.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_7069.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_7110.jpg|"] CAST Friar Laurence - Mark Butt Juliet Capulet - Becky Myers Romeo Montague - Haroun Al Jeddal Nurse - Beverley Stuart-Cole Lady Capulet - Sarah Roberts Lord Capulet - Geoff Holman Lord Montague - Steve Williamson Lady Montague - Sandy McGuire Prince Escalus - John Westbrook Count Paris - Harry Jackson Mercutio - Tom Oliver Tybalt - Jackson Hayes Benvolio - James London Sampson - Kathryn Morris Gregory - Ben Hanley Balthazar - Emily Sibley Abram - Aidan Burgess Chorus - Barry Purves Chorus of singers, musicians and fighters, Tabitha Hughes, Rebecca Hanley, Ella Kirk, Tara Kitson, Sam Hey, Lara Hancox, Matthew Spilsbury, Simon Liversidge, Olivia Newhouse, Jack Gibson, Michael Twigg, Daniel McDwyer, Chis Wagstaff ASM - Sue Berry [gallery columns="6" ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3759.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3764.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3763.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3762.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3770.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3769.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3768.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3767.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3765.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3766.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3761.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3771.jpg|"] REVIEW by Julia Taylor for Altrincham and Sale Messenger Romeo and Juliet production leaps to life at Altrincham Garrick I HAVE never seen a Shakespeare play move an audience so much as Joe Meighan's production of Romeo and Juliet at Altrincham Garrick. Joe has used imagination to create a play that, while sticking to Shakespeare's immortal words, uses modern dress, and a moral to make this play, presented 400 years after Shakespeare's death, leap to life. Set at the millennium, the Montagues and Capulets run rival record companies. The striking feature is the fight scenes. We have a huge battle at the start which is nothing compared with the stag-like conflicts between Tybalt (Jackson Hayes) and Mercutio (Tom Oliver) who dies. In revenge, Romeo kills Tybalt in another violent fight. These fights are graphic, disturbing, full of anger and, at times, even clumsy but they are realistic. Added to this, the 23-year-old director has introduced music including a remarkable unaccompanied harmony. Juliet was originally 13 but Joe has realistically upped her age to 16. Rebecca Myers, who plays her, is only 17. She gives a passionate performance as she and 17-year-old Haroun Al Jeddal illustrate how life?s strongest emotion, love, can overcome body and mind. The part of Juliet's nurse is interesting, made more so by Beverley Stuart-Cole. Deeply caring of Juliet, she adds ripples of humour. Mark Butt's Friar Laurence is played well as a wise mediator. The surprise ending makes you realise that attitudes, unchanged since the sixteenth century, need changing. Star rating ★★★★★ Review by Rick Bowen for Stagestruck DYNAMIC young director Joseph Meighan returns to the Trafford stage with a Romeo and Juliet for the Internet generation. But despair not - oldies like me certainly didn't feel excluded from a production with a soundtrack of pop songs. If I have a criticism I think the opening fight scene was a little over done, descending into comedy by the end. This is, after all, a play about two rival. feuding families who hate the bones of each other. JM is a very promising talent and the fact that Romeo and Juliet are close to the age they're meant to be gives the classic teen love story added authenticity. The two leads struggle to keep a lid on their emotions when Cupid's arrow strikes. Haroun Al Jeddal's Romeo is very much "one of the boys" and his performance is sure to strike a chord with the teenagers in the theatre - there were nearly 100 in the auditorium on Monday night - and those of us who can just about remember what it felt like to be young. With Rebecca Myers (Juliet) there are some memorable scenes to enjoy and the duo perfectly capture the awkwardness and emotional highs of young love. After seeing this production I really hope we see more of Geoff Holman on the Garrick stage for, as Juliet's tyrant of a father Lord Capulet, he is outstanding. The scene in which he rips into his daughter is quite frightening, as she dares to go against his marital decree. Don't be a stranger Geoff - you have a very strong stage presence. Any production that features Barry Purves as its designer is always something to write home about and he delivers yet again with a set that's a positive visual treat. What the purists will make of this I don't know and don't really care as live theatre is forever evolving. It's also a welcome return to Mark Butt whose Friar Laurence seems to have converted to Buddhism. Looking like he's dropped off a 60's album cover, Mark gives a very credible performance as a character full of eloquent authority - Star rating ★★★ Review by Mark Dee for North West End I suppose that one must come to accept that modern adaptations, reworkings and updatings of Shakespeare are not only acceptable but preferable to both modern actors and audiences. My personal feeling towards this is that if the work is to be changed to bring it more 'up-to-date', then don't just change the setting and the costumes, but the language also needs to change too... in other words, do as Shakespeare himself did with most of his plays... find a good story already in existence, and then write your own version. West Side Story is a classic example. A contemporary Musical set in New York using original dialogue and song. All too often do I see a modern interpretation of a Shakespeare play to find that the spoken word is at odds with action and costume. And so whilst the themes of Shakespeare's plays way well be timeless, the setting and language certainly are not. I am very happy to report then that despite my misgivings, Joseph Meighan's reworking and adapting of possibly Shakespeare's most famous play, and certainly his most universal, works really quite well indeed. And in a year that marks the 400th anniversary of the death of the great man himself, and with countless Shakespeare productions happening throughout the year, productions of his work this year especially need to have something different about them to make them stand out. This did, and did. I feel certain that I do not need to tell anyone the storyline, do I? However tonight's setting was Fair Verona, a nightclub, a short while before the 2000 Millennium chimes, and we could be very 'artsy' and say that perhaps the chimes of the new year were also the tragic death knells for our ill-fated protagonists. Although once the prologue had been spoken and the action moved away from the rather BGT-style opening, the Fair Verona sign should have been moved since we never returned to this nightclub again. The set was both excellent and constrictive at one and the same time. Consisting of a raised triangular dais centre stage upon which majority of the acting for each scene took place and two walls angled outwards either side at the same angle as the lengths of the triangle and lit with magentas and reds with occasional green light tubes appearing it was non-naturalistic and ultra-modern. Doors, windows, cabinets etc all were cleverly 'hidden' within these two wall flats and were operated seamlessly and quietly every time. The problem with Shakespeare's plays in general is that there are many scenes, often very short scenes, and this can be a director's and designer's nightmare. Here. however, director Joseph Meighan had chosen to incorporate into his cast a 'chorus' of young actors and actresses to sing some songs at opportune moments throughout the play, and it was these performers who also acted very much like background artists on a film set, filling out the scenes as necessary, and also bringing on and taking off the items of set and design for each scene. The scene changes were swift, but after a while became very predictable and I suppose more obvious too because of this. Before I turn to the main acting, I have mentioned the singing chorus so let me stay with them for a while. What a fantastic idea, and despite my conservatism and traditionalist values when it comes to The Bard, I have to admit to really enjoying this aspect of the adaptation. Starting with a Boy Band wowing the partygoers, to singing some beautiful complimentary songs (all from the chosen period of 1999 / 2000) throughout. The candlelit sung vigil at the tomb of Juliet was simply breathtaking. In general, the acting was of a high standard, and Meighan used a mostly young cast. It was a high-energy production and really quite 'raw'. There was lots of shouting and fighting....yes, lots of fighting, and the fight scenes were extremely well directed. For me there were certainly some stand-out performances in this very large and well chosen cast. Not only that but some highly original interpretations too. In the order they appear in the programme..... Mark Butt's Friar Lawrence was as original an interpretation as I have seen. A weed-smoking Buddhist! However, I think he made the right choices in playing this character very seriously and angst-ridden and I enjoyed the candidness and simplicity of this character who can all too often be seen as a comedy role. The programme next credits Beverley Stuart-Cole as the Nurse. Although in this reworking perhaps calling her a governess might have been more appropriate). Again, a unique interpretation, full of fun, sincerity, love, and indeed humanity. Stuart-Cole found both humour and gravitas in her role and it was one of the most enjoyable interpretations of Nurse I have ever seen. Next comes Rebecca Myers, playing a young teenage girl in love to a Tee. Her Juliet was giddy, naive, bouncy and immature when it should have been, and mature, tragic-heroic, and serene when it should have been; and goodness knows how many emotions she had to portray in between. A notoriously difficult role for any actress, since the part requires a maturity of acting prowess not normally available in the age of the character, and within the space of only 2 hours has to go through every emotion known to man. Shakespeare didn't write many truly great female roles, but when he did, boy, oh boy, he made them extremely difficult for the actress! Again, a most sensible and enjoyable interpretation. Juliet's love rivals were played by a love-sick and tormented but at times rather phlegmatic Harroun Al Jeddal (Romeo) and Harry Jackson (Paris), with a rather enigmatic and brazen interpretation of Mercutio by Tom Oliver. There were also a couple of odd choices too. I was uncertain as to why Lady Capulet (Sarah Roberts) was the only one with a southern accent when all the rest of the cast were most obviously northern. The part of Chorus (Barry Purves) also needed some highlighting. From an excellent beginning using his 'power' to freeze the action and for him to speak and explain the story, to him wandering about the set, lurking and silent. This 'presence' as not just a commentator but manipulator [in a smaller but similar way as the Emcee is in the Musical Cabaret] was a nice idea but underdeveloped and perhaps went unnoticed or uncomprehended by most. Perhaps a more obvious way of doing this might be to morph this role with Prince Escalus? (Just a thought..!) Joseph Meighan's directing was consistent and tight, and although I found a couple of his choices a little odd, they worked in context and with his utilisation of such a large and majority youthful cast did a wonderful job of making this story relevant and enjoyable, appealing greatly this evening to a capacity audience filled in the main with a whole group of A-level students from a local high school who are studying this text for their A levels. Modernising Shakespeare I guess is a little like Marmite - you either love it or you hate it - and as a traditionalist at heart I always find it very difficult to appraise modern interpretations. However this evening's offering was accessible to all - mostly! Maybe it was just first night nerves, but the beginning dialogues were rushed and quiet, and this naturalistic way of speaking Shakespeare is at odds with the declamatory and poetic writing style. With some simple but effective lighting, and a 'rough-diamond' feel to the whole show, this is one of the best modern reworkings I have seen in a long while, and although the older generation of audience members may not find much in this 'Godfather'-esque modernisation, it certainly appealed greatly to the younger generations, and, since it is a very long time since the Garrick's season included any Shakespeare (GAPA notwithstanding), it was a very welcome addition to their season and will undoubtedly prove to be a huge success.

< Back Altrincham Garrick Play Reading Club ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 29 July 2022 PLEASE NOTE NEW START TIME Refreshments: 12pm Reading to commence: 12.30pm Friday 1st December - C omfort and Joy by Mike Harding The cost of this event is £5 per session. -------------------- If you like theatre...no, if you love theatre, drama, comedy, musical theatre, play reading , poetry and much more and would relish the opportunity to meet new people, then the new 'Altrincham Garrick Play Reading Club' is for you. Here is an opportunity for you to have fun whether you are an enthusiast, a participant or something else altogether. No matter if you have never read a play before, if you studied a play or two in school or are a die-hard enthusiast, all are welcome to join us as we read our way through an extensive list of plays and musicals new and old. The event is all about relaxed, no pressure reading , so don't worry about not reading things correctly or a certain way. We're all working through it together. Whilst some of us have taken part in plays , we're not about deep intellectual debate either. We may discuss a play but no one is ever expected to have previous knowledge of a play . So when and where is this new club taking place... WHEN: First Friday of every month. TIME: Doors open at 12pm with readings to take place between 12.30pm and 3pm. WHERE: Altrincham Garrick Playhouse Bar. COST: £5 to include tea/coffee and biscuits upon arrival. The best way to read a play is to do it out loud, so join us and give it a go!

< Back Questions and Answers ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Clegg, Robina Dean, Kenneth W Heap, Marjorie Jennings, Dorothy Matthias Mary

< Back The Phantom of the Opera (Youth Version) ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 2 June 2014 Recently our talented young director, Joe Meighan directed a sell out version of Les Miserables at the Garrick performed by a stunning cast of young performers. Now Joe returns with perhaps the most successful of all musicals- Andrew Lloyd Weber's masterpiece, The Phantom of the Opera. Far beneath the majesty of the Paris opera House hides the shadowy existence of the Phantom. Shamed by his physical appearance and feared by all, the love he holds for his beautiful Christine is so strong that even her heart cannot resist. With fabulous songs, 'Music of the Night', 'All I ask of You' and 'Masquerade'- this promises to be a night at the opera not to be missed. [gallery columns="5" type="rectangular" ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DSC_2373.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DSC_2189.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DSC_2326.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DSC_2133.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DSC_2160.jpg|"] CAST The Phantom of the Opera - CHRIS WAGSTAFF Christine Daa - JESSICA HEAPS Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny - JACOB ROBSON Carlotta Giudicelli - BEATRICE MARSHALL Monsieur Firmin - JAMES LONDON Monsieur Andr - DILLON BURGESS Madame Giry - EMILY YARWOOD Meg Giry - MEGAN JOHNSTONE Ubaldo Piangi - DANIEL UPCHURCH Auctioneer/Monsieur Lef'vre - RYAN CLARKE Joseph Buquet - AIDAN BURGESS Monsieur Reyer - JORDAN PENDLETON The Company - AIDAN BURGESS, RYAN CLARKE, AMY FAULKNER, LIZ FRASER, DOMINIC GRATTON, REBECCA HANLEY, ELISSA HEADFORD, EVIE HEADFORD, LUCY SHORT, HANNAH WILLIAMS The Ballet Chorus of the Opera Populaire - EMILY BARNETT, REBECCA DALE, BETHANY DONELON, MADDIE DORE, MADELEINE FAY, KATE HOWKINS THE ORCHESTRA Conductor - DANIEL MCDWYER Violin I (Leader):TOM ROWAN-YOUNG ViolinII:JO LUCAS Viola:LIAM REDMOND Cello:CARA JANES Contrabass:ALI MCMATH Harp:SOPHIE ROCKS Flute/Piccolo:CONOR PRESCOTT Flute:CLARE HOUGHTON Clarinet/Bass Clarinet:EMILY FARREN Oboe/Cor Anglais:HEREWARD READE Bassoon:BETH DAVIS TrumpetI:BEN CONWAY TrumpetII:ADAM ALBINSON Trombone:MATTHEW CORRIGAN HornI:ADAM JORDAN HornII:DAVID MAXTED Percussion:TREVOR BARTLETT KeyboardI/Accompanist:SAM DAVIS KeyboardII:RUAIRI LEONARD CREW Choreographer - KIRSTY HOOPER Musical Director - DANIEL MCDWYER Assistant Musical Director - RUAIRI LEONARD Set Design - ROS GREENWOOD Lighting Design - GEOFF SCULLARD Sound Design - COLIN WOODS Sound Assistant: ARI LEVY Costume Design - GARRICK WARDROBE Scenic Artist - MANDY COOKE Production Carpenter - PETER JACKSON Properties & Furniture - JOHN NEWTON & JO MYERS Company Stage Manager - CLARE GRESTY Assistant Stage Managers - JESS FAWCETT & TONI RUTA Stage Crew: MARK McEWAN, STUART KILBURN, JO MYERS, ADAM HOOPER & PHIL GLEAVE On-stage Scenery Technician: PAUL SIMPSON Deputy Stage Manager - VAL WATKINSON Phantom Make-up Artist - LIZZY GARRETTY Make-up & Wigs - PATRICIA SHAW AND THE GIRLS FROM SOUTH TRAFFORD COLLEGE [gallery columns="5" ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-10-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-09-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-08-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-07-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-06-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-05-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-04-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-03-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-02-.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-01-.jpg|"] Messenger Review by Rick Bowen Phant-astic - Garrick youth shine in latest show Magical moment - Chris Wagstaff as the Phantom and Jessica Heaps as Christine The last youth production I saw, opposite Shakespeare's Globe in London, was pure torture. Altrincham Garrick's The Phantom of the Opera, on the other hand, is pure brilliance with the cast spectacularly rising to the many challenges this fabulous musical poses. Musically, this is Lloyd Webber's finest hour for me, with a score teeming with memorable, sumptuous showstoppers. It is difficult to perform but this vibrant young company make it look oh so easy, under the accomplished direction of Joseph Meighan from Flixton. Remember that name - on the evidence of this stunning show he is going places. Not only are the cast gifted singers, but they are equally adept when it comes to conveying the intense emotion running through this most un-orthodox of love stories. Jessica Heaps is spellbinding as Christine, with a voice so pure and powerful it is sure to bring you out in goose pimples. The scenes with the Phantom are so good, so captivating, you don't want them to end. A powerful chemistry exists between Jessica and Chris Wagstaff, who is as sympathetic as he is scary in this difficult stage role. Jacob Robinson also excels as Raoul and a very bright future awaits all three if they embark on a career on the professional stage. It seems unfair to single out individual performances as there aren't any weak ones and I wish I had the column inches to mention all of you, as this show represents a high water mark for youth theatre. The standard has been well and truly set.?Musical director Daniel McDwyer and choreographer Kirsty Hooper also deserve praise because they've also played their part in making this a truly memorable night at Altrincham Garrick. Star Rating ★★★★ ★ Remotegoat.com Review by Julia Taylor 'A kaleidoscope of young talent' Just imagine. You have left the Garrick Theatre behind and are now sitting in the bowels of the Paris Opera House where you meet the disfigured Phantom who haunts it. His voice is clipped giving away his disturbed state of mind after the loss of a woman?s love and he plans revenge., He weeps, howls and groans when she rejects him and your attention never leaves him. What is more, he's only 17-years-old. For Chris Wagstaff who plays him, is taking part in a youth production of The Phantom of the Opera that is utterly mind boggling in its professionalism. Director Joe Meighan, who took charge of last year's youth hit Les Miserables, is only 20. Yet his Phantom, which the Garrick asked him to direct, is even better. The Garrick Youth Group ring out with Andrew Lloyd Webber's glorious songs accompanied by a live orchestra also made up of young people. The cast are impressive in their mastery of intricate operatic interaction. Singers with unforgettable voices are Jessica Heaps as Christine, the opera singer, and Jacob Robson who is her first love, Raoul before the phantom lures her away. Their rendering of All I ask of You sends shivers down your spine. Not only is their singing out of this world but their acting skills are sensational. I am equally impressed by Beatrice Marshall's Carlotta. A third year student at the Royal Northern College of Music, her soprano voice can reach the highest notes yet she varies the sound to suit the script. James London and Dillon Burgess add a lighter touch as Monsieurs Firmin and Andre. A word about the costumes. The Masquerade scene, in particular, which features the whole company, indicates the variety of imaginative and colourful designs. The phantom also wears spectacular outfits. And what an ending! It builds up dramatically to a horrifying climax. This kaleidoscope of young talent is a must see. It finishes on Friday so don't miss it. Star Rating ★★★★ ★ NODA Review by Kevin Proctor I have always studiously avoided this musical which I perceived to be a mawkish melodrama with a few played-to-death love songs. It wasn't until I could no longer choose the productions I attended that I ever saw this show in its entirety and to my surprise I rather enjoyed it. Like other recent Garrick presentations, I was somewhat surprised to see this title when this season was announced - an interesting choice and another challenging one! The in-house wardrobe team lead by Mike Shaw tops all triumphs with their extravagant costuming, the Phantom himself could easily be upstaged! Not so, Chris Wagstaff oozes menacing sensuality as the man behind the mask with dramatic power and twisted pathos. The second time I've seen Chris take on the role following his success with the PADOS production last year, unbelievably, with this performance, he has overtaken his own winning standard. Flawless. Jessica Heaps as Christine Daae, the beauty to the beast, has many of the qualities required for the role, some of her moments were strong indeed bringing an honest likability and confident energy to her performance. At times appearing a tad 'stagey' for me which certainly would have worked if confined for the moments she performed the 'shows within the show' but I would have liked to have seen a more tranquil and naturalistic presentation for the majority. Jacob Robson as Raoul, the love struck Vicomte de Chagny was refined and elegant. The role was charmingly underplayed transforming a wet (arguably slimy) part into a potent and warm character. A class act! There are marvellous cameos by; Beatrice Marshall as the outrageous prima donna Carlotta, exposing remarkable vocals amidst her hilarious riotous trait; as so with Daniel Upchurch's ostentatious tenor Ubaldo Piagi; Megan Johnstone as Meg offered a genuine warmth to her interpretation and the austere ballet mistress, Madame Giry brought a perturbed depth which Emily Yarwood uncovered, creating an untold interest to what can be a forgettable role. I wouldn't have thought it but a static set does indeed work for this production, it administered more of the action to take place down stage (which is never a bad thing) while creating visual interest with its many levels and towering structure. This, working closely with the effects contributed to the overall impressive delivery. Speaking of effects, I was stunned with the vanishing act for the Phantoms final exit, terrific! It is unfortunate that if things run smoothly from the technical side, they'll not get a mention in a critique unless they've done something particularly impressive, the technical aspect of a production, sadly, only get mentioned should something have gone awry. This production was still finding its feet on the night I attended as several sound q's were missed with some mic's being turned up too late if at all and the unlucky misplacement of the 'tomb stone' blocking the lighting special for the whole of 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again' which resulted in Christine performing the entire number in complete darkness. The sound from the pit was outstanding! Daniel McDwyer headed a fine orchestra indeed which complimented the whole show, rocketing it into a whole new level. The production was sensitively directed by Joseph Meighan who presented a warm salute to a show loved and favoured by so many. There are some shows open to fresh interpretation and there are others which you don?t mess with, I sensed this to be an opinion Joseph is well aware of! Congratulations to a production team (Kirsty Hooper too, for her movement) who should be immensely pleased with such a result. 'Phantom' will never be a show I'd get overly excited about (personal taste) though I'd challenge anyone to not enjoy or appreciate this production which has obtained more enthusiasm from me towards this show than anyone else ever could. Feeling the need to remind the reader that this is a critique for a youth production, I've not at all softened or censored my feelings towards this production because of its youth cast. Whether these players were adult or youth, they were marvellous all the same!

< Back Funny Girl - Theatrical Picturehouse Screening ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 6 May 2021 Directed by: Michael Mayer Starring: Sheridan Smith, Darius Campbell Following its record-breaking, sell-out run in London’s West End and national tour, the critically-acclaimed musical Funny Girl is coming to the Garrick Picturehouse, featuring Sheridan Smith in “an unforgettable star turn” (The Times). Funny Girl is semi-biographical, based on the life and career of Broadway star, film actress and comedienne Fanny Brice (a role made famous by Barbara Streisand on Broadway and in the 1968 film adaptation), and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein. Praised by critics as having “irresistible charm, wit and warmth” (Metro), and hailing Sheridan Smith as “the greatest star by far” (The Daily Telegraph), Funny Girl features a host of iconic and timeless musical numbers including “People,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “Don’t Rain On My Parade.” Hilarious, glorious, and ‘exhilarating’ (The Independent), don’t miss this sensational production from the comfort of your local cinema seat. The Garrick team is delighted to show this lovely production to you on our big screen as if live. Come and join us in a friendly, informal and Covid-19 safe atmosphere, to take advantage of sensational screening facilities as well as our low prices and free car park. Our bar will be open before and after the screening.

< Back Two New One-Act Plays ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 10 February 2014 Missing the Jack and the Ace?by Duncan Battman Directed by Tracy Burns When the person you have lived with for over fifty years doesn't know who you are; when all your time is spent caring for a stranger who was once your best friend; when all you look forward to is the end of the day, then how strong is the commitment of love? In sickness and in health, for better or for worse; how tied are we to our vows? When the person we married is but a shell, what duty do we owe? Perhaps it is something deeper than love that binds us together... CAST June Broughton as Peggy Tony Broughton as David ASM/prompt - Pat Williamson Pawn?by Brian Marchbank Directed by Dennis Keighron-Foster In this gritty comedy, a Mancunian Bonnie and Clyde attempt to rob a pawn shop with a plan that goes horribly wrong. In the resulting hostage situation the hostages and their takers realise there is a history between them. With an extremely volatile situation threatening to explode, it falls to Detective Sergeant Cassidy, a novice police negotiator, to resolve the issues and seek a peaceful outcome... CAST Christine Clare as Bonnie Hugh Draycott as Clyde Matthew Stead as Sam Bamford Fiona Carmouche as Mel Annamarie Bayley as Emma John McElhatton as Detective Sergeant Cassidy ASM/prompt - Linda Crawford & Ali Davenport [gallery ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/june10b.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/june10a.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/june10c.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/june10d.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/june10f.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/june10e.jpg|"] Photographer: Martin Oldfield

< Back GAPA Term 1 - Group 2 ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 10 August 2023 GAPA – Garrick Academy of Performing Arts TERM 1 Enrolment: 9th September to 9th December 12 week term - Saturday Class Not including: 21/10/23 and 28/10/23 - October Half Term Dates Group 2 - 9am to 11am for students aged 11 - 14 years The Garrick Academy of Performing Arts runs classes for ages 5 to 18 on Saturday and is the place to be if you love acting, singing or dancing. IMPORTANT: Please do not sign up to this class if your child does not fall within this age bracket. If you are enrolling more than one student, please ensure the correct Group is selected for each child. Due to limited spaces, if you select the incorrect group we cannot guarantee your child a place at GAPA this term. PLEASE NOTE: We will be advertising any remaining spaces in all 7 Groups to new students after 29th August 2023.

< Back Old Aquaintance ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Cavanagh, Cliff Hall, Rene Hesketh, Winifred Hobbs, Olive Nellie Simpson, Frank Hill Sykes, Constance D Wharton, Sheila

< Back Bedroom Farce ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 9 December 2013 Trevor and Susannah have a Problem Relationship requiring urgent attention. What better solution than to talk it over with family and friends? Preferably in their respective bedrooms and ideally in the middle of the night. For Ernest and Delia, Nick and Jan, Malcolm and Kate one Problem Relationship sparks off another. With friends like Trevor and Susannah nobody gets much sleep. Bedroom Farce is a fast-paced comedy from the acerbic pen of Alan Ayckbourn.

< Back Miss Julie ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 15 August 2013 August Strindberg was one of the most extreme, and ultimately the most influential theatrical innovators of the late nineteenth century. "Miss Julie", his best-known and most performed play was written in 1888 and caused public protests when it was first staged. This is the story of a torrid affair between a manservant and his mistress. It is Strindberg's masterpiece in which he presents with startling modernity the conflict between power, sexual passion and social position. Written at the height of his powers, he treats sex and marriage with a frank realism that was previously unknown in the theatre. Today "Miss Julie" is regarded as remarkable for the same reason early critics and censors found it so shocking: it is the first play in which sex is separated from love. Although the play's importance was not widely recognized during Strindberg's lifetime, its place in modern drama, particularly as an example of naturalism, is now virtually undisputed. CAST Jacqueline Hardy as Miss Julie Mark Butt as Jean Natalie Horne as Christine Servants - Marina Anderson Summer Darcy John Keen Paula Keen Peter Simpson [caption id="attachment_1634" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Cast Photo[/caption] [gallery columns="7" ids="|"]

< Back Business Affairs ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 7 February 2014 To smooth the impending sale of their failing haulage business, Stanley and Norman arrange to complete the deal in a suite at a smart London hotel even arranging the services of two 'sophisticated escorts' to help the new owners celebrate their purchase. Pandemonium ensues and an ever spiraling series of deceptions and lies keeps everyone on their toes. [gallery ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessbtn.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessctn.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessdtn.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businesse.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessf.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessg.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessj.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessk.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessm.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessn.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businesso.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/businessh.jpg|"] CAST Stanley Bigley Graham Simmonds Norman Harris Mike Shaw Hilda Bigley Beverley Stuart-Cole Rose Harris Janet Slade Kurt Andrew Higson Sven Martin Creevy Sabrina Mandy White Valerie Sally Egginton

< Back Two Brand New One-Act Plays ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 15 August 2013 The Opposite of Claustrophobic by Rob Johnston We all need help taking the first step ... When Joe breaks into Ann's picture-perfect home in the suburbs, he doesn't know that what he has broken into isn't a home at all, but an extraordinary kind of prison. And when Ann confronts Joe in the kitchen of her suburban hell, she doesn't know that what she has confronted isn't a burglar at all, but an extraordinary kind of rescuer... CAST Ros Greenwood as Ann Duncan Battman as Joe The Lift by Peter Harrison Andrew and Amanda have decided to call it a day. Everything had been going rather swimmingly until Andrew had his fling with the office temp, mainly because she listened to his jokes and had a certain way of looking at him. Amanda is determined to do things properly, though. First the betrayal, then the rows, the separation and the divorce. She's even invited people to join in with the celebrations. But, after agreeing to divide the spoils, they leave their family solicitor's together as a couple for the last time. And decide to take The Lift ... CAST Alex Wilson as Andrew Victoria Johnson as Amanda David Leathlean as Lift Attendant [gallery columns="6" ids="|"]

< Back By Candle Light ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Blackden, W L Bramwell, Madge Briggs, Harry Carrington, Jean Jones, Arthur C Rose, Gertrude Smith, J B

< Back The Merchant of Yonkers ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Allman, Jean Bramwell, Madge Howat, Robert (Bob) A Kamberian, Tahouhi Morrison, Elspeth Sharples, Dick Warhurst, W Kenneth Wilson, Frank

< Back The Secret Garden ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 21 June 2016 The magical musical based on the classic children's book Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved victorian classic, The Secret Garden, blossoms anew in this enchanting musical by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon. When young Mary Lennox loses her parents to a cholera outbreak in India, she is sent to live with her uncle, hermit Archibald Craven, who lives in an imposing, secluded manor on the British heath. Inside the haunting house upon the hill, Mary finds a reclusive, long-suffering collection of souls. Since her aunt Lily's death, Mary's uncle has pushed away his surviving loved ones, leaving his bedridden son, Colin, alone. Sickly Colin, hidden away in the depths of the manner, bears the guilt of his mother's death on his crippled shoulders. When Mary discovers her Aunt Lily's hidden garden, locked shut and overgrown with vines, stubborn Mary is determined to revive the beauty that once was. Surrounded by spirits from the past, who both warn and welcome her, determined Mary begins to peel away the layers of sadness that cover the house and the garden, showing us the power that one small girl can have when she wants things to grow.? The production is proudly sponsored by Allen Mills Howard & Company [gallery ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_2635.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_2772.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_2804.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_2813.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_2431.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_2578.jpg|"] PHOTOGRAPHS by Vishal Sharma CAST Lily (Dreamer) - Sasha Carrillo de Albornoz Mary Lennox - Alice Cross Mrs Medlock - Ros Greenwood Dr Neville Craven - Chris Wagstaff Martha - Lara Hancox Archibald Craven - Joshua Lloyd Ben Weatherstaff - Dave Richardson Dickon - David Beeby Colin Craven - Theo Hill Mrs Winthrop - Christine Perry Rose Lennox (Dreamer) - Pippa Greenhalgh Captain Albert Lennox (Dreamer) - Sam Berrie Alice (Dreamer) - Lauren Whiteley Lieutenant Wright (Dreamer) - Tim Hotham Lieutenant Shaw (Dreamer) - Jackson Hayes Major Holmes (Dreamer) - Josh Crook Claire Holmes (Dreamer) - Ella Kirk Ensemble of Dreamers - Liam Dodd, Rose Wilson, Aidan Burgess, Tabitha Hughes, Matthew Spilsbury, Brendan Cunningham, Danny McCarrick Review by R ick Bowen for Stagestruck The Secret Garden is a vocal and visual treat, a production that doesn't tear at the heart strings. It plucks them out completely. Prepare to be moved, deeply moved. It also reminds us that this theatre is more than capable of matching the artistic output of Manchester's professional venues. You wouldn't expect anything less really, when you look at the creative team behind it. Director Joe Meighan, designer Barry Purves and musical director Mark Goggins. All three are incapable of putting a theatrical foot wrong. And what about little Alice Cross, a bright, engaging bundle of energy as the orphaned Mary Lennox, sent to live in her uncle's rambling old house after the untimely death of her parents. The house is a monument to decay and her uncle Archie, consumed by grief, has stopped living. He simply exists, and Joshua Lloyd is outstanding in the role. He has a terrific stage presence, a quality shared by Alice who has a professional career ahead of her should she wish to follow that particular path. While roaming the corridors of her bleak new home Alice meets and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Colin (Theo Hill), seemingly a sickly child too weak to go out and play. There are some memorable verbal spats between the two. For me the best songs are in act one, some of the numbers so emotionally intense I felt both emotionally drained and yet strangely uplifted by the time the interval came. Brace yourselves for a memorable ending, full of colour and spectacle. Do not miss this. Star rating ★★★★★ Review by Julia Taylor for Sale and Altrincham Messenger Altrincham Garrick's The Secret Garden can melt the hardest of hearts The Secret Garden, at the Garrick Playhouse, can reduce the hardest of hearts to jelly because it's all about the best side of human nature. With book and lyrics by Marsha Norman and based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 tale, it tells of Mary Lennox, orphaned in India and sent to live with her reclusive uncle, widower Archibald Craven (Joshua Lloyd). There, she not only discovers Colin, a lonely child invalid, but a secret garden once cultivated by her late aunt She brings it to life which helps to heal inner wounds both she and Colin share. The music is by composer, Lucy Simon and performed by an orchestra directed by Mark Goggins. Without exception, every singer has great musicality but it is Joshua Lloyd who stands out. His voice is positively operatic. The remarkable thing is that this production is led by children. In particular, eight-year-old Alice Cross who plays young Mary. She sings and interacts with a poise beyond her years. On stage most of the time, you can hear her every word. Eleven-year-old Theo Hill plays Colin, who believes he will die before he grows up. Rugged country boy Dickon is 21-year-old David Beeby. I also single out Sasha Carrillo de Albornoz as Colin's spirit-like mother, Lily, and Pippa Greenhalgh who appears as Mary's late mother, Rose. This show owes much to the imaginative direction of Joe Meighan. Star rating ★★★★★

< Back Some Like It Hot (1959 film) ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 29 September 2020 This is generally regarded as the funniest film ever made. It is certainly a masterpiece of wit and warmth, and Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and a luminous Marilyn Monroe give the performance of their lives. When two down-on-their-luck (male) musicians witness the St Valentine’s day massacre they need to hide away with the first band they can find. The only problem: it's an all-female band, featuring Marilyn strumming a ukulele. In glorious black and white. This screening will (as always) be introduced by Barry Purves with informed trivia, anecdotes and some background of the production. The bar will be open before and after the show. Come and join us in a friendly, informal and Covid-19 safe atmosphere, to take advantage of sensational screening facilities as well as our low prices and free car park.

< Back ISLANDS IN THE STREAM - The Music of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 29 July 2021 Enjoy the songs of the Queen and King of country music - Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Leave your 9 to 5 worries at the door and get ready for a night in the company of Country Music Royalty! This thigh-slapping stage show brings together the beloved glamour and personality of Dolly, along with Kenny’s charisma and energy with hit after hit including: Jolene , Ruby , 9 to 5 , Lucille , Here You Come Again , The Gambler , I Will Always Love You , Coward of the County , plus the smash hit Islands in the Stream . Enjoy a superb score and supreme musicianship as we bring the house down with the ultimate tribute to two country music legends. This is a tribute show and is no way affiliated with any original artists/estates/management companies or similar shows. ***** As seen on Sky TV ***** Featuring Stars in Their Eyes’ Kenny Rogers What the media says about the show’s Dolly: “Sounds just like the real thing” Cross Country Magazine “Three encores before she left to tremendous applause” Cross Country Magazine ”The show had the audience on its feet by the end, blown away by the quality of the performance” Scunthorpe Telegraph ”The songs sounded great” Ents24 Our reasonably priced bar will be open before, during the interval and after the show. Free car park for customers and in easy walking distance of Altrincham and local tram and train stations. So what are you waiting for? BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

< Back FILM SCREENING: Cirque Du Soleil - Saltimbanco ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 31 July 2023 A marvelous mix of traditional circus acts with modern acrobatics, Saltimbanco first delighted audiences in 1992 and had become Cirque du Soleil's longest running production by the time it closed at the end of 2012. This incredible span of spectacular success in three different decades featured 6,000 big top and arena performances to 14 million spectators in 140 cities across the planet. Experience the sheer power and delight of Saltimbanco on the big screen at Altrincham Garrick Cinema!

< Back The Elves and the Shoemaker (Performing in our Bar) ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 14 October 2021 It's nearly Christmas and all the Elves are hard at work! Except two of them... They're here to tell you a story, the story of how they saved Christmas... This fast-paced, madcap adventure is suitable for all ages - filled with original music, fantastical magic and a healthy dose of Christmas Spirit! The perfect show for getting in that Christmassy mood! Suitable for ages 5+ Motley-Minded Cobblers Theatre Company are bringing you a new take on the tale of the most famous Cobblers of all! The Elves & The Shoemaker is a show about friendship, bravery, and how even the smallest action can change someone's life for the better, forever. AUDIENCE REVIEWS: "I recommend it to everyone. I was exhausted just watching!" "Well Done - A right good cheering up to be had by all!" "Fun, Laughter, Giggles & Songs -just what you need for a cracking Christmas Show!" Please Note: This production with be taking place in the Garrick Bar Free car park for customers and in easy walking distance of Altrincham and local tram and train stations. So what are you waiting for? BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

< Back Uncle's Been Dreaming ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Brown, Sydney A Clarke, Muriel Iredale, Emmie Lawley, Mollie Maud, Harry Michaelis, Winifred Pye, George H Royse, Mary W Slinn, Ella Stevens, Kate Wood, Kathleen Zorian, Satinig

< Back Mums the Word ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 17 May 2023 The Mother of all Shows. The stuff nobody tells you about parenthood...until it’s too late. This witty, entertaining show set to tour the UK, Autumn 2023, Stars Eastenders’ Jane Beale, LAURIE BRETT joined by actresses SARITA PLOWMAN and POPPY TIERNEY. Whether it’s leaving the house without your bra, crying in the supermarket aisles for no reason, or secretly thinking you had given birth to E.T. You won’t feel alone when listening to these women portray the ‘beauty’ of bringing new life into the world...or forgetting where they left it. An uplifting, honest show navigating Motherhood and the drama life throws at you, because creating life and raising a good human Isn’t enough without the occasional bump along the way. If you’re a mum-to-be, about to have your first grandchild or even the cat’s mother in need of a witty romp through the trials and tribulations of parental life, then this is the show for you. For all the men who want to know what women want - please take your seats! “Hysterically Funny” “Thoroughly Enjoyable” “Impossible to dislike" Our reasonably priced bar will be open before, during the interval and after the show. Free car park for customers and in easy walking distance of Altrincham and local tram and train stations. So what are you waiting for? BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

< Back Murder without Crime ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Abbott, Amy Harris, Frank Sykes, Constance D

< Back Kytsun Wolfe - In the image of Cliff Richard ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 4 July 2018 Celebrating 60 Golden Years of Cliff Richard and the Shadows After Kytsun Wolf’s huge success portraying Cliff at the illustrious London Palladium, he is now going to be touring his amazing and unique talents through Europe. Kytsun and his band ‘The Sound of the Shadows’ are loved and supported all across the country, not only because of their exceptional talents, but also, because no other act recreates the illusion with such amazing accuracy. Their performance is so uncanny that fans all agree that the experience is so magical, that they truly feel when watching this show that they are back in the 60’s at an actual Cliff and the Shadows concert. This dynamic salute to Cliff and the Shadows has received standing ovations and encores at every theatre played. Please subscribe if you would like our regular FREE Garrick Newsletter, as well as all the Garrick Production & Membership News together with the latest Special Offers [inbound_button font_size="20" color="#c8232b" text_color="#ffffff" icon="thumbs-o-up" url="http://altrinchamgarrick.hosted.phplist.com/lists/?p=subscribe " width="" target="_blank"] Click HERE to Subscribe[/inbound_button]

< Back Talking Heads ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 10 February 2014 The Garrick is proud to present a selection of Alan Bennett's much-loved classic monologues, giving us a glimpse into the lives of ordinary British people. Each tale gives us privileged access to the innermost thoughts of an individual, who, although we only hear his or her side of the story, frequently reveals more about him or herself than intended. Alan Bennett broke new dramatic ground when this series of monologues appeared on BBC TV in 1988. The stories are poignant, sometimes sad, occasionally uplifting, and they all showcase Alan Bennett's powers of observation, comic timing and exquisite turn of phrase. CAST "Bed Among The Lentils" -?Margaret Leslie as Susan "A Chip In The Sugar -?Bill Platt as Graham "Her Big Chance" -?Jenny Wilson as Lesley ASM -?Linda Crawford [gallery columns="2" ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/headsc.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/headsf.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/headsb.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/headse.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/headsd.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/headsa.jpg|"] Photographer: Martin Oldfield

< Back Dick Whittington and his Wonderful Cat ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 20 June 2016 The rags to riches story of Dick Whittington and his loyal friend Tommy the Cat is a panto extravaganza that's purrfect for the whole family. Dick is off to London to seek his fortune... ...but he needs your help! Come cheer and sing along for our hero and his lovable sidekick, as they travel to exciting lands and magical worlds. Will our hero defeat the evil King Rat? Will he win the hand of the beautiful Alice? And will he make his fortune and become Lord Mayor of London? With the help of everyone's favourites, Dame Sarah the Cook, and Idle Jack, together with a host of exciting characters, and a sprinkling of fairy dust from The Spirit of the Bells, everything is set to be alright in the end! Everything you have come to expect from traditional family pantomime at The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse. [gallery columns="4" ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9417.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9480.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9580.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9600.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9660.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9728.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9901.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_9969.jpg|"] Photos by Vishal Sharma CAST Spirit of the Bells - Helen Lawrence King Rat - Mike Shaw Captain Cockles - Ewan Henderson Mr Mussels - Howard Yaffe Alderman Fitzwarren - Ivor Farley Alice Fitzwarren - Claire Louise Garrett Dick Whittington - Meg Royle Tommy the Cat - Daisy Brocklehurst Sarah the Cook - Phil Edwards Idle Jack - Peter Brassington The Sultana of Morocco - Helen Lawrence Dancers / Chorus of Citizens / Spirits / Rats / Nubians etc. Ella Murphy, Rose Morris, Amelia Fay, Georgia Geupel, India Connor-Blow, Sophia Simpson, Sophie Lefton, Lydia Horsefield, Lily Odwyer, Emilia Law, Florence Gray, Lauren Cooke Review by Rick Bowen for STAGESTRUCK THE foyer was buzzing with excitement before we went in to watch this fun filled family pantomime, the mood heightened by a small army of enthusiastic children, eager to enjoy their festive treat. And yes, both they and the big kids weren't disappointed, as this perfectly paced production, with its perfect comedy timing, left everyone feeling well and truly entertained. That's praise indeed from yours truly, who, when it comes to pantos, is usually less than enthusiastic. For me, this is the best panto I've seen at this theatre, with everything falling perfectly into place. Who can resist the tale of an underdog, as our hero Dick Whittington (a suitably likeable Meg Royle) travelling a long and difficult road determined to achieve his dreams and get his girl. This theatre has a youth group. However, it must have been a great learning curve, particularly for the younger actors, to work with Phil Edwards, who plays the show's larger than life Dame, Sarah the Cook. A seasoned panto performer, Phil really makes the role his own, winning everybody over and swanning around the stage in frocks as loud as the children's boos, hisses and singing. He's ably assisted by his hapless and hopeless son Idle Jack, a Christmas present of a role for Peter Brassington. If I have a minor quibble I thought the cast were more comfortable acting than they were singing, but that in no way diminishes the enjoyment of the audience who were very appreciative when I saw the show. Writer/director Alan Clements shows its perfectly possible to wear with distinction "two hats," which should be paper and coloured at this time of year. If you want to escape the repeats on Christmas TV or just fancy a good night out, Dick Whittington and his Wonderful Cat is for you. Star rating ★★★★ Review by Julia Taylor for SALE AND ALTRINCHAM MESSENGER FROM the opening scene featuring the citizens of London, the Garrick's Panto warms the hearts of young and old. There are no smutty jokes though it's full of fun as it tells the tale of Dick Whittington and his wonderful Cat as he seeks his fortune in London. The script is written by Alan Clements who also directs it. He's a master of the art of panto and the cast soon has the kids at the matinee performance shouting 'He's Behind You.' They love every minute and shout their heads off every time a gorilla appears. Dick Whittington is played by a thigh slapping Meg Royle with a gorgeous voice. Her girlfriend, Alice, (Clare Louise Garrett) sings equally well and their duet sends shivers down your spine. No microphones needed here! Phil Edwards returns as the Dame singling out someone called Nigel sitting on the front row for special taunting. Nigel is a great sport. Phil and Peter Brassington's Idol Jack keep the kids amused. Mike Shaw, who plays the baddy, King Rat, gets his just deserts at the end from Daisy Brocklehurst's clever cat and, throughout, from the booing, jeering kids. In contrast, the scene representing fish and sea creatures apparently swimming across the stage is haunting. The dancing, too, is second to none. From the hornpipe to gentle ballet movements, they are a joy to watch. Mike Shaw and his team of helpers must be congratulated on the colourful costumes. This is panto at its best. Star rating ★★★★

< Back The Washerwoman's Child ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Abel, Gillian Alexander, Carol Back, Barbara Barton, Roger Baxter, Ena Bebbington, Anne Bradley, Alan Carrington, Mary Carter, Lyndsay Clarkson, Marion Douglas, Jacquelin Dundas, Pat Elliot, Jean Gee, Peter Green, Barbara Gregory, Christine Hanson, Janice Hill, Lesley Jardine, Stella Jenkinson, Glenys Jones, Elizabeth Ann Le Comber, Annette McGuire, Phillipa Lord, Maureen Meadowcroft, Pamela Pearson, Ann Perry, Linda Pratt, Graham Ellis Schofield, Daphne Searle, Peter Shannon, Violet Sharp, Gillian Shaw, Catherine Simpson, Madeline Taylor, Jennifer Thomas, Johanthon Whalley, Anita Wakefield, Robert Webb, David Winterbottom, Susan Williams, Anne Williams, Jennifer York, Maureen

< Back Gaslight ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 21 June 2016 The Classic Victorian thriller What a difference a day makes... Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton is set in the terrifying darkness of the late afternoon. The zero hour, as it were, before the feeble dawn of gaslight and tea... Bella Manningham's world is crumbling around her. Convinced she is losing her mind as her Mother did before her, she desperately tries to cling onto her sanity as the Gaslights dim. With her mental state steadily deteriorating and her husband Jack's strange behaviour, the timely arrival of a retired police detective provides Bella with some answers in Patrick Hamilton's dark, celebrated Victorian psychological thriller. The production is proudly sponsored by Allen Mills Howard & Company [gallery columns="4" ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSCF5747.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_0304.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_0279.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_0254.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_0227.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_0216.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_0061.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_00321.jpg|"] PHOTOGRAPHS by Vishal Sharma CAST Bella Manningham - Parissa Zamanpour Jack Manningham - Jonathan Black Rough - Mark Butt Elizabeth - Julie Broadbent Nancy - Vicky Siddle Review by Rick Bowen for StageStruck I've seen Patrick Hamilton's Victorian play before and knew what was coming. However, that didn't stop me perching on the edge of my seat more than once, feeling as trapped as poor old Bella Manningham, a woman at her wit's end. They say you only really know someone when you live with them. But for this tormented individual, her husband Jack, who takes an almost perverted pleasure in humiliating her, has become a closed book. No wonder Bella is going out of her mind, a virtual prisoner in a house which is as cosy as your average crypt. It's not only the house that has a past. It's always exciting to see newcomers on the Garrick stage and after her performance as Bella Parissa Zamanpour should be swamped with offers of future work. Attractive and elegant, hers is as an amateur performance only in name. Supremely convincing, you'll find yourself desperate for her to get one over on the horrendous Jack (Jonathan Black). But this is 1897, when many women still deferred to their husbands. Mark Butt is a delight as Rough, a character with a very unique outlook on life who is very easy to warm to. His return to this theatre is very welcome, however, I can't really go into detail about his character's role in the plot. Vicky Siddle impressed me when she appeared in another amateur production and does so again as the flirty maid Nancy, teasing Jack mercilessly. Director Ros Greenwood ensures the tension bubbles along beautifully and I hope the full house on Monday night is repeated more than once throughout the run. A spooky classic. Star rating ★★★★ Review by Julia Taylor for Sale and Altrincham Messenger Cast excels in eeris psychological thriller The dank, January evening when Altrincham Garrick Playhouse present Gaslight, is reflected by the sombre stage illuminated by flickering gaslights. Director, Ros Greenwood, has adopted a unique approach by creating a constantly nightmarish feeling which keeps the audience in silent awe. The eerie atmosphere in Jack Manningham?s Victorian psychological thriller is captured throughout. It's about a man whose mental cruelty towards his wife, drives her to the point of madness. The play's success depends not only on the superb acting by all the cast, but also on lighting and sound effects provided by Geoff Scullard, Natasha Klein, Ros Greenwood and James Merrington. The arch-villain is Jonathan Black?s Jack Manningham. He conveys well a man who systematically terrorises his wife by inferring she is responsible for the disappearance of objects. Rare acts of kindness 'such as a trip to the theatre' are cancelled when he calls her half-witted. Before Jack's true motive is revealed, he has dalliances with the maid, a flirtatious Vicky Siddle. Parissa Zamanpour is outstanding as his downtrodden wife, Bella. Every attempt to please her husband is rebuffed. Parissa's facial expressions convey Bella's feelings perfectly. Enter Mark Butt's Inspector Rough. His common sense and sanity add fresh air as he unearths Jack's criminal past. In a tense scene, his Inspector Rough and Jonathan's Jack Cunningham confront one another like rutting stags. Only at the end do we see the light. Star rating ★★★★

< Back Les Miserables The Staged Concert ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 25 January 2023 Seen by over 120 million people worldwide, LES MISERABLES is undisputedly one of the world's most popular musicals. Coinciding with its 35th triumphant year in London's West End, Cameron Mackintosh produced a spectacular sell-out staged concert version at the Gielgud Theatre featuring an all-star cast including Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Matt Lucas and John Owen Jones. Now experience the musical phenomenon on the big screen at Altrincham Garrick Picturehouse, after it broke box office records and sold out its entire 16 week season. Featuring a cast and orchestra of over 65 and including the songs I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home, One Day More and On My Own this sensational staged concert is not to be missed - an absolute must-see for any fans of musical theatre or live event cinema!

< Back Seagulls over Sorento ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 12 August 2019 Harris, Frank Jones, Gordon Lightowler, Ronnie R

< Back Corpse! ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 8 February 2014 Full of thrills and surprises, tricks and laughter, Corpse! is set in London in 1936, and tells the story of twin brothers, one of whom plots to murder the other in the most unusual circumstances. Evelyn, an out-of-work actor, engages the genial Irishman Powell, with a shady past, to do away with his suave, sophisticated, monied twin. Their plotting in Evelyn's Aladdin's cave of a flat is punctuated by the visits of a delightfully theatrical landlady. As with most 'fool-proof' plans things do not go as they should and people are not what they seem. Corpse! is not so much a whodunit as a whodunit to whom! [gallery ids="https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsea.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpseb.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsec.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsed.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsee.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsef.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpseg.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpseh.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsei.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsek.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsej.jpg|,https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/corpsel.jpg|"] CAST Evelyn Farrant Peter Birch Rupert Farrant Mrs McGee Pat Williamson Major Ambrose Powell Richard Sails Hawkins Mark Edgar Sale & Altrincham Messenger's review by Rick Bowen Corpse! - stylish comedy thriller at the Garrick Just when you think you've got it all worked out in Corpse!, writer Gerald Moon throws a giant spanner in the works. This is a very clever play and Altrincham Garrick's production is as exhilarating as it is entertaining, with director Alan Rothwell setting a beautifully judged pace. It also features one of the finest performances I can remember from Peter Birch, who is a master of the mind game as the murderous Evelyn Farrant, your archetypal 'luvvie' with a seedy private life. Peter really makes your flesh creep as the slippery, calculating Farrant and Richard Sails is equally good value as the light fingered con artist Major Ambrose Powell. Farrant hires Powell to kill his brother, Rupert, a wealthy man about town. Neither Farrant or his reluctant employee would even make the final of a popularity contest and yet they make a highly watchable double act. Pat Williamson is really, really good as Farrant's busybody landlady, Mrs McGee and this character is especially good fun when she?s had a drink. A stylish comedy thriller full of surprises,'Corpse!' will make laugh and possibly cry too, because near the end of act two there's every chance you'll be tearing your hair out, desperately trying to work out who's dead and who isn't. Highly recommended. Star Rating ★★★★

< Back MANIA - The Abba Tribute ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 27 March 2023 MANIA: The ABBA tribute Direct from London’s West End, MANIA is accepted as the world’s number one ABBA tribute show. A special concert which celebrates the music of ABBA in a respectful and enjoyable way, this production revives memories of when ABBA ruled the airwaves. It is more than 40 years since ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest and they have filled our lives with music ever since. Now it’s your chance to thank them for the music! MANIA brings fans old and new, a memorable night not to be missed. If you’re looking for an excuse to party, reminisce or simply be entertained, then MANIA: the ABBA tribute is the show for you! Dig out those platforms, dust down those flares, and join in with such classics as ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Voulez Vous’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Winner Takes It All’, ‘Super Trouper’ and many, many more. [embed]https://youtu.be/6VMTecwhlo0[/embed] Our reasonably priced bar will be open before, during the interval and after the show. Free car park for customers and in easy walking distance of Altrincham and local tram and train stations. So what are you waiting for? BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

< Back Follies ˂ Previous Production Next Production ˃ to 11 December 2013 No information available at this time