Manchester theatre: The Royal Exchange signals a fresh start
Manchester theatre critic, Kevin Bourke heads to the Royal Exchange and finds it’s out with the old and in with the new (ideas) When Braham Murray, the last of the...
Written by Kevin Bourke
New theatre in Manchester: Julius Caesar
at The Lowry.
at The Lowry.
Kevin Bourke discovers how real life mirrors the plot of one of Shakespeare’s finest plays, courtesy of the Lowry Theatre. While imprisoned on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela and his fellow...
Politicians are scientifically illiterate.” The Heretic comes to The Lowry
Richard Bean’s black comedy, The Heretic, opening at The Lowry later this month, is more than just a load of hot air, says Kevin Bourke According to the Oxford English...
Reeling in the years.
Kevin Bourke reports on UnSpooling, Cornerhouse’s examination of the often-uneasy relationship between contemporary artists and cinema If anywhere naturally lends itself to an investigation of the relationship between cinema and...
To Lowry with love.
A new book by T.G. Rosenthal aims to rescue the reputation of L.S. Lowry from those who would dismiss him as simply an untaught, amateur artist. The art historian tells...
Zack to the future.
Comedian Justin Moorhouse‘s stint at the Royal Exchange this Christmas feels a long way from painted tiger faces on Phoenix Nights, sell-out stand-up tours and drivetime DJ’ing on Key 103....
Dance, dance, dance.
Next week, the traditional Northern Ballet version of The Nutcracker opens on the same night as Matthew Bourne’s much more radical ballet Cinderella. Both will probably sell out. Has ballet...
Blog. Mining for gold.
Cowboy Junkies are in town next week, playing amid the gothic grandeur of Gorton Monastery. Kevin Bourke catches up with songwriter Michael Timmins A couple of years ago I heard...
Down on the corner. Cornerhouse turns 25.
Danny Boyle, Damien Hirst, and Eric Cantona are all regular visitors. Mike Leigh’s there next week. But the real triumph of Cornerhouse, argues Kevin Bourke, is that it has changed...
Chuck Perkins. The voice of the big easy.
New Orleans poet Chuck Perkins knows that only a fool believes you’ll get rich writing poetry. But as he readies himself for a performance as part of Manchester Literature Festival,...
Economics for raptors. ENRON
at The Lowry.
at The Lowry.
A vivacious tragicomedy about financial calamity, complete with swearing, motorbikes and light-sabres? That’ll be Lucy Prebble’s ENRON then, discovers Kevin Bourke When Lucy Prebble first had the idea for a...
The habit of art.
Alan Bennett, author of The History Boys, discusses his latest play in our exclusive Q&A Alan Bennett’s new play imagines a meeting after 25 years between former friends and collaborators,...