Hafsah Aneela Bashir. You don’t normally see many people like Hafsah on stage. A bold Muslim woman of colour with a head scarf. That’s exactly what you get though, Hafsah on stage, just her, being all Islamic and political and being utterly blooming brilliant in the latest offering from Push 2019 at Home Manchester.
The good old review. For me, you can either take them or leave them. Sometimes they are glorified meanderings from people who overthink things and present an over indulgent opinion piece. Sometimes they are insightful, thought provoking features that adds another dimension to what you are reviewing. Sometimes, simply put, they are the difference between you going or not. In the case of The Band, the musical set to Take That’s back catalogue and currently playing at The Lowry, it was enough for me to change my views and see what the fuss was all about.
Thank the lord for HOME’s annual jamboree, the PUSH festival. PUSH 2019 celebrates the region’s creative talents from screenings to exhibitions – they have even commissioned brand new pieces for the festival. For me, however, it is a welcome distraction to the miserable, moribund month that January often ends up becoming, providing this writer with a little bit of colour and sunshine. Fat Girl Singing is exactly the kind of antidote one needs to get over the month before with a trip to see an act that showcases exactly what PUSH 2019 is all about, a sassy talented individual that looks like us, talks like us, with razor sharp wit and a bit of a song and dance!
If there is one show you watch this Christmas then let that show be Släpstick. Currently playing to rapturous audiences at HOME Manchester, allow me a few minutes of your time to convince you why I think this is Manchester’s hidden gem among the pantomimes, the traditional festive ballets, the big theatre musical productions and what have you and why you should go along to be regaled by some down right clever musical comedy at its finest!!!
Christmas always sees theatre houses up their game a little bit. Their productions become a little bit grander. There’s a lot more lavishness, a lot more pizazz and a lot more bang for your buck. This is no surprise given how pantomimes become star studded attractions to pull in more than the usual theatregoer. With such demand for family orientated shows at this time of year, theatres have become adept at putting on productions that have a broad appeal. In Dr Dolittle, currently playing to packed auditoriums at The Lowry, we have one such hit show.