The Mousetrap

In it's 60th year in the West End, Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap is celebrating with a Diamond anniversary tour.

A classic 'who dunnit?' tale, set in a hotel owned by a married couple who have just taken it on. Bruno Langley and Gemma Walker star as Mr and Mrs Ralston, and whilst their performances get better as the play progresses the chemistry between the two of them doesn't come naturally and at times seems very forced.

Their first night of being open sees a number of quirky, suspicious characters arriving. Elizabeth Power makes the most of her time as Mrs Boyle, so you miss her presence when she leaves. Clare Wilkie and Karl Howman are both entertaining in their roles but it is Bob Saul as the policeman, a role which he has played on the west end, who steals the show, playing the part with aplomb.

Everyone has a secret to hide, but who is the killer? An intriguing play which will please both ardent Christie, those only making their first foray into their work and people, like me, who have never been much of a fan of the crime genre.

Northern Ballet's The Great Gatsby

The roaring twenties. Filled with glitz and glamour. The music of the Jazz age plays soundtrack to the sideways glances and fleeting touches of people conducting their love affairs.

We are a nation in love with the past with period dramas dominating our TV screens and another Gatsby, from director Baz Lurhmann set to hit the screens later this month. Fitzgerald's classic book has been adapted many times, but there is always something new to discover.

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's music is the perfect compliment to the show with upbeat numbers for the parties and slow, romantic melodies for Gatsby and Daisy's scenes together. Add to that a lively Charleston and the seductive tango and we are fully immersed in the era.

The decadence of Gatsby's parties are brought to life beautifully, but you find yourself always on the look out for the title character, and whilst you can sense his presence as the obsessesive, you sometimes find yourself wishing he was on stage a little more for the first half. Of course, once he has been reunited with his love he is more than given his time to shine.

The costumes, also designed by Nixon are tailored to be an extension of each character's personality. The sets, designed by Jérôme Kaplan, are simple and stylish, right down to Gatsby's famous yellow car and Tim Mitchell's lighting design also adds to the mood, as well as help with the many scene changes.

All this is but an elegant backdrop to the dancers. The ensemble each bring their own unique personalities to the stage whilst those playing the leads all show they have a deep understanding of their roles, always dancing with an emotion and flair that makes you feel for all of them.

Once again, Nixon has shown his skill at adapting beloved novels for the ballet and it is the passion evident in everyone's involvement that makes this one of Northern Ballet's finest productions yet.

9 to 5

A fun, feel good musical.

Based on the 1980 movie of the same name the story follows three women, Violet (Jackie Clune), a ballsy widow who is after that 'fat promotion', Judy (Natalie Casey), the new girl and Doralee (Amy Lennox), a girl with big hair and a big heart. They all work in the same office under the employ of their chauvinistic boss Mr. Hart along with a fantastic ensemble, the most memorable being the office drunk, Margaret, played by Lori Hayley Fox who gets a laugh out of the audience each time she's on stage.

Bonnie Langford is fantastic as Roz, the secretary harbouring a crush on Hart, and it's a shame that she's so underused. The three leading ladies each bring a certain charm to their characters that will endear you to them enough so you care about what happens to them.

With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton this musical is nothing groundbreaking but it will provide you with a good night out and an excuse for a good old sing a long at the end.

The Woman In Black

The Tour

The sound of nervous laughter fills the theatre as the audience takes their seats. It can't really be as scary as everyone says, can it?

A lawyer, Arthur Kipps (Julian Forsyth) has a story to tell. Grown old, it has plagued him for many years and we meet him on the day he has hired an actor (Anthony Eden) to help him tell his tale. We could be watching a comedy as we see the actor's rather bemused frustration at the old man's lacklustre reading. And so the actor suggests to tell it in the form of a play. The actor will play the young lawyer and Arthur will play the people he meets along the way.

What follows is a chilling performance with the tension building until you are gripping your seat and glancing around in fear of seeing The Woman in Black. Forsyth and Eden, who have both played the role on the West End, both give fantastic performances and of course not forgetting the other stars of the show, the sound and lighting crews who create the perfect atmosphere for such a ghostly tale. Nothing is overdone so you never know what to expect and the scary moments are always different and exciting. Not much else is needed, with just a few props and your imagination you will be left hiding behind your hands and filling the room with your screams.

And so it is easy to see why the show has continued to play to packed crowds for more than 25 years, the mystery and undeniable curiosity that surrounds it drawing people in. A marvellous piece of theatre, The Woman In Black will stay with you and haunt you well into the night.