Theatre – The Review Studio

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Disclaimer: We received free tickets for the purpose of thhis review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is an award-winning novel by Christy Lefteri which has been adapted for the stage by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler. The book has been sitting on my pile of books to-read for a good while so an invitation to opening night at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool gave me the perfect opportunity to finally find out what the story is about.

At the heart of the story is beekeeper Nuri (Adam Sina) and his wife Afra (Farah Saffari) who live in the beautiful city of Aleppo and we discover how their world is turned upside down by the Syrian civil war. Forced to flee their home, the book tells the story of how two ordinary Syrians become refugees, making a traumatic journey through Turkey and Greece before finally reaching England, where they seek asylum from the war that has devastated their country.

The narrative is presented in quite a fragmented way, moving between their past lives in Syria and their new lives in the UK. This works brilliantly, underscoring just how broken the lives of Nuri and Afra have become through the effects of war and, in particular, their deep personal loss. Many of the horrors they encounter are only hinted at rather than fully explained and it is often what is left unsaid that paints the bigger picture.

The story puts a human face onto the often faceless “problem” of refugees. By seeing the story of just one couple we can begin to understand what the real human cost is of the refugee crisis. Whilst the play is quite emotional and moving, there are plenty of lighter moments too, especially when Joseph Long, who plays Nuri’s cousin Mustafa takes to the stage.

The symbolism of bees hums gently beneath the surface from beginning to end. The ability of bees to survive, how they work as a community and also hope. At the end of the story Nuri is able to finally be reunited with his cousin who has already made the journey and established a new apiary in his new home in Yorkshire.

Visually, the production achieves a remarkable amount with a deceptively simple set. The shifting landscape transforms effortlessly from the shores of dangerous crossings to the family home in Aleppo and later to their temporary accommodation in England. Clever use of projection, lighting and sound helps transport the audience between locations, with crashing waves and subtle atmospheric effects creating a powerful sense of place.

You cannot fail to be moved by this thought-provoking play, and the emotional performances from the cast and whether you’re familiar with the story or not it’s definitely a show worth seeing – after seeing it last night the book is now firmly at the top of my to-read pile!

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is at The Grand Theatre until Saturday 30th May with tickets starting at £18. For more information or to book tickets visit their website here

The Shawshank Redemption – The Grand Theatre Blackpool

Days Out, Theatre

Disclaimer: We received free tickets to the show for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Based on a Stephen King short story, The Shawshank Redemption soon became a classic following the 1994 film which starred Tim Robbins as Andy and Morgan Freeman as Red. We went to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre last night to see the stage adaptation, cleverly adapted by Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns and directed by David Esbjornson and I’m pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint and was just as gripping and powerful as the original film was.

If you’re not familiar with the story it is about Andy Dufresne (Joe McFadden), a quiet banker convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Despite protesting his innocence, he is sentenced to two life term sentences and sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary. There, he befriends long-term inmate Ellis “Red” Redding (Ben Onwukwe), the prison fixer who can get hold of almost anything. Red guides Andy through the harsh reality of prison life – beatings, corruption and violence, brutally inflicted by both guards and inmates. When the corrupt Warden Stammas (Bill Ward) discovers Andy’s talent for numbers he exploits his accountancy skills for his own benefit.

Bringing such a tough story to the stage is no easy task – the story includes violence, a gang rape and murder but whilst alluded to on stage it is very much played down in this production and the notorious attack by “the Sisters,” is sensitively done but still carries a powerful punch.

We were really impressed with the set, shabby prison walls and clever lighting create a strong sense of claustrophobia, drawing the audience into Shawshank’s oppressive world. Scene changes are seamless, and music is used to mark the passage of nearly twenty years.

Performances across the twelve-strong, all-male cast are excellent with Joe McFadden capturing Andy’s quiet resilience whilst portraying a man who refuses to give up hope despite impossible odds. Ward slips with ease into the skin of the vile Warden Stammas but it is Onwukwe who really stands out – also acting as narrator, pulling the story together with warmth and humour, despite the tough storyline.

We really enjoyed the show and judging by the standing ovation at the end of the performance, the rest of the audience did too! The Shawshank Redemption runs at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool until Saturday 27 September, and it’s a production I’d highly recommend – whether you know the story already or are new to it.

Tickets are available from £15 with concessions for 1894 Club members and Friends of The Grand. Group rates are also available.

Please call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information.

Q The Music’s James Bond Spectacular

Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Theatre

Disclaimer: We received free tickets for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

James Bond, the legendary British spy created by Ian Fleming, first appeared in the 1953 novel Casino Royale, introducing 007 as a suave MI6 agent tackling global threats with gadgets, charm, and razor-sharp wit. The character quickly leapt from page to screen, becoming the face of one of cinema’s longest-running and best-loved franchises. With thrilling missions, exotic locations, and that unmistakable Bond cool, the films have captivated audiences for decades. And of course, no Bond experience is complete without the iconic theme songs performed by legends like Shirley Bassey, Duran Duran, and Adele which have topped charts both here and abroad over the years.

Back in 2004, Bond superfan Warren Ringham set out to celebrate the unforgettable music of 007 by forming a band, and over 20 years later, Q The Music is still wowing audiences across the UK. Last night, we had the pleasure of seeing their spectacular show at the beautiful Blackpool Opera House.

While the band can scale up to a full orchestra or down to a tight five-piece, we saw their classic 12-piece setup with a lead vocalist. The mix was spot on, with a bold brass section that perfectly captured the dramatic, punchy sound so essential to the Bond experience.

The evening was hosted by Caroline Bliss – aka Miss Moneypenny in the Timothy Dalton films The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill – who guided us through the performance with behind the scenes stories and warm reflections from her time on set.

The show opened, as expected, with the iconic instrumental James Bond theme, a powerful introduction that set the tone for the night. The next two numbers were the perfect way to showcase the evening’s vocal talent – Kerry Schultz and Matt Walker. Kerry dazzled with both her voice and stage presence, delivering a bold and brilliant performance of the Shirley Bassey classic “Goldfinger.” She truly owned the stage. Matt followed with “Thunderball”, channelling Tom Jones with an astonishingly long final note that brought the house down – what a way to kick things off! Later in the evening, he showed his incredible vocal range with a stunning, emotional rendition of “Writing’s on the Wall”, capturing the haunting style of the Sam Smith hit beautifully.

The first half took us on a thrilling journey through Bond soundtracks, ending the first half with a phenomenal performance of “Tomorrow Never Dies” complete with dramatic pyrotechnics and was a fitting end to the first half of the show.

The second half burst back into action with the Bond theme once again, with another electrifying guitar solo from the brilliant Dan Booth – it really set the tone for what was to come. Highlights included a high-energy performance of “Live and Let Die” and a beautifully delivered version of Adele’s “Skyfall.” Looking around, it was clear we weren’t the only ones impressed – the audience were completely absorbed, and the enthusiastic applause said it all.

With Warren Ringham’s expert musical direction, every member of the band gave an outstanding performance and you could see their passion for the music, making the entire show an absolute joy to watch.

Q The Music is currently performing one-night shows at theatres across the country, with their next stop at Glasgow Pavilion on 18th July. For full tour dates and tickets, visit their website – it’s a night no Bond fan should miss.

Photo credit – Bryan Marshall