Little Voice has pace, great cartoon energy and heart.

Opening Night Review by Peter Fitton “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” seems to be Farnworth-writer Jim Cartwright’s tribute to Shelagh Delaney’s “A Taste Of Honey”. Blowsy, mutton-dressed-as-lamb mother, Mari, despairs of her misfit daughter, LV, whilst trying to hang on to her fancy man, Ray Say. Wayward parenting certainly looms large and both plays walk a tightrope between the mother’s brash, slatternly lifestyle and the daughter’s desperate need to escape loneliness and neglect. […]

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Putting on a Bleakingly good show by Director, Verity Mann

two shows in rehearsal The building repair work planned from the 26th May means we have a very truncated season with Bleak Expectations coming hotly on the heels of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. We would usually have a comfortable 7 weeks rehearsal period on stage but we’ll have just under 4 which includes Easter and bank holidays! Nothing daunted, our fabulous cast have set up camp in my living room and we’re […]

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Little Voice – Directors Preview

The Rise & Fall of Little Voice is my first involvement in a production with Saddleworth Players, as I have mainly been directing/acting at The Lyceum/Curtain Theatres with shows such as Calendar Girls, Dads Army, Heroes and Death of a Salesman. That’s been the case for the last 30 plus years. So I am old but in good working second hand order. Little Voice has been described as a grim northern fairy tale but its […]

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Review: All Clues point to a brilliant production at Saddleworth’s Millgate

IT DOES not take a super sleuth to detect the quality in Clue. The Saddleworth Players’ production of Clue at the Millgate Arts Centre is nothing short of spectacular! Based on the 1985 cult-classic film and the beloved Cluedo board game, this show is a blend of side-splitting comedy and thrilling murder mystery. The moment you walk in, you can see the effort that has been put in as soon as you take your seat. The stage […]

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Clue directors preview

Mark Rosenthal  is directing Clue  Many of you will have either seen the 1985 film starring Tim Curry or played the game, Cluedo, which as it happens is 75 years old this year. If you have, then you will definitely have heard of the iconic characters Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs White, Mr Green, Mrs Peacock and Colonel Mustard.The play, Clue is a fast paced farce-meets-murder mystery with brilliantly written characters. The tale begins on […]

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Saddleworth becomes New York in most Glorious fashion

Review of opening night by Gemma Carter at Saddleworth Independent . original post link SADDLEWORTH theatregoers are being transported across the Atlantic and back in time in the most Glorious way. For Saddleworth Players’ latest production is an undoubted hit. Glorious tells the story of Florence Foster Jenkins, an enthusiastic soprano whose pitch was far from perfect, becoming known as ‘the first lady of the sliding scale.’ Transforming the theatre at Millgate Arts Centre sounds […]

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