“The Carman” at Salford’s Lowry Theatre, performed by the Adventures in Motion Pictures Company was one of the highlights of their Season. Brilliant and moving, it unashamedly exploits Bizet’s famous opera score. The central role of the gypsy girl Carmen in Bizet’s opera is replaced by a charismatic bisexual car mechanic - the “Carman” of the title. The same company performed Matthew Bourne’s brilliant version of Swan Lake at the Regent Hanley last year. This live performance was even more exciting than the highly acclaimed film version screened on television.

In September the Regent promoted “Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo.” This astonishingly talented all male company performed tongue in cheek excerpts from the classical repertoire including an incredible Dying Swan solo from Swan Lake.

A programme note stated that the performance was dedicated to the members of the company that had died of AIDS. The company’s awareness of HIV/AIDS was also demonstrated by the red ribbons worn by the dancers in the Bach pieces that formed the middle section of the programme.

It takes a highly skilled and accomplished team of dancers to add an additional layer of humour on top of such a rigorous and demanding repertoire. The “Trocks” were quite definitely the right men for the job. Billed as “A fabulous fusion o beefcake and ballerina” they proved themselves the megastars they claimed to be. This was a really fun night enjoyed by a most exuberant audience and was topped by an encore, with the entire company breaking into traditional Irish Dancing.

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“Second from Last in the Sack Race,” at the New Vic, made an enjoyable evening of first-rate theatre. The set was a doll’s-house sized working class Yorkshire town. Round it ran a huge electric train set. There were steaming locomotives travelling through tunnels and crossing over bridges. There was even a tram! Expectations of scenes of joyous childhood were soon tempered as the play tracked the birth, the troubled childhood and anguished adolescence of Henry, the anti hero of the play.

Michael Birch based the play on the epic comic novel by David Nobb. His adaptation gives a vivid survey of England and the English from the depressing era of the 30’s to the Golden age of the 50’s.

The artistic team lead by director Laurie Sansom and designer Jessica Curtis captured the spirit of this imaginative saga incorporating the themes of the north south divide and the insensitivity of the British upper classes towards the downtrodden working class.

The highly talented team of actors displayed their ability to switch through a range of contrasting roles. Ged McKenna was superb in the characters of Teddy, Tosser, Sergeant Major and most endearingly as the delectable and loveable Miss Candy. Celyn Jones was magnificent in the central role of Henry, giving a convincing portrayal of the character’s growth.

The split second transformation of the toy town into a huge bed quilt was nothing less than a “coup de theatre”. (“sheer magic”)

The numerous changes of mood required by the play were achieved with the help of a most effective sound design created by resident sound designer James Earls Davies.

The current season of plays at the Vic includes “Big Maggie”, “Bedroom Farce” and “Top Girls” as well as some great shows by outside artists and companies Box Office 01782 717962.

The Regent Theatre Hanley have also got an excellent Autumn programme of theatre dance and opera. For details ring: 01782 213800 M

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Be sure to visit the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery at least once a fortnight. That way you won’t miss such fabulous exhibitions as Hubble’s Universe 2000, organised by BlueSpace London that was on show until 3rd September.

The Open 2000 show finished on 17th September. This was an exciting exhibition giving evidence of the vast amount of talent currently around in the visual arts. The exhibition attracts art & craft work of a very high calibre ranging from computer generated artwork, photography & sculpture to ceramics, textiles and glass. One striking exhibit that caught the eye was an elegant steel chair that was more of a sculpture than a piece of furniture. If you could afford it, this would be just the thing to occupy a prominent place in your front room. (Practically all the artwork was for sale)

“Left a Bit” (16 Sept – 26 Nov) presents some of the most amusing, memorable, shocking and moving pictures by the Guardian’s Photographers over the past 30 years.

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