The Silence of the Lambs at The Lowry had plenty going for it: impressive scenery, two very good lead performances and lots of promise. But while there was much to appreciate, something was missing for us, and the show didn’t quite deliver the gripping experience we’d hoped for.
The story
Based on Thomas Harris’s novel, The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks the help of imprisoned psychiatrist and murderer Hannibal Lecter to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill. As the investigation unfolds, Lecter draws Clarice into a psychological game of his own, with time running out to save the killer’s next victim.
Strong leads and impressive scenery John Partridge as Hannibal Lecter and Mollie Gallagher as Clarice Starling were both very good. Their performances were a real highlight, bringing a strong presence to the stage and giving us plenty to enjoy.
Partridge was a pleasant surprise and put his own twist on the role while I felt that Gallagher was more playing Jodie Foster playing Clarice rather than putting her own character to the role Oliver Farnworth also features as FBI agent Jack Crawford, with Sam Jackson playing Buffalo Bill. The scenery was another standout.
It gave the production a striking backdrop, and we really appreciated the work that had gone into bringing this story to the stage.
Something was missing Our biggest reservation was Buffalo Bill. For us, the character wasn’t quite engaging or menacing enough, and we never felt fully convinced by him. We wanted a stronger sense of unease, but something in the portrayal didn’t quite connect.
The show also felt a little bitty at times. Individual moments showed promise, but they didn’t always flow together in a way that kept us fully absorbed. We wanted the tension to build and draw us in, but it never quite reached that point for us.
Our verdict
There was plenty to admire in The Silence of the Lambs, particularly the scenery and the two lead performances. However, the slightly disjointed feel and lack of menace from Buffalo Bill meant it fell short of being truly gripping. A promising production with some strong elements, but ultimately one that left us wanting a little more.
After returning from holiday with jet lag, High Society at The Lowry was exactly the kind of show I needed: light, frothy, glamorous and wonderfully easy to lose yourself in for an evening.
This is pure Golden Age musical escapism, with a simple but charming plot, fabulous costumes, beautiful scenery and a brilliant cast. It has the feel of an old Hollywood film brought to life on stage, complete with romance, humour, misunderstandings and plenty of sparkle.
What is High Society about?
Set in the wealthy world of Oyster Bay, High Society follows Tracy Lord as she prepares to marry the dependable, if slightly dull, George Kittredge. However, her wedding plans are soon thrown into chaos when her charismatic ex-husband Dexter Haven returns to the family home.
Things become even more complicated when journalist Mike Connor and photographer Liz Imbrie arrive to cover the society wedding for a magazine. They are hoping to uncover a family secret, but Mike soon finds himself drawn into the glamorous, chaotic world of the Lords — and perhaps a little too interested in the bride-to-be. It is not an overly complicated story, but that is part of the appeal. There is romance, family drama, sharp humour, jealousy and plenty of confusion as Tracy begins to question whether she is marrying the right man — or whether she should be getting married at all.
The cast
Helen George is wonderful as Tracy Lord. She is elegant, poised and perfectly suited to the glamour of the role, but she also brings warmth and vulnerability to Tracy as the wedding weekend begins to unravel. Julian Ovenden is effortlessly charming as Dexter Haven, Tracy’s ex-husband. He has a real old-school leading-man quality and a fantastic voice, making it easy to see why Dexter remains such an important figure in Tracy’s life. Freddie Fox brings lots of energy and humour as journalist Mike Connor. His character is initially unimpressed by the privileged world of the Lords, but his growing connection with Tracy adds another layer to the story. Carly Mercedes Dyer is also great as Liz, Mike’s quick-witted photographer colleague, while Nigel Lindsay gets plenty of laughs as the larger-than-life Uncle Willie. The supporting cast all help create a lively, polished production that feels full of personality from beginning to end. Beautiful scenery and fabulous costumes Visually, the production is gorgeous. The scenery creates the perfect setting for the Lord family’s glamorous waterside home, while the costumes are absolutely fabulous. There are elegant gowns, smart tailoring and all the glamour you would expect from a story set among high society. Everything feels polished and stylish without being overdone. It is exactly the kind of show where you can sit back and enjoy the spectacle as much as the story itself.
Familiar songs and old Hollywood charm
One of the nicest surprises was how many of the songs I recognised. I loved classic Hollywood films as a child, including The Philadelphia Story, the film on which High Society is based, so there was something particularly nostalgic about seeing this story on stage. The Cole Porter score is full of familiar, sophisticated songs and gives the whole production that unmistakable old-Hollywood charm. It is romantic, witty and glamorous, with plenty of toe-tapping moments along the way. Final thoughts High Society is not trying to be a deep or complicated musical, and that is exactly why it works so well. It is light, funny, romantic and easy to enjoy — the perfect choice if you want a feel-good evening at the theatre. With a strong cast, beautiful scenery, fabulous costumes and a soundtrack full of classic songs, this production at The Lowry is a lovely bit of escapism. It was the ideal antidote to post-holiday jet lag and a reminder of just how enjoyable a simple, stylish old Hollywood story can be. Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
On Saturday 2nd May 2026 we headed over to The Lowry for the world premiere of Bank of Dave: The Musical, and Salford really did feel like it had dressed up for the occasion.
The buzz in the Lyric Theatre before the show even started was brilliant – you could feel everyone was a bit giddy about seeing a brand new northern musical on its very first night. To top it off, the real Dave Fishwick was actually there, watching his own story unfold on stage. Lance was in his absolute element from the moment we walked in, and he ended up loving every minute. I was a little more on the fence in places, which meant we had a really good debrief on the way home about community, banks and how this wild “true‑ish” story works as a musical.
A proper northern underdog story At its heart, Bank of Dave is a proper underdog tale. It follows Burnley‑born self‑made millionaire Dave Fishwick as he decides he’s had enough of the big banks saying no and fights to set up his own community‑focused bank, putting the profits back into local people and small businesses. It’s all about the power of community, standing up for the little guy and proving you don’t need to be part of the London elite to make a difference. When the show leans into that – northern grit, real people, and one man refusing to take no for an answer – it’s genuinely uplifting and very feel‑good. Those are the moments where you really feel the audience leaning in and rooting for Dave and Burnley. The “true‑ish” twist The show is very open about the fact it’s using artistic licence and calls itself the “true‑ish” story of Dave Fishwick. I completely get why they’ve done that – it gives them room for big, bold scenes, some daft fun and plenty of laugh‑out‑loud moments. It’s not trying to be a dry documentary; it wants to be a big, crowd‑pleasing night out. Personally though, I’d have liked it to stay a little closer to the real story. The way that “true‑ish” angle plays out means there’s a final reveal that adds an extra twist to Dave’s journey which, for me, didn’t really feel needed but I think that this is based on the Netflix movie which had the same ending and I havent seen Instead of giving me an extra emotional punch, it left me thinking, “Hmm… what did that actually add?” and pulled the focus slightly away from the real‑life achievements that are already powerful enough on their own. High‑energy, brilliantly performed and immense fun. One thing you can’t accuse Bank of Dave of being is dull, there’s always something happening, people dashing about, big musical numbers, lots of movement and plenty of humour. Even in the moments where I was thinking, “Whats that about?” the energy on stage kept me watching. The staging is fairly simple but really effective – no huge gimmicks, It suits the show, because it lets the story, music and performances do the heavy lifting rather than drowning it all in spectacle. There were a few points where I felt the story lost its thread a bit, but whenever it swung back round to Dave, Burnley and the community, it got me back on side. It’s that mix of chaos and heart that gives the night its particular charm.
Who’s playing who
The cast is led by Sam Lupton as Dave Fishwick, and he gives Dave loads of warmth, humour and that stubborn northern determination you’d expect – he’s really easy to root for and carries the show with real charm. You might recognise him from Wicked in the West End, or from the UK tours of Only Fools and Horses The Musical Hayley Tamaddon plays Nicky, bringing spark and heart; many will know her from her soap days as Del Dingle in Emmerdale and Andrea in Coronation . Lucca Chadwick‑Patel, fresh from MAMMA MIA! in the West End, is a lovely fit as Hugh, the posh lawyer with more depth than he first lets on. One of the nicest things about the show is the genuine enthusiasm this cast show. They feel like a really tight company, driving the whole thing forward with big vocals, sharp timing and loads of heart. You can tell they’re behind the story they’re telling and the performances never dipped. They were fully committed from start to finish, and you could feel that in the way the audience responded. That well‑deserved standing ovation at the end didn’t come out of nowhere; it was a genuine “we’ve had a good night” reaction from the room. A special little moment with Dave himself Because it was opening night, there were a few extra special touches. Before the show even started, Lance actually met Dave Fishwick, which completely made his evening – he was buzzing, and of course we’ve now got the photo to prove it.
Having that moment with Dave and then sitting down to watch his story play out on stage made the whole thing feel more personal. After the curtain call, Dave came onto the stage to say a few words, and you could see how overwhelmed he was seeing the “story of his life” turned into a musical. In a really sweet touch, he brought his wife up on stage with him. It stopped it feeling like just another big theatre press night and turned it into a celebration of a life, a marriage and a community. That’s the bit that stuck with me the most on the drive home.
So, would I recommend it? In our house, we came out split – Lance loved it, no question. I enjoyed it, but with a few reservations. I loved the energy, the cast, the underdog story and the hopeful message, but the “true‑ish” approach and that final twist at the end didn’t quite land for me. The storytelling got a bit bewildering for my taste, even though the performances and staging stayed strong. That said, Bank of Dave: The Musical is still a warm, hopeful night out with a proud northern voice, and it clearly connected with the audience around us. If you like feel‑good shows with heart, humour and a real local hero at the centre – especially if you enjoyed the film or Dave’s true story – then it’s definitely worth catching while it’s at The Lowry.
Bank of Dave the musical is on at the Lowry until the 16th May then transfers to the Leicester Curve 20-30 May
We’d had Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts at The Lowry in the diary for over a year, front row seats and everything – proper Morse nerd behaviour. As big fans of the original TV series, we went in really hoping for a clever, atmospheric night out. Instead, we walked away feeling flat and a bit cross that this was the show we’d waited so long for.
Tom Chambers just never quite landed as Morse for us. He seemed to fall back on the same pained expression for almost every situation, so after a while it all blurred into one note. Rather than that layered, grumpy-but-brilliant Morse we love, it felt like a surface overacted imitation without much going on underneath.
For a character this iconic, that made the whole thing oddly joyless to watch. The plot didn’t do the cast any favours either. It felt muddled and strangely put together, and ended up not being particularly satisfying on any front. There were moments where we genuinely lost interest, which is the last thing you want in a Morse mystery.
It was a real contrast to the last play we saw at The Lowry, The Constant Wife, which felt sharp, confident and beautifully put together from start to finish.
Most of the performances around Tom were, sadly, just as underwhelming – a bit weak, a bit stagey, and never quite believable. The one redeeming feature was Tachia Newall as Lewis, who was believable and played the part with humour.
And just to be clear, we absolutely love The Lowry as a theatre – its productions are usually of excellent quality, and it’s our favourite place to see a show. That’s probably why this one stung a bit more: our expectations were high, and this just didn’t reach the standard we’ve come to expect there. If you’re thinking of booking purely because you adore Morse, maybe keep an eye on audience reviews first – or at least go in knowing this is a very different, and for us much less rewarding, version of that world.
Last night I headed over to The Lowry’s Quays Theatre in Salford Quays for Ruby Wax’s new show, “Absolutely Famous,” and it felt less like watching a performance and more like being invited into a gloriously unfiltered conversation.
We had front row seats, which made it feel even more like we’d been dropped into the middle of a live TV recording – every expression, every side‑eye and every tiny reaction was right there in front of us. From the moment I walked into the Quays Theatre, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a big flashy production. The space is intimate, and that really works in Ruby’s favour – you feel close enough to catch every raised eyebrow and mischievous grin. The stage was simple: two high stools, a little side table and some retro TV screens glowing against pink, blue and purple lighting. It gave off cosy living‑room‑meets‑late‑night‑chat‑show vibes, which is exactly the mood for the evening.
The premise: fame under the microscope “Absolutely Famous” is Ruby looking back at her years of interviewing some of the most famous – and sometimes infamous – people on the planet. Think the classic “Ruby Wax Meets…” era, when she’d dive into the worlds of huge celebrities and political figures and ask the kind of questions most presenters wouldn’t dare. Instead of just rolling old clips, she uses them as jumping‑off points: what was really happening in the room, what got cut, and how she feels about it all now with the benefit of hindsight. She’s joined on stage by her long‑time producer and collaborator Clive Tulloh, and their chemistry is half the fun. Clive is the calm, gently teasing counterbalance to Ruby’s fast, fiery energy. Together they pick apart the madness of those interviews – the egos, the awkward moments, and the sheer surreal nature of being in a room with people the rest of us only ever see on screen. There were recollections of her conversations with Donald Trump (when asked if she would like to meet him again she said “only with a shotgun” 😂 and flashbacks with Joanna Lumley, Carrie Fisher who became a lifelong friend, Tom Hanks, Pamela Anderson, Imelda Marcos and the like. She also showed her meeting with the Spiritual leader Ram Dass who changed her life. Ruby has cited Ram Dass as a profound influence on her life, particularly regarding her understanding of mindfulness, consciousness, and the acceptance of pain.
Old fans, new fans One of the things that really stood out is how well the show works whether you’ve followed Ruby for decades or only discovered her recently through I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here. She nods to that jungle experience and the way it introduced her to a whole new audience, but never leans on it as a gimmick – it just becomes another layer in her very chaotic, very colourful CV.
For long‑time fans, the night feels like catching up with a familiar, much‑loved voice, filling in the juicy details behind interviews you might remember from TV. For newer fans who know her more as a recent reality‑TV favourite, it’s a brilliant crash course in just how bold, funny and fearless she’s always been. The mix of generations in the audience really added to the atmosphere, with everyone laughing in all the same places. Laugh‑out‑loud moments and sharp observations This isn’t just a nostalgic clip show. Ruby still has that razor‑sharp timing, and the stories behind the scenes are often even funnier than what made it onto TV. There are proper belly laughs as she describes the chaos that went on just off camera, the outrageous demands, and the moments where she pushed things a bit too far (or not far enough). What makes the show more interesting is the way she now reflects on fame itself. She doesn’t just tell stories – she pulls them apart, asks what they say about power, insecurity and the way we idolise people who are, in the end, just human. One minute you’re laughing at a ridiculous anecdote, the next you’re nodding along to a surprisingly honest observation about mental health, self‑image or the pressure of always performing. Book signings and The Lowry atmosphere Seeing this at The Lowry really added to the experience. The Quays Theatre is big enough to feel like an event but small enough to keep that feeling of being “in on it”.
The lighting design, with glowing colours and those retro TVs, gave the stage a warm, nostalgic feel, like cracking open an old photo album – except this one talks back and swears occasionally. Another lovely touch was that Ruby did book signings in the interval and again after the show. It meant fans could actually meet her, have a quick chat and get a book signed while everything was still buzzing around in their heads. From the front row, then up close at the signing table, the whole evening felt very personal and generous – not just a show you watch, but one you feel part of. The audience was completely up for it: gasps, big laughs and that lovely, quiet focus when the conversation turned a bit more serious. It felt like everyone relaxed into it together, and Ruby clearly feeds off that energy. There’s a sense that no two nights will be exactly the same, which makes it feel special if you’re there in the room. Spoiler‑free verdict Without giving away specific stories, I’d describe “Absolutely Famous” as part comedy, part memoir and part group therapy session about our obsession with celebrity. If you’re expecting a traditional stand‑up set, this is something a bit different – more like being at a live, very honest documentary with a wicked sense of humour running through it. If you’ve grown up watching Ruby Wax on TV, you’ll love the behind‑the‑scenes gossip and the chance to see her up close, still as quick and fearless as ever. If you’re newer to her and came because you enjoyed her stint in the I’m a Celeb jungle, you’ll leave with a real sense of the career, intelligence and nerve that got her there in the first place.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, yes. It’s the kind of show you leave still chatting about in the car on the way home – comparing favourite stories, debating what fame does to people, and maybe even thinking a little differently about the people we put on pedestals. If “Absolutely Famous” comes back to The Lowry or tours near you, it’s well worth grabbing tickets for a night of sharp storytelling, big laughs and a generous dose of backstage gossip.
By nature Lance and I are home birds but we make one exception.. and that’s a night at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester . We are going for a lovely meal followed by the RSC Production of “The Constant Wife” starring Strictly winner and former Eastenders actress Kara Tointon.
The Lowry is a registered charity a non-profit organisation which only gets 6% of their income from public funding and as well as the theatre productions offers an art gallery and also workshops and a strong educational programme
The theatre is easy to get too by metro or if you are a little further afield like us there is plenty of
Parking with the onsite car park – we usually pay for this by the app rather than queuing on the way out . We are Lowry members which costs £40 and is an absolute bargain – for this you get priority booking , 2-4-1 tickets on most opening nights (which means the cost pays for itself on its first booking! ) and you also get 10% off in the restaurant and also the gift shop
The Lowry Theatre
We normally go and dine in the restaurant first as the quality of the food and the ambience are excellent and as they are geared towards pre theatre dining there is none of the panic of .. “are we going to get our food in time ?” Like when you book an externalities restaurant
The restaurant itself is inside the Lowry theatre and has fabulous views of the water front and also views of MUFC Old Trafford ground , which could be a disadvantage if you are a Liverpool supporter 😂
The restaurant
The restaurant is very relaxed and informal and serves modern British menus with locally sourced ingredients. The menus are seasonal , so change 4 times a year – we had the Spring menu. The staff are fabulous , especially Rob and are attentive, knowledgable and unobtrusive
The Spring menu
You can choose from either tow or three courses and there are vegetarian options . The pricing is very reasonable – it is £32 for two course or £38 for three and as mentioned before there is 10% off for Lowry members – the tables can be booked online and prepaid at the time of booking the tickets or just direct on their website at a later date – really simple to do
For the starters I chose the Port of Lancaster smokehouse smoked salmon parfait and Lance chose the roasted parsnip and sorrel soup . Mine was absolutely delicious, the parfait was really fresh tasting with little pops of egg Caviar whilst Lance said his soup was hearty and delicious served with a chunk of fresh bread not as nice as the one I make at home he stated .. though that could have been a diplomatic comment 😂
Smoked salmon parfait Roast Parsnip & sorrel soup
For the main course we both chose the same Garlic & Herb Cumbrian chicken breast potato pave, parsnip purée, spring greens, golden beetroot, red wine jus – this was delicious . I’ve 👎🏼 had golden beetroot before but it’s lovely – actually has the taste and textures of pears, the chicken was cooked to perfection , really well seasoned and not overpowered by the herbs or garlic and the parsnip puree is sweet creamy and just yum
Cumbrian chicken
Feeling rather full what we particularly like about The Lowry restaurant is the option to have you dessert in the interval – it saves the queues at the refreshment stand and it’s ready at your table when you return. It gives you the option to let the first two course digest and really appreciate the sweet treats .. This is Lances favourite part of the evening I think 😂
I decided to have the sticky toffee pudding with plant based ice cream and it was the perfect combination of sweetness and stickiness – and Lance agreed with the spoonful I let him taste !
Sticky toffee pudding with plant based ice cream
Lance decided upon the Basque cheesecake with sea buckthorne curd and bee pollen tuile . The curd is similar to lemon curd but made with sea berries so a little richer . Lance said is was perfect . Not too heavy not too light and went perfect with the cup of tea we also had !
Basque Cheesecake
So now to the show!
The Constant Wife
1927. Constance is a very unhappy woman. “Nonsense” says her mother “she eats well, sleeps well, dresses well and she’s losing weight. No woman can be unhappy in those circumstances.” Constance is the perfect wife and mother, and her husband is as devoted to her as he is to his mistress, who just happens to be her best friend. This is a Royal Shakespeare Company Production and is in connection the cruise company Cunard where it being performed in May upon its Queen Mary cruise from New York to Southampton.
The play starts with Mrs Culver (Sara Crowe – whom showing my age I remember from the Philadelphia cheese advert !) and her daughter Martha Culver (excellently played by Amy Vicary-Smith) discussing where it not to tell Constance Middleton (Kara Tointon) that her husband John Middleton (Tim Delap) is having an affair with her best friend Marie-Louise Durham (played in this performance by Jocasta King) . Martha a modern forthright unmarried young women is all for transparency and feels her sister should know the truth about what a cad her husband is whilst Mrs Culver believes that what her daughter doesn’t know won’t hurt her as she has a wonderful life as it is . As the plot unfolds it turns out that Constance has known about her husbands affair for a year having walked in on the couple unbeknownst to them whilst returning early from a trip taking her daughter to boarding school . Rather than confronting the couple immediately we witness the despair and internal wrangling as she experiences she encounters whilst deciding what do – her only confident being the loyal butler Bentley (brilliantly played by Philip Rahm) who it appears is harbouring a secret of his own.
Constance
When her sister invites Constance to go into the interior design business with her she after slight hesitation agrees and starts to plan her future her husband blissfully ignorant of what she has discovered
The re-emergence of one of Constance’s old flame Bernard Kersal (Alex Mugnaioni) who is still desperately in love with her provides a welcome distraction for Constance and is welcomed by her husband as it gives him plenty of time for philandering!
The affair is revealed when Mortimer Durham (played by Jules Brown) the husband of Marie-Louise finds a cigarette case belonging to the errant husband under the pillow on his wife’s bed and confronts the couple in front of the whole cast .To the incredulity of everyone Constance covers up the infidelity and the husband leaves feeling embarrassed and apologetic at his behaviour !
What unravels is a story and examination of a marriage, what really goes on behind closed doors and whether forgiveness really is sweeter than revenge? I don’t want to spoil the end apart from justice is served and would highly recommend you catch the production when it tours near you.
Tokay is as Lance says reminiscent of the old “Play for today” , a gentle farce with more than a few double entendres . The set and costumes are divine, Music specially written by Jamie Cullum , acting is top notch and it’s a brilliantly casted show. We left the theatre a little lighter and with a spring in our step – a thoroughly enjoyable evening with the best company .. who could want anymore ?
