Entertainment tips for 2009
HISTORY has shown us that in times of recesssion, popular entertainment thrives. So forget the credit crunch, here are some artistic reasons to be cheerful in the coming year, predicts Kevin Bourke:
FILM
SLUMDOG Millionaire, the Mumbai-set feelgood film from Bury-born director Danny Boyle (written by The Full Monty’s Simon Beaufoy), is due to be released here on Friday and will, I confidently predict, sweep the awards ceremonies of the coming year as well as winning its way into the heart of the nation.
Michael Sheen’s recent royal honour may have had little to do with how good he is in Frost/Nixon (released January 23) but shouldn’t do it any harm at the box-office.
And who can resist the idea of Tom Cruise scheming against Hitler in Valkyrie, released at the end of the month?
THEATRE
LIKELY to be a genuine theatrical event, Be Near Me at The Lowry from the end of April, finds Ian McDiarmid taking the lead in his own adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Andrew O’Hagan in a co-production from Donmar Warehouse and the National Theatre Of Scotland.
Also unmissable at The Lowry should be Don John, the RSC’s collaboration with Kneehigh.
Inspired by Don Giovanni, it’s going to be a hot ticket in March.
There’s some promising work coming up at the Royal Exchange, too – a new Brad Fraser play True Love Lies (from January 28) and, in May. the world premiere of Haunted, a new play from Edna O’Brien that’s due to star Brenda Blethyn.
The enterprising Library Theatre, meanwhile, has several regional premieres up its sleeve, including Tom Stoppard’s Rock’n’Roll next month, Frank McGuinness’ Gates Of Gold in March, and Caryl Churchill’s A Number in April.
There’s great excitement already about this year’s 24:7 Festival in July.
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT
DOESN’T get much more dazzling than Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam.
If awe-inspiring spectacle involving acrobatics, aerial work, contortionists, clowns and all the fun of new circus sounds good to you, then book now for their stint at the M.E.N Arena in March.
FESTIVAL
THE biennial Manchester International Festival is back in July with a whole new set of specially-commissioned work.
Work from the inaugural event included Damon Albarn’s world-conquering Chinese Opera Monkey, as well as the likes of Carlos Acosta, William Orbit, Heston Blumenthal, PJ Harvey, Kanye West and Johnny Vegas.
Already Prima Donna, a new opera penned by Rufus Wainwright is causing much excitement, as is Everybody Loves A Winner, a bingo-inspired show devised by Neil (The Pianist) Bartlett that’s premiering at the Royal Exchange.
The festival’s genre-spanning brilliance is demonstrated by a unique installation designed by world-class architect Zaha Hadid for the performance of Bach’s solo piano, violin and cello works!
Published: Mon, 05 January, 2009
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