A to BUZZ

  What good are student productions? Apart from allowing the students the opportunity to show off their newly learned skills, and see how they fare in front of a live audience full of strangers... well yes, that is EXACTLY the point of it, and it is a hugely important and large part of the students' progress. Over the last couple of weeks I have been in the audience for several productions in and around the city of Manchester - a city that is full to the brim of both students and theatrical and performance outlets - to see productions or concerts performed by those still in training, and by and large the audiences for these events are meagre. The majority of the audience is generally made up of fellow students, then the next largest percentage is family and friends, with barely a single percent left over for general audience members. And when many of the seats in these theatres and concert halls are left vacant it is a crying shame! Students, family and friends are - as much as the...

  A great find! I have never eaten out in Chorlton before and knew nothing of the area or indeed the gastronomic possibilities on offer. In fact, there were many more outlets offering everything from fish and chips, pub meals, take-aways to the more select dining establishments, offering a range of country cuisines. However, after pacing the main streets a few times, I chose this, a majority Turkish influenced restaurant on Barlow Moor Road, and I was not at all disappointed.  A comprehensive menu, plenty of tables, roomy, atmospheric, with plenty of light and quiet unobtrusive background music, and attentive but not in-your-face-waiting staff made for a perfect combination. Add to that the quality of the food was first class, and it was difficult for me to understand why the restaurant was not even half full by the time I left at almost 7pm to go to the theatre that evening.  My starter was a complete punt on something new-to-me; Sigara Boregi, and they were delightful. ...

  It has been a very long while, perhaps too long, since I last attended a concert performed by the world famous Halle Orchestra, and since they have their home only a few miles from mine, there seems little excuse for my absence. However, there have been a few changes whilst I have been away. Many new faces adorned the orchestra line-up this evening, and having only of recent years at least heard the Halle under the direction of either Stephen Bell or Mark Elder, watching and hearing them respond under the baton of a new-to-me conductor was also a huge thrill. Starting with the dramatic Concert Overture in Eb by Louise Farrenc, we started the concert as we meant to continue; bright, sonorous, ebullient chord structures with dazzling melodies played by an orchestra still at the height of its creative game.  Our conductor this evening was the energetic and enigmatic Alexandre Bloch. As I have stated, to my almost certain knowledge I have never seen him in action before, and he ...

  A restaurant, named after the Roman name for the city in which it is located, sits underneath a hotel (again of the same name), close to Victoria Train Station in Manchester. I have visited this restaurant a few times over the past few years, and have been delighted, disappointed, surprised, and disgruntled in equal measure. This time, I opted for something a little more ordinary on their menu, thinking that whatever happened they could not get this wrong.... and oh boy, was I wrong! Going straight for a main course, I asked for a "grilled herb marinated butterfly chicken breast" - perhaps the simplest and easiest thing on their menu. I was very surprised then when the meal came, and the portion was extremely small, making the almost empty plate upon which it sat, look even larger! The chicken was slightly undercooked, and I was unable to taste any herbs in the chicken at all! Where the tarragon and charred lemon came into the equation goodness only knows! It was bland and ...

  Well, what can I say... I am now passed middle age and have been to more theatres both here and abroad than I have had hot dinners, or at least it feels that way sometimes. However, I had yet to come across a theatre that seemed to be actively discouraging audience, until very recently. A couple of days' ago I went to see a production of 'Fear And Misery In The Third Reich' - which, incidentally was a very good production - at Manchester's Dancehouse Theatre and I was appalled by their treatment of the audience. Perhaps I should start at the beginning... Once upon a time when the Dancehouse Theatre was part of The Northern Ballet School and the theatre was available for outside companies to hire, it was a friendly and welcoming place; I myself have performed on the stage and have had a show I directed perform there as part of a small tour. Even as an audience member I have fond memories of spending time in the first floor cafe and chatting to the lovely lady who worke...