We had the privilege to watch the live debut of Wallace & Gromit’s Musical Marvels Show which was performed at Hanley’s Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday. There will be a total of 38 performances all over the 18 major venues across the UK as they celebrate 30 years of Wallace & Gromit (can’t believe its been that long already). The production which is in partnership with Carrot Productions features Wallace preparing to perform his musical masterpiece My Concerto in Ee Lad with the help from his faithful companion Gromit. It features specially created animations as well as live orchestral accompaniment and escapades from the Picture House Orchestra and presenter Matthew Sharp.
What we thought of it?
We are all big fans of Wallace and Gromit and even have a Where’s Wally Calendar at home. Heading to watch the live show was exciting as we did not know what to expect. The first half of the show started off with the theatrical presenter ‘Maestro’ Matthew Sharpe (cellist and opera singer) presenting the show with amazing levels of energy and enthusiasm which kept the kids and adults keen and interested with the show thanks to his antics as well as the flawless performance by The Picture House Orchestra (who were all sporting outfits representative of various characters from the Wallace and Gromit shows) led under the baton by Steve Magee. The orchestra played some amazing pieces including Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Debussy’s Clair de lune and Stevie Wonder’s Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing. The show centres on Wallace preparing to perform his latest musical masterpiece, My Concerto in Ee Lad (backstage) and the problems Gromit and he had as they both got ready for it. The first half of the show lasted for about 45 minutes and this went by too quickly.
It was wonderful to see young kids to old adults being mesmerised with the performances. It also helped that there were lots of interactive animations as well to keep the crowd interested. When the first half came to an end, my daughter was almost in tears as she loved it that much. During the 15-minute break we had a chance to check out the souvenir items being sold (the programme booklet is sold of £5). After the break, we were shown a screening of the Oscar-winning film, Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, with the orchestra performing the soundtrack, live on stage which took another half hour and then the performance ended.
The Picture House Orchestra comprises of some of the country’s top musicians, from orchestras including the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert and BBC Scottish, among others. They played amazingly well and at times we did not feel that we were at the Victoria Hall as the music accompaniment went on so smoothly and we felt at ease. It was certainly an unforgettable experience for all of us as we experienced the firm in an entirely new way! We would totally recommend heading to watch Musical Marvels which is currently touring… especially if your children play instruments.
Where and when is Wallace & Gromit being performed?
How much are the tickets?
Tickets for Wallace & Gromit at Victoria Hall range from £19.15 to £24.15 per person. Check with the other venues for ticket prices for the rest of the tour.
How do I book tickets?
To find out more about tour dates, venues and tickets, click here.
Where is Victoria Hall?
Bagnall Street
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST1 3AD
How to get to Victoria Hall in Stoke?
- Victoria Hall is situated in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre (Hanley), easily accessible from the M6, junctions 15 and 16, and from the A50. Follow the prominent brown tourism signs for the Cultural Quarter and then Theatres. Ample secure parking nearby (£1 evenings).
- The Victoria Hall is situated next to the city centre bus station.
- Stoke-on-Trent railway station is a 10-minute bus ride or taxi drive away.
About Matthew
Matthew is internationally recognised as both a compelling classical artist and a fearless pioneer. His adventures in and through music and across disciplines are ‘unrivalled’ and ‘unprecedented’, balancing provenance and vision in a unique and potent way. He studied cello with Boris Pergamenschikow in Cologne, voice with Ulla Blom in Stockholm and English at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was taken to Jacqueline du Pré when he was 12, Galina Vishnewskaya when he was 18 and studied chamber music with the Amadeus Quartet. He performs at major venues and festivals worldwide as solo cellist, baritone, actor and director.
About Carrot Productions
The Picture House Orchestra is a professional orchestra comprising some of the top musicians in the country. They are all members or play regularly with major UK orchestras such as the BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, Hallé and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and have been chosen not only for their incredible musical skills but also for their fun, friendly nature.
You may also want to read this:
Review : The Snowman at Hanley’s Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent
Review: Gandeys Circus – The Greatest Show Tour heads to Newcastle-under-Lyme
Review: Horrible Histories & Awful Egyptians Live on Stage
* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.
23 comments
Being made in Bristol I really thought this might have toured near me 🙁
Looks lots of fun though
Hopefully they will in the next round! Yes it was such fun
I would love to take my kids there when we visit UK.
Check their website on their next schedule as they are touring
I am a fan of Wallace and Gromit and this looks like a wonderful show. The stuff toys are so cute and glad there are available for sales.
Aww I have to tell my sister about this! I’m’ sure my nephew and nieces will love it! It’s so good to keep kids entertained and also cultured. Thanks for sharing!
Your welcome, yes our kids totally loved it especially listening to the live orchestra
So glad you had such a good time! Wish we could go see the show
Check out where they are headed to next as they are touring at the moment
Looks like so very much fun! I would totally enjoy my time there!
Yes you certainly would have loved the show.
Those characters are so much fun. Looks like a great family show!
It certainly was, the orchestra was amazing as well
this looks really cute! maybe i’ll catch it sometime id like to see it
Hope you do, its worth watching it especially if you love live orchestra as well
The movies have always been fun. This looks like such a great experience for the family…I bet it’s a lot of fun!
Yes it certainly has been a lot of fun
We’re massive fans of Wallace and Gromit and its a shame we’ll miss the Reading show!
Hopefully you can catch the next one Bella
oh my goodness! i didnt even know wallace and gromit were still around! i used to love these guys! looks like such a good time!
Yes it certainly was, you would have loved it as it brought a lot of good memories back to us
That sounds like such a fun show! I have never heard of this before, I bet the kids had a lot of fun!
Yes they both did, and we (adults) enjoyed it as well. A show for the whole family