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Nostalgia for fans of TV show
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Heartbeat at the Manchester Opera House THE stage adaptation of the long-running television show Heartbeat, is an evening full of nostalgia, slapstick and old fashioned humour - but only for fans of the show.
It focuses around life in the Yorkshire village Aidensfield in the 1960s, with a backstory of political unrest in Northern Ireland. Original cast members Steven Blakeley and David Lonsdale, together with David Horne, add a sense or warmth to the show that does well to replace the familiar face of Tina Hobley, with newcomer Carly Cook playing Gina Bellamy. Clever use of a small stage area with projections and a revolving centre piece added to the parochial quirkiness of the show. The addition of classic 1960s hits throughout the scene changes is a nice touch and has the audience singing along. The lack of sound equipment leaves many unable to hear what is going on, but that doesn’t stop the audience laughing along with the production. The show even included a joke about a rabbi which, I think, only my wife and I understood. A must see for fans of the show. AC.
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