The Streetz

The Northwest Theatre Arts Company brought the streets of Manchester to life, quite literally, with their original musical Streetz, written and directed by Prab Singh, with original music by Ross Johnson. This was a show brimming with heart, grit, and truth, telling the stories of real people with real struggles, real dreams... and real drama.

From the moment you walked into the theatre, you were no longer in the audience you were part of the neighbourhood. The staging was impressive, cleverly crafted to represent every corner of The Streetz from the bedroom upstage to the café, the park bench, the road outside, and the homes that opened up before our eyes with the help of movable walls. A huge round of applause to Stage Manager Joe Barnes-Moran, whose seamless transitions kept everything flowing effortlessly, it felt lived-in, authentic, and so well realised.

At the heart of the show was the enigmatic, ever-present figure known only as Streetz brought to life with commanding presence by Mark Barnes. He was everything and everyone: milkman, postman, father figure, guide, maybe even something a little more mysterious. Mark carried the role with strength, warmth, and just the right amount of mischief, leading us through the winding stories of the people who call these streets home.

And what stories they were! A mammoth ensemble of 33 performers filled the stage and not one of them faded into the background. Every single actor brought energy, personality, and purpose to their role. It’s no easy feat to carry such a large cast and make every character count but this team did it. Bravo, all!

The love triangle between Lucy Wilcox (Poppy Evans), Olly Bennett (Szymon Tomczyk), and Sam Thompson (Stephanie Cannavan) was full of teenage yearning, heartbreak, and hopes for a better tomorrow. Poppy’s dream to make it on the stage tugged at the heartstrings, while Sam and Olly’s budding relationship was tender and beautifully portrayed with just enough drama to keep us guessing. Billy Morrison gave a moving performance as Andrew “Andy” Thompson, the struggling father trying to find his way back not just to his family, but to himself. His journey was powerful and grounded the piece with real emotional weight.

A big shout out to Lilly Taylor as Tasha Bennett, whose confident portrayal added some serious spice to the story. She shook things up just when you thought you had it figured out a true disruptor in all the best ways. Amelia Zatorska and Klay Turner, our young stars as Kara and Theo Nevis, were a total delight. As the foster kids with golden hearts and sweet voices, they brought innocence, cheekiness, and pure charm. Ones to watch!

And finally, our comic champions Harry Gardner as Connor Turner, on a mission for ginger supremacy (yes, really!), and Erin Carty as LAMBERT, self-appointed ruler of the park. Both delivered laughs in spades, with larger-than-life confidence and irresistible charisma. More, please!

All in all, Streetz was a celebration of Manchester, of working-class resilience, of youth, of storytelling, and above all, of theatre. Original music, bold characters, and honest heart made this a night to remember.

You’ve got something very special here. Thank you for your invite and hospitality from my guest Georgie and I.

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