Panto Review: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK - PANTODROME, TIMES SQUARE, NEWCASTLE

Having never attended a pantomime in a pop up theatre, I was slightly unsure as to the experience I was about to encounter, but after entering this purpose-built structure it soon became clear that it was well designed and thought out. Toilets are clean and more like a hotel, seats have ample room and are comfortable and most importantly it was warm. But of course, the venue is only part of it. Would the panto hit the spot? Oh yes it did!

Opening with the perfectly evil Fleshcreep, Stephen Sullivan, to set the scene we also meet Karleigh Wright as Mother Nature. You certainly wouldn’t have guessed that she only stepped up to the role the day before the press night. The audience instantly warmed to her feisty and energetic performance and she definitely owns this role.

Daniel Mawston as Dame Patsy Trot is dazzling and owns the stage at every entrance. The diminutive King, Daniel Hope, makes the most of the role milking his stature. It is rare that I will laugh out loud at a panto, but Simple Simon, Sam Glen, with his jokes coming thick and fast, it was hard to catch up with them all. The pairing of Sam Glen and Adam Thomas as Jack works brilliantly. With plenty of references to Emmerdale and I’m a Celebrity, Adam makes the most of his past ventures and proves he is equally talented in acting and singing. They also make the most of being based in Newcastle with plenty of Geordie references and that fact that Adam Thomas isn’t from round here.

Yes there were moments where things didn’t go quite to plan, the car missing its turning point and needing help to manoeuvre round the scenery and the odd loss of lines, but the cast handled it all brilliantly with adlibbing and laughter. The laughter and smiles on their faces showed not only were the cast having a fantastic time, they were relishing the opportunity it gave them. I have never seen a cast enjoy themselves so much and this spilled out into the audience ensuring everyone left with a huge smile on their face.

With plenty of jokes for young and old, the time just flew by and I am already looking forward to Cinderella in 2018.

Runs until Saturday 30^th December

Panto Review - CINDERELLA - PLAYHOUSE, WHITLEY BAY

The pantomime at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay has now become a traditional part of the Christmas festivities for many, and it is not hard to see why, especially with the talented Steve Walls at the helm it is as slick a pantomime as you will see this season.

This year it is one of the most traditional pantomimes in Cinderella, with all the glitz and glamour of a large scale show, but retaining the charm and elegance ideal for a smaller theatre.   There are strong vocal performances throughout

Jessica Pease makes the perfect Cinderella, she is enchanting throughout. The bond between Prince Charming, Ray Quinn, and Dandini, Ben Hanson, is brialliant and brings with it a completely different style of humour to that of Steve Walls. The Ugly Sisters, better known as Double Trouble, Mercedes, Damian Patton, and Porsche, Tom Rolfe, and an absolute delight. Bright and colourful, full of humour, the baddies you just love to hate.

The whole show is held together by Steve Walls, this year playing Buttons. His rapport with the audience is a masterclass as the one liners come thick and fast with plenty for the adults as well as the children. The line up is competently completed with Baron Hardup, David Burton and the Fairy Godmother, Emily Fletcher. There are strong vocals throughout, especially as would be expected from Ray Quinn.

You would think the Ghostbusters scene, repeated each year, would lose its appeal, but it in fact just gets better and was obviously eagerly anticipated by the audience made up of school groups, it was almost as if the children had been part of the rehearsals they were so quick and in unison with their responses.

Highlights apart from the Ghostbusters scene included the kitchen scene with the Ugly Sisters following the instructions on the radio and the scene where they fit in as many songs as possible in a couple of minutes.

If the Whitley Bay panto isn’t part of your Christmas traditions, I highly recommend that it should be.

Runs until Sunday 7^th January

Review: ALICE IN WONDERLAND - NORTHERN STAGE

Review of Alice in Wonderland - Northern Stage

Alice in Wonderland at Northern Stage - credit Pamela Raith Photography

Alice in Wonderland is one of those stories where we all know bits of either Alice in Wonderland or Alice through the Looking Glass it’s completely bizarre and is perfect for the stage. In this version written by Theresa Heskins we see Alice aged exactly 11 and a half living with her family on a boat. When they run out of food they send Alice off to do card tricks for money, where she meets the Great Blanco, who steals her cards. Alice chases him to a theatre and falls down a trap door discovering the crazy psychedelic world of wonderland.

The transformation of the theatre for this production is amazing. Creating a space to play in the round by taking the back wall out of Stage 1 and opening up into Stage 2. The central stage, surrounded by cabaret seating, has numerous trap doors, with ramps leading down into the auditorium, bringing the action right into the audience.

Laura Riseborough as the Red Queen - credit Pamela Raith Photography

Alex Tahnee who plays Alice is full on energy and an absolute delight to watch, she captures the innocence of a child on an adventure perfectly and has the audience entranced. Laura Riseborough is perfectly wicked as the Red Queen and Clara Darcy’s Cheshire Cat is marvellously created. As well singing and dancing the cast also make up the musicians under the expert direction of Jeremy Bradfield who also plays the Dormouse. The cast is well supported by the ensemble made up of students from Newcastle College.

Clara Darcy as the Cheshire Cat - credit Pamela Raith Photography

This is a fast-paced show which is as much for the adults as for the children. If you don’t have children to take with you but want to relive the magic of childhood, then this is the Christmas show for you.

Theatre Preview - SEATON DELAVAL PANTOMIME SOCIETY - DICK WHITTINGTON

45 years of Panto magic!

Talented cast members from a local Pantomime Society are gearing up for a magical pantomime adventure this December as they celebrate forty five years of their group. The Seaton Delaval Pantomime Society have performed an annual show in the village every single year since their very first production in 1973. Times have changed in the last forty five years, but the company continue to do what they set out all those years ago, producing a traditional family Pantomime for the local community to enjoy. To celebrate the milestone they are putting on a special production of Dick Whittington this December at the Seaton Delaval Arts Centre.

Dick and his magical feline friend take on an enchanting adventure as they run away to London to seek fame and fortune. But it won’t be plain sailing with the dastardly King Rat out to thwart him at every turn. With some help from good friends including Sarah the Cook and Idle Jack, will Dick win the day? The show is packed full of show-stopping songs, dazzling dance routines and hilarious knockabout comedy with bags of audience participation and fun. The cast, made up of young and old from the local area, have been rehearsing for the show since September, learning words and complex dance routines ready for the festive extravaganza.

Stu Bennett, Chairman of the society said: “It’s truly amazing to think our society is still thriving after all these years. Our team work incredibly hard to give people a chance to tread the boards for the first time and of course provide quality entertainment to the whole community. We can’t wait to celebrate our anniversary in style with this fantastic production.”

The show takes place nightly from Friday 1st to Saturday 9th December at the Seaton Delaval Arts Centre. Performances take place nightly at 7.00pm with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 1.00pm. Tickets are priced at £10.00 for full price, £9.00 for concessions and £34.00 for a family ticket, available from the Box Office on 0191 237 5460 or book online at www.seatondelavalartscentre.com.

Theatre Review - THE TERMINAL VELOCITY OF SNOWFLAKES - LIVE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

Review of The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes

Written by Nina Berry

Directed by Graeme Thompson

Cast – Daniel Watson and Heather Carroll

Live Theatre

Broad Chare, Quayside,

Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3DQ

Wednesday 22^nd November 2017 - Saturday 16^th December 2017

Having missed Nina Berry’s debut full length play The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes first time round I was delighted that it was to get another outing at The Live Theatre. Entering the studio theatre space was like walking into a winter wonderland, pure white the length and height of the performance area with giant snowflakes in the sky. The minimalist set shows the strength of the writing from Nina Berry which carries the play through the 2 characters of Rosie, Heather Carroll and Charlie, Daniel Watson.

We first see them meeting when Charlie is 9 and Rosie is 7. Charlie with his ill-fitting woollen hat and Rosie in a bright yellow coat, an awkward meeting in which they connect. They don’t meet again until Charlie is 16 and Rosie is 14. We then follow their different lives through monologues as Rosie leaves the North and goes to London where Charlie remains in Newcastle. When they meet for the third time they finally get together which sees the intensity increase as their journey takes us on the possibilities of their future jumping around in time, before eventually returning to their original meeting with the possibility of a different outcome.

The journey is intense at times with incredibly captivating performances from Heather Carroll and Daniel Watson. I would certainly recommend looking out for Nina Berry’s plays in the future.

Theatre Preview: Newcastle University Theatre Society Presents 'POSH'

Newcastle University Theatre Society Presents

POSH

Written by Laura Wade

Monday 27^th November 2017 - Wednesday 29^th November 2017 @ 7.00 pm

Stage 3, Northern Stage, Newcastle Upon Tyne UK   150 minutes   £9/ £6 (conc.)

‘I’ve got a new law for you mate, it’s called survival of the fittest, it’s called fuck you we’re the Riot Club.’

In an oak-panelled room in Oxford, ten young bloods with cut-glass vowels and deep pockets are meeting, intent on restoring their right to rule. Members of an elite student dining society, the boys are bunkering down for a wild night of debauchery, decadence and bloody good wine. But this isn’t the last huzzah: they’re planning a takeover.

Welcome to the Riot Club.

POSH premiered in spring 2010 at the Royal Court Theatre. The production was nominated for Best New Play at both The Evening Standard Awards, and at the Theatregoers’ Choice Awards in 2011. The play has been noted and praised for its artful depiction and criticism of elite society at Oxbridge and farther afield.

CAST

Alistair Ryle- Bea Hammerton

Guy Bellingfield – Connor O’Hara

James Leighton Masters – Max Fosh

Toby Maitland – Chris Whyte

George Balfour – Eleanor Beattie

Hugo Fraser-Tyrwhitt – Fiona Percival

Harry Villiers – Xander Kynoch

Miles Richard – Ally Cloke

Dimitri Metropoulos – Ellie Beach

Ed Montgomery – Edie Martin

Jeremy/Chris – Ruaidhri Johnston

Rachel/Charlie – Tara Worthington

Directors: Phoebe Clothier and Jack Hilton | Producer: Grace Tompkins | Production Assistant: Catherine Maw | Technical Director: Matthew Hancox |Technical Assistant: Ellie Mahoney | Stage Manager: Georgia Millar| Stage Hand: Susanna Kieran | Set Designers: Jingyi Xu, Lander Velazquez |  Prop Designer: Rosie Minney | Costumer Designer: Grace Tompkins|  

Theatre Preview: ALICE IN WONDERLAND - THE COLLYWELL RADIO PLAYERS

Following on from the unbridled success of their Supernatural  Drama, “The Canterville Ghost”, the Collywell Radio Players  proudly offer you, in their own inimitable style, “Alice in Wonderland” a fairy tale of a little girl who passes into another world.

Specially adapted for ‘Radio’ by local author, Graham Barrington-Hartley, we bring forth, for your listening pleasure the story of a young girl, Alice, who follows a talking white rabbit down a rabbit whole, and into a different world populated with strange animals and stranger people, putting Alice into magical and sometimes scary situations.  As a member of the audience you will not only see and hear, but be privileged to be a part of this tale for Christmas of fantasy and fun.

In exchange for a paltry amount of money you can possess a ticket which will transport you, with Alice and all the other creatures, into Wonderland and be amazed at who and what you will meet there.

Theatre Preview: THE LAST SHIP TO MAKE UK PREMIERE AT NORTHERN STAGE

Jimmy Nail and Sting
Photo Credit Mark Savage

THE LAST SHIP

TO MAKE UK PREMIERE IN NEWCASTLE

Jimmy Nail to star in Sting’s debut musical

Opens 12 March 2018 at Northern Stage, ahead of UK & Ireland Tour

The Last Ship–the acclaimed musical by the internationally renowned musician Sting–is to premiere in the UK when it opens at Northern Stage in Newcastle on 12 March 2018.

The production, which will star Jimmy Nail, has a TONY-nominated original score and lyrics composed by Sting. It will play a 4-week season in Newcastle before embarking on a major UK & Ireland Tour.

The production, which was initially inspired by Sting's 1991 album The Soul Cages and his own childhood experiences, tells the story of a community amid the demise of the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, with the closure of the town's shipyard.

When Gideon Fletcher returns home after seventeen years at sea, tensions between past and future flare in both his family and his town. The local shipyard, around which Wallsend has always revolved, is closing and no-one knows what will come next, only that a half-built ship towers over the terraces.

The show is directed by Lorne Campbell, the artistic director of Northern Stage, with set design by the Tony Award-winning 59 Productions.

One of the country’s most exciting and acclaimed theatre directors, Edinburgh-born Lorne Campbell had his first professional job as an assistant director at Northern Stage, before returning as artistic director in 2013. A graduate of Channel 4’s Young Theatre Director scheme, he has previously worked with the Liverpool Everyman Playhouse, Bath Theatre Royal, Traverse Theatre and Greyscale theatre company, which he co-founded. Productions for Northern Stage include Get Carter, Dr Frankenstein and A Song For Ella Grey.

Lorne Campbell, Sting and Jimmy Nail
Photo Credit Mark Savage

This personal, political and passionate new musical from multiple Grammy Award winner Sting, is an epic account of a family, a community and a great act of defiance. With original music and lyrics by Sting,

The Last Ship also features a few of his best-loved songs Island of Souls, All This Time and When We Dance.

This is the proud story of when the last ship sails.

Further casting to be announced.

The Last Ship is produced by Northern Stage in association with Karl Sydow and Kathryn Schenker.

Theatre Preview: ALICE IN WONDERLAND AT NORTHERN STAGE

Alice in Wonderland

25 November – 6 January

Written by Theresa Heskins

Directed by Mark Calvert

Alice & White Rabbit at Mad Hatter's Tea Party
photo credit Mark Savage

“What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?” Opening line of Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll 

From the team that created The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and James and the Giant Peach, this year’s Northern Stage festive production is Theresa Heskins’ adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s much-loved classic, Alice in Wonderland.

Alice is a whizz at card tricks, hates sitting still and always asks too many questions. One day her curiosity leads her tumbling through a theatre trapdoor into Wonderland where everything is so topsy-turvy her feet can barely keep up with her thoughts.

Adapted for the stage by Theresa Heskins and directed by Mark Calvert, this imaginative new Northern Stage production will be designed by Rhys Jarman (Institute, Gecko), with original music by Jeremy Bradfield performed live by the 13 strong cast, choreography by former Phoenix Dance Theatre member, Martin Hylton and lighting by Colin Grenfell (The Tempest, Improbable/Northern Stage).

Alexandra Tahnee as Alice and
 Christopher Price as the White Rabbit
photo credit Mark Savage

Director Mark Calvert says, “It’s really exciting to create a magical fantasy world for Alice and the characters she meets along the way. Setting the action in a theatre allows us to be constantly inventive. Our Alice - who’s a bit like the Artful Dodger in Oliver - meets a magician called the Great Blanco who sort of conjures up Wonderland for her after she falls through a trap door. Audiences will recognise the characters they know and love from the original story, but with a theatrical twist - it’s a big, bold, bonkers all-singing, all-dancing adventure of a show.”

The cast includes Alexandra Tahnee (Five Feet in Front, The Letter Room) as Alice; Christopher Price (‘The Riddler’ in BATMAN LIVE, international tour) as the White Rabbit/Great Blanco; Michael Blair (Mr Scratch, Northern Stage) as Tweedle Dee; Laura Riseborough (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Royal Shakespeare Company) as the Red Queen; Alice Blundell (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Northern Stage) as the White Queen; Clara Darcy (Brassed Off, York Theatre Royal & national tour) as the Cheshire Cat; and Andrew Bleakley (No Miracles Here, The Letter Room) as Tweedle Dum; plus a chorus of six performance students from Newcastle College.

Tickets are now on sale from £10 at www.northernstage.co.uk or call the box office on 0191 230 5151.

Theatre Review: RATTLE SNAKE - LIVE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE 26th SEPTEMBER 2017

Rattle Snake

Written by Catrina McHugh

Directed by Charlotte Bennett

Live Theatre

Broad Chare, Quayside,

Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3DQ

Thursday 21^st - Saturday 30 September 2017

We were full of excitement arriving at Newcastle’s Live Theatre, looking forward to the ‘World Premier’ of ‘Rattle Snake’ from a highly talented production, writing and acting ensemble.

I have got to say we were not disappointed!

This is a great venue. We left a comfortable bar area and ventured into the theatre with stalls a balcony and sophisticated cabaret-seating.

The performance area, enclosed within a square 3D frame using almost all of the stage contained a dining table set for two. This and some effective sound and lighting was all that was needed to focus the audiences’ attention on this gripping piece of work.

The story of Suzy (Christina Berriman-Dawson) and Jen (Eilidh Talman) and their experience in an abusive controlling relationship (Coercive Control) was developed working with victims and the police. Though not a true story it is based upon true experience.

Some nifty delivery of ‘When I’m gone’ (The cup song) gets us underway and this not only gives the audience an idea of the preparation of the play, but also how in tune these excellent two actors are with each other.

The dynamic of the play, took me a little time to understand but actually became totally absorbing and was certainly worth sticking with.

A play about domestic violence will never make an audience comfortable; it’s not meant to. But, the team delivering ‘Rattle Snake’ has succeeded in producing a truly powerful and thought-provoking piece of theatre audiences will richly value.

Rattle Snake is touring the region before transferring to York Theatre Royal (17-21 October) and Soho Theatre, London (23-28 October). For more information visit www.openclasp.org.uk

Running time 1 hour

Theatre Preview: WORLD’S FIRST POP-UP THEATRE TO VISIT DARLINGTON

Darlington’s Market Square will play host to the world’s first pop-up, plug-in and play theatre – the Paines Plough Roundabout, from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 October as part of Darlington Theatre Town.

Paines Plough is the UK’s national theatre of new plays. The company commissions and produces the best playwrights and tours their plays far and wide. Paines Plough was formed in 1974 over a pint of Paines bitter in the Plough pub. Since then they have produced more than 130 new productions by world renowned playwrights like Stephen Jeffreys, Abi Morgan, Sarah Kane and Mike Bartlett.

With a seating capacity of 150 the Roundabout theatre will present a full calendar of events while in Darlington, from children’s theatre and straight plays to music and comedy. Backstage tours and meet the cast events are also available.

Darlington Theatre Town

Darlington Theatre Town is an exciting new initiative to present the most ambitious and high quality theatre in Darlington. The project brings together the expertise of partners Creative Darlington, Darlington Hippodrome, Luxi, Theatre Hullabaloo and ODDMANOUT to cement Darlington’s place in the Tees Valley as a Theatre Town and a place where theatre thrives.

The project, funded by the Arts Council and Darlington Borough Council, grew from the opportunity presented by the redevelopment of the Darlington Hippodrome, the exciting development of Theatre Hullabaloo’s new theatre for young audiences ‘The Hullabaloo’ and the momentum that has built over the last couple of years around theatre in unusual places by events such as the award-winning Jabberwocky Market.

For full details of what is on in the Roundabout visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or to book call the box office on 01325 405405