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

Theatre Preview: ENGLISH YOUTH BALLET TO HOLD OPEN AUDITIONS IN DARLINGTON

On Sunday 26 November English Youth Ballet is auditioning for roles in a production of Coppélia at Darlington Hippodrome.

At the audition 100 young male and female dancers aged eight to eighteen from across the region will be offered the chance to rehearse with and then dance alongside international professional principal dancers in the production for three performances which will be presented at Darlington Hippodrome from 13 to 14 April 2018.

  

The charming story of Coppélia follows the escapades of the dreamy Franz and how he comically falls in love with a beautiful, life-like doll. The doll - Coppélia - is created by the eccentric, yet mysterious inventor, Dr Coppelius. The hilarious plot thickens when Franz’s jealous lover, Swanhilda, takes her friends on an adventure into the spooky house of the mad inventor to confront her rival. Of course, the story ends happily after the truth is uncovered. The whole town joins the most extravagant wedding celebration for the smitten Franz and Swanhilda.

Award-winning English Youth Ballet (EYB) is now in its 19th successful year and is one of the largest ballet companies in the UK. EYB is a national touring ballet company with Director - Janet Lewis MBE at its helm. Miss Lewis enjoyed an illustrious dancing career with the Royal Ballet Company and London Festival Ballet dancing alongside such greats as Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. The company consists of a core team of 8 international principal dancers, 2 artistic ballet staff, 2 wardrobe mistresses and 4 theatre technicians. The principal dancers have danced in some of the world’s greatest companies including English National Ballet, La Scala and the Royal Ballet. EYB is highly regarded for presenting lavish, large-scale classical ballets and critics have praised the quality of the beautiful sets and costumes. 

EYB Director Janet Lewis says: “The EYB audition is an experience in itself. EYB is all about performance experience and this starts at the audition as the dancers are given a regular ballet class on the stage. Parents and family are encouraged to watch from the auditorium. We are looking for young dancers of all abilities who can show the audience how much they enjoy their dancing."

The policy of EYB is to give professional performance experience to young dancers in beautiful venues close to where they live. The young dancers benefit from being coached and mentored by the professional dancers in an 11-day rehearsal period which takes place out of school hours. They gain a unique insight into what it is like to be a professional dancer.  

Young dancers have said “EYB is the best thing I have ever done”. Parents have said “it is lovely to see my daughter gaining in confidence.” Teachers have said “EYB inspires young dancers and you notice something different about them in class when they return.”

Each audition will take the form of a regular ballet class. Dancers will find out on the day if they are successful. It is advisable to register for the audition in advance but it is possible to register on the day (please arrive 30 minutes early to register). The audition fee is £15.00 and all dancers participate in a full ballet class. Parents are invited to watch the audition.

Auditions will be held on Sunday 26th November 2017 at Darlington Hippodrome, Parkgate, Darlington.

3pm to 4.45pm audition for dancers aged 8 to 11, and 5.15pm to 7pm Audition for dancers aged 12 to 18.

For more information and to register for the audition please contact EYB either by telephone on 01689 856747 or by email:  info@englishyouthballet.co.uk

For more information about English Youth Ballet please visit www.englishyouthballet.co.uk

Theatre Preview: Local school children and older people join professional cast for premiere of Rumpelstiltskin 24-28 October 2017, Northern Stage

Leading Newcastle based dance theatre company balletLORENT returns to Northern Stage with the prem-iere of the classic fairytale Rumpelstiltskin (24-28 October 2017).

Following the award winning and critically acclaimed Rapunzel (2012-2015), and Snow White (2015-2016), balletLORENT present the final part of their trilogy of Brothers Grimm fairytales. Choreographed and di-rected by balletLORENT’s Artistic Director Liv Lorent MBE and retold by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Rum-pelstiltskin is dance theatre for the 21st century audience.

The professional ensemble will be joined by a cast of North East children aged 4-9 years old, found through creative workshops in six local primary schools and older people (aged 68+) from local community groups.

Liv Lorent explains, “The children and older people who feature in our production of Rumpelstiltskin add an authenticity to the fairytale world we are creating. The wide age span - from 4-79 - of these guest performers comes closer to the reality of the communities we all inhabit. All of the community cast from the east and west ends of Newcastle upon Tyne have shared their creativity with us with great generosity, and have enhanced our work with their individuality. Without them, our range of ex-perience is limited as we are all dance professionals and our bodies are trained in a certain way. But with our guest cast we can tell stories of humanity with a deeper truth, and they offer the impressions of what our bodies once were, and what they may become.”

“I am loving it! It’s different, it’s something new! When you get to our age, you need to have some-thing different to do.” Sylvie (participant)

“At the start [of the workshops] I felt embarrassed but then I put my heart into it. It was great, thank you!” Year 3 pupil, Knop Law Primary School

Liv Lorent has been reunited with the team of world renowned collaborators who created Rapunzel and Snow White: Dame Carol Ann Duffy (Whitbread, T.S. Eliot and Pinter Prize winner); five time BAFTA nomi-nated composer Murray Gold (Doctor Who); narrator Ben Crompton (Game of Thrones); BAFTA and Emmy Award winning costume designer Michele Clapton (Game of Thrones and The Crown); set designer Phil Eddolls (joint TMA award winner for Improbable’s The Hanging Man); and OBIE and Outer Critics Cir-cle award-winning lighting designer Malcolm Rippeth.

“It’s a joy and a thrill to be collaborating once again with Liv Lorent and her creative team and to be bringing to life another seminal fairytale to family audiences who love dance or who have yet to discover it.” Carol Ann Duffy, Scenario Writer (Poet Laureate)

With clever characterisation, Rumpelstiltskin will celebrate the underdog, the refugee, in a tale of a man’s desperate longing for love and belonging, set in a rural world of a shepherd and his daughter. Rumpelstiltskin is performed by eight of balletLORENT’s core dancers who have been central to the choreographic development of the fairytales and who have a diverse age range of 22-53 years. Liv Lorent: “Rumpelstiltskin is the story of the outsider, shunned for being different, and the secret power and knowledge he possesses. He is the original super mutant, a fairytale X-Man. Through the

eyes of balletLORENT’s first male protagonist, we are looking to explore themes of love, obsession, childhood, grief and reconciliation – a show that is full of beautiful imagery and music and is made as much for adults as it is for children.”

Co-produced by Northern Stage and commissioned by Sadler’s Wells.

Comedy Preview: SUNDAY FOR SAMMY PRESENTS A SKETCH FOR SAMMY 2017

Four budding comedy sketch writers are about to get the chance to have their work performed by a leading North East comedy group with the funniest being shown in a very special show in February in front of around 10,000 people.

For the third year running, Sunday for Sammy and the Laffalang Gang are proud to present the final of A Sketch for Sammy, a competition for new comedy writers. 

Organiser, Ed Waugh, one of the Sunday for Sammy comedy writers and writer of Dirty Dusting, Hadaway Harry and Mr Corvan's Music Hall, will host the comedy finals at The Stand Comedy Club on Sunday 1st October at 1pm.

The four short-listed writers, Mike Nicholson, Stephen Blakeney, Thomas McDonald and last year’s winner Kevin Wilkinson have all benefited from mentoring sessions with Ed Waugh to help them polish the scripts.  The final will see their sketches performed by a professional cast to an enthusiastic and supportive audience.   

A panel of celebrity judges will choose the winning sketch and the successful writer will then be presented with the 2017 Phil Richardson Comedy Award by Phil's mother Pat.  Tickets for the final are free and can be obtained by contacting julieclay@blueyonder.co.uk  

The winning sketch will be considered for inclusion in the forthcoming Sunday for Sammy show at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on 18th Feb 2018.

As well as the four finalists work, an abundance of comedy talent will be evident with the Laffalang Gang, classic entertainment from Maxie and Mitch and Peter Peverley will perform his famous Bobby Thompson routine. Compere for the afternoon will be Steffen Peddie.

Sunday for Sammy Trustee Jason Cook said, “One of the most difficult challenges for a novice comedy writer is getting your work performed.  A Sketch for Sammy gives the opportunity for new writers to see their work brought to life by an experienced cast in front of an enthusiastic audience.  This can be truly inspirational and also a right laugh.”

Sunday for Sammy Show producer Ray Laidlaw said, 'A Sketch for Sammy is another innovative creative project supported by the Sunday for Sammy Trust.  This is only made possible by the fantastic support of the people of the North East who pack out our shows and buy our DVD’s.'

Theatre Preview - QUARTER LIFE CRISIS AT ALPHABETTI THEATRE 28th - 30th SEPTEMBER

Yolanda Mercy

Quarter Life Crisis THEATRE (New Writing and Spoken Word)

Exploring heritage, expectations, generational guilt and asking what does it means to be a grown up?

Written and Performed by Yolanda Mercy

Directed by Jade Lewis

Following on from the success of its Edinburgh Fringe run 2017, Quarter Life Crisis begins its first UK tour. The piece was originally premiered at Underbelly, as part of their Untapped Season (which supported four pieces of new theatre writing to endorse during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe). She then went on to win the 2017 Underbelly Untapped Award.

Through Quarter Life Crisis Yolanda Mercy examines her own life and the lives of the generations before her in a semi-autobiographical, painfully honest piece about being in your mid-twenties all depicted through the relatable character Alicia.

Alicia is a hot mess. She doesn't know what she's doing with her life. Swiping left, swiping right to find the perfect match. Even though she's a Londoner, born and bred, the scent of Lagos peppers her existence in the ends. Everyone around her seems to know where they're going in life, but she's trying to find ways to cheat growing up and keep her 16-25 railcard. What does it mean to be an adult, and when do you become one? Quarter Life Crisis mixes addictive baselines, spoken word and audience participation.

Yolanda Mercy said, ‘It got to a point in my life where my cousin who is 10 days younger than me announced that he was getting married. My close friend revealed she was having a baby. But my biggest concern was How Can I keep my young persons railcard. The more I looked around me it seemed that everyone was adulting.”

Yolanda trained at the Brit School, Laban and Central School of Speech and Drama. She was named Artist to Watch 2017 by the British Council, is an Associate Artist at OvalHouse, part of the BBC London Voices writers program and her writing has also been featured in Huffington Post.

@yolandamercy | #QuarterLifeCrisis | www.yolandamercy.com

Running Time: 45 minutes | Suitable for ages 14+ (contains audience participation and occasional swearing)

Company Information

Written and Performed by Yolanda Mercy                
Directed by Jade Lewis
Produced by Yolanda Mercy and Jade Lewis 
Dramaturgy by Jules Haworth

An opportunity for local talent to shine in the Roundabout Theatre in Darlington on Sunday 8 October.

DARLINGTON IN THE ROUND
An opportunity for local talent to shine in the Roundabout Theatre in Darlington on Sunday 8 October.

Roundabout is the world’s first pop-up, plug-and-play theatre. It flatpacks into a lorry and is popping up in Darlington’s Market Square from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 October as part of Darlington Theatre Town.

On Sunday 8 October from 2pm to 4pm the Roundabout will be hosting a special event showcasing some of the talented folks of Darlington.

The search is on for acts which are of the spoken word (an excerpt from a play for example) or acoustic music. Your act should last no more than ten minutes in length and be suitable for a family audience. If you are interested in being considered please send your name, contact details and a short outline of your act to nicola.craggs@darlington.gov.uk. All performers chosen for a slot on the day will be given a free family ticket to the Darlington Hippodrome family pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. You must be 14 years or over to submit an application.

Darlington Theatre Town is an exciting new initiative has launched in Darlington to bring ambitious and high quality theatre to the town. The project brings together the expertise of partners Creative Darlington, Darlington Hippodrome, Luxi, Theatre Hullabaloo and ODDMANOUT to cement Darlington’s place 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 Civic Theatre (opening as Darlington Hippodrome in November), 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.

Theatre Preview - THE COLLYWELL RADIO PLAYERS - THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Following on from the unbridled success of their Detective Drama, “Sherlock Holmes”, the Collywell Radio Players  proudly offer you, in their own inimitable style, an eerie tale of a ghost and 2^nd World War derring-do.

Specially adapted for ‘Radio’ by local author, Graham Barrington-Hartley, we bring forth, for your listening pleasure the story of a 300 year old coward, unable to find eternal rest, doomed to walk the corridors of Canterville Hall until a descendant of the family line can perform some act of heroism or bravery to restore the family’s good name. As a member of the audience you will not only see and hear, but be privileged to be a part of this tale of swashing and buckling!

In exchange for a paltry amount of money you can possess a ticket which will transport you, with the residents of Canterville Hall and the American soldiers billeted there, into a time of trouble and strife, and coupons for everything, although laughter will not be on the ration!

Panto Preview - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Darlington Hippodrome

Liam Mellor, Zoe Birkett, Lee Ryan and Eric Potts

Boyband and Eastenders star Lee Ryan was joined by vocalist and West End leading lady Zoe Birkett, pantomime dame extraordinaire Eric Potts and funny man Liam Mellor in launching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which opens on Saturday 9^th December at the newly named Darlington Hippodrome when it reopens its doors following an extensive and exciting refurbishment.

Lee Ryan

Since joining the BRIT award-winning boyband Blue in 2001, Lee Ryan and his bandmates went on to sell over 14 million records worldwide. Lee is currently starring as Woody in Eastenders for the BBC alongside his busy international performing commitments with Blue. Lee said “This will be my second panto and I am looking forward to it, it’s always a giggle, it’s hard work but it will be fun and I’ll enjoy it.” Lee continued talking about his career “I have worked with amazing actors, amazing singers and musicians. I have worked with Stevie Wonder, Elton John with Blue and Lionel Ritchie. Being on Eastenders there’s an amazing list of actors I have had the pleasure of working with.”

Pop Idol finalist, West End leading lady and Darlington diva Zoe Birkett will star alongside him as the Wicked Queen.

Zoe Birkett

Best-known for his role as Coronation Street’s eccentric baker Diggory Compton. No stranger to pantomime Eric has appeared in and written numerous pantomimes over the last two decades, bringing his own unique brand of comedy and showmanship, in an array of outrageous costumes to audiences’ delight. Eric explained his love of pantos “I love the tradition, I love the history, the fact that it’s really the show that gets kids into a big theatre for the first time and hopefully makes it an experience they want to repeat.” Eric Potts stars as Mrs Crumble the dame, “I played the old man character to begin with for about two years since then it’s been the dame which I really enjoy, it’s a real privilege to be part of that history, it’s a great part to play, it’s great fun. To be in the first panto after this wonderful refurbishment is a real joy and pleasure, we have a great script with lots of comedy.” Eric will also direct this year’s pantomime.

Eric Potts

Completing the line-up, Liam Mellor will star as Snow White’s best friend Muddles. As an actor and comedian Liam has starred in numerous stage productions including Chekhov and Shakespeare as well as numerous pantomimes across the UK. Liam said “This is my 13^th year in panto, panto was first job and I used to watch pantos when I was a kid, I used to go the Sheffield Lyceum every year with my Grandad and it was actually QDOS who produced them, I loved them so much I knew that was what I wanted to do. I always play the idiot, typecasting, I work to my strengths. I read the script a couple of weeks and ago and it is a completely and utterly different script to when I last did Snow White with QDOS. The way they are doing the dwarfs is new and different and it is tailored to this areas humour.

Liam Mellor

Following its multi-million pound restoration, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs marks Darlington Hippodrome’s first full length production to play the venue with its improved front of house spaces, backstage facilities and scope for bigger productions. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be no exception, with a debut of spectacular flying effects and a magical mirror never seen before.

Liam Mellor, Lee Ryan, Zoe Birkett and Eric Potts

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs from Saturday 9^th December 2017 until Sunday 14^th January 2018. To book contact the Box Office on or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk  

Review of A Song for Ella Grey - Northern Stage

Amy Cameron - photo Pamela Raith

A Song for Ella Grey

By David Almond

Northern Stage

Newcastle upon Tyne

Tuesday 5 – Saturday 16 September 2017

A Song for Ella Grey is an adaption of the award-winning novel by David Almond. The plot is based around the Orpheus myth, set in teenage Tyneside, travelling from the beaches of Bamburgh to the bridges of the River Ouseburn.

Amy Cameron plays Claire, the only actor on stage who, at first reluctantly tells the story of Ella. Over 30 members of Northern Stage’s Young Company, provided the cast on the projections as well as the voices of the Chorus.

The set consists of over 40 cardboard boxes, which are imaginatively used to create various scenes. At times it looks like a random mix across the stage, but long after a scene you can still make out the sand dunes and castle at Bamburgh.

Amy Cameron - photo Pamela Raith

Amy is an incredibly captivating performer. She immediately connects with the audience and shows a range of intensity of moods and physicality. One of my favourite scenes was when she used the audience to become the class mates in school.  

The story is driven by the incredibly poetic script, but at times I wondered if the creative element was just using the story as a vehicle to experiment. From the projection, which included live mobile phone footage of the audience to the continued soundscape. The most dramatic moment of the production was when we were plunged into a blackout for around 15 minutes. This unnerving journey into the underworld was genuinely frightening, with the terrifying soundscape adding to the this, it was a relief for even the briefest glimpse of light.

Amy Cameron - photo Pamela Raith

This is certainly a play for the senses, an extremely enthralling performance by Amy Cameron with outstanding creative techniques.

Review - Overdue at Alphabetti Theatre

Overdue

By Arabella Arnott

Alphabetti Theatre

St James Boulevard,

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Monday 4 to Saturday 16 September 2017

We were delighted to be part of the opening night of Alphabetti Theatre’s new venue on St James’ Boulevard in Newcastle. While everything was ready for opening to the public I really would not have been surprised to bump into someone sporting a hard hat and hi-viz vest. However as someone once said ‘The play’s the thing’, so bring on the world premier!

A minimal set on a Thrust with just two pieces of furniture downstage and a park bench and rubbish bin upstage were enough to stage this engaging piece of work written by Arabella Arnott, directed by Matt Jamie and designed by Alison Ashton

Beth and John are talking but not communicating…

Rosie Stancliffe plays Beth; A challenging role for any actor to pull off, in that she has to be frustratingly annoying claiming everything is ok, but it’s clearly not. However her acting skills make her captivating enough for the audience to give her and the play the opportunity to develop to its conclusion. An assured performance that ticks all of the boxes you hope for. Christopher Price delivers a realistic performance playing her partner John desperately trying to understand what is going on in Beths head with simmering frustration but with continued sometimes suffocating support.

Skyla Pierce brings an appealing freshness of a schoolgirl who finds herself an unmarried mother at fifteen who enables Beth to reflect on her own life and what might have been. Benjamin Michael Smith completes the cast playing Jack a mysterious character with a bright likable personality you would like to get to know better.

A well written thought provoking play, which resonated with the audience.

The Alphabetti Theatre is a venue to keep an eye on for future productions.

Running time 1 hour 20 mins.

NETheatre