Panto Review - DICK WHITTINGTON - THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

The bells of London ring out as we are introduced to the characters of Dick Whittington at The People’s Theatre in Newcastle. Initially it is the evilness of Queen Rat, Kate Reilly, which gets the audience in the panto mood with her Henchmen – Squelch, Abigail Matin, and Squirm, Lauren Chandler. The Spirit of Bow Bells, Paul Gaitskell, presents us with the positive side trying to develop the happiness we expect at the finale.

Idle Jack, Joe Robson, just gets better. He immediately creates a rapport with the audience and despite his name he is the hardest working member of the cast, absolutely superb. The other highlight of the show, never uttered a word, Tommy the Magical Cat, Emma Cockburn, was just a purrfect cat! Alice Fitzwarren, Alice Daigleish, and Dick Whittington, Evelyn Ryan, have great chemistry. The Dame - Sarah the Cook, Steve Robertson, develops during the show creating an excellent Dame. The story then moves us to Morocco, on the Naughty Nancy. Where we meet Maneeta The Sultana of Morrocco, Kirstie Petley.

There are plenty of quick-fire jokes for old and young. The singing perfect throughout and the choreography is very entertaining. This is the only pantomime, which fills the stage with cast. They use so many children from the Jill Errington School of Dance, it creates an energy which other pantomimes can’t achieve.

My only complaint would be that there was too much lighting aimed at the audience during the overture and the opening to the second half. It may be my age or my friends and relatives who have sight problems, but I had to shield my eyes from the light as it became painful, as did a number of audience members. Never had to do that before. Sometimes less is more!

Runs until Sunday 15^th December 2019

Panto Preview - DICK WHITTINGTON - PEOPLE'S THEATRE - NEWCASTLE

Dick Whittington (Evelyn Ryan) and dancers
photo John Brown

We’re bringing audiences the  
purr-fect Panto this Christmas!

Join local lad Dick Whittington and his magical cat Tommy on an action-packed, fun-filled adventure at the People’s Theatre next month!

When Dick arrives in London he’s hoping to find fame, fortune and the streets paved with gold.

The last thing he expects is to end up on a bell-ringing, swashbuckling adventure that takes him from Heatonia to the shores of Morocco!

Will Queen Rat fulfil her evil plan to flood the city with plaque and pestilence to become Lord Mayor?

Will Sarah the Cook – renowned across the land for her dumplings – find a suitable suitor to whisk her off her feet?

Will Alice ever notice lovelorn Idle Jack?

Find out in our toe-tapping family Panto, packed with songs, dances, and festive fun!

The People’s Panto has become something of a local legend in recent years, with last year’s Cinderella selling out and audience comments including “a wonderful show” and “massively fun and pleasingly extravagant”.

This year’s DICK WHITTINGTON promises to be just as much fun, so don’t delay if you want to book your seat for the hottest ticket in Heaton!

DATE:             Saturday 7th – Sunday 15th December 2019

TIME:              1pm / 2pm / 6pm / 7pm (times vary depending on the day)

VENUE:          People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF

TICKETS:       £14.50 (children and concessions £12)
TELE:              0191 265 5020
WEBSITE:      www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

Theatre Preview - EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE - NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

Full casting has been announced for the smash-hit, critically acclaimed West End Musical, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Inspired by the sensational Jamie Campbell (‘Drag Queen at 16’) from County Durham, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie makes its regional debut at Newcastle Theatre Royal as part of its first UK tour (Mon 30 Mar – Sat 4 Apr 2020).

Joining the previously announced Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot the Musical) who will star as Jamie New and Shane Richie (EastEnders) as Hugo / Loco Chanelle who are reprising their West End roles will be Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies, Eveybody’s Talking about Jamie West End and upcoming film) as Ray and George Sampson (winner of Britain’s Got Talent) as Dean.

Layton, Shane and Shobna will be reprising their roles from the West End production. Shobna will also be starring as Ray in the film version of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie which will be released in cinemas in October 2020.

Further cast includes Amy Ellen Richardson (Margaret New), Lara Denning (Miss Hedge), Sharan Phull (Pritti Pasha), Cameron Johnson (Sandra Bollock / Jamie’s Dad), John Paul McCue (Laika Virgin), Rhys Taylor (Tray Sophisticay), Richard Appiah-Sarpong (Cy), Simeon Beckett (Levi), Kazmin Borrer (Vicki), Ellis Brownhill (Mickey), Jodie Knight (Fatimah), Jessica Meegan (Bex), Talia Palamathanan (Becca), Adam Taylor (Sayid), Alex Hetherington (Swing), Emma Robotham-Hunt (Swing), Ellie Leah (Understudy) and Garry Lee (Understudy).

Nica Burns, Producer of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie said: “We are delighted that our first national tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is packed with West End stars. Three hot off the Apollo stage who are joined by a host of super- talented performers from other West End casts, from The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole to Matilda The Musical and Scrooge. It’s fantastic to welcome George Sampson who shot to fame as the youngest person to win Britain’s Got Talent at the tender age of 14.  Together they will give you a fun, funny and fabulous evening.”

Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation. Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight. With catchy songs by lead singer-songwriter of The Feeling, Dan Gillespie Sells, and book and lyrics by writer Tom MacRae, this funny, fabulous, feel-good, musical sensation has been wowing audiences and critics alike.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is at Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 30 Mar - Sat 4 Apr 2020 playing evenings at 7.30pm and matinees on Thurs at 2pm and Sat at 2.30pm.  Tickets from £16.50 can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Panto Review - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

Clive Webb, Chris Hayward and Danny Adams

‘Beauty and the Beast’ (The Spellbinding Pantomime), at the Theatre Royal, is the story of a selfish prince, Chris Cowley, turned into a beast and fearing he will remain so forever until the kind hearted Belle, Laura Evans, makes him feel human again – interspersed with many funny moments. Or should I say there are many funny scenes, interspersed with little bits of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The hilarious romp through a well-loved story twists you from wonder to laughter seamlessly.

The show was written by Alan McHugh and Michael Harrison, also directed by the latte, and celebrates not just the fun and wonder of a great panto, but also has a joyful chuckle about being from the north east – with an interesting twist on the song “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”. The production works to the performers’ strengths with a lot of physical comedy, old jokes, new jokes and some twists you really won’t see coming.

Danny Adams - Beauty and the Beast -
Theatre Royal Newcastle Credit Paul Coltas

The music, directed by Ian Townsend, hits the perfect note, bringing just the right atmosphere, and the ensemble of dancers, choreographed by Alan Harding, adds to the richness of the scenes. A lot of skilled dancing also came from the young people of the Marron Theatre Arts.

Mrs Potty, Chris Hayward.

Lighting and visual effects set the pace throughout, though at times the smoke effects were a little too thick, making it hard to see the interesting staging as the beast fights off the glowing-eyed wolves. The costumes alone are worth the price of admission – speaking of which, Mrs Rita Potty, the ‘dame’, wears particularly phenomenal outfits: my favourite being the adventurous ‘gardening’ outfit. Whilst playing the sassy Mrs Potty, Chris Hayward, also designed the marvellous creations he wore. 

At times the show runs close to the line with some of its racier jokes – for the older fans – it has something for everyone. There was so much skill in the ‘messy’ scene, painting a statue, by performers Clive Webb, Michael Potts and Danny Adams.  

Danny Adams has such perfectly executed comic timing; he steals any scene he even walks close to. At several points, I wondered if I should see the show again just to find out how much of the comedy is him naturally adlibbing and how much was scripted. 

This panto is a must on the list of shows to see this Christmas!

Beauty and the Beast is showing at the Theatre Royal from the 26 November 2019 until 19 January 2020.

Panto Preview - JACK AND THE BEANSTALK - PLAYHOUSE, WHITLEY BAY

Blue Genie Entertainment   

Presents

Jack & the Beanstalk

Saturday 30^th November 2019 – Saturday 4^th January 2020   

Various Times

Our next GIANT adventure!

Welcome to the world of fairy tales, where our poor hero Jack and his dotty mum Dame Trott are tricked into selling their beloved cow Daisy for a useless bag of beans.

Laugh at silly silly Billy, boo and hiss the evil Fleshcreep and of course cheer-on our hero Jack as he tries to rescue his sweetheart Jill from the nasty giant's castle in the clouds.

Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and plenty of laughter for all the family!!!

Tickets are available to purchase now.

Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am – 2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588* or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

Theatre Review - HEDDA GABLER - THE WITHAM, BARNARD CASTLE

The Cast of Hedda Gabler, photo credit Helen Brown

Susannah Handley as Hedda Gabler, photo credit Helen Brown

The Castle Players are no strangers to growing with their audiences and developing their amazing talent within the group. A few years ago, they began to develop the direction of productions with ‘Journey’s End’ allowing a first-time director to take the reins under the mentoring of an established director. This year it was Libby Harding under the mentoring of Laurence Sach who was given the opportunity to direct, her bold choice being Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen in this new version by Patrick Marber set in 1925.

Hedda, Susannah Handley, has just returned from her honeymoon with her new husband Jorgen Tesman, Cal Baker. As they begin to settle into their new home and Hedda looks towards a life of boredom and domesticity Tesman’s academic rival, Eilvert Lovborg, Oliver Smith appears. Lovberg is a recovering alcoholic and former love interest of Hedda and his presence unsettles everyone. This gives Hedda the opportunity to grasp for her old life as her husband’s friend Judge Brack, Ben Pearson, observes their lives from the side. Thea, Phoebe Lorenz, is working closely with Lovberg and Hedda sees this as an opportunity to come between them. The rest of the cast includes Aunt Juliana, Heather Armstrong, and the straight-faced maid Berte, Isobel Harvey.

Susannah Handley as Hedda Gabler and Ben Pearson as Brack, photo credit Helen Brown

Phoebe Lorenz as Thea, Ben Pearson as Brack
and Cal Baker as Tesman,
photo credit Helen Brown 

The cast certainly had a full understanding of their characters, which is a credit to their director. Make no mistake this an incredibly dark story, which requires an in depth understanding of the characters to create this to the full effect.  Susannah Handley was amazing as Hedda, she is clearly bored and uninspired by the life her future holds and desperately tries to cling onto the past, her mind is complex, creating a vulnerable yet explosive character.  This is clearly a role many women would love the chance to play and Susannah has grabbed the opportunity showing what a star The Castle Players have. Phoebe shows a nervous innocence in Thea, showing her fear of Hedda from past encounters, I look forward to seeing Phoebe’s performances in the future. Cal Baker’s portrayal of Tesman has a sense of frivolity and no awareness of Hedda’s feelings which contrasted well to Ben Pearson’s Brack, whose deviousness is apparent. Oliver Smith’s Lovberg showed a man on the edge. Heather Armstrong’s portrayal of Aunt Juliana perfectly creates the woman we all want in our lives.

The set by Ben Pearson and Laurence Sach, costumes by Lesley Cutting, sound and lighting by Vaughan Freeman and make up by Jane Naseby perfectly compliment this wonderfully dark production.

There are many elements of this story which can be related to the world today, Ibsen, an immense talent of his day and the future. How this links into the world today is up to the audience to decide, sometimes theatre doesn’t just entertain, it encourages you to think.

Panto Preview - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

GET READY FOR A REAL BEAUTY OF A PANTO!

The count-down has begun! There’s only a few weeks to go until Newcastle Theatre Royal opens its spellbinding panto – Beauty and the Beast - which will run for a magical eight weeks (Tue 26 Nov 2019 – Sat 19 Jan 2020).

One of the most romantic pantos of all time Beauty and the Beast will be a spectacular and enchanting production for all the family, featuring the legendary trio of Theatre Royal panto stars Danny Adams, Clive Webb and Chris Hayward.

A lavish adventure is once again in store for all as the beautiful Belle embarks on her quest to unleash the Beauty within the Beast. Audiences can expect an action-packed show bursting with magic, music and plenty of comedy mayhem!

Produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, Beauty and the Beast promises everything that Theatre Royal audiences have come to expect, and more.  Spectacular choreography, glittering sets, breath-taking special effects and a wonderful musical score form the backdrop to a tale full of adventure and hilarious slap-stick.

Theatre Royal pantomimes are widely thought to be among the best in the UK due to the exceptional combination of father and son team Clive and Danny - for whom Beauty and the Beast will mark their fifteenth consecutive Theatre Royal panto appearance. This combination is brought together by Newcastle’s own Michael Harrison (The Bodyguard, Annie), who co-writes, produces and directs the show.

The cast for Beauty and the Beast also includes the sensational musical performers Laura Evans and Wayne Smith, who have shone in the last three Theatre Royal pantos, Mick Potts from CBBC’s Danny & Mick (reprising his role as The Idiot) and Steve Arnott who last year celebrated 10 years as the Theatre Royal panto villain.

Theatre Royal Chief Executive Philip Bernays said: “This year’s production promises to be another spectacular show with a staggering 78,000 tickets sold with a few weeks to go to opening night.  We are so very proud of our pantomimes, but never wish to rest on our laurels.  This is a competitive industry and we need to make sure that we are at the top of our game every single year.

  

“It’s thanks to a superb cast, incredible staging, expert behind-the-scenes team and the talent of top West End producer Michael Harrison that we can keep delivering what is considered not only the biggest panto in the region but one of the best festive spectaculars anywhere in the country.”

  

Beauty and the Beast plays Tue 26 Nov 2019 until Sun 19 Jan 2020. Tickets from £14 are selling fast and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Theatre Review- THE WOMAN IN BLACK - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

THE WOMAN In Black, adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt from the Susan Hill novel is one of those productions which gets better every time I see it. The story tells of a lawyer, Arthur Kipps played by Robert Goodale, who is obsessed with a curse that he encountered and needs to share with his family and friends of the spectre of ‘The Woman in Black'. Desperate to tell his story as a warning to others he engages a young actor, played by Daniel Easton, to help him. Arthur Kipps begins his story in a monotone uninspiring way, but with the help of the actor is soon expertly creating the characters needed to tell his story as The Actor takes on the role of the younger Kipps and Kipps plays all the other roles in this chilling ghostly tale.

Directed by Robin Hereford, as every production has been since the show was first performed in 1987 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, it remarkably still remains as fresh as the first time I saw it. The quality of the acting and the script capture the attention of the audience perfectly and produce a master class of how to build up suspense through the delivery of lines and the clever use of minimal props, sound and lighting effects. The screams from the audience, show just how well this works and it never fails to send a shiver down my spine. This is still one of the most terrifying productions you will see on stage.

Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday 23rd November.

Theatre Preview - THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS - TYNE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

Starlight Theatre Productions 

present: 

The Wind in the Willows

Tues 19 - Sat 23 Nov 2019 | 7pm each day plus 2pm matinee Thurs, Fri & Sat

After the sell-out success of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Starlight Theatre Productions return in November 2019 with Wind in the Willows!

How about a riotous, rollicking romp through the Wild Wood to get your Festive season off to a cracking start? Come along to the fabulous Wind in the Willows to meet the larger-than-life Mr Toad and his friends, Ratty, Mole and Badger.

This wonderful musical, based on the original Kenneth Grahame book has great songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe with a book by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame.

The action takes place on the river bank where Ratty meets Mole and lots of other woodland, and river, creatures. Ratty has fallen out with Mr. Toad, who seems to lurch from one crackpot idea to the next, bringing mayhem along the way. He doesn’t listen to the warnings of his friends – with dire consequences.

This isn’t just a show for children but very much a show guaranteed to appeal to all the family. It even has some ‘baddies’, the oily weasels who put Portia , the young otter, at risk.

Mr. Toad’s increasingly dangerous antics come to a head and result in…well, if you want to find out what happens to Mr. Toad and his friends, and whether Portia survives the Wild Wood dangers, then get your tickets ordered now as we anticipate this will sell quickly!

Poop! Poop! as Mr. Toad would say!

Theatre Preview - PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, and from love to matrimony in a moment.”

Mrs Bennet is determined to get her daughters married: clever and quick-witted Elizabeth; beautiful Jane, bookish Mary; immature Kitty and wild Lydia – all of whose lives are turned upside down with the arrival of a wealthy young man and his best friend, a certain Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.

This light-hearted tale of love and values follows Elizabeth Bennet as she learns the error of making hasty judgements and comes to appreciate what really matters in the snobbish social world of Regency England.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is a literary classic and our production carries with it all of the wit and humour that made Jane Austen’s novel such an enduring comedy of manners.

Alongside the production we have the latest Gallery exhibition in our foyer, SCULPTURE AND PAINTINGS by Malcolm Yorke and R.K.R. Thornton.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, adpt. by Helen Jerome

DATE:             Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 November 2019

TIME:              7.30pm

VENUE:          People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF

TICKETS:       £14 (Concessions £11.50)
TELE:              0191 265 5020
WEBSITE:      www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

Theatre Review - CURTAINS A MUSICAL WHODUNNIT - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

AS soon as the overture began, the recognisable sound of Kander and Ebb filled the auditorium and I knew that this was going to be a special night in musical theatre. Curtains, A Musical Whodunnit was the last musical Kander and Ebb worked on together before Ebb’s death in 2004. 

Curtains is a multi-layered show within a show. The show begins with the opening night of Robin Hood, a production destined for Broadway, and the murder of Jessica Cranshaw, Nia Jermin. This leaves the entire cast and crew suspects and unable to leave the theatre under the command of Lieutenant Cioffi, Jason Manford. As the production is panned by critics the Lieutenant jumps from solving the murder, of which more follow, and trying to save Robin Hood from closing, due to his love of theatre. Add to the mix a couple of romantic elements and this musical is a slick, fast paced show which has so many twists and turns, it kept me on the edge of my seat right to the final curtain.

This is the perfect vehicle for Jason Manford, who of course is no stranger to big musicals. He instantly connected with the audience drawing them into his world. The other stand out performance was the director of Robin Hood Christopher Belling, Samuel Holmes, he has some of the wittiest lines which are delivered to perfection. 

With rapid fire wit, delightful choreography and the darkness of Kander and Ebb this musical makes for a perfect night’s entertainment. Fantastic for Darlington to have it on tour before it hits the West End.

Runs at Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday 16th November.

Theatre Review - THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK - THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE - NEWCASTLE

The latest production from The People’s Theatre in Newcastle for their Autumn / Winter Season is The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

The story of Anne Frank is very well known, but it is productions like this that really bring home what so many people went through, which should never be forgotten, even though the most horrific elements of this period are not covered in detail in the production.

Otto Frank, Pete McAndrew, took his family into hiding into a secret annexe in Amsterdam. His wife, Mrs Frank, Rachel Kilburn and his two daughters, Margot, Honor Macphearson and Anne, Abigail Martin were joined by the Van Daan family, who helped Otto when his family moved to Amsterdam, Mrs Van Daan, Ellie North, Mr Van Daan, Jon Carlile and their son Peter Van Daan, James Hardy. They are helped with news and limited food by two of his employees, Miep Gies, Nicky White and Mr Kraler, Gordon Mounsey. Later they are joined by dentist Mr Dussel, Stuart Douglas.  The play focuses on the relationships of the eight crammed into the small space for 761 days. One of the main elements which plays out is the poor relationship Anne has with her mother.

The cast are outstanding throughout, especially as they are all on stage for the entire performance adding to the atmosphere by creating business in each of the rooms. As we move through the 761 days it is of course Anne who undergoes the most changes as she grows from the naive 13 year old. Abigail Martin captures this development with perfection.

The set cleverly designed by Tim Swinton uses the full width of the stage and shows the 4 rooms in the attic space giving the impression of the cramped conditions they all lived in. His lighting and soundscape create just the right atmosphere for this powerful production.

I am sure Anne Frank would be proud to know that her story is still being heard today.

The Diary of Anne Frank runs until Saturday 2^nd November.

Theatre Review - JEKYLL AND HYDE - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

DARLINGTON Operatic Society are renowned for not shying away from the more complex and challenging productions and this is no exception with their ambitious autumn production of the blockbuster musical Jekyll and Hyde. This gothic horror drama is based loosely on The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Dr Jekyll has the passion to discover the good v evil in men, played on the opening night by Julian Cound his transformation from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde sends shivers across the auditorium. As Mr Hyde he is delightfully creepy as he wreaks havoc across the city. The other stand out members of the cast are Beth Hopper playing Emma Carew who is engaged to Dr Jekyll and Rhiannon Walker playing lady of the night Lucy Harris. Both with outstanding vocals specially during their duet. The rest of the cast complement the three main members with perfection.

The choreography by Joanne Hand was slick and tight. The 17-piece orchestra make Darlington Operatic Society stand out from many touring musicals, as they are as much a part of the show as the cast, so it is fantastic to have them in their rightful place in front of the stage.  The costumes, lighting and set complete the dark atmosphere perfect for this time of year.

Darlington Operatic Society could grace any stage in the world and no one guess that they weren’t a professional company.

Jekyll and Hyde runs at Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday 2^nd November.

Darlington Operatic Society returns to the Hippodrome from April 22 to May 2, 2020 with Strictly Musicals 3.

Theatre Preview - JEKYLL & HYDE - DARLINGTON OPERATIC SOCIETY

GOTHIC CLASSIC ALL SET FOR THE STAGE

Local theatre company Darlington Operatic Society is just weeks away from curtain up on their next blockbuster musical, Jekyll & Hyde.

Directed and choreographed by Joanne Hand (Top Hat, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, West Side Story) alongside Musical Director Steven Hood (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Strictly Musicals 2), Jekyll & Hyde will run at Darlington Hippodrome for 11 performances only from Wednesday 23 October to Saturday 2 November.

The title role of Dr Henry Jekyll (who transforms into the evil Mr Edward Hyde) will be shared between Julian Cound and Luke Oldfield who play the role on alternate dates. It is widely known that this is possibly one of the toughest musical theatre roles for any male performer to undertake. Beth Hopper will take the role of Emma Carew with Rhiannon Walker and Jessica Harrison sharing the role of Lucy Harris on alternate dates.

Talking about his role in the show, Julian Cound said “This has been one of the hardest rehearsal periods I have been through in a very long time. Vocally the role of Jekyll and Hyde is immense, requiring the soft, loving nature of Dr Jekyll and then the angst-ridden frustration of Mr Hyde.”

“This show very rarely gets performed by amateur groups due to the difficult nature of the vocals and the demands it places on the leading actors. The entire cast are loving the darker, gritty nature of the show – it’s just so different from shows we have presented most recently. If you don’t know the show you have to give it a try – audiences will not be disappointed, they will get the usual high standard of performance values audiences expect from a DarlingtonOS show – it’s Les Miserables meets Sweeney Todd.”

Jekyll & Hyde will run at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 23 October to Saturday 2 November. Thursday 31 October is a BSL Interpreted performance and both Friday performances will be audio described.

Tickets are on sale now by calling the Ticket Hotline on 01325 244659 or online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk

Recommended age 12+

Theatre Review - THE LADY VANISHES - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

BASED on the film directed by Alfred Hitchcock this talented star-studded cast transported the audience back to 1938.

Opening in an Austrian Railway Station there are a mix of passengers all rushing to return to England for various reasons. Amongst them are socialite Iris, Scarlett Archer, who is returning to marry a Lord and Miss Froy, Gwen Taylor, a former governess. After Iris has a slight accident just prior to boarding the train, Miss Froy takes care of her and after a cup of tea followed by a short sleep Iris wakes to find Miss Froy has disappeared and no one will admit to seeing her on the train. Also, on board are the secretive lawyer Eric, Mark Wynter, and his mistress Margaret, Rosie Thomson. Cricket loving Charters, Denis Lill, and Caldicott, Ben Nealon, who bring a touch of comedy to the proceedings and show we perhaps have not changed that much as the Englishman abroad. Dr Hartz, Andrew Lancel, an Italian magician, Martin Carroll, a military official, Joe Reisig and a nun, Natalie Law. After reluctantly befriending Max, Nicholas Audsley, the pair begin to unravel the mysteries onboard.

The set, Morgan Large, effortlessly transforms from the station to the interior of the train and back again. The atmosphere is enhanced with subtle lighting, Charlie Morgan Jones and sound, Dan Samson. Direction by Roy Marsden is slick throughout.

The intrigue and suspense of The Lady Vanishes will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow the twists and turns trying to spot the red herrings.

Runs until Saturday 19^th October at Darlington Hippodrome.

Theatre Review - MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL

Madagascar The Musical instantly bursts into life with music, fun and colour. Aimed at the younger audience and based on the Dreamworks animation motion picture there is plenty for the whole family from the colourful characters to the jokes many adults would appreciate.

The story opens in Central Park Zoo, New York where a group of penguins have decided to escape. Marty the zebra, Posi Morakinyo, discovers their plan and dreaming of a life in the wild joins their escape. Marty’s friends Alex the lion, Joseph Connor, Gloria the hippo, Hannah Victoria, and Melman the hypochondriac giraffe, Connor Dyer, on realising his escape, rush to find Marty to bring him back. Chaos ensues in New York and all the animals find themselves trapped on a ship and then stranded on Madagascar.

It is during the 2^nd Act on the island of Madagascar that the story livens up and the children in the audience certainly became more engaged. That was largely due to the introduction of King Julien, Kieran Mortell, who, as the leader of the non-meat-eating wild animals, instantly bonds with the younger members of the audience.

The songs though catchy are instantly forgettable, apart from ‘Move It Move It’ which had everyone on their feet during the finale.

The entire cast work hard throughout the show, and create a slick production which is the perfect introduction to live theatre for young children.

Madagascar the Musical runs at Darlington Hippodrome until Sunday 13^th October.