Sunday 24 February 2019

Theatre Preview - SPRING AT THE MAJESTIC THEATRE, DARLINGTON



 New season on sale now

The sun is shining, birds are singing and spring is just around the corner - bringing with a whole host of shows at the Majestic in Darlington

Tuesday 5 March
An Evening of Mediumship with Tony Stockwell
Tony certainly uses his natural wit, showmanship and Cockney charisma to entertain but more important, Mediumship has the potential to change someone’s life and instil in them a sense of peace, comfort and purpose. We hope that nobody can fail to come away untouched by the experience
Show starts 7.30pm
Prices start at £19.50


Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 March
Darlington College presents - A HUGE BAG OF TALENT
The performing arts students of Darlington College have been working very hard for this next production, as they have the opportunity to focus on their own skills and showcase them to a live audience. Please come and support the wonderful and talented students for their upcoming project. You will be entertained throughout watching this variety show. Expect dance, singing and some hilarious acting!
Show starts at 7.00pm
This is a pay what you decide event


Friday 8 March
Viva Neil Diamond
Bob Drury's one-man show is an absolute 'must-see' for any Diamond fans.  Prepare to be blown away by his vocal likeness which has been delighting audiences around the world.  This year's show includes all  the favourites such as Cracklin' Rosie, America, Love on the Rocks, Play Me, Hello Again, Forever in Blue Jeans, Beautiful Noise, I'm a Believer, Red Red Wine and of course Sweet Caroline, plus Neil Diamond's UK hit Pretty Amazing Grace and a few lesser known songs that are sure to become your favourites by the end of the evening.  A fantastic evening guaranteed!
Show start at 7.30pm
Prices start at £16.00


Saturday 9 March
History of Rock
A must see for any fan of ROCK!  Experience this iconic music brought back to life by an exceptional 8 piece band consisting of some of the finest musicians and performers from around the world, original visual footage of the the featured bands and artists, as well as incredible concert staging and lighting
Show starts at 7.30pm
Prices start at £19.50


Sunday 10 March
American Wrestling - Giant Rumble Match
Features Darlo's own Big Bubba, Japan’s Tokyo Jo, high flying Davey Blaine, the Russian nightmare Edmund Vik, the superstar Andy Johns, the business Aaron Martin, the honourable Miles Johnson, Mexican flyer El Temple, the worm John Harrison, a ladies challenge match and much more
Show starts at 3.30pm
Prices start from £10 - VIP available


Friday 15 March
The George Michael Story
We take you on a musical journey of George’s biggest hits celebrating his life and generosity, with 5% of the profits being donated to George Michael’s Charities!
Show starts at 7.30pm
Prices start at £20.00
To purchase tickets
Box Office: 08438869046


Saturday 16 March
All Shook Up
C.P. King Productions proudly presents ‘All Shook Up’. A live musical experience featuring songs from the golden era of Rock 'n' Roll, and paying tribute to the King himself, Elvis Presley!
Show starts at 7.30pm
Prices start from £10.00


Friday 22 March
Coldplace
As the world's leading tribute to Coldplay they have played over 650 shows in 24 different countries. They pride themselves on attention to detail both musically and visually.
Shows start at 7.30pm
Prices start from £18.00


Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 April
Miss Julie
Strindberg’s electrifying play of sex and class comes to passionate life on the Majestic stage in a powerful new production by Elysium Theatre Company
Show starts at 7.00pm
Prices start from £8.50


Friday 5 April
Manoeuvres - Tribute to OMD
Performing all of OMD's many hit songs such as 'Enola Gay',
'Messages', 'Sailing On The Seven Seas' and 'Souvenir' to name but a few,
MANOEUVRES will leave you with lasting memories of a captivating and unique
show that you will want to see again and again!
Show starts at 8.30pm
Prices start from £15


Sunday 14 April
The Rags to Rhinestone Story
The Rags to Rhinestones Story is a smash hit tribute concert production that continues to sell out theatres across the UK. The show is widely accepted as the foremost tribute show to Dolly Parton, and is performed by the Award Winning Miss Julia Martin, the UK’s No1 Dolly Parton impersonator.
Show starts at 7.30pm
Prices start from £10


Saturday 20 April
LIAM MELLOR’S #CRACKING EASTER SHOW
Liam Mellor’s #Cracking Easter Show
Darlington’s comedy star, Liam Mellor will be bringing his #Cracking Easter Show to The Majestic Theatre, Darlington.
Join Liam and friends on stage this Easter, it’s a show that promises to be full of laughter, comedy and mayhem for all the family!!!
Make sure you book now to avoid disappointment.
Shows start at 11.00am, 2.30pm and 5.30pm
Prices start from £10


Friday 3 and Saturday 4 May
The Queen Experience
A performance synonymous with the energy and passion of one of the world’s biggest bands, killer rhapsody use their years of experience in live music to produce one of the most genuine and authentic Queen and Freddie Mercury experiences
Show starts 7.30pm
Prices start at £8.00

Coming up later in the year
Thursday 13 June - Death and the Maiden

Saturday 15 June - Tina Turner Experience

Saturday 6 July -  Mad About the Musicals

Sunday 7 July - Gary Delaney: Gagsters Paradise

Saturday 20 July - Lone Vigils Investigations

Friday 2 August - A Man and His Prostate

Saturday 3 August - Gals Aloud

Saturday 10 August - Lone Vigils Investigation

Saturday 17 August - Simply Westlife

Saturday 31 August - Sense and Sensibility

Sunday 13 October - Queens of Rock

Saturday 26 October - Sounds Like The Seekers

Wednesday 6 November - The Story of Guitar Heroes

Saturday 23 November - Derek Acorah

Saturday 30 November - Supersonic 70’s

Sunday 8 December to Friday 3 January - SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS


Saturday 23 February 2019

Theatre Review - START SWIMMING - THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE




Start Swimming is the latest production from The Young People’s Theatre, a youth theatre group based at The People’s Theatre in Heaton, Newcastle.

Performed in the superb new studio theatre space, set up in the thrust theatre style, this young group of 15 actors have certainly taken this script and developed and interpreted it with style.

Francesca Secker, Jem Etherington,
Alistair Wilson, Madeleine Secker
 - The Musicians
With no set, a black background and an audience on three sides, this group of young actors have the audience gripped from the start. With no named characters the actors are split into three groups; The Musicians - dressed in black, The Oppressors and The Oppressed – both dressed in black and white with the Oppressors distinguished by a black sash apart from the leader with a blue sash.

Back Row - Isabella Warburton Brown,
Imogen Henderson,
 Olivia Mawdesley (An Oppressor)
Front Row - Ethan Rutherford, 
Phoebe De'Ath, Beth Crinnion (An Oppressor)
Opening with The Musicians reading well known quotes, they soon move to surround the audience to create a self-composed soundscape which complements the script brilliantly. It is then the turn of The Oppressors and The Oppressed, where the question of “What are you doing here?” is posed. The simple reply is “Standing, standing on the grass.” The next 50 minutes that follow are a fast-paced physical performance where The Oppressed rebel, find that they are to be punished, The Oppressors punish, but are not really sure why. At least they aren’t been punished, that is their reward, but we can easily change sides. This is one of those productions which you could interpret in many ways and can be interpreted differently depending on your circumstances. What is important is the obvious journey the cast have gone through not only to create a sublime piece of theatre, but one which is thought provoking for them as well as the audience.

Abigail Mableson - An Oppressed & 
Ethan Rutherford - An Oppressor
It is not often that I will single out a particular cast member in youth productions, but I felt the performance of the overall leader of The Oppressors, with the blue sash, Phoebe De'Ath, was mesmerising in her performance as she subtly controlled The Oppressors, with a glance and a nod.

The entire cast show great confidence producing a thought-provoking, emotional and entertaining performance.

Runs until Saturday 23rd February

Friday 22 February 2019

Theatre Preview - START SWIMMING - THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE - 22ND - 23RD FEBRUARY


1984 meets The Hunger Games


Francesca Secker, Jem Etherington, Alistair Wilson,
Madeleine Secker - A Musician
This weekend sees a cast of fifteen members of YPT aged 12 to 16 take to the Studio Theatre stage, at The People's Theatre, Newcastle,  with James Fritz’s START SWIMMING.

George Orwell’s 1984 meets The Hunger Games in this thought-provoking drama about oppression and revolution, asking what power young people have to affect change and resist authority.

Back Row - Isabella Warburton Brown, Imogen Henderson,
 Olivia Mawdesley (An Oppressor)
Front Row - Ethan Rutherford,
Phoebe De'Ath, Beth Crinnion (An Oppressor) 
The play was developed by the Young Vic Taking Part department and was first performed at London’s Young Vic in 2017. It subsequently transferred to Summerhall as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In the introduction in the published text, Fritz writes that “our aim was to make something that would articulate how our cast felt about growing up marginalised in a major city during a time of incredible political upheaval.”






Abigail Mableson - An Oppressed &
Ethan Rutherford - An Oppressor
START SWIMMING is the first show of the exciting Spring/Summer Season which also includes Tom Stoppard classic ARCADIA, Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and gothic horror FRANKENSTEIN.
Phoebe De'Ath - An Oppressor, Millie Short - An Oppressed &
Olivia Mawdesley - An Oppressor












PHOTOS by Paula Smart 

START SWIMMING BY JAMES FRITZ

DATE:             Friday 22 – Saturday 23 February 2019
TIME:              7.30pm (plus 2.30pm on Sat 23rd)
VENUE:          People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF
TICKETS:       £10 (Concessions £7)
TELE:              0191 265 5020
WEBSITE:      www.peoplestheatre.co.uk