Theatre Review - THE CHANGING ROOM - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

THE CHANGING Room by Chris Bush is the latest production from the talented Young People’s Theatre. This is one of the ten plays which has been commissioned especially for young people as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival.

Set in a swimming pool, we follow 10 teenagers as we share their worries, excitement and desires as they discover the changes occurring in their lives. The cast made up of Silvie Boyle, Beth Crinnion, Alice Cullen, Phoebe De’Ath, Imogen Henderson, Anna Sabin, Madeline Secker, Jorja Smith, Isabella Warburton and Alistair Wilson, begin all dressed in black and take us on their journey of change as one. They unite as a body warming into their roles, at the same time as we, as an audience, change our mindset back into those teenage years. Through monologues, small scenes, physical theatre and song their stories are told. Much is used of numerous metaphors during their journey until they break out with different coloured tops highlighting their individuality.

This is a well-directed, Pamela Birieson, production with a hard-working cast. Set design by Ian Willis allows swift movement of the cast and creates the feeling of the swimming pool.

Finally, yes, that is the most annoying song I have ever heard! Are we nearly there yet? These teenagers are just that little bit closer, and wiser, on their journey!

Running until Saturday 22nd February 2020 @19:30 - running time 45 minutes

Theatre Preview - THE CHANGING ROOM - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

Each year the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK's most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. 

300 youth theatre companies and over 6000 young people from every corner of the UK are producing a Connections play this year, including our very own Young People’s Theatre with Chris Bush’s lyrical drama THE CHANGING ROOM.

Set in and around a swimming pool, the play follows a group of teens full of excitement, impatience and uncertainty, each with their own secret worries and desires for what comes next. It's about bodies in flux and perspectives shifting; knowing change is coming but not what that change will look like.

This will be the Young People’s Theatre’s fourth time taking part in the National Theatre Connections Festival. The cast of ten are made up of young performers aged 14-16.

Director Pam comments "It has been fabulous working with our talented young people. I am amazed every rehearsal with how much hard work and commitment they put in to making their performances a success. The play has been a challenge for all involved, a lot of dedication has gone into making this show."

Recent Young People’s Theatre productions include last year’s The Witches, 2016’s Eclipse and the 2017 collaboration with the adult theatre More Light. THE CHANGING ROOM is the first time they have taken on a play with songs and three of the performers will be providing live music on the guitar, piano and violin!

Our Young People’s Theatre is for 11 to 17 year olds. The group meets weekly to improvise, rehearse, play theatre games and discover more about all aspects of theatre. Thousands of young people have taken part in the YPT since its foundation more than 50 years ago and some have gone on to find success in the arts and entertainment worlds including comedian Ross Noble, actors Andrea Riseborough and Tom Goodman-Hill and Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant. 

THE CHANGING ROOM by Chris Bush runs from Thursday 20^th to Saturday 22^nd February at 7.30pm in our Studio Theatre. Tickets are £10 (£7 conc), available from the People’s Theatre Box Office on 0191 265 5020 and online at peoplestheatre.co.uk

Theatre Review - THE CROFT - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

SET in a former crofter’s hut on The Applecross Peninsula in the remote Scottish Highlands ‘The Croft’ is billed as a thriller, but is much more than that. 

The play covers three different times and begins in the present day with Laura, in her 20’s, returning to the family croft on her first visit since her mother’s death from cancer. It is not long before it’s clear that she is there with issues to resolve. Joining Laura is her new lover Suzanne, Caroline Harker, an older woman with two teenage sons and a failing marriage. Initially there is the sense of the new relationship developing, but the remoteness soon becomes an issue for Suzanne with the lack of mobile signal and the nearest shop a 45-minute round trip. The appearance of David, Drew Cain, who is keeping an eye on the croft for Laura’s father, certainly unsettles Laura.

Scenes move to the time when Laura’s mum, Ruth, also played by Caroline Harker, was suffering from cancer and spends her time with David, rather than her husband, Tom, Simon Roberts. The final period we enter is much earlier taking us back to 1870 and the time of the Highland Clearances, where Enid, Gwen Taylor, lives in the croft and has taken in a young girl, Eilene, also played by Lucy Doyle. With themes that seamlessly flow between the time periods, naturally creating a darker sense as the 1870s merge with the present day through the half face at the window, door slamming and lights flickering creating a ghostly presence throughout.

The cast swiftly move between the time periods until they finally collide with each other. This tightly directed production will draw you in from the initial feeling of fresh family life to surprising conclusions.   

Theatre Review - THE SEVEN ACTS OF MERCY - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

A moving story about compassion in a bleak existence, set first in Naples 1606, as painter Caravaggio creates his first painting since killing a man in Rome. Then we are returned to present day where grandfather Leon tries to impart his self-taught knowledge of art to his grandson as the only legacy he can afford. The painting ‘The Seven Acts of Mercy’ has particular resonance to Leon and his Grandson Micky and demonstrates how great art whispers its meaning across time.  Written by Anders Lustgarten, it pulls no punches and is full of strong language and contains a small amount of partial nudity.

The sparse staging was by Tim Swinton (with the exception of a large LCD screen that projected the painting at different stages), which seemed to emphasise the importance of the acts of compassion in an otherwise dark world.  Directors Tony Childs and Mark Burden have created a production that was electric, compelling and something that will stay with you long after the last bow. 

The characters are powerful, even some of the smaller roles call for a great deal of emotional depth and demand high levels of skill from the actors. Each character on the stage was masterfully executed. To say the cast was strong is an understatement.  Leon Carragher (Keith Wigham), the disheartened grandfather and his more positive grandson, Micky Carragher (Joe Robson) created many strong moments of family understanding, misunderstanding and loving each other as the story fell to a sombre, but uplifting conclusion. I defy anyone to not be moved by their last moments on stage. Most of the characters had their own moments of dark comedy which helped to lighten the mood a little but Prime (Callum Mawston) and Razor (JimSimpson) brought an odd liveliness as the petty criminals who revel in the sinister world they reside in. Who could not love Dennis (Gordon Mounsey), retaining his dignity as best he can in difficult circumstances, or the passionate but realistic Sandra (Frances Holland).  Funded by the subtle Marchese (Steve Robertson) and befriended by Lavinia (Sara Jo Harrison), Caravaggio (Steve Noone), through great pains, creates ‘The Seven  Acts of Mercy’.  Lavinia and Caravaggio had such effective on-stage chemistry, as kindred spirits, it was hard to believe I was not watching RSC members performing.

The Seven Acts of Mercy is on at the People’s Theatre from 10^th to 15^th of February.

Theatre Review - THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP - THE CASTLE PLAYERS, BARNARD CASTLE

The Castle Players - photo credit - Helen Brown

THE CASTLE Players are renowned for their lavish outdoor productions in the grounds of The Bowes Museum, where they enjoy the large outdoor space. During the winter, they move indoors and take to the stages of the local Village Halls, which are certainly different and varied in size.

With Gordon Duffy-McGhie at the helm as director, his choice of Stewart Howson’s performance adaptation of Dicken’s The Old Curiosity Shop is inspired. It is one of the most perfect productions for this talented company from the physical theatre, comedy and characterisation. The cast of eight work tirelessly for two hours taking us on a journey through Victorian England, they tell the story of Nell Trent, Janie Caldbeck, and her grandfather, Andy Moorhouse, whose gambling has led to their financial ruin. It is from here that the eight actors present an array of Di

ckensian characters to perfection.

Sarah Fells as Dick Swiveller. photo credit Helen Brown

Janie Caldbeck slips with ease between Little Nell and the evil Quilp. Andy Moorhouse switches between the Grandfather and the Single Gentleman with some delightful characterisation.  Sarah Fells as Dick Swiveller commands the stage with one of the best performances I have seen her produce, full of energy, drawing the audience in with every movement. Lois Falshaw excels playing the contrasting Kit Nubbles and The Marchioness. Charlotte Perkins plays Sally Brass and Mrs Jarley showing an excellent use of accents and as part of the Chorus was one of the best trees you will see. Harry French, Peter Firby and Amanda Falshaw complete this talented cast with superb timing, filling the stage with action ensuring swift pace throughout.

The set comprises of a central revolving wardrobe, which ingeniously creates all manner of scenes from doorways, to a bed and best of all, the Punch and Judy scene, perfectly executed.

I feel as if I should say you won’t see a better production from The Castle Players, but they are about to start on The Comedy of Errors for their summer production, so I better wait and see!