Theatre Review - THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

 

One of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous stories is perfectly lampooned by this ‘barking’ production of The Hound of the Baskervilles, adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the family curse linked to a hound that roams Dartmoor. Far from the serious Basil Rathbone version of Sherlock, we find our selves in a zany, farcical and fast paced production - bursting with gags and laughter.

Moira Valentine, Roger Liddle photo Mark Burden

Directed by Anna Dobson, the show runs in and out of reality with joyful ease, with actors speaking directly about the parts they are playing. The show is a little slow in places, but makes up for it by speeding headlong in others. With only three actors playing the array of parts, never have props, lighting and sound been more crucial to a show! Sarah Pearson on Costume and Chloe Parrack, Costume Assistant, clothed characters perfectly - some costumes needed to be (and were) removed seamlessly. Much applause must go to Tim Swinton on Lighting and Sound for setting the scene and keeping perfect comic timing with each noise created. The set, by Alan Potts and Tim Swinton, was simple and effective - with many of the larger creations being brought on and off centre stage by the actors, as scenes called for them. I confess I feel the ‘bed’ was done a disservice by not being used more, as it was ingeniously made. Kay Worswick and Sheila Bone fulfilled the daunting prospect of supplying the many props for this show, keeping the laughter flowing with fake bodies and bags of lamb.

Moira Valentine, Roger Liddle, Steve Robertson
photo Mark Burden

With such a small cast, all three must be commended for keeping the energy of the show going and remembering who they were at any one time. Moira Valentine played Yokel and Dr Watson; Steve Robertson was Sir Charles Baskerville, Mortimer, Sir Henry Baskerville, Cabbie, Yokel and Wise Yokel; and Roger Liddle was Sherlock Holmes, Guard, Old Woman, Mad Yokel, Stapelton, Cecile, Barrymore and Mrs Barrymore. Steve Robertson had me in stitches with his west-country accents and costume-impaired Sir Henry. However, I was particularly impressed by Roger Liddle - not just for a flawless Sherlock, but also for managing to keep his breath as two of his other characters wrestled with each other between appearances of Sherlock in the final Act.

Moira Valentine, Steve Robertson, Roger Liddle
photo Mark Burden

This show is a lot of fun, if you liked the recent version of ‘The 39 Steps’ you’ll love this. Should you see it? Why, that’s elementary my dear reader!

Hound of the Baskervilles in on at the Peoples Theatre, runs until Saturday 30^th October.

Theatre Preview - JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT - NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

 

STELLAR CAST ANNOUNCED FOR JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

 

Casting is announced for the sensational brand-new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which is set to light up the stage at Newcastle Theatre Royal Tue 24 May – Sat 2 Jun 2022 direct from two triumphant seasons at The London Palladium.

 

Linzi Hateley - Joseph’s original, Olivier Award-Nominated Narrator - will be sharing the stage once again with Jason Donovan who will reprise his role as Pharaoh and Jac Yarrow as he prepares to don the famous coat in the titular role on tour.

 

Linzi Hateley is an Olivier Award nominee and Theatre World Award winner who has starred on Broadway, in the West End, with the RSC, and at the National Theatre. She now returns to the role of the Narrator, having first starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1991 opposite Jason Donovan and Phillip Schofield at the London Palladium – for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

 

Jason Donovan will return in the role of Pharaoh. He was originally in the show when he made his defining stage performance as the title character of Joseph in the 1990s, in a sold-out 18-month run which produced a No.1 single and best-selling soundtrack album. Jason raised the roof of the London Palladium during the show’s 2019 and 2021 engagements as Pharaoh, who rocks ‘Song of the King’ in the musical.

 

Jac Yarrow caused a sensation when he made his professional stage debut playing Joseph, following in the footsteps of a line of stars who have previously played the title character. His portrayal of Joseph won him unanimous acclaim and an Olivier Award nomination, with his rendition of ‘Close Every Door To Me’ regularly stopping the show with standing ovations.

 

Producer Michael Harrison said: “After two sensational runs at The London Palladium, I am delighted to bring this joyous show to the Newcastle Theatre Royal next year as Joseph prepares to unite audiences and spread happiness across the UK. Our ‘dream team’ casting will enchant newcomers and longstanding fans alike; Jac Yarrow has wowed audiences and critics with his spectacular debut and attendees should be prepared for the roof to be raised when Jason Donovan steps on stage. Linzi Hateley is confirmed to return to her role as Narrator when we perform in Newcastle having delivered a delightful dose of nostalgia to audiences at special performances of Joseph at the London Palladium this summer. GO! GO! GO! JOSEPH!"

 

Audiences and critics were unanimous in their acclaim for the legendary musical - the first major collaboration by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber – when it returned to the London Palladium in 2019 and again in 2021.

 

Released as a concept album in 1969, the stage version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has become one of the world’s most beloved family musicals. The multi-award-winning show, which began life as a small-scale school concert, has been performed hundreds of thousands of times including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, international number one tours, and productions in over 80 countries as far afield as Austria and Zimbabwe and from Israel to Peru! The show features songs that have gone on to become pop and musical theatre standards, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me, Jacob and Sons, There’s One More Angel In Heaven and Go Go Go Joseph.

 

Told entirely through song with the help of the Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat follows the story of Jacob’s favourite son Joseph and his eleven brothers. After being sold into hardship by the brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled showman, the Pharaoh. As Joseph strives to resolve Egypt’s famine, he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites with his family.

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is directed by Laurence Connor. Laurence’s credits include the acclaimed London production of School of Rock and the Tony-Award nominated production on Broadway, the recent London productions of Miss Saigon and Chess, the international arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and he is also the Co-Director of the new version of Les Misérables which has enjoyed worldwide success including Broadway, UK and US tours. He is the director of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

 

JoAnn M Hunter (who has 20 Broadway shows to her credit, including School of Rock and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever) is the show’s choreographer, set and costume design are by the award-winning Morgan Large with Ben Cracknell as Lighting Designer and Gareth Owen as Sound Designer.

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is produced by Michael Harrison.

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 24 May – Sat 4 Jun 2022. Tickets are priced from £20.00 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Theatre Preview - HADDOCK AND CHIPS - GALA THEATRE, DURHAM

 

Durham City theatre serves up heart-warming drama

 

Audiences at Gala Durham theatre can look forward to a generous portion of local humour and community spirit at the end of this month, with a new play, inspired by and set in the north east.

There’ll be laughter, tears, and mushy peas on offer when the Durham County Council-run venue stages Janet Plater's Haddock and Chips, on Friday 29 October.

Set in a north east chippie, the uplifting play deals with a range of small-scale neighbourhood dramas, including an ill-fated relationship, a mysterious new arrival, and a missing child.

Join shop owner Bob, assistant Brenda and a host of colourful lads and lasses, as the town’s residents turn amateur detective, piecing together the events of the evening to help find a lost little girl.

Writer, Janet, said: “The original idea for Haddock and Chips came years ago when I was worrying about a child, as all parents do. I mentioned to a friend I had no extended family nearby and they countered ‘we’re all family nearby.’ A Geordie thing perhaps but particularly resonant in current times. I’m interested in the idea that every person carries with them their history and view of themselves. In ordinary moments these collide with others and, on this night, in this place, a child is missing. How would people react to that?”

A small but talented cast of just two actors will play the range of characters who pass through the shop’s doors, in an evening of playful banter, lively drama and light-hearted comedy. Phillippa Wilson and Joe Caffrey will be familiar faces to audiences, and both have a wealth of experience in TV and theatre.

Phillippa, who has worked in the industry for more than twenty years, was part of the original cast for the hugely successful production The Pitmen Painters and stayed with the show when it transferred to Broadway. She has also worked extensively for Live Theatre, Northern Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club and National Theatre, and has made TV appearances in Where the Heart Is and Heartbeat.

Joe, who trained at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, has acted in TV shows including Vera, Holby City and Byker Grove, as well as films such as Victoria and Abdul, and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. His theatre credits include The Last Ship at Northern Stage, Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe, Cabaret, Billy Elliott the Musical, and The Pitmen Painters.

Director, Jake Murray, said: “I'm very excited to be working on Haddock and Chips. It’s a beautiful play, funny, thought-provoking, moving and inspiring at the same time. New writing is always a thrill to work on as you are breaking new ground, presenting something no-one has seen before. It’s a bonus when the writing is as good as this. It’s a real north eastern play, unique to this area. It has a big heart, a shrewd eye for human character and a real community spirit. I can't wait."

Written by the north east’s own Janet, and produced by CaroleW Productions, a local theatre company with a passion for providing ‘a good night out’, Haddock and Chips is a performance which celebrates the region’s sense of community and highlights the hope that can be found in humanity, even in the hardest of times.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, the council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “In what we hope is the wake of the covid pandemic, a funny, life-affirming drama such as Haddock and Chips is exactly what we need right now. Audiences will recognise themselves and people they know in the show’s characters, who will take them on an emotional and comical journey.

“The play also highlights what a source of inspiration our region can be to the arts, as well as the quality of creative talent it has nurtured. As a county bidding to become UK City of Culture 2025, we’re proud to be championing local writers, producers and actors.”

Tickets for Haddock and Chips, priced from £14 to £16, are available from Gala Durham, in person, over the phone on 03000 266 600 or online at www.galadurham.co.uk

Theatre Preview - THE NUTCRACKER RE-MICED - DURHAM'S GALA THEATRE AND BISHOP AUKLAND TOWN HALL

 

Christmas show takes young audiences on festive Durham adventure

Young audiences can help three mice save a little girl’s Christmas, as a children’s festive show takes to the stage in County Durham from next month.

Durham’s Gala Theatre and Bishop Auckland Town Hall will both be hosting a special production of The Nutcracker Re-Miced in the lead-up to Christmas.

Set in the clock tower of Durham Castle, three mice Spike, Cookie and Molly are preparing for Christmas when they become involved in a mysterious quest.

With the help of an intriguing toy which has been left behind at Durham Station, the mice take part in a festive adventure to save Christmas for a young girl.

Written by Laura Turner, who has created more than 40 original plays and adaptations, and directed by North East director Jake Smith, the Christmas show will take children and their grown-ups on a fantastic festive journey filled with music and excitement.

The show will also star all North East actors, including Benjamin Storey, Rebecca Tebbett and Jessica Brady playing the three mice, and will have original music composed by David J Barton.

In a twist on the classic Nutcracker story and the Hickory Dickory Dock nursery rhyme, young audiences aged three and over can enjoy this sparkling new, music-filled production at two venues in the county.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are really excited to be showing this original Christmas production at not one, but two venues in the county. With a cast of fantastic actors, and written, composed, and directed by talented creators, The Nutcracker Re-Miced is a must-see event for children and their grown-ups full of live music and adventure.

“Set in Durham and featuring some of the city’s well-known locations, this show is very much a County Durham production created by local talent and demonstrates why the county is bidding for UK City of Culture 2025.”

The Nutcracker Re-Miced will be shown at Bishop Auckland Town Hall from 30 November to 5 December, before moving on to Gala from 7 December to 24 December.

At Gala, The Nutcracker Re-Miced will run alongside the theatre’s family Christmas panto Robin Hood, which will be on stage from 24 November to 9 January.

Tickets for The Nutcracker Re-Miced are priced at £8, or £7.50 for groups of ten or more, and family tickets are £30. British Sign Language performances will be held on 1 December at 1.30pm at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, and on 10 December at 1.30pm at Gala.

To book tickets for each venue, visit www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk and www.galadurham.co.uk

Theatre Preview - THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES - PEOPLE'S THEATRE , NEWCASTLE

 “There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.”  

 

The People’s Theatre in Heaton was rocking with laughter earlier this month at their hugely successful ‘Blackadder II’, and the laughs continue next week with a fabulously farcical retelling of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous case THE HOUND OF THE BASERVILLES! 

Moira Valentine, Roger Liddl  photo Mark Burden

 

With his faithful sidekick Dr Watson in tow, the great detective finds himself up against an ancient family curse as a spectral hound seemingly runs amok on Dartmoor. 

 

A cast of three (Roger Liddle, Moira Valentine and Steve Robertson) play over 14 characters in this gloriously funny twist on a legendary gothic mystery.  

 

From Holmes and Watson through to a bevy of Yokels, the trio never stop in this hit comedy that broke box office records when it premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2007.  

 

Director Anna Dobson comments: “This is a comedy retelling of a classic, but it’s still perfect for anyone who is fan of the book or the film as there are nods to both throughout. It really celebrates the story of The Hound of the Baskervilles and its rich characters, but invites the audience to laugh and enjoy some really brilliant comedic storytelling in the process”. 

 

Steve Robertson, Moira Valentine photo Mark Burden

If you enjoyed the People’s production of ‘The 39 Steps’ in 2018, you’ll love the quickfire gags, red herrings, disguises and twists in this fun-packed romp for all ages!  

 

The People’s Theatre is proud to be a See It Safely accredited venue and there is a socially-distanced performance on Tuesday 26th for those not quite ready to return to a busy indoor space. 

 

And with only nine weeks until Christmas, things get seasonal soon! There’s heart-warming festive fun celebrating a chaotic primary school nativity in THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY by Tim Firth. And, of course, family fun in the Panto of your dreams SLEEPING BEAUTY!  

 

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Steve Canny and John Nicholson 

 

Date: Tuesday 26th - Saturday 30th October 2021 (socially-distanced performance on Tuesday 26th) 

Time: 7.30pm 

Tickets: £15 (Conc. £13) 

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

Box Office: 0191 265 5020                      

Website: www.peoplestheatre.co.uk 

Theatre Preview - BEING MR WICKHAM - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

                                             Original Theatre Company presents 

Being Mr Wickham 

at Darlington Hippodrome on 11 and 12 October 2021 

starring Adrian Lukis 

Adrian Lukis will star in Being Mr Wickham
(photo James Findlay)

 

Original Theatre Company’s Autumn 2021 tour of Being Mr Wickham starring Adrian Lukis heads to Darlington Hippodrome on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 October 2021 at 8pm. Written by Adrian Lukis and Catherine Curzon, this one-man play about one of Jane Austen’s most charmingly roguish characters, is directed by Guy Unsworth. 

 

Adrian Lukis, who starred in the renowned BBC TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, returns to the role of Mr Wickham following the acclaimed online production of Being Mr Wickham earlier this year.  

 

"Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends - whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is less certain." Join Pride and Prejudice’s most roguish gentleman, George Wickham, on the eve of his sixtieth birthday, to lift the sheets on exactly what happened thirty years on from where we left him. Discover his own version of some very famous literary events. What really happened with Darcy? What did he feel about Lizzie? What happened at Waterloo? Not to mention Byron… 

 

Adrian Lukis said of the production: "I’m thrilled to be reunited with my old friend, George Wickham. Having spent years defending his dubious reputation, I look forward to finally setting the record straight, with the assistance of the immensely talented Original Theatre Company." 

 

Rarely off the small screen, Adrian Lukis’s most recent TV credits include Channel 4’s Feel Good, the 2019 mini-series A Christmas Carol starring Guy Pearce, Vera, Poldark, Bulletproof, Collateral, The Crown, Red Dwarf, Grantchester, Black Mirror, Blair Toast in Toast of London, Downton Abbey, New Tricks and Death in Paradise. He also stars in the new Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal, due to be streamed this year.  Films include Judy, Dolittle, City Slacker and Bertie & Dickie.  Recent theatre credits include The Price (Theatre Royal Bath), The Seagull (Chichester Festival Theatre/ National Theatre), and Versailles (Donmar Warehouse). 

 

Being Mr Wickham is produced by Alastair Whatley and Tom Hackney for Original Theatre Company, the award-winning producer of hit online productions of Birdsong and Apollo 13: The Dark Side of the Moon and stage productions including the 5-star revival of Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art and A Splinter of Ice. 

 

The Director is Guy Unsworth, Designer is Libby Watson, Sound Designer is Max Pappenheim and Lighting Designer is Johanna Town.  

 

Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of Original Theatre Company, said: “Guy Unsworth’s production of Adrian’s and Catherine’s fantastic play was one of the highlights from our recent online season. Originally live streamed from the beautiful Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds but without an audience physically with us in the room, it’s a real thrill to be able to get the show on the road and visit theatres up and down the country.” 

 

For more information, and to book, visit https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01325 405405. 

Adrian Lukis in Being Mr Wickham
(photo James Findlay)

Theatre Review - BLACKADDER II - THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE - NEWCASTLE

 

Baldrick (Tony Sehgal) & Blackadder (Sam Hinton)
photo Mark Burden

If you loved the original Blackadder II, or even if you’ve never seen a single episode, please go and see this show; I guarantee it will have you rolling in the aisles. Blackadder II is based on three episodes (‘Head’, ‘Bells’ and ‘Beer’) of the beloved BBC TV Series – we follow Blackadder doing his best to use all his cunning to succeed in the Elizabethan era.  Directed by Matthew Hope and Sean Burnside, this is a production that takes every opportunity to make you laugh. The set design by Megan Smith and Precious Oyibo managed to fit the purpose of many different settings and created a feel of the Elizabethan era using only a few pieces of furniture. The costumes looked phenomenal, with each actor dressed as if they had just walked off the original BBC set.

 

Nursie (Karen Elliott) & Queenie (Catherine White)
photo Mark Burden

The show is filled with the best characters of the show; Baldrick (Tony Sehgal), trying out his new inventions to catch his dinner, the hectic Queenie (Catherine White), the pompous Lord Melchett (Tony Childs), the delightfully dippy Nursie (Karen Elliot) and everyone’s favourite Lord Flashhart (Jake Wilson Craw), to name but a few. Look out for the interesting faces made by The Wisewoman (Ann Zunder) who took to her role with great zeal. I couldn’t help giggling at Kate’s Father (Martin Collins) as he continued mumbling his way off stage. Lord Edmund Blackadder (Sam Hinton) seemed to become more and more cunning and funny as the show went on. Such was the talent of the actors that, when Blackadder and Bob/Kate (Catherine Ellis) became stuck to one another due to a wardrobe malfunction, they kept us in stitches, never breaking character as they managed to extract themselves. Although, I must confess to breaking into hysterics every time Lord Percy (Ben Ostell) appeared on stage, no opportunity for amusement was missed.

 

Percy (Ben Ostell), Mr Ploppy (Mike Cornish),
Mrs Ploppy (Marina Cornish), (Baldrick (Tony Sehgal)
photo Mark Burden

I was concerned as to how the three stories would work, but then The Minstrel (Craig Fairbairn) appeared. It was a true pleasure to listen to his funny songs marking the end of each chapter.

 

Flashheart (Jake Wilson Craw), Bob (Catherine Ellis)
photo Mark Burden

If you feel the need for a little joy and laughter, this is definitely the show for you. 

Blackadder II is running 5-9 October at the Peoples Theatre.

Preview - BLACKADDER II - THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

 “To you, Baldrick, the Renaissance was just something that happened to other people, wasn’t it?”

Baldrick (Tony Sehgal), Blackadder (Sam Hinton) Percy (Ben Ostell)
photo Matthew Hope

If there’s one thing we need right now, it’s a good laugh!

The People’s Theatre in Heaton are delighted to oblige by bringing audiences the BBC comedy classic BLACKADDER II!

Join them in Elizabethan England for the escapades of scheming Lord Edmund Blackadder and his turnip-loving servant Baldrick.

As Blackadder strives to use his withering wit and cowardly cunning to gain favour with eccentric Queenie, he must also contend with aristocratic buffoon Lord Percy, dim-witted Nursie and crafty Lord Melchett!

The play is brought to the stage by many of the team behind the Theatre’s hugely successful production of ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’ in 2018.

Director Matthew Hope returns, as do Sam Hinton as Blackadder, Tony Sehgal as Baldrick and Jake Wilson Craw as Flashheart.

And, of course, there are lots of new characters to enjoy including the fabulously childish Queen Elizabeth I played by Catherine White, who has been a Blackadder fan for as long as she can remember. 

Catherine comments: “It’s amazing to live out a childhood dream of stepping into the shoes of Miranda Richardson. The rehearsals have been a much-needed giggle from start to finish and I hope it’ll be a blast for the audience too.”

Co-director Sean Burnside adds: The People’s has always relied on its members as its greatest asset, and Matt and I feel privileged to have been able to bring so many back into the rehearsal room, and have so much fun in the process. It’s been a rare rehearsal where laughter hasn’t stopped us in our tracks and we hope we can put smiles on our audiences faces after what has been an extremely downbeat year”.

The Theatre’s re-opening earlier this month saw an outpouring of support from audiences delighted to return and help the People’s get back on its feet.

The Theatre’s COVID-safe measures were praised by audiences, and they continue to offer socially-distanced performances for those not quite ready to return to a busy indoor space.

And the laughs keep on coming in a re-opening season which promises to entertain audiences of the North East right up to Christmas!

Also in October there’s hilarious spoof THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES which gives Sherlock Holmes’ most famous case a fabulously farcical makeover. Then there’s heart-warming festive fun in THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY by Tim Firth, the writer of ‘Calendar Girls’. And, of course, family fun in the Panto of your dreams SLEEPING BEAUTY!

www.peoplestheatre.co.uk