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

Theatre Preview - A world premiere by Arabella Arnott to open Alphebetti Theatre's new home

Christopher Price and Rosie Stancliffe

Rosie Stancliffe

Christopher Price

Coracle Productions are delighted to present the first production in Alphabetti Theatre’s new home on St James’ Boulevard. The world premiere of Overdue by Arabella Arnott will take to the stage in the theatre’s new space from Monday 4 to Saturday 16 September 2017.

Rosie Stancliffe from Leaving (Curious Monkey) and Christopher Price from Catch 22 (Northern Stage) take on the roles of Beth and John, two people struggling to come to terms with the past. They are joined by emerging performers Skyla Pearce, who plays struggling single mum Izzie, and Benjamin Michael Smith who plays the enigmatic Jack - both young performers making their professional stage debuts in this production. The show will be directed by Coracle’s North East director Matt Jamie.

Benjamin Smith

Skyla Pearce

The production will be designed by Alison Ashton, who has designed for Open Clasp, Theatre Sans Frontiers and several Live Theatre productions including The Savage and Harriet Martineau Dreams of Dancing.

Beth and John are happily married. But they’re not always happy. There are lots of things they need to talk about. A chance encounter with a young single mum, Izzie, reminds Beth of her past, and conversations with an enigmatic young stranger, Jack, bring Beth’s thoughts and fears into focus.

"I wonder what he'd be doing now? What kind of person he'd be. What kind of person I'd be?"

As Beth comes to find comfort in her ongoing chats with the two youngsters, she discovers that Jack may not be a stranger, and that he seems to hold the key to a lot of the answers she has been looking for – or hiding from.

Overdue is a sensitive, touching and funny play that looks at the ‘what ifs’ and ‘never were’s’; the difficult decisions we make, and how those choices and their unspoken effects can shape our lives.

Arabella’s previous plays have been described as ‘witty, insightful, refreshing and entertaining’ (NARC) and ‘a fascinating watch’ (NE Theatre Guide). Her play Life After, also produced by Coracle, was presented earlier this year as part of their double-bill Trajectory and was the last production to appear at Alphabetti’s old venue. Coracle are really excited to present the world premiere of Overdue at Alphabetti’s new home on St James’ Boulevard.

As Director Matt Jamie said

‘We’re excited to present the first full production at Alphabetti Theatre’s new home on St James’ Boulevard, having said farewell to the old basement in March with our last production, Trajectory. This new play by Arabella Arnott tells the story of Beth, a thirty-something woman, coming to terms with some difficult choices she faced as a teenager. The play tackles some challenging themes (which are particularly relevant in the current political climate with women’s choices being challenged in Northern Ireland and in the United States); But Arabella hasn’t written an ‘issue play’ here – this is a touching and often witty drama about relationships, growing up, dealing with the past, and confronting fears.’

Alphabetti Theatre’s Artistic Director Ali Pritchard added

'After hearing Overdue at a reading, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to build a new theatre for it to open".

In addition to the run at Alphabetti Theatre, Overdue will enjoy a special one-off performance on Monday 11 September at George Street Social a new alcohol-free cafe and performance venue run by The Road to Recovery Trust. George Street Social provides a space for people in recovery and opens up mainstream theatre for people who might not feel comfortable in a venue serving alcohol.

Overdue is at Alphabetti Theatre (Newcastle) from Monday 4 to Saturday 16 September 2017 and is suitable for 13+. Tickets are £9 full price; £7 concessions with Pay What You Decide performances on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Overdue is at George Street Social (Newcastle) on Monday 11 September and tickets are £5.

For more information or to book tickets visit www.coracleproductions.com

Rosie Stancliffe and Christopher Price

Theatre Preview - A Song for Ella Grey. Premiere of stage adaptation of David Almond’s award-winning novel to open autumn season at Northern Stage

A brand new production of David Almond’s award-winning young adult novel A Song for Ella Grey will premiere at Northern Stage in Newcastle (5 – 16 September). Adapted for the stage by David Almond him-self and directed by Northern Stage Artistic Director Lorne Campbell, the creative team will make the show with the help of young people from across the North East.

Creative Team with young people at Ella Grey Workshop April 2017

David Almond's story sets the Orpheus myth in teenage Tyneside, travelling from the beaches of Bamburgh to the bridges of Ouseburn. Hailed as one of the most important writers for this generation of young peo-ple, the Tyneside author is the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, Whitbread Book Award, Car-negie Medal and, most recently, the Guardian children’s fiction prize. Previous stage adaptations include Skellig at Sage Gateshead and Miracle! An Opera of Two Halves at Sunderland Minster.

David explains, “I'm so happy that this story is coming to life again at Northern Stage. It's based on an an-cient tale but it's also very new. I've set it on Tyneside, the place where I live, the place of my birth. It’s about ordinary Tyneside teenagers with all their madness, joys and yearnings. At its heart is a simple tale of a girl and a boy falling in love. It asks the question, Can Love be stronger than Death?

“Somehow we all know something about the tale of Orpheus, the wonderful musician who travels to the Underworld to bring back his lost love. We all know the simple scary line, ‘Don't look back! Don't look back!’ The story was often rather weird to write - sometimes I felt as if Orpheus had visited me, that his spirit was flowing through me; that his voice was singing underneath my words...”

Movement Director Martin Hylton

The creative team includes set and costume designer Jen McGinley – winner of the 2015 Linbury Prize; Movement Director Martin Hylton; film maker Kris Deedigan who is working with Northern Stage Young Company members to create film and projections for the production; and sound designer/composer Ma-riam Rezaei. Mariam works predominantly with turntables, piano, vocals and electronics and she is creat-ing and recording an immersive soundscape for A Song for Ella Grey in collaboration with Young Company members aged 16-21

Mariam Rezaie, on the right, leads vocal session

Amy Cameron will play the lead role of Claire. Most recently seen at Northern Stage in the critically ac-claimed Get Carter as Jack’s niece Doreen, Amy is originally from Sunderland and has appeared in ITV’s Vera alongside Brenda Blethyn as well as stage roles including Helene in A Doll’s House (Royal Exchange) and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hallé).

David Almond joins vocal session with Amy Cameron and young people

Director Lorne Campbell says, “For me, David’s writing is everything fiction should be, magical and fantasti-cal without ever letting go of an unvarnished and uncompromising reality. A Song for Ella Grey is an incredi-ble book about growing up, it contains all of the passion and intensity of being a teenager while dealing with profound honesty and courage with death, grief and the reality of surviving tragedy. The chance to not only make this incredible book into a play but to do so working with the brilliant creativity of our Young Company is an incredible pleasure and privilege.”

A Song for Ella Grey opens in Newcastle in September 2017. Tickets start from £10 - for more information or to book tickets visit www.northerstage.co.uk or call 0191 230 5151.

Theatre Preview - Rehearsals start at Live Theatre for the World Premiere of From The Sky To Your Hands, a true story of a young mum’s search for refuge and belonging

Wednesday 8 - Saturday 11 November, 7.30pm
Saturday 11 November, 2pm

Told by Joana Geronimo

Written by Juliana Mensah

Directed by Paul James

Designed by Alison Ashton

Dramaturgy by Gez Casey

Musical Direction by Mariam Razaei

“I tell him that you don’t know what I have been through… for us to be here. You have to work hard. Nothing comes from the sky to your hands…”

Rehearsals started this week for From the Sky to Your Hands which is at Live Theatre from Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 November. Telling the story of Joana Geronimo who came to Newcastle with her baby son Osvaldo as refugees from Angola in 2003, the play is performed by Joana herself, and tells, in her own words, with music and humour, her story of parenthood, longing and belonging.”

Joana is supported by young actors from Live’s Youth Theatre including her now teenage son Osvaldo. Youth Theatre Members Finn Armstrong, Isobel Donkin, Paul Gaitskell, Elizabeth Guariento, Monica Hardcastle, Dawn Hardcastle and Ore Olajide, aged between 13 and 21 provide a dramatic and musical chorus to the performance.

In 2008 Joana took part in From Home To Newcastle, a Live Theatre verbatim piece about asylum seekers and refugees. Following that project Joana joined Live’s Youth Theatre, and has since become a drama worker and actress. Almost ten years later this new play catches up with Joana – how things have changed for her and her family, including Osvaldo, now a typical Geordie teenager.

Cast of From The Sky To Your Hands on the 1st day of rehearsals

Joana Geronimo said:

“I want to use the voice I have to show the audience that not everything the press says about refugees is true. There is a story behind every refugee. I’m just telling mine.”

From The Sky To Your Hands is part of Freedom City 2017 (www.FreedomCity2017.com), a city-wide programme marking the 50th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. receiving an honorary degree from Newcastle University. Freedom City 2017 takes place at venues and public spaces across Newcastle and Gateshead throughout the year.

Paul James, Senior Creative Associate at Live Theatre said:

“Through her own words From The Sky to Your Hands contrasts Joana’s experiences arriving and settling in North East, with that of her son, brought up in Newcastle. The cast of talented young people drawn from Live’s Youth Theatre provide a poignant and musical chorus to the play. Reflecting the

Freedom City festival themes of racism, poverty and freedom it promises to be a thought-provoking and moving play.”

Original music and vocal arrangements of soul and gospel songs performed by the chorus are by Mariam Rezaei whose previous musical direction includes Your Aunt Fanny at Live Theatre and Cinema by Zendeh.

The cast of From The Sky To Your Hands

Freedom City 2017 features a large-scale outdoor event, thought-provoking theatre, inspiring exhibitions, uplifting musical performances, world-class academic research and more. Inspired by the themes of Dr King’s acceptance speech at Newcastle University, Freedom City 2017 brings international artists, musicians, filmmakers, academics and community groups together to inspire them to help tackle the three ‘urgent and great problems’ highlighted in Dr King’s speech ‘the problem of racism, the problem of poverty and the problem of war’.

From The Sky To Your Hands is at Live Theatre from Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 November, 7.30pm and Saturday 11 November, 2pm. A free Meet the Creative Team event will take place after the performance on Thursday 9 November in which the cast discuss issues raised in the play with representatives from charities that work with refugees in the region.  Tickets are £10-£14, over 60s £12 and other concessions £6.  For more information or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact Live Theatre’s Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.

Music Preview - ROY G HEMMINGS MULTI-AWARD WINNING MOTOWN & PHILADELPHIA ON TOUR – SUNDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER 2017, PLAYHOUSE, WHITLEY BAY

ROY G HEMMINGS MULTI-AWARD WINNING MOTOWN & PHILADELPHIA ON TOUR – SUNDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER 2017 – 7.30PM

 

The hits and memories just keep on coming as multi-award winning ROY G HEMMINGS and his 15 strong on-stage band’s full-evening show delivers memories of a twin era of music that lives on and on. Be prepared to dance in front of your seats at this concert party!

A full-evening show that spans the hits of THE OJAYS, THE TRAMPS, BILLY PAUL, CANDI STATON, MFSB, THE STYLISTICS, to mention but a few of those memorable PHILLY acts, together with the sounds of Detroit and old favourites such as THE 4 TOPS, SUPREMES, THE TEMPTATIONS, MARVIN GAYE, BOYS 2 MEN, THE DRIFTERS and information on the era between the songs.

This is an all action show with the GREATEST HITS OF ALL TIME you will just love!

 

The Playhouse, Whitley Bay 

Box Office: 0844 248 1588*                  

www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge