Theatre Preview - SUMMER HOLIDAY - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

ALL ABOARD FOR A FABULOUS SUMMER HOLIDAY

The new stage musical based on the hit 60s film starring Cliff Richard is coming to Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 25 September for one week only.

Enjoy fun and laughter on a Summer Holiday when the stage musical packed with classic Cliff Richard hits comes to Darlington later this month starring Ray Quinn.

Based on the iconic 1960s film starring Cliff Richard and The Shadows, this new stage musical includes all of the number one hits from the movie, plus some additional Cliff classics.

The famous red double-decker bus will be stopping of at Darlington Hippodrome to entertain audiences from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 September.

Summer Holiday tells the story of Don and his fellow London Transport mechanics as they journey together in a red double-decker bus through Paris, the Alps, Italy and Greece. Along the way they pick up a girl singing group and a young American pop star who is on the run from her domineering mother.

Taking the lead role of Don is Ray Quinn whose musical theatre credits include playing Danny Zuko in Grease in the West End), Dirty Dancing also in the West End, the UK Tour of Legally Blonde and most recently the UK Tour of The Wedding Singer.

We caught up with Ray to ask him a few questions about Summer Holiday and also filling the rather big shoes of Cliff Richard:

Tell us a bit more about Summer Holiday?

Summer Holiday the musical is based on the Iconic movie from the ‘60s. I am playing the role of Don, made famous by Sir Cliff Richard. With a group of friends we take a trip round Europe in a big red double decker bus - and along the way the adventure turns into a romance and lots of fun! The audience are in for a huge delight! It’s fast paced and exciting, with iconic songs that everyone will know and want to sing along to. In a nut-shell it’s what I would call good old fashioned entertainment at its best!!

To play the lead part in Summer Holiday, a role made famous by Sir Cliff must be a huge honour?

I’m very excited but also a bit nervous at the same time. When I was offered the role I jumped at the chance and then it hit me! This is my first role as lead male and on a personal note it was my Nan’s favourite movie and she adored Sir Cliff Richard! So big boots to fill and I’m up for the challenge and I know my Nan would be so proud..

Did you watch the film a few times to help you with the role?

Yeah, I have watched the movie several times to get my head around the role. I want to stamp my own identity on the part, but at the same time want to do justice to the original. I have to have a bit of a ‘60s posh London accent, so that’s totally new to me. And those iconic songs, such iconic hits!

How many rehearsals did you have to do for this show?

We had 3 weeks of intense rehearsals in North London studios, followed by a week of tech rehearsal in the theatre before opening in Liverpool. I know this sounds short but everyone in the cast and production team are so committed to making the show great and with my crazy schedule it had to be done!

You are touring all over the country, I'm guessing that must be hard at times, being away from home so much?

Yeah it gets little tough at times. I get to see my fans who have been with me since year dot !! I miss my family and friends, but when I get time off I spend it at home with them, which is always special.

It seems like a lifetime ago, you finished runner up on the X Factor to Leona Lewis. Can you believe it was 12 years ago now? What was it like to be on the show?

I know, I was reminded about this last week in an interview and it made me gasp… 12 years - wow! It was such an amazing and crazy period a whirlwind of ups and downs and to be in the final with Leona was incredible. X Factor was such a great learning experience for me and will remain one of my career highlights – I loved it!

You won Dancing on Ice in 2009. Did you have much ice skating experience before you went on the show?

I get asked this a lot and when I tell them ‘no’,  they say ‘really?!’ I never set foot on the ice before I was selected to be in DOI. I like a challenge and I am kind of fearless sometimes (a little too much!). Working with Jane & Chris was amazing. I would go to rehearsals each week wanting to take things to the next level and they would always support my ideas for new moves and having them mentor me was such a big part of making those idea come true.

Did you suffer any bad injuries during the show?

Yeah I had a couple of accidents on the Ice, luckily not too bad but you have to expect injuries as it can be a pretty dangerous environment. Luckily I’m still standing!

When you're not working, what do you like to do?

Like most people I like to spend my downtime at home with my Family doing the normal things. I don’t get to do this on a regular basis as I am tour a lot, so its important to me as that’s when I can totally relax and chill and recharge my batteries.

If you hadn't of done the X Factor, what sort of job do you think you would have done?

I wanted to be a copper (police officer) or barber when I was kid. I’ve been known to cut hair when on tour for the guys in the show. However, it all changed when my Mum took me to see my first show and I told her “this is what I want to do Mum!”

Who was your hero growing up?

Sammy Davis Jnr, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jean Kelly Fred Astaire…

Well I could go on for day’s when it comes to this subject. My love for Swing and The Rat Pack comes from my childhood. My Dad is such a massive Fan of this era and he would play his records in the house and I started to sing along. When it comes to singing and dancing there’s no one to touch the great Jean or Fred.

What would be your dream job and why?

Playing James Bond. I’m a massive fan of the Bond Movies. My ultimate Bond was Sean Connery - he is Mister Cool I wanted to be him. I love action Movies and I think this is the ultimate British role..

Do you still get nervous before you go on stage?

Yeah you bet! Opening night is the most intense time for me. Once on stage I’m fine, but those few seconds in the wings…oh boy! I love my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else now.

Summer Holiday runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 September.

For more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

Theatre Review - DUET FOR ONE - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

DUET for One is a two hander which focuses on the misfortune of Stephanie Abrahams, a brilliant concert violinist, whose life fell apart as she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis leaving her wheelchair bound and unable to continue with her passion. We are confronted with Stephanie as she tries to face the truth through a series of visits to psychiatrist Dr Feldman.

With such a theme and setting, there is little scope of major action, so in what is bound to be a wordy play, the acting and wordplay are laid bare to the audience. Belinda Lang and Jonathan Coy certainly lived up to the expectations of the quality of acting required and are a perfect partnership, delivering a masterclass of a two hander. The mood swings from Stephanie are delivered to perfection as she moves from defensiveness, anger, acceptance and self-loathing. While through the Dr we follow the calmness of the professional to someone who obviously cares immensely about what happens to Stephanie’s state of mind.

The set is superbly lavish and certainly shows the Dr’s love of music through the large collection of music adorning the shelves.

A play with MS as a main theme is never going to have a happy ending so unsurprisingly Kempinski ends the play with the audience unsure of what will happen next, but this is one of those plays where less is more.

Theatre Preview: THE GREAT JOE WILSON - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

WORLD PREMIERE AT DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

The Great Joe Wilson is a must-see comedy drama set in Darlington and is heading for a world premiere here at Darlington Hippodrome on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September.

The Great Joe Wilson is a play with music about (arguably) the greatest-ever North East singer/songwriter. Wilson's dramatic life will be told using his tremendous music, which covers everything from lost love through to hard-hitting songs condemning domestic violence and supporting striking workers. Joe performed in Darlington at the Theatre Royal Music Hall.

Joe Wilson died in 1875, aged only 33, but during his brief life wrote 360 songs, many of which are still popular today: The Unthanks recorded Gallowgate Lad in 2011, Keep Your Feet Still, Geordie Hinny has been covered dozens of times and Sally Wheatley is a staple throughout UK folk clubs.

The play stars top North East actors Micky Cochrane, Sarah Boulter and the multi-award winning Jamie Brown. Musician Jordan Miller, who has just finished a European tour with top North East band The Lake Poets, completes the top-class quartet.

The Great Joe Wilson has its world premiere at Darlington Hippodrome on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September.

Theatre Review - BEYOND THE END OF THE ROAD - THE WITHAM, BARNARD CASTLE

I had heard many great things last year about November Club’s new production of ‘Beyond The End of The Road’ not least because the music and lyrics were created by the incredible Katie Doherty. So to hear that they were teaming up with Northern Heartlands and doing a short tour of Durham was great news.

The story, written by Laura Lindow, is set in Place, it could be anywhere! It is here that we meet some of the residents. Evie Clark, Alice Blundell, the village school teacher, an incomer who throws herself into village life. Her sister Sula Clark, Christina Berriman-Dawson, arrives to escape from her home life and find out what the attraction of Place is. Alec Lockart, Micky Cochrane, is the farmers son, stuck in his ways and grieving over the loss of his wife. Alec lives with his mother Grace, Jane Holman, and his son Thomas, Lawrence Neale, who wants to move away from Place to see if the grass is greener. Alec’s brother Bobby, Jack Alexander, returns after leaving Place to make a success of himself. The story is held together by Peter Peverley as the narrator and various other roles who keeps the story flowing with pace. As we learn about each of the characters we are drawn into life in Place and what is beyond the end of the road. Will a new bypass deepen the isolation of Place? Is there a mobile phone signal beyond the end of the road? It is the hum, the unexplained noise which draws everyone together.

The music holds the show together brilliantly with Katie Doherty as Musical Director and songs performed by the cast and musicians Shona Mooney and Dave Grey. I certainly hope there will be a cast recording to follow. The entire cast are amazing, so much energy and talent. What makes this show unique is also the community involvement, you feel as if you are for a few hours in Place, as audience members suddenly stand and recount stories or join in with the singing, and take on the role of Sula’s daughter, which at The Witham was played by Eleanor Tippey.

This is one show I could certainly watch over and over again.

Theatre Review - HAPPY HOUR - GALA THEATRE, DURHAM

In a grey Orwellian office – in what feels like a dystopian future – the four workers of Level 3 strive to meet their daily target of acquiring smiley faces. They’re constantly watched by CCTV cameras to check that they’re all as happy as their customers, and if they don’t do their jobs there’s the occasional threat of being put back on the streets where they came from, living with “mice in their pockets”.

Although it may not sound like it, Happy Hourby Tmesis Theatre is a hilarious piece of physical theatre that explores the “happiness industry” where happiness is packaged and sold to us. But the question is, can we really be happy all the time? 

We join the employees of Level 3 on “Employee Simplification Day” – a magnificent euphemism for firing a few people. The team’s daily target of three smiley faces is suddenly increased to five and it’s all hands on deck. I wasn’t entirely sure how the workers acquired the smiley faces and logged people’s happiness, but this didn’t really matter. When they make a customer happy they get a smile on the board. 

This scenario paved the way for some incredible physical sequences that made Happy Hoursuch a joy to watch. The talented cast of four pulled off these beautifully choreographed pieces with aplomb. There’s an office happiness routine, great dance moves, fantasy sequences including a superb tango between Dave (Charlie Hammond) and New Girl (a diminutive Eleni Edipidi), and a brilliant fight sequence over the misuse of office supplies. The cast utilise multi-purpose boxes on wheels to great effect by using them as desks, taxis and cages, as well as a place to hide props. There’s also great use of voice over and “happy” music – think Pharrell Williams. 

The team manager trying to keep control of this chaos is Adam (Adam Davies), who came across as a David Brent-ish character with the voice of Chris Tarrant. I particularly enjoyed a sequence where he emulates Matthew McConaughey humming the money chant song while pounding his chest in The Wolf of Wall Street. 

He’s awkward and uncomfortable, particularly with Jen (Jennifer Essex), who he certainly wants to be more than friends with even though she obviously can’t stand him. She’s a somewhat disgruntled employee who wants his job and has issues with all of her co-workers. She comes into her own in an enjoyable fantasy sequence where she believes she had been promoted.

The day’s events are made more challenging with the arrival of New Girl who speaks no English. I wasn’t sure if the language she was speaking real but she sounded like a Minion. She takes an instant dislike to Jen but has a mutual crush on sweet guy Dave, who describes himself as a warrior but is a bit clueless. Subjected to a horrible grilling by Adam and Jen who have “been on a course” he becomes unhappy which is of course a problem for the team and there are efforts to cheer him up which lead to an inevitable conclusion.  

OverallHappy Houris an enjoyable 60 minutes of fast-paced physical comedy that demonstrates the futility of trying to be happy all the time. The physical sequences are what really make this show worth watching. Can we really be happy all the time? Watch the show and make your own mind up.

Theatre Preview - HAPPY HOUR - GALA THEATRE, DURHAM

FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL 2017 NATIONAL TOUR…

“Expertly choreographed…. Laugh out loud comedy” The Stage
“Hysterical…A show like no other” Urbanista
“Enthralls and intrigues from beginning to end” Made up on Stage
“A performance of spectacle and true quality.” Liverpool Sound and Vision

★★★★★   NorthWestEnd
★★★★★ The Reviews Hub
★★★★★Behind the Arras
★★★★ Liverpool Art Scene
★★★★ Wirral Globe
★★★★ Canal St online

Happy Hour is back on the road..... Have you reached your happiness quota?

A poignant, fast paced, comedy exploring our 21st century obsession with happiness and success. Tmesis Theatre’s new production combines Tmesis’ trademark physicality with humour, music, and text from long-term collaborator Chris Fittock.

The workers on Level 3 are racing against the clock to reach their quota of Smiley Faces, but are they really happy enough?  Can we learn to be happy?  And can our emotions be bought and sold? The ‘happiness industry’ would have us think so...

Tmesis Theatre, based in Liverpool is one of the U.K.’s leading physical theatre companies, with a reach that is national and international. The company produce and tour shows, deliver workshops and outreach work and run Liverpool’s annual international physical theatre festival, Physical Fest.


Winner of ‘Best Choreography’ United Solo Theatre Festival,
New York 2015 (Wolf Red)


Gala Durham
 Wed 11th July- 8pm
Tickets £15/13
https://www.galadurham.co.uk/galapost/happy-hour/
www.tmesistheatre.com | @tmesistheatre #happyhour
Facebook Tmesis Theatre | Instagram tmesistheatreliverpool

Theatre Review - SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

There have been many reincarnations of popular TV shows on stage, some work better than others and most try and play the original actors rather than take the character and develop it. So it was fantastic to find that this was certainly one of those shows where the cast have made it their own.

As soon as the theme tune begins we are transported back to a golden age of comedy and it is Joe Pasquale who brings his own unique style to the character of Frank Spencer, but still wearing the trademark coat and beret.

Written and directed by Guy Unsworth, who has created it so that if you have never seen the TV show you would just feel you were watching a traditional farce. Fast and furious is the only way to describe the script, well-paced, many laugh out loud jokes and plenty of slap stick. The physicality produced on screen is partly reproduced through a technical set, which is full of surprises.

The rest of the cast Sarah Earnshaw as Betty, Susie Blake as Barbara, Moray Treadwell as Terry, David Shaw-Parker as Father O’Hara and Chris Kiely as Desmond were all brilliantly cast in the roles.  

Confusion and misunderstanding runs throughout this superb evenings entertainment.

Runs until Saturday 7th July.