Theatre Review - LITTLE WOMEN - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Belinda Lang - credit Nobby Clark

Little Women is a classic novel familiar to many, Having never read the book, I approached the story with very different expectations from others in the audience, though I had seen the stage musical version many years ago.

This version of Louisa May Alcott’s story has been adapted by Anne-Marie Casey. Following the lives of the March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy with this coming-of-age themes of love, loss and ambition. Set at the time of the American Civil War, their father has gone to war and the family struggles financially. Their mother known as Marmee holds the family together along with the domineering Aunt March.

The four sisters all bring different elements to their characters. Jo, Natalie Dunne, is fiercely independent and goes through the greatest emotional changes and feels she has more depth as the character than her sisters. Meg, Jade Oswald, has an inner strength with a hint of pureness. Beth, Megan Richards, is much more tender and timid. Amy, Jewelle Hutchinson, appears full of self-importance and materialistic before maturing.

Marmee, Juliet Aubrey, is very business-like as she keeps the family together trying to keep everyone protected and safe.

Aunt March, Belinda Lang, is stern, imposing and forceful, but shows humour and a tenderness with possible weaknesses in herself.

The effective set design creates not only the interior of the March family home, but is also interspersed with bare tree trunks giving the sense of the exterior and interior. This is the style of setting I really enjoy as it allows our imagination to enter their world in several ways, especially during the ice-skating scene.

Usually in the second act the pace of a show speeds up towards its conclusion, but here it slows down developing a deeper poignancy leading to the point where we leave the March family.

Join the March family at Darlington Hippodrome, for a mix of humour, love and loss. It will be well worth the visit.

Little Women runs until Saturday 4^th October, Darlington Hippodrome.

Theatre Review - HOME, I'M DARLING - PEOPLE'S THEATRE- NEWCASTLE

 

Johnny (Sam Burrell) & Judy (Kay Edmundson) photo Paul Hood

Written by Laura Wade, ‘Home, I’m Darling’ is an enigmatic dark comedy that questions gender roles in a ‘normal’ marriage; how and why they have changed over the years. The story follows Judy, who (with the support of husband Johnny), is trying her best to live as a ‘fifties’ housewife. It’s a truly fascinating play that certainly seems relevant in a world full of ‘Trad Wife’ influencers. The audience was completely enwrapped as they watched joy turn into private horror as the ‘perfect’ marriage begins to crumble under the weight of an unsatisfying illusion.

Director Eileen Davidson presents a beautiful vision for the play. Transitions were not only swift, but magical - as performers danced (choreographed by Kaila Moyers and Jonathan Goodman) through and into the following scene. Particularly in the first half, it plays out like a series of dream sequences, adding to the idea that living in the fifties is a fantasy. Sound (Kate Scott and Aleks Carver), Lighting (Xander Burbidge, Robbie Close, Kirstie Corfield and Jez Corfield), Props (Rye Mattick, Ashlyn Brook, Helen Parker and Karen Elliott) and Wardrobe (Jenny Davison and Luke McVeigh) all displayed masterstrokes of care and attention that added to the perfection of the play.

The audience was welcomed in with the blare of fifties rock ‘n’ roll music, giving everyone a chance to appreciate the set. Ah, the set! A complete 1950s style two-story house, designed by Kaila Moyers with such attention to detail I heard a lady say “I want that kitchen!”

Sylvia (Jo McEvedy) & Fran (Steph Moore) photo Paul Hood

As to the cast, it was extremely well performed by all. Excentric mother Sylvia (Jo McEvedy), tries to point out why no one lives – or should want to live – in that era anymore. The sleek and stylishly-modern Alex (Sara Jo Harrison), tries to be polite and professional through some very eccentric nibbles. Fran (Steph Moore), was warm, understanding, amusing and very apologetic as Judy’s slightly sweary friend. Marcus (Sam Hinton), was endearingly funny despite his role having such dark and creepy undertones. Johnny (Sam Burrell), and Judy (Kay Edmundson), were both very likable characters with great chemistry. The portrayal of their characters and their emotions was faultless. Kay Edmundson, in particular, deserves an award not just for her stunning performance but also for rarely leaving the stage all evening.

A dramatic, yet warm and funny show; not to be missed.

Home, I’m Darling is showing at The People’s Theatre, until the 4^th October.

Theatre Preview - OUR PROLOGUE - PLAYHOUSE WHITLEY BAY

 

Reuben Elsworth and Katie Brittle presenting OUR PROLOGUE

Tonight 28-8-25 19:30

Theatre Review - THE HAUNTING OF BLAINE MANOR - DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

 

The Haunting of Blaine Manor has returned to Darlington Hippodrome, after first seeing the show over a year ago, I was hoping it would return and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

Set in 1953 the play focuses on the American paranormal investigator, Doctor Roy Earle (Peter Slater), who has been invited to Blaine Manor for a séance, where he on arrival encountered a horse causing him to swerve and ended up driving into the lake.

Finding that there have been no stables there for over 100 years, he’s told that anyone who sees the mysterious horseman will be dead by dawn.

Roy declares that ghosts don’t exist, though it appears that something in the house has suddenly been awoken.

The other people gathered in the haunted Blaine Manor included Cairo (Andrew Yates) the stage mind reader, the medium Adolphus Scarabus (Jimmy Allen) the journalist Vivian Rutledge (Jo Haydock) and completing the cast with the representative of the house owner, Vincent (Ed Barry) and the butler Grady (Joe O’Byrne).

The first act methodically introduces the range of characters, as the script, written by Joe O’Byrne, as it cleverly drops in the clues throughout.

In the 2nd act, not only the story, but the house itself came alive. With twists and turns as it reached its unexpected twist at the end.

The set is relatively sparse, with an eerie atmospheric soundscape created by Justin Wetherill, with creative lighting by David Heald all depicting the threat within the house.

A perfect evening for a gentle ghost story with plenty of surprises.

The Haunting of Blaine Manor runs until Saturday 23^rd August at Darlington Hippodrome.

Theatre Preview - STEEL MAGNOLIAS - PEOPLE'S THEATRE - NEWCASTLE - 10/06/25 - 14/06/25

Big hair, big hearts, and timeless friendship at the People’s Theatre 

in Heaton with STEEL MAGNOLIAS!  

Clairee (Moira Valentine) & Ouiser (Alison Carr) photo Jess Williams

“I don’t trust anybody that does their own hair. I don’t think it’s normal.”

 

In a small-town beauty salon in Louisiana, six women set the world to rights.

Each facing highs and lows in their work, marriages and parenthood, the women unite to gossip and unwind. And when faced with adversity, their deep strength and devotion to each other comes to the fore.

 

Annelle (Ashton Matthews) & Truvy (Emma Robson) photo Jess Williams

This celebration of female friendship was adapted into a successful film starring Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. 

Filled with unforgettable characters and heartfelt moments, it will have you laughing at its whip-smart jokes, then crying at its devastating heartbreak.

 

Make an appointment at the People’s for this funny and poignant exploration of life, love, grief and sisterhood!

 

Tickets for STEEL MAGNOLIAS are available from the People’s Theatre Box Office on 0191 265 5020 (option 2) and online at www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

STEEL MAGNOLIAS by Robert Harling

Date:  Tuesday 10 - Saturday 14 June 2025

Time: 7.30pm

Tickets: £16/£13.50

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

Box Office: 0191 265 5020                    

Website: www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

Theatre Review - CRUEL INTENTIONS, DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

 

Cruel Intentions The ‘90s Musical based on the iconic film and inspired by Les Liaisons Dangereuses exploded onto the stage at Darlington Hippodrome.  Full of ‘90s pop classics, incredible choreography and the deception, romance and temptations of the students at the exclusive Manhattan high school.

The story follows the students through step-siblings Sebastian Valmont, Will Callan and Kathryn Merteuil, Nic Myers. As Kathryn manipulates Sebastian to seduce Annette Hargrove, Abbie Budden, with a bet, he just can’t refuse. As they both meddle with the innocence of Cecile, Lucy Carter.

The entire cast produced a high energy performance, but Nic Myers stole the show with a powerful voice and commanding performance.

The ‘90s pop music ranges from Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, R.E.M., the Verve with my highlight being The Spice Girls with Wannabe, which will never be the same again when I hear it.

The songs brilliantly match the story, with a romantic or comedic device driving the action forward at an incredible speed.

The set changes almost instantly adding to the ferocious pace of the evening, the lighting design by Nick Richings is perfect throughout. The slick choreography by Gary Lloyd enhances the ‘90s feel to the show.

For the ultimate ‘90s night out, you’ll need to be quick to get tickets. I’ll certainly be back.

Runs until Saturday 24^th May.

Theatre Review - ETERNAL LOVE - THE MUSICAL, DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

 

If you fancy something completely different with a brand-new freshness, part musical theatre, part rock concert and vampires with an appetite for romance, then this is for you.

This is the continuation of Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock -Eternal Love The Musical. It certainly won’t matter if you’d seen any of the previous shows from Steve Steinman, I’d been lucky enough to have caught previous productions and I wasn’t disappointed with this brand-new show.

With a basic story of Baron Von Rockula, Steve Steinman, bringing the castle back to life with the help of Bosley, John Evans. Bosley turns it into a diner, helped by the vampires. The Baron is looking to replace Pandora, the love of his life and meets Xena, Claire Zamore.

The story may be simple, but it is surrounded by twenty original rock anthems. The pace is fast and furious and the theatrical performance around it is incredible. You really feel that you’re in a well themed rock concert. Every track drives the story on with powerful vocals with a superb band.

Steve Steinman’s vocals are outstanding and performs in his own unique style, clearly enjoying the show especially when talking to the audience directly.  John Evans steals the show in turns of his comedic performance.

The production is perfectly complemented with the set design by Steve Steinman and the lighting designed by Luke Thomson.

It’s a great touch that the cast appear in the foyer, for autographs, photos or just to chat to the audience after the show.

With amazing vocals, hints of the silliness of pantomime, a high level of production values and plenty of satisfaction, this is a must see on so many levels.

Eternal Love The Musical runs until Saturday 26^th April at Darlington Hippodrome.