Thursday, September 20, 2012

Allo Allo -Preview- Customs House (with me in it)

 I am going to hang up my reviewing pen for a week to concentrate on normally what I write about.

I am going to be an extra in Ion Production and South Shields Gilbert and Sullivan Society's joint effort of Allo Allo

The divide between reviewer and being reviewed is going to take place at The Customs House from September 25th for a five night run.

I will be handing the baton over to Denise Sparrowhawk, (@DeniseSprrwhwk) and author of her own blog Hawksword. She will be reviewing Shakers Re-Stirred  and Allo Allo. She has started to become critical, which is a worry..!!! haha 

Read below (extracted from The Shields Gazette) for the story.

 Readers answer play’s call for extras 

 EXTRA HELP ... David Cooke, as hapless cafe owner Rene, welcomes the extras to their first rehearsal. Back, from left, Graeme Banks, James McFadden, Michael Hunter, Front, Maria Banks, Bernadette Appleby.

EXTRA HELP ... David Cooke, as hapless cafe owner Rene, welcomes the extras to their first rehearsal. Back, from left, Graeme Banks, James McFadden, Michael Hunter, Front, Maria Banks, Bernadette Appleby.
A GROUP of Gazette readers are preparing to tread the boards after being chosen as extras in a play.
The five budding thespians were chosen to act as extras in a production of ’Allo ’Allo at the Customs House later this month.
The show, by the South Shields Gilbert and Sullivan Society and ION Productions, is on at the Mill Dam theatre in South Shields from Tuesday until Saturday.
The group will take on various roles, such as French peasants, German soldiers and Resistance fighters throughout the show, which is based on the famous BBC1 sitcom which ran from 1982 to 1992.
The show starred Gordon Kaye as café owner René and Carmen Silvera as his wife, Edith.
Set during the Second World War, it followed the pair as they hid a famous painting that everyone, including Hitler, wanted to get their hands on.
The stage show follows the same storyline.
Gilbert and Sullivan Society member Gerry Troughton, who appears in the show, said: “Our director, Gareth Hunter, decided we needed a few more people on stage as customers in the café and other crowd scenes, and an appeal published in the Gazette brought a great response from readers. We eventually had to draw names out of a hat, as we were spoiled for choice.
“I’m sure our extras will enjoy their experience on stage, especially as it is such a funny play with all the familiar characters from the television series.”
The extras taking to the stage are Graham and Maria Banks, Michael Hunter, James McFadden, all from South Shields, Bernadette Appleby from Jarrow, and Beatrice Mills, a long- standing member of the Society.
Mr Hunter, 43, who runs his own theatre review blog, spikemikeisbreakingaleg.blogspot.co.uk, said: “I think it’s amazing that we’ve been given the chance to be in the show.
“I’ve been talking to people about how different it is sitting in the audience, writing a review and being up on stage and you just can’t compare it.
“The cast and crew are great, and I’m having a right laugh doing it. I’ve never done anything like this before, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
’Allo ’Allo starts at the Customs House at 7.30pm each evening.
Tickets cost £13 with an £11 concession. To book, go to www.customshouse.co.uk or call the box office on 454 1234.
Twitter: @shieldsgazvicki

Michael Hunter

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