Live Encounter: Stewart Lee - Review - Live Theatre

Live Encounters: Stewart Lee 

Live Theatre

15th April, 2023

Live Theatre are running a series of "Live Encounters" as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations. On Saturday it was the turn of comedian Stewart Lee, in conversation with Neil Jackson. 

Lee began with insight into King Rocker, a documentary he made about the singer Robert Lloyd, giving some interesting insights behind the scenes. He then talked about comedy as art, touching on the post punk scene where support acts were often performance poets or comedy acts, and included anecdotes from some of the people he has worked with over the years, such as Sean Hughes. He touched on panel shows (and how shit he was at them) and ended with questions from the audience, with thoughts about his current projects - he has another documentary idea in mind (about a house) which he is looking to fund. 

Lee effortlessly balanced belly-laughing humour with thought-provoking commentary on current issues. The chemistry between the two guests lead to some insightful questions and replies. The fascinating conversation, peppered with Lee's signature wit and sarcasm kept the audience engaged throughout. 

The intimate setting of Live Theatre was the perfect for this conversational event, allowing the audience to feel close to the artists and be fully immersed in the conversation - it felt at times as if there were only the three of us involved. The sound quality was excellent, with clear audio and minimal background noise which was especially important for the more serious moments. 

If there was a downside to the afternoon it was the live musical support - a kind of improv style jazz. Clearly very talented musicians but maybe not necessarily to everyone's taste. 

Overall it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. It's fair to say Lee's sharp wit and intelligent observation made for a dynamic and entertaining experience left the audience wanting more.

It would be well worth checking out other events in the Live Encounters and  Live Readings series which are running as part of the Live 50 celebrations. 

Frank Cromartie Murphy 

Approaching Empty - Live Theatre - Review

Approaching Empty

Live Theatre 

Feb 8th, 2019

Set against the backdrop of Maggie Thatcher’s death in 2013 (yes she has been dead that long!) in a Minicab Office in Middlesbrough of all places, this play written by Ishy Din has the audience laughing along. It could be set anywhere and still work as the writer states.

Times are changing and nowhere has this been more apparent than in the business world, and the taxi business is no exception. With their competitor Fleet doing really well, will Raf’s company survive? Raf (played by Nicholas Khan) is a chain-smoking, no-nonsense business man who knows why he got into business. On the other hand, Mansha played by Kammy Darweish, is a wise old fox who has been in the job for years; unlike Raf he just wants to be secure. He loves his job more than himself. These two men are just trying to get by as friends.

Shazad, Raf’s son, played by Karan Gill, is at university studying business. He has no interest in the taxi business but gets shoehorned in at any occasion to help out. Sameena is the new kid on the block; she's been to prison and has something to prove and wants to create a new life with her children. Sully played by Nicholas Prasad the more experienced driver we see, is a young man coping with the loss of his father who died after a long term health problems related to working in the factories. Raf and Mansha have different views on the factories closing under Thatcher with Raf saying it was a good thing but Mansha saying it was a waste of talented men. I do believe that both characters are right, and we needed the closing of the mines and factories but we didn't need to do it in the way it was! But that's in the past we can't change it, only learn from it.

Raf wants to sell the company and has an offer of 120k from Fleet but Mansha is against working for them. Mansha offers to buy the business but he hasn't got the money and isn't normally a risk taker. How could he get the money? His help comes from an unlikely source in Sully and Sameena and eventually they buy the business. But you always suspect something is wrong. Things begin to come to light which the three new partners don’t understand and Raf is giving no straight answers.  Tany - Sameena’s brother and the local hard man - comes into the fold (played by Maanuv Thiara) to save the day but not before he shows Raf what a cut-throat world being in business literally is. 
We finish off with a new owner, new manager and the rest of the characters in limbo deciding what they want to do in life. 

But for Raf there is nothing that can be done, and he is dying. 

As for Mansha, he's off on holiday. 

This play was a great laugh, well written and everyone involved should be pleased with the result. Rina Fatania who plays Sameena gets performance of the night for me. Great direction from Pooja Ghai, assisted by Heather Carroll and a great team.

On until Saturday 23rd February

Prices from £6 - £22 

Age14+

Reuben Hiles

*Picture credit Helen Murray 

Christmas Crackers - Live Theatre - Review

Christmas Crackers

Live Theatre
14th December 2018

Clementines (Easy Peelers) by Tamsin Daisy Rees
Grounded by Henry Lawrence
Home for Christmas by Olivia Hannah
Marbles by Jamie Morren

Directed by Joe Douglas and Graeme Thompson

Cast members - Katie Powell, Dale Jewitt, Sarah Balfour, Daniel Watson, Micky Cochrane

Christmas Crackers is a set of four seasonal short plays by writers from the Live Theatre fold who had previously taken part in "10 minutes to...". Christmas Crackers is the next stage in their development as playwrights.

Christmas is all about family and each of the plays explores the an aspect of a family Christmas.

Clementines  follows three siblings as they struggle to cope with a Christmas without parents. They squabble with each other, deflecting attention from their own problems by highlighting someone else's.

In Grounded an injured pigeon becomes the vessel to explore the relationship between a boy and his father, revealing how a breakdown in communication leads to misunderstood expectations on both sides.

Home for Christmas tackles homelessness, compassion, charity, and trust - or mistrust - among friends.

The final tale Marbles is the most poignant of the four and has a very different feel, revealing the disparity between memories of the past and the reality of the present.


The writers have each chosen an aspect of Christmas and observed it beautifully. The plays are funny, poignant and emotional. Relationships are acutely observed and effectively portrayed in a very short time - the plays are each just 30minutes long. Each one is a like a snapshot that captures the subject but reveals so much more going on in the background. The five actors move assuredly from one play to the next, transforming from themselves from one set of characters to another in a series of convincing performances.

Christmas Crackers are four tales of an imperfect Christmas. Grounded in reality, they give the essence of the Christmas message without the saccharine sweetness of the TV commercials.

They play until 22nd December at Live Theatre.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Clear White Light -Review- Live Theatre

Clear White Light Live Theatre - World Premier 23^rd October

Joe Caffrey and Bryony Corrigan (Live Theatre)

Clear white light is named after a Lindisfarne song and is a cross between a gig and a play. Music  is played by a live band, most of whom are also characters in the play. It’s set in an all male hospital ward, with patients having a variety of mental health difficulties. The main characters are Rod - a male staff nurse in his 50s played by Joe Caffrey, - and a student nurse Alison, played by Bryony Corrigan, who recently stared in Live’s My Romantic History.

Bryony’s ability to convey angst and horror are incredibly impressive and Joe brings a well rounded characterisation to Rod. They both feel very believable. I have personal experience of being a patient in a mental health ward and I can say so much of this play rings true. The Gothic and spooky elements don’t convince me as much as the emotional intelligence of the characters. I can relate to both the experience of the patients and the realism of the nurses. We always wondered if some of the nurses belonged as patients more than we did at times, and this comes across in parts here as there are various meltdowns.

This play was written by Paul Sirett and he has done an excellent job with it. Charlie Hardwick of Emmerdale fame played Maddie (not sure if this was a play on words or not). She also did the majority of the singing in the play, which was great. The remaining cast were also in the band and consisted of Phil Adele (Aaron patient), Alice Blundell (Jo nurse), Dale Jewitt (Charlie), Billy Mitchell (Barry patient / Lindisfarne) and Ray Laidlaw (percussion / Lindisfarne).

I found both the musical element and the play enjoyable, however I am not convinced both elements belong together. A lot of the time the songs seem to have little relevance to that particular part of the play. I found the play element to be the stronger of the two. My friend remarked it was Lindisfarne’s version of Mama Mia.

This play is based on a cross between Edgar Alan Poe’s short story the Fall of the House of Usher and Alan Hull’s music based on his own experience working for the NHS.

Alan Hull had worked in St Nick’s hospital in Gosforth, which at the time inspired many of his songs, many which are used in this play. It’s kind of like a love letter to the NHS and stands very proudly behind the now seventy year old institution, at the end it conveys a very unsubtle message about the NHS, but one that many agree with. I would definitely recommend this, especially if you are fans of Lindisfarne, and don’t worry Fog on the Tyne and Gazza are nowhere in sight.

A solid 7/10.   

Clear White Light it is running at Live until November 10.

Frank Cromartie Murphy

Fans - Review - Live Theatre

Fans

Photo from Live Theatre

Live Theatre
4th October 2018

So I was a bit apprehensive about going to this as this is what I do as a day job.
But......OMG!!!!!
Fans, presented by The Six Twenty is a gig/play that isn't a sit down shut up theatre show and should be enjoyed at maximum volume.
Phones are allowed and you can take photos and videos, they even have #hashtags.
The show takes you on a journey along with the characters.
Chris Foley who was Musical Director in the show played Chris (I think he played himself)
He likes Green Day and has seen them a few times.
Someone hopefully woke up the band a few days ago.
Charlie Raine, plays Charlie is the lead singer of the band and had many phases emo, goth, but she's always had one person who she absolutely loves - the legend that is Madonna.
Charlie is a style queen, or so she thinks!
Andrew Bleakley, plays Andrew the drummer of the band. He's a fan of the Indy/unknown bands but can also do a good rendition of an Elton John song on piano.
And Alex Tahnee (who stared in Byker Grove - it took me a while to remember where I had seen her face) plays -  can you guess??
Meghan! That's right! Now Meghan is like myself, she likes every kind of music and can't choose who she likes. Much like a lot of people. She plays bass in the band but Alex Tahnee can sing! She has one of the purest vocals I have heard.

The play is written incredible well by the talented Nina Berry and is directed by the equally talented Melanie Rashbrooke.
It's hard to explain the plot of the play as it's not really a play but the audience is taken on a journey with songs from all ages and from many different artists such as Oasis, Green Day, Elton John, Beyoncé and many more.
The 4 actors are great and have real chemistry on stage playing their instruments really well. The production team need to be praised for getting the casting spot on. It's not just all loud music, there are some fantastic quiet moments that make this a remarkable show for everyone.
The Set, created by Luke W Robson, is fantastic - it reminds me of the old unit I used to get the sound gear from (I'm a sound engineer) and it was spot on.
Production Management and Sound and Lighting by Craig Spence is excellent he made it feel like a gig and a play at the same time even adding haze into the mix (us lighting guys love haze).
Co-ordinating it all is Steven Blackshaw.

This show had me laughing most of the way through, and the guy next to me was nearly crying with laughter. If you go to this then you are not going to be sitting watching you will be getting involved in many ways. You even get a glow stick to take home.

Before you come to experience this show, take yourself back in time to your first ever gig, remember how you felt, then come to this performance and relive that feeling.

A great show that will have you singing, laughing, crying and just having a good time.
On until Saturday 6th of October and you CAN go and see this show more than once.

Reuben Hiles

Rattlesnake - Live Theatre - Review

Rattlesnake

Live Theatre
05 June 2018

OMG!!! I don't know what to say about a show that we have already done a review of here at SpikeMike.

Open Clasp once again make the north east proud with this fantastic show.  Roma Yagnik needs a special mention for the music - when you walked in Sting was playing (Every Step You Take) but sometimes it skipped then continued from the same spot.

Set in a cube in the centre of the stage we meet Suzy, played by the much travelled but great local actor Christina Berriman Dawson, and Jen who is played by adopted Geordie Eilidh Talman.
The two women are connected by James (who is never seen).

The story takes us through the whirlwind romances that both girls have with him and what goes wrong.

It's hard for a man to watch, and to think this happens in real life makes me angry.
The story is a real one from real people and it does happen!

Anna Reid did a fantastic job with the set design and Ali Hunter used the lighting to great effect especially at the end.

Open Clasp's Artistic Director and Writer has once again created a play that brings feelings out of you that you didn't know existed.
Charlotte Bennett did a great job with this show taking the issue and bringing the page off the paper.

For me the thing that made it stand out wasn't what was said and done but what wasn't!!

As a member of the audience You had to create the image of James in your head and picture him to make him seem real.

The Boxing Scene was hard hitting and really packed a punch (pun intended) and Robby Graham who I forgot to include in the above bit deserves credit for this part and all the movement.

I don't think I will ever see a show like this again (and I would go see it again). I look forward to seeing the next show by Open Clasp.

On until Saturday 9th of June

Reuben Hiles

My Romantic History - Review - Live Theatre

My Romantic History

Live Theatre
24th April 2018

I got to admit I’m not a romantic comedy type of guy, but I thought I’d give this a try anyway. Written by Daniel Jackson back in 2008 and originally set in Glasgow, this play has been adapted across the world and now it was Newcastle’s time. This was a laugh from beginning to end. Highlighting the struggles of what it is to be human and especially how complicated and annoyingly superficial dating can become. There are great one liners right from the off and much to my pleasant and geeky self a few off the hand terminator references.

The stage is sparse, but well put together and the sound minimal, mostly background sounds. Transitions between scenes were seamless and when characters, locations and time periods changed it was always obvious to the audience, thanks a lot to the staging and projectors, which beemed local locations and time periods on the walls.

The play came in three acts, first from Tom’s point of view, second Amy’s point of view and finally a coming together of viewpoints in the finally act. Tom has just moved to start a new job in an office and goes through all the usual annoying pitfalls of working in a new place, the dreaded drinks after work with colleagues you already spend too much time with. The invitations to events so boring you’d literally rather watch paint dry and the awkward small talk you’d rather not get involved in.

Tom is introduced to Amy a work colleague he ends up having drinks with after work and they some how get involved with each other. Technically a three hander, but all the actors play several different parts as the scenes, time periods and locations fluctuate, We see scenes in the form of inner monologues of what the characters really think why they awkwardly interact with each other. The acting is great, one of my favourite lines is “sometimes as a woman if you end up with a man who isn’t a rapist, or a retard then you’ve done quite well”.

Brian Lonsdale plays Tom with a very dry wit and excellent comedic timing, as with all of the actors. Amy is played by Bryony Corrigan who’s sarcastic wit is cutting. Amy McAllister plays Sasha and many other parts such as Tom’s old girlfriends and mates. Her accents and male character portrayals are spot on and she is also very funny. The cast is incredibly versatile and charismatic. The pace is fast moving and has a compelling narrative. The play reveals the fragile and complex nature of love, sex and our need for relationships. Overall one of the best theatre plays I’ve seen in a long while, thoroughly believable and true to life...highly recommended.

Playing at the live theatre until Saturday the 12th May.
Meet the writer talk and Q&A Saturday 21st April after 2pm show
Meet the cast talk and Q&A Thursday 26th April after 7.30pm show

 Frank Cromartie Murphy

Spoon Theory/Rat Boy - Live Theatre - Review

Spoon Theory & Rat Boy Double Bill

Live Theatre
13th Mar 2018

Live Theatre's third Elevator Festival runs this week showcasing new plays by rising new talent.
The opening plays tonight are two very raw stories presented in very different ways.

Spoon Theory is the story of a couple struggling to come to terms with a drastic change in their lives when Belle is critically injured in an accident on the eve of their honeymoon. It is a slow paced, painful journey as they negotiate their way through emotional and practical problems, slowly piecing their lives back together. The impersonal horror of the benefits system adds to the struggle - sapping Belles's energy and using up precious spoons. Written with insight and empathy by Bex Bowsher. Actors Lisa Eagleton and Graham Hornsby capture the frustration and despair of a couple who have had their lives shattered by a random event, while Steven Blackshaw provides the darkest of black humour in his cameo roles representing the DWP "help" line and various other less than sympathetic officials who hinder their progress. The ending is a heart-rending mix of hope and resignation for Belle. She knows there will never be enough spoons.

Rat Boy, by contrast is a fast paced, frantic cartoon of a play. with larger than life characters but once again, struggling to survive in a system and society that has failed them. Set against the background of drug culture and rave music Rat Boy tells his story - a tale of abuse and neglect. But woven into it is the love of a mother for her son, and the loyalty of friends. It is a dark tale prevented from being overpowering by the cast's energetic, humorous portrayal of the array of bizarre characters. The rap style is simple - echoing child's nursery rhyme with it's rhyming couplets - but the imagery is vivid and visceral. The dark, episodic scenes put me in mind of a graphic novel.

These two plays have similar themes - broken relationships, the failure of society and the system, isolation,  they are raw and painful but dealt with in completely different ways. Each one is a powerful piece of theatre.

As well as Spoon Theory and Rat Boy, Elevator Festival presents other works in progress, plus workshops and discussion events. Live Theatre continues to push boundaries and support new and exciting writing. Elevator Festival runs until  17th March. Details on the website at www.live.org.uk

Denise Sparrowhawk

Rattle Snake - Live Theatre - Review

Rattle Snake

Live Theatre
26th September 2017

Presented by Open Clasp Theatre
Written by Catrina McHugh
Directed by Charlotte Bennett


Rattlesnake - a venomous snake, with a potentially deadly bite, makes a noise like a rattle to ward off its predators. Snakes are hypnotic creatures, not all are dangerous, but some are. The rattlesnake is dangerous and duplicitous, rattling to warn you that it is there, rattling to make sure you don't interfere.

James rattles. He rattles to control the women in his life, he rattles to keep the neighbours at bay. He rattles to protect himself while he destroys the lives of two women.

This play is mesmerising - from the start, as the two characters beat out a complicated, rhythmic pat-a-cake game, through to the closing scene of this story that has no end. You daren't look away, because you never know what might happen while you are not paying attention.

Rattlesnake is a fictional drama based on truth, an amalgamation of the stories of many women who have endured coercive controlling domestic abuse. Eilidh Talman and Christina Berriman Dawson play the two women snared by one man - James. Together they bring to life the horror and insidiousness of the control he exerts on them. The two women at times speak together, at other times they repeat each other's phrases, marking the parallels between the way their two relationships develop and disintegrate as James manipulates, coerces and threatens them into submission.

The set is simple and stark - the outline of a box-like room, table and chairs. The open sides are symbolic - despite external appearances the women are trapped, unable to escape a prison that most people are not aware of. The single overhead light flickers ominously, brightening and dimming as the atmosphere tightens, and bright floor lights flash like lightning bolts to emphasize pain, or danger or the sudden realisation of a truth. In the background a quiet hypnotic beat echoes the pat-a-cake game and the rattlesnake's warning.

This is superbly directed, produced and acted. The two actresses are utterly convincing in their roles. It is emotional, taut, intense.

Writer Catrina McHugh says "I believe Rattle Snake is important theatre, it takes your breath away and will change lives." Throughout the performance there was barely a sound from the audience - I think we were all holding our collective breath.

Rattle Snake is at Live Theatre until 30th September and then goes on tour around the region so there are plenty of opportunities to experience it. It is important theatre. Don't miss it.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Autumn Tour 2017

• 21 - 30 Sep: Live Theatre, Newcastle www.live.org.uk / 0191 232 1232
• 2 Oct: Rape Crisis @ Morpeth Town Hall rattlesnakerctn.eventbrite.co.uk
• 3 Oct: Teesside University, Middlesbrough 01642 738232
• 4 Oct: Sunderland Stages @ The Royalty Theatre sunderlandstages.co.uk / 0191 561 3455
• 5 Oct: Riverside Community Health Project, Newcastle0191 226 0754
• 9 Oct: Linhope Referral Unit (closed performance)
• 11 Oct: Trinity Academy, Newcastle (closed performance)
• 12 Oct: West End Women & Girls Centre, Newcastle0191 273 4942
• 13 Oct: Durham University
• 17 - 21 Oct: York Theatre Royal yorktheatreroyal.co.uk / 01904 623568
• 24 - 28th Oct: Soho Theatre, London sohotheatre.com / 020 7478 0100

Broken Biscuits - Live Theatre - Review

Broken Biscuits

Live Theatre

11th Oct 2016

 

Cast 

Faye Christall - as Megan 
Grace Hogg-Robinson - as Holly 
Andrew Reed- as Ben 

 

Creative Team
Writer Tom Wells
Songs Matthew Robins
Direction James Grieve
Design Lily Arnold
Lighting Joshua Pharo
Sound Dominic Kennedy
 

Broken Biscuits is a coming of age tale. Three friends Megan (Faye Christall) Hollie (Grace Hogg-Robinson) and Ben(Andrew Reed) have just started the long summer break between GCSEs and the start of College. They are on the cusp of change and Meg has a grand plan to ensure they start the next stage of their lives in the "cool" corner. Hollie and Ben aren't so sure they want to be in the cool gang but they humour their friend. In fact, Meg is not the kind of friend you don't humour. She is bold, and brash and basically browbeats her friends into doing what she wants through the sheer force of her will. It's easier to give in to her than to deal with the fall out. And so the painfully shy, geeky Hollie and the sensitive, recently outed Ben find themselves reluctantly recruited into a band project for the summer. This will catapult them into coolness when they start college, (obvs!). The fact that they neither own nor play any instruments, nor know any songs, is beside the point. This will not deter Meg - she has acquired a drum kit from the charity shop and nothing is going to stop her!

 

And so the three friends meet for band night each Friday in Meg's shed, learning to play their instruments, learning to write lyrics, learning who they are and what they want - and what they don't - want out of life.

 

Broken Biscuits is incredibly funny. Laugh out loud funny. But it is also touching and sweet. You can't help but be swept along with Meg's bombastic enthusiasm, to feel every squirm of Hollie's shyness, and to cheer for Ben's self-deprecating self-awareness. Their characters are acutely observed, a bit stereotypical for sure - but lets face it, we all know those kids on the outside of the social elite, the geeks, the nerds, the uncool kids. Some of us were those kids. And the thing about stereotypes is, they are always based in some truth.

 

The three young actors are utterly convincing in their roles. The set is fabulous - even down to the sheddy smell of wood and creosote - I don't think I have ever actually smelled a set before. The script is witty and sharp, and it speaks the language of the teenager.  

 

Broken Biscuits plays until 22nd Oct. I swear on the biscuit, you will have fun if you come to see this!

 

Denise Sparrowhawk

Mobile – Live Theatre - Review

Mobile – Live Theatre Newcastle- 16th of June 2016

Now I don’t know about you but I never thought I’d ever see a piece of theatre so good in a caravan!
Mobile is a interactive theatre piece and I don’t think that’s even the best word to describe it, a journey is probably a better description!
Of all places to watch a theatre show a caravan wouldn’t be the first thing I would think of,  but hey, I did. Along with 7 other participants I went on a journey.
Cindy, the only character in the play, is eccentric and funny and you are drawn into her story about the caravan and how she came to be in it. Cindy is played fantastically by Georgie Coles and you meet her outside. She tries to guess people's name which is hard to do, but she did guess someone's job.
We are taken into the caravan and are handed biscuits - the tea never arrived even though she put the kettle on. (I’m still waiting Cindy!!)
We are then taken on a journey about social class, through great use of the caravan and fantastic visuals from The Media Workshop.
It was a strange experience but an enjoyable one and I don’t think I'll ever have another experience in a caravan quite like this one (and I used to clean them).
If you want an experience that will make you think and reach for the stars, with a twist, then this is the show for you.

It runs until the 26th June.

Reuben Hiles

11 Plus - Review - Live Theatre

11 Plus 
Our World
Live 16th Annual Youth Theatre Festival
7th August 2015


Can you recall what it was like to be 11 or 12 years old? For me it's quite a few years ago and I may be forgiven for thinking that things might have changed a bit since then. After all, other things have changed: technology has moved on in leaps and bounds changing the way kids are taught in school, bringing the world closer, opening up opportunities. Yes, being 11 or 12 these days must be a doddle!

But as this group of talented young actors at Live Theatre show us, it actually isn't. It is still just as difficult, just as confusing and just as daunting as it ever was. Starting a new school is scary, finding your way around the corridors and finding your place in the pecking order, trying to fit in - all still there, and all still difficult.

11 Plus is a piece of drama based on interviews with the young people themselves. It takes their words and weaves them into a script that is delivered at a startling pace! Thoughts and ideas overlap and contradict, they circle around and agreeing and disagreeing as the actors voice their thoughts on friends, family, school, teachers - everything that might concern a young person on the edge of puberty - not a child, but not yet a grown up. It is funny and moving, brash and tender, it is sharp and witty, and it is performed with a degree of self assurance that I found astonishing. There were almost imperceptable pauses that stretched a moment or two too long, and occasionally nervous laughter threatened, but these things were overcome, and coped with better than some adult actors I have seen. The young cast supported each other throughout the play, and it was great to see them working so well together and obviously enjoying the experience.

This is a great piece of drama from a group of youngsters who are still young enough to think that being fifteen will be better than being 11, and that growing up will help them make sense of the world. Who am I to tell them that it won't? At 51 I am still waiting for all that to happen.
On reflection maybe being 11 or 12 today is not so bad!

Denise Sparrowhawk

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What Falls Apart - Review - Live Theatre

What Falls Apart
Live Theatre
Thursday 23rd April


Torben Betts first play for Live Theatre is a brilliant mix of humour - the audience was laughing out loud almost from the start of act one - and suspense and tension. We knew it wasn't going to end well, as drink and paranoia took a grip of the three characters on stage. And sure enough it all comes to a head in Act Two, though perhaps not quite as the audience anticipates. There are still laughs in Act Two but they are fewer and darker, edged with discomfort and uncertainty. Act two is tense.




What Falls Apart follows the events of one night in a 24hr hotel bar. Tom Savage (Nigel Hastings), outspoken labour MP has been welcomed back into the fold and given a "safe" seat in Newcastle. His campaigning is not going well and he has drowned his sorrows once already in the Hotel bar. As you'd expect he has said more than he should to the barman, a man with a surprising memory for facts and figures. Gary England (Kevin Wathen) is a barman with a past. A recovering alcoholic, son of an abusive father, and father himself to a daughter who is about to be taken from him. He is smart, streetwise and under pressure. He acts the jovial "friend to all" barman, listening to the woes of the politician and offering advice and philosophy but there is an underlying sense of something dangerous about him. And this becomes more pronounced when Venetia Fitzpatrick (Zannah Hodson) enters the bar.



Young, beautiful, intelligent, and a professed fan of the MP. She is equally dangerous and not quite all she seems. She claims to be an academic but not was not present at the lecture earlier that day - a lecture our savvy barman had attended. Her arrival upsets the balance between the barman and the politician, as they all vie for attention and none get what they want.




These are very believable characters - each one is clearly hiding something. Nigel Hastings politician is a man with strong beliefs and principles whos ambition led him to make a decision he regrets. He is clearly struggling to deal with the more mundane aspects of campaigning. He is a global socialist but not quite a man of the people. It can't be easy to play a politician and elicit sympathy from the audience, Hastings does just that. His character reveals enough of his own angst and his frustration and anger with the system, to keep his audience on side. Unlike Venetia Fitzpatrick - Zannah Hodson's character elicits distrust almost from the moment she steps onto the stage. Or perhaps that's just me? Maybe it's a female thing to assume a beautiful woman interested in an older man must be up to something?


Kevin Wathen's portrayal of the barman is a triumph. He pulls you in - he's clever, witty, clearly intelligent, but also flawed. We can see it, and there are references throughout the first act to warn us. As his personal life begins to fracture so does his self assurance. He can choose one of two options and the choice he makes will determine everyone's future.


Pop Quiz! What do you get when you throw together a criminally beautiful woman, a drunken politician and a barman on the edge with "a big fuck off knife"?

Answer: a second act with so much tension you almost forget to breathe.

Tom Savage, Venetia Fitzpatrick and Gary England will be falling apart at Live Theatre until 16th May.
If you don't like your theatre political and tense, don't go see it. If you do, go and remember to breathe.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Breakfast Hearts/Choirplay - Review - Live Theatre

Breakfast Hearts/Choirplay
Live Theatre

20th Feb 2015

Written By Robin French
Directed by Melanie Rashbrooke

How do you see yourself in the future? What makes you happy? How do you measure your success?
Promotion at work? Owning lots of pretty, fancy, expensive things? Fitting in with everyone else - or maybe, not?

Two plays at Live Theatre this week are asking all these questions. I'm not sure they provide all - or any - of the answers.

First up is Choirplay - which is described as an audacious experiment in form. It reminded me of my church youth group days - chanting responses on those rare occasions when the vicar chose not to sing evensong. Lines are delivered solo, repeated, and then answered in unison like a choral production, but without the singing. An this is a much different catechism than you would find at church. These young people worship a different god. How do you see yourself in the future? The question is asked and answers include much ownership of stuff, including the "right" partner, and a lone voice calls out "Happy" to be asked again and again "Is that all?" Do things make us happy? Do they represent success? Do they help us to fit in? Maybe, but then again, maybe we don't want to fit in! Ironically, the play shows us all following the trends, buying into the marketing, owning stuff to make us happy...worshipping at the Church of Ikea.

The second of the plays is a more traditional, linear story. It follows the relationships of six people as they struggle to find happiness and success. But that is where the tradition ends - the play is quirky and full of dark humour - cannibalism is, it would seem, the new black (sadly for Roy he doesn't last long, eaten within the first five minutes!) Success for these people is seen in terms of promotion, moving onwards and upwards at the expense of others, whether they be friends, rivals or lovers. A better job, a new swimming pool. A hunger fed. But none of it satisfying. Friendship and love are tested and found wanting. What is the point of it all anyway? In the end, all you can do is eat the people who betray you.

The plays are surprising and very different. The acting and direction is sharp. The timing and delivery of lines perfect for drawing out the audience reactions. You will laugh out loud and then wonder what exactly it is you are laughing at. Questions are asked, and suggestions offered but you will have to decide for yourself where the way to happiness and success lies.

Breakfast Hearts and Choirplay are the first productions for The Six Twenty - whose aim is to make theatre that is "bold, ambitious and fun" that "excites, engages and provokes." These two plays certainly do that. Quirky, funny, thought provoking, and pretty bizarre. They leave an impression!

Ask yourself, how do you see yourself in the future?

Denise Sparrowhawk

Good Timin' - Review - Live Theatre

Good Timin'
Live Theatre
16th Oct 2014

Good Timin' is the story of one man's search for another man. Actually it's more of a one and a half man show, with Finn Burridge appearing as the young Ian McLaughlin.

It is presented with some clever jiggery-pokery from the techie guys with the lights and a projector or two, a good spattering of some classic tunes and a selection of comedy sound effects from the sound guys. 
And - and this is important - a bit of help from The Doctor. Yes, that Doctor, starting with William Hartnell and working his way through the decades to Peter Capaldi, with a good dose of Tom Baker.

 

This is Ian Mclaughlin's show about growing up fatherless, and his eventual discovery of the real man behind the fable.  A man sets out to discover his father and along the way finds himself too. It is clever, and funny and incredibly poignant. As good comedy should be - based in truth. This is not just a funny story, this is Ian McLaughlin's own story. There are a lot of laughs, a lot of interesting sciencey stuff about nurture and nature and more than a touch of sadness.

 

Good Timin' runs till the 25th Oct. It is well worth an hour and ten of anyone's time.

 

Denise Sparrowhawk

Mixtape: Boy Band vs Girl Band - Review - Live Theatre

Mixtape: Boy Band vs Girl Band
Live Theatre 
5.9.14

Last weekend I went along to check out Mixtape at the Live Theatre, not entirely knowing what to expect. I needed some company for the evening so invited my sister to come along. I lured her in with the Boy Band/Girl Band thing, and carefully avoided any words like quiz night or audience participation. She doesn't really do either of those but she does do pop music. In hindsight that may have been a mistake but as the Reluctant Teenager was more reluctant than ever over this one (he really doesn't do the boy band/girl band thing at all, and he enough audience participation at our last outing to last him a lifetime!).
Anyway, I digress!

Mixtape, as you may have gathered, is a kind of music quiz/sketch show hybrid kind of thing. Groups of young actors write and perform mini sketches based on pop songs - in this case by either girl or boy bands. There are many Mixtapes and they are all themed differently. The sketches cannot be any longer than the duration of the song and can only use words from the lyrics of the song. The same words, not necessarily in the same order (to misquote Mr Morecambe). The audience, complete with Playlist answer sheet, have to guess the song and artist. Points are awarded for correct answers.

Sounds like a piece of cake (and inded, there was cake at one point). It was almost as infuriating as the old Bits and Pieces intros quiz from the Radio 1 Roadshow (anyone else old enough to actually remember that?) The words were tantalisingly familiar but just not enough for us to guess correctly. The answers hovered out of the grasp of our braincells. But maybe that was just us? Other teams managed to score loads. I'm not good with Boy/Girl bands, they all sound the same to me! (Good grief am I sounding more and more like an old person?) But my sister is a Boyzone, Westlife, Take That fiend...and she was no help! We did abysmally but had a load of fun (well I had fun, my sister was not quite so thrilled by it all, but she's even older than me so, y'know...)

Some sketches were laugh out loud funny, some were painfully real and you laughed with that uncomfortable  "Should I really be laughing at this?" question in your head, others were just plain strange! But, isn't that just the pop world for you?

Mixtape is a quiz night with a difference. It's a bit of lighthearted fun. If you are looking for something other than the usual Friday night crush in the bar, pay them a visit! Next shows are 25th October and 7th November. Who knows, you might even win the coveted Golden Mixtape.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Plays for Today - Review - Live Theatre

Plays for Today
Live Theatre
Thurs 7th August


Plays for Today kicked off "Right here, Right Now" Live Theatre's 15th Annual Youth Theatre Festival on Thursday evening. A set of 3 short plays inspired by news headlines, devised, written and performed by young people aged 11-19

R A T S - directed by Jackie Fielding

An intriguing take on the whole Big Brother concept (thankfully with more in common with Orwell than Channel 4, though there were elements of both) RATS saw a random group of teenagers manipulated into taking action through their online activities...an online game, a chat room, a dating site. A mysterious messenger grabs their attention via text messages and takes them off grid. Meanwhile in an unknown secure location a group of computer geeks begin to panic as their RATS disappear. An excellent observation on how computers have come to rule our lives, and on the worrying concept of secret surveillance by unknown organisations, for reasons best known to themselves. Light-hearted and funny, but with serious undertones, bullying, peer pressure, isolation - there was a lot packed into twenty minutes!

Testament - directed by Ben Ayrton
A much darker play. A troupe of Clowns (The Joker's influence clearly visible) give their final performance as the world ends. As the spotlight falls on individuals they give their testament to life and death. Bleak, pessimistic, heart-breaking. The epitome of teenage angst. I found this play very haunting and was fully expecting a bleak apocalyptic ending. Thankfully, I was saved from the despair of it all by the very clever volte face!
This was an excellent visual and atmospheric piece of drama.

Book 13 - directed by Neil Armstrong
This is the archetypal "sell your soul to the Devil" story. A successful writer finds himself struggling with writer's block, as he strives to write a winning novel. He wants his 13th novel to be better, different to the ones that have gone before. After imploring help from God and receiving nothing, he turns to the devil and help is forthcoming. But at a price - he finds that everything he writes begins to happen for real, with deadly consequences. Events spiral out of control and his life is ruined - or is it - in the end he does write that elusive Book 13.
I loved this - a quirky, funny play with some excellent comedic moments. A dark tale but then most good comedy has a dark core!

The three plays were excellent - thought provoking and engaging. The fact that they had been devised, written, rehearsed and performed by three groups of young people who had possibly never met before, is astounding. There were some brilliant performances by these young actors. They should be rightly proud of the achievements.

The performances were followed by an interesting and intriguing Q&A panel, to give the audience some insight into the process behind the plays and the festival. Brilliantly done.
Here's to the 16th Youth Theatre Festival next year!

Denise Sparrowhawk

And if someone can remind me what R.A.T.S. stands for I'd be eternally grateful...knew I should have written it down!

The 39 Steps – Review- Customs House

The 39 Steps 

Customs House

Ion Productions

8 June 2011

I have always been a massive fan of Alfred Hitchcock, his directorial work is just breathtaking and as spooky as the films that he makes.

When Gareth Hunter (Director) asked me to review his companies’ humorous take on Hitchcock’s ‘The 39 Steps’, I didn’t think twice about it. I had often reviewed Gareth’s work behind the scenes, but first time as a director.

The 39 steps is a spy\mystery tale of the highest order, but with a huge giggle along the way. Richard Hannay - a rugged, tired of war and strife type of man -  becomes embroiled in a tangled web of lies, conspiracy and murder when he meets Anabella a foreign spy. With the security of the country under her hat, the secrets and blood begin to flow…along with the laughter levels!

Right from the start the production takes us by the throat and half throttles us into an early submission. Lots of dry ice and perfectly formed sound and lighting design propel us into Hannay’s world of confusion and anxiety. The fast paced dialogue coupled with the even faster stage changes made this perfect theatre going. With Hannay running from the law in the best part of this show many scenes were hastily set up, some truly loud out loud frivolity over took the Customs House audience as the four actors on stage took on many multi roles. One very memorable scene had Hannay in true Hitchcock styling climbing out of a train compartment fleeing from the Law; this had the audience lapping up the performance.  Some superb silhouette acting scenes  made it theatre within a theatre.

Alongside the enigmatic Jamie Brown (who was last seen at the Customs House playing South Shields hero John Simpson Kirkpatrick in the fantastic The Man and The Donkey) playing our lead hero Hannay, was Patricia Whale playing Anabella, sexy farmers wife Margaret and Pamela who at first turns Hannay into the police but becoming involved herself on the run, soon softens to his charms. Craig Richardson and Ian Reay performed many a part including one brilliant clothes swapping spot as husband\wife\policeman at the scene of the Bed and Breakfast that Hannay and Pamela escape to.

The standard of acting in The 39 Steps was of a very high calibre, all parts played with top professionalism and deftness. A brilliant casting!

The stage craft on show as I say was of a very high standard; lighting design by James Henshaw and that man again Gareth Hunter with the sound, created brilliant energy on stage that was delightful.

 Hunter has been very imaginative in this play, with such a lot going on, such a lot could have gone wrong. In my eyes it was perfect and thrilling, top class entertainment. He definitely deserved that pint afterwards!

I had never witnessed any of Hitchcock’s work in the theatre before but this was as entertaining on stage as on celluloid. I thoroughly recommend seeing this play it will not only have you laughing you socks off but also marvel at the performances.

Runs until Saturday 11 June.

Michael Hunter

A Walk On Part, The Public Review link

A few months ago I applied to become a reviewer for a national online company.
The The Public Reviews set up in 2006 is a collaboration of dedicated volunteer theatre reviewers.
I got a call a few days ago and was asked if I would like to try out for them.
I jumped at the chance! This of course would be a test review, but if good enough for submission would go onto their website.
The play in question was the superb A Walk On Part, at The Live Theatre in Newcastle. I am glad to say that I received great feedback from the regional editor Steve Burbridge regarding my review. A decision as to whether I join their ranks of brilliant reviewers will come in a few days.
As with the policy of TPR any reviews that a contributor makes cannot be posted to their own personal website, till three days after submission. I will be copying and pasting the review here on Sunday 15th, so please come and have a gander.
If you cannot wait till then please feel free to have a look at my review HERE. The review is currently on the first page of the review section of the website.


Michael Hunter