I have met the enemy (and the enemy is us) - Review - Byker Community Centre

I have met the enemy (and the enemy is us)

Byker Community Centre
17th Oct 2019

A Common Wealth/Northern Stage production

Staged in the upper room of Byker Community Centre, this is a theatre experience with a difference. There is no stage, and no seats, we are invited to move around the space, interact with the actors and each other, but not to touch anything -unless specifically asked to do so... I enter the room, soft music is playing and there are structures with lights dotted around. "Hello, I'm Alex, how are you? Have you been to an arms fair before?" Within minutes I have been greeted by four people, and given advice on personal security by two of them, invited to look around, sample the refreshments and enjoy... Audience participation is not my thing - unless you count booing at the baddie in Panto, but I go with the flow as best I can. I hope I won't be called on to do more than make small talk.

This is not going to be your average theatre show.

In the prologue of the Arms Fair, we are introduced to the latest technological killing machines by a series of salesmen with slick sales patter where names such BAE and Rolls Royce are dropped into the conversation. And then the narrative moves to the more personal stories - of Alex, a British soldier, veteran of the Afghan conflict, Mo'min, a Palestinian from the West Bank, an actor, now living in London, and Shatha, an artist in Yemen, who appears via a pre-recorded video. They tell of their own experiences of war, of air strikes, of guns and bombs. Each one told from a different perspective, each one very personal. Each one painful. And each one the direct result of British arms deals.

Their stories are enhanced ad illustrated with the strange ticking light box props. These it transpires are metronomes. There are seventy two of them, representing the seventy two Eurofighter jets sold to Saudi Arabia and used in Yemen. The ticking of the metronomes echoes the Domesday Clock, ticking down to the destruction of mankind.

I Have Met The Enemy is hard -hitting, political theatre. It does not pull punches. But it is also compassionate and human, even as it highlights the inhumanity of the arms trade. These are real people, and their experiences are real. Their losses are real. Their fears are real. Their stories draw you in, you are delighted by the thought of Alex's mother walking her dog in Wales, of Mo'min out with the sheep and the horse, and of Shatha dancing at a wedding. But, they pull no punches - just as you settle into the stories, a gun is levelled, or a grenade is thrown, or an airstrike hits. Blood mixes with jasmine flowers.

It raises so many issues, asks so many questions, and leaves us uncomfortable, thinking about the consequences of war, and our part in it.

You can meet the enemy at Byker Community Centre until Saturday 26th Oct.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Newcastle Improv Festival - Review - Alphabetti Theatre

Improv Triple Header Long Form Night Alphabetti Theatre - Newcastle Improv Festival

Old haunts from Open Heart Theatre / Couch Improv / 4 One Night Only


Tonight was a treat for the seasoned improv theatre goer. Two brand new formats and one format I have never seen before from Couch Improv. To kick us off was Open Heart Theatre assembled from the hang, a local improv group. This was a brand new format known as old haunts, involving some scene painting from two spirits of a transformed space that used to be something else. In this case the old haunt used to be a fire station and is now an art center for troubled souls.

Open Heart performed some entertaining scenes, while the spirit members paused the action to do some scene painting bringing more history and life to the space, from what it used to be when it was a fire station and what it now is. Four characters had good chemistry and there were some heartfelt and amusing scenes.

Next up was Couch Improv with a standard harold format , the original long form created by Del Close. They took a one word suggestion, which was freedom, that sparked off some fascinating scenes including the guy who had the hots for his captors, a very anti-semitic Mel Gibson and a teacher who taught failure. Very funny scenes. Their second format took its inspiration from tracks people have added to their spotify playlist, an example was Nena's red balloons song. There were some call backs to earlier scenes and some great characterisation. The devil made an appearance at some point, with an offer of taking someones soul for an Uber.

Last but not least was 4 One Night Only - a local night of long form exploration featuring some bright talents from the local improv scene. The concept was a live radio episode of the famous fictitious fifteen year old soap opera North Eastenders. I wonder where the name inspiration came from?

Several stock characters were used, but expanded on throughout the two episodes, we saw one current and one classic episode all improvised. Firstly set in several locations all suggested by the crowd. Most actors played several characters, which was sometimes confusing, but entertaining, especially when characters had conversations through the same actor. Highlights include several women giving birth and an affair that ends in disaster. Both episodes end on cliffhangers as you would expect. Great stuff.

All this is part of the very first Newcastle Improv Festival, which started on Saturday the 27th July and concludes on Sunday the 4th August. Bev Fox and Ian Mclaughlin have put together a great set of shows and workshops, most of which have sold out so far. So grab tickets for shows workshops when you can, information below :

www.newcastleimprovfest.co.uk

Remaining workshops :

Friday 2nd August

Improv comedy 12-2pm Alphabetti Theatre 16+ £10.50
Jason Perez improv masterclass Alphabetti Theatre 2-5pm Adults £18-£20

Saturday 3rd August

Stella Duffy Improv for writers Jurrys Inn 10-5pm
Laughter yoga with Melissa Alphabetti Theatre family friendly 12-1pm £5.50-£7
Improv for beginners Alphabetti Theatre Adults 2-4pm £12-£15

Sunday 4th August

4 hour film challenge  Alphabetti Theatre 12-4pm Adults £20



Remaining shows :

Friday 2nd August

The Suggestibles comedy Alphabetti Theatre Adults 16+ 8-10pm £10-12.50
Nerdfest's pissed up podcast Adults 16+ 10.30-11.30pm Free to Suggestibles ticket holders

Friday 3rd August

Picture this Seven stories Family friendly 2-3pm £4.80-£6

Suki Webster's guest speaker Adults 16+ 7.30-8.45pm £7-£8
'Aspects of...' The Suggestibes with Suki Webster and Stella Duffy musical improv Adults 16+ 9-10.15pm £7/£8
Double bill £11-£13
Nifty disco with DJ Paula Penman music and dancing 10.30pm-12am free for Guest speaker or aspects of shows

Sunday 4th August

Say what? improv jam Adults 14+ 4.30-6.30 pay what you feel.

Other than that see you all next year!


Frank Cromartie Murphy

Playing Up 9 - Review - Northern Stage

Playing up 9  - New play showcase 
Northern Stage
27th Feb 2019

Tonight's showcase was for five new short plays all written and directed by local writers and directors and performed by local actors in two acts.

First up was Something Less Deplorable by Luke Bateman and directed by Jack Hilton. Opening with music, two friends come together on a hilltop at dusk. Adam (Alastair Park) as the frustrated friend who wants more than just friendship from Laith (James Howlett). There’s exchanging of banter back and forth and an imminent issue Adam has with a relative in hospital. Laith is wonderfully camp and there is some sexual tension there. There could be more action and less expedition, to make it more than talking heads. Interesting play all the same exploring unrequited love.

Fucking Black Magic by Chris Wilkins, directed by Anna Snell was a two hander set in a restaurant in what first appears as a date and later transpires to be a reunion of David (Mark Buckley) and his estranged birth mother Tracey (Mary Pickin) the second play in a row with the c word among many other expletives. David's job in risk management is somewhat mocked and the relationship is anything but instantly loving. Tracey is excellent and charismatic, but somewhat blasé in nature. David is almost polar opposite. This was funny and well paced and had a nice resolution.

How Not To Date by Elle Douglas, directed by Beth O’Doherty Does exactly as it says on the tin. This works as a kind of romcom-esque play. Two unlucky in love singletons are taking the leap and meeting a stranger from online in person! Asking the question is it possible to have a successful first date? This all played out in a peep show like style, in which we here Lucy and Mike’s inner thoughts are voiced by other actors as a sort of inner conflict and commentary on the disaster unfolding. Lucy is played by Eilish Stout Cairns and Eleanor Beck. Mike is played by Craig Fairbairn and Liam Scarth. This highlights the awkwardness of modern dating and the desperate measures some people go to, to find companionship. Quite amusing with high energy.

Soulmates by Lewis Cuthbert , directed by Matt Jamie was the first play of the second act. Starting with a commercial for Sycorax Systems Incorporated the world leaders in soul transfer. This is science fiction in a black mirror sort of style. The commercial is very comical as the supposed alive patients seem to be in an almost catatonic state. In what should be a demonstration of the system working an ex solider freaks out at the idea he has been resurrected, meanwhile an angry father confronts the company after his daughter died and wasn’t able to use their technology. Wonderfully corporate from start to finish ending on a nice punchline.

The final play was Paper Plane by Rachael Walsh, co directed by Richard Gardner. Opening with music It’s Luke’s (Adam Jordan Donaldson) wedding day and his best man is a woman, Poppy (Jude Nelson). Tom (Benjamin Storey) is Poppy’s ex, this plays out as a kind of a love quadrangle. It asks the when Harry met sally question of can men and women truly just be good friends? It’s well placed, with good humour and drama in places. Poppy makes a powerful best man speech and Tom woefully attempts to get Poppy back. There’s a good level of tension, drama and feels here. It addresses the unrealistic expectations films and theatre presents of romantic love. Well performed. 

Producers : Lewis Cuthbert, John Harrison, Chris Wilkins

Technician: Jayden Blacklock

To get involved with playing it up contact them by email : playing_up@outlook.com Twitter @playingup_tc
Blog: https://playingupblog.wordpress.com

Next Playing Up 10th May
                     

Frank Cromartie Murphy

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

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

Heaton! - Review - People's Theatre

Heaton!

The People's Theatre
17th July 2018

Heaton! The Peoples Theatre 17^th July 2018 presented in association with Shoe Tree Arts.

Heaton! Is a play inspired by local area of Heaton and the Great Exhibition of the North and is an original production for The People’s Theatre. Upon my arrival my ears were greeted with a full band playing, which was nice, the band was also featured in the play and performed at the end. The play itself was a cornucopia of ideas mixing several genres, including musical aspects, live film action, a blend of real and fictitious characters and stories, set against a backdrop of footage on a giant screen (which wouldn’t look out of place in a cinema).

There was a boatload (quite literally at one point) of cast, not all in speaking rolls, some just for the musical elements, which did make it feel like a musical in places, aside from the fact it actually had some plots to it (sorry I’m not a fan of musicals) The quality of the music was actually quite high too. Some of the characters included from Heaton’s illustrious past included: Lord Armstrong, engineer and original owner of Armstrong Park; Sir Ove Arup the engineer of the Sydney opera house; Sir Charles Parsons the inventor of the steam turbine; Lady Katharine Parsons, the founder of women’s engineering society; Colin Veitch, Heaton’s footballing wonder kid who played in a successful Newcastle United side in the 1800s and early 1900s, who was also co founder The People's Theatre and later a journalist with the Evening Chronicle; prominent feminist and suffragist activist Florence Nightingale Harrison Bell; Rachel Parsons, engineer and advocate for women's employment rights; Edith Stoney, mathematician who helped Charles Parsons in his gas turbine calculations.; Jorn Oberg Utzon a Danish architect notable for designing the Sydney Opera House, and finally George Stanley a historian who narrates much of the action.  

What was very nice was the brilliant original music compositions created specifically for this production by Ken Patterson and Richard Scott. The acting was good and in one of the most enjoyable moments the narrator said Newcastle Upon Tyne instead of Newcastle council, (I guess you had to be there!).  One of the reviews from a guy in the audience made me laugh he said “I thought I was going to fall asleep, but I didn’t it was good”. Praise indeed.

There were so many different stories going on in it, too many to mention, but all weaved into a nice overall narrative capturing the early 1900s in Heaton very well. It was also funny in places, - it seemed to have everything mixing the various genres seamlessly. A whole year's work went into the production and it’s evident, you can see the love that’s gone into it - this is people who are clearly proud of their local heritage. The place was packed out like I’ve rarely seen it, I had a blast and learned a lot and you will too. Get down and share in some local pride! 

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