Season Preview - Royalty Theatre

ROYALTY THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2018/19 SEASON 

The Royalty Theatre have announced the programme for their 2018/19 season, and it is a strong programme with a great mix of plays which we are very much looking forward to!

They begin a packed season with classic comedy No Sex Please, We’re British. 

The farce by Alistair Foot and Anthony Marriott kicks off a season that theatre bosses believe has something for everyone.  It’s joined in the comedy stakes by May’s Barefoot in the Park, the film version of which starred Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.

For fans of suspense drama, Daphne du Maurier’s My Cousin Rachel will be performed in October and November, and the time-honoured favourite Dial M for Murder is the Royalty’s March offering.  Hobson’s Choice in February and Jane Austen’s Emma in June add to the drama.

The annual pantomime this year is Jack and The Beanstalk by local writer David Farn.

Once again, the studio is put to use for intimate small scale productions with the premier in  January of Billy Towers’ Mary, Mary, based on the life of Jack the Ripper victim Mary Kelly.  April’s studio production is John Godber and Jane Thornton’s Shakers (Re-stirred)

Thanks to the popularity of last year’s A Night at the Musicals, The Royalty are reprising this for two nights only on September 7^th and 8^th.

Visiting companies include Pink Floyd tribute act What the Floyd, appearing on 5^th October.  Sunderland Stages return to the Royalty with Red Ladder Theatre’s The Damned United, the story of Sunderland and Middlesbrough legend Brian Clough’s ill-fated 44 days at Leeds United, on 13^th and 14^th November.

Artistic Director Nikki Slack says, “We’re now raring to go for the 2018-19 season. We have a year packed with a range of diverse plays that will appeal to all. Recent media has been much focussed on equality and ‘Girl Power’ is certainly coming back with a bang! Our programme of plays this coming season shines the spotlight on our female talent from more female-centred plays to our female directors and technicians.”

Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketsource.co.uk/royaltytheatre.  
Tickets for The Damned United are available from the Sunderland Stages website.

Northern Stage - Autumn Season Launch

Season Launch

Northern Stage
Autumn 2018

Northern Stage launched their autumn season with comedian and poet Kate Fox. Kate gave us a taste of what was to come in a series of interviews, video clips and snippets of performances. Her chirpy, upbeat commentary and infectious enthusiasm kept the evening moving along at a cracking pace - as well it needed to, there was a lot to pack in!

Before we get to the Autumn there is a great programme of events over the summer with Northern Stage's involvement with the Great Exhibition of the North. There are plans for Self Build Utopias - a series of exhibitions, installations and performances re-imagining the future. Lorne Campbell and Annie Rigby talked about the inspiration behind the projects and the hope to produce an interactive and engaging series of activities to recreate landscapes and reconnect communities. Watch out for the many different activities around the Great Exhibition of the North from June 22nd till 9th September.


But what can we expect at Northern Stage in the Autumn? 

As always there is a stunning array of diverse and original theatre.
If you missed last season's production of  Laura Lindow's adaptation of H G Wells' War of the Worlds then you have another chance to see it in September.

After the Last Ship and Launch Day, remembering the shipyards, this coming season sees  The Last Seam pays tribute to the mining heritage of the north with a play based on stories and voices of the miners during the last deep seem colliery closure. There's limited availability so be sue to book your seat for this one! (27th Sept).

October brings the stage premier of Alice Seebold's bestselling selling novel The Lovely Bones (9th-20th). This much loved, uplifting tale of love, loss and redemption has been adapted by Bryony Lavery.
While on Stage 2 there is drama in The Mountaintop - an intimate look into the life of Martin Luther King on the eve of his assassination (9th - 13th).





In November we have two powerful, but different pieces of  from classic literature - Dylan Thomas's lyrical observations of life in the small, imaginary Welsh village of Llareggub in Under milk Wood (2nd -17th), while the English Touring Theatre bring us Richard Twyman's vital production of Shakespeare's Othello (13th-17th).
Both these productions give a fresh and innovative look at a classic piece of literature.


The Christmas show this year is also a classic from English literature - Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Adapted by Neil Bartlett and directed by mark Calvert it promises to another imaginative and original Christmas production. (Dec 1st - Jan 5th)

And of course we have dance:  Tangomotion is a virtuoso display of traditional and contemporary interpretations of this passionate dance, while Ballet Lorent's After Dark is a cabaret style celebration of the 25 years of the company. Then there is more Dickens with Fagin's Twist - Avante Guarde Dance Company's hip-hop style re-imagining of five of Dicken's familiar characters (13th-20th Dec).

This really just scratches the surface of what is on at Northern Stage - there is quite literally something for all ages and interests, whether you love dance, drama, poetry or puppetry there is a show for you next season. If  you want to be more involved than a spectator then check out their youth theatre - Open Stages (ages 5-15) and Young Company (ages 16-21) - they gave a breath-taking, assured performance of part of their own work at the launch.
If you're at the other end of the spectrum you might like to join in with Read Through - a script reading group for the over 60s.

Check the website www.northernstage.co.uk to see the full programme of productions and activities and book your place.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Bankers - Alphabetti Theatre - Review

Bankers

Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
15th February 2018 7PM

“As a company, Write On Tap aim to make work that is culturally aware and politically relevant” writes producer Becci Sharrock of Bankers.

Ten years after the Northern Rock collapse this theatre production, written by 4 emerging North East playwrights, looks at the issues, the aftermath (including the ever increasing usage of food banks), and even the possibilities beyond the present day. 

The theatre was packed (some people had to stand it was so well attended) as the show began. For research and inspiration, they had spoken to food bank volunteers and clients, ex Northern Rock employees and academics - some of whose words could be heard playing through the speakers. Statistics, both informative and more tongue in cheek, were displayed on a screen behind. This changed and updated throughout the different scenes.

The four stories performed by local actors, ranged from an unapologetic banker looking to expand on his social portfolio, a couple caught in the crisis when Northern Rock crumbled, to 2 families' first hand experience of food banks. They gave an informative and entertaining look at one of today's very current and real facts of life. I found it very interesting and informative and whilst certainly the subject matter is a serious one, it was written and told in a realistic and believable way, that got the message across without being patronising or preachy in any way. There was lots of topical humour interspersed throughout. 
I found this a great balance of telling a story and giving information.

Alongside the show Write On Tap are also running a special campaign in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre and Newcastle’s West End Foodbank, encouraging audiences to support the foodbank. It aims to fill Alphabetti’s lift with donations from Tuesday 13th February to Saturday 24th February. Donations can be dropped off during the theatre's opening times.

The following items are requested for donation *tea bags *instant coffee *sugar (500g) *cereal *pasta *milk (UHT or powdered) *fruit juice (long life) *tinned tomatoes *tinned vegetables *tinned fish *biscuits/snacks *tinned rice pudding *rice *tinned fruit

Alternatively if you wish to make a financial donation via a regular direct debit go to https://newcastlewestend.foodbank.org.uk/give-help

Belinda Bekki-Winter

Bankers showed for two nights on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th February at 7.00pm as Pay What You Feel shows. Hopefully people felt a lot. 

Preview - Blue Remembered Hills - Royalty Theatre

Abbi Laidler, Peter Kelly and Nikki Slack

Credit: Royalty Theatre

Royalty Theatre to stage Blue Remembered Hills

The Royalty Theatre continue their 2017/18 season with a production of Dennis Potter’s Blue Remembered Hills.

Written for the BBC’s Play for Today series in 1979, the play follows a group of seven-year-olds, playing together on a summer’s day in 1943 in the Forest of Dean.  As with the television production, the children are all played by adults – magnifying the innocent, joyful and indeed darker aspects of childhood.

Director Lorna Breeze says, “When approached to direct Blue Remembered Hills I was very excited at the prospect.  Originally written for TV, bringing it to the stage could have been tricky but it’s been a delight to see it develop in rehearsals.  The cast have been marvellous and have enjoyed releasing their inner child – maybe a little too much!”

Abbi Laidler, Peter Kelly and Nikki Slack are among a cast following in the footsteps of such actors as Helen Mirren, Michael Elphick and John Bird, who starred in the original TV production.  Now a standard text for GSCE Drama, the play runs from October 30^th to November 4^th.

Tickets are available in person from the box office, payment by cash or cheque only - details of opening times can be found on the website.  Tickets can be bought online from Ticketsource . (Please note there is an administration charge for online or telephone bookings.) 

If Peter Kelly's performance comes anywhere close to his impromptu cover of the lead role in The Machine Gunners last season then this will be well worth a viewing! - DS

Preview - Billingham Players at the Theatre Upstairs - Autumn 2017 Season

Preview Autumn 2017

Exit Routes
Christmas Past, Christmas Present
Billingham Players at The theatre Upstairs. 

The Billingham Players start their new season with Exit Routes written by Liz Turner, directed by Denise Phillips.  A group of five factory women share their thoughts, dreams and problems, swapping jokes and insults as they try to cope with the daily grind. They are always looking for that lottery win, and are always disappointed. They begin to look elsewhere for a means of escape, and when their colleague Corinne returns from holiday, it seems it's no co-incidence that Tessa's husband has been away at exactly the same time. And then the Christmas club money disappears along with Corinne...
Exit Routes runs from Mon 9th to Sat 14th Oct. 

This is followed in December by the Christmas Show - Christmas Past, Christmas Present, a seasonal spectacular. This musical show is directed by Sue Brackenbury, with musical direction by Steve McNichol. It runs from Weds 6th to Sat 9th December.

Billingham Players are an amateur theatre group which began life as ‘The Synthonia Players’, associated with ICI and performed at the Synthonia Club on Belasis Avenue. In 1974 they took the decision to run their own theatre and moved to the Theatre Upstairs, a former dance hall above the co-op stores, changing their name to The Billingham Players. Their members come from all walks of life, ranging in age from teenagers to (shall we say) the more mature thespian. They stage a number of productions each year and have a very varied programme.

Details of their shows are available online at www.billinghamplayers.co.uk
Tickets to the shows cost £11 (£9) and are available from:
Perfect Fit, Station Rd, Billingham,
Rediscover Stockton, High Street, Stockton
Or book by phone on 01642 586180 or 551981

The Pitman Painters - Review - Royalty Theatre

The Pitman Painters

Royalty Theatre
16th May 2017

After a year long wait, I finally got to see this production by the team at the Royalty. Lee Hall's northern classic was scheduled to run last season but unfortunately had to be cancelled at the twelfth hour. I was keen to see how the team at the Royalty tackled the play, especially considering the enforced hiatus.

It is one of my favourite plays, probably because Lee Hall writes with such empathy about the north east. His characters are entirely believable and are written with genuine affection and humour yet he does not sugar coat them. So with the Pitman Painters we have five irascible characters who argue and bicker, sometimes in  fun, sometimes in earnest, yet manage never to fall out altogether despite their disagreements.

They come together for the unlikely purpose of taking an art appreciation class with the WEA. It very quickly becomes clear that the tutor's planned programme is way above the heads of the pitman and so a compromise is found - they will learn to appreciate art through participating in art themselves - they will be painters. It is glorious to see their development from huffy, defensive, reluctant painters into a group who are confident and assured enough to voice their opinions, and to exhibit their art.
Their forthright salt of the earth manner provokes plenty of chuckles from the audience.

There are some fair performances - Kristian Colling as George Brown - the stickler for the rules and regulations, holds the group together, breaking up the arguments when they start to get too earnest, particularly between Harry (Graham Alex) and Jimmy (Michael Fletcher) who just can't see eye to eye about anything. Yet just as often, George stalls the progress of the group when regulations look like they may be contravened.
Matt McNamee takes on the role of Oliver Kilbourn - the pitman who is most affected by the art class. Oliver's character is different to the others, as he struggles inwardly with the idea of becoming something other than a pitman, and this is a challenging first major role for McNamee. He acquitted  himself well, though his performance was lacking some of the emotion I expected from his character. That said he has certainly grown as an actor and I look forward to seeing how he develops in future roles.
David Farn plays the intellectual and rather pretentious art tutor who benefits from the group. There are some lovely moments when he begins to pontificate and is undercut by the pitmen and Mrs Sullivan (Corinne Kilvington).

What makes the show for me is the clear chemistry between Michael Fletcher, Graham Alex and Kristian Colling. Their timing and delivery is almost perfect, and the banter between their three characters acts as a foil for the seriousness of Oliver Kilbourn.

It's a play with a message that is still relevant today though it is set in the mid-20th Century, social class, capitalism, nationalisation, working class aspirations and bourgeois pretensions. Well worth seeing, Pitman Painters runs until Sat 20th May.

Denise Sparrowhawk

The Machine Gunners - Review - Royalty Theatre

The Machine Gunners  
Royalty Theatre
25th October 2016


This was promising to be an interesting show with a young cast, but as it turns out it was more interesting than anticipated. Unfortunately due to an accident just before the first night show the young lead Aidan Evans was unable to play his role and a stand in had to be found at the last minute. So we began the show with an apology from the Chairman as assistant director Peter Kelly would be taking the part of Chas McGill and would reading from the script at times. It also had to be said Peter Kelly is considerably older than the character of Chas McGill. However in true theatrical "the show must go on" style, the cast took up their places and the play began.

The play is a children's wartime adventure. The original story written by Robert Westall to entertain his own son, is full of wit and humour, the dialogue feels authentic - the kids talk and act like kids. It is great to hear a play in the north east dialect.
The story slips between narration by Chas and action and it moves smoothly from one to the other. Overall it has a Blytonesque feel to it - reminiscent of the Famous Five or Secret Seven - kids being kids but taking on roles more suited to adults, planning to save the day and be seen as heroes.

The stage was set with elements of each scene - a bomb damaged street, woodland, and the inside of Chas's home. Props and scenery were moved with ease by cast members to create each scene, a screen of trees brought forward for the woods, a table and chairs brought on stage for the inside of the house. Lighting was used to good effect, darkening for the scenes in the wood, then bright for the narration and the scenes in town. Sound effects combined with the lighting recreated the droning aeroplanes, explosions and gunfire. The tech was very well done.

As it turns out the chairman's apology was barely needed and any concerns the audience might have felt were quickly dispelled. It's a tall order to step into a role at short notice, and a taller one still for an adult to be asked to play a child. But, Peter Kelly not only stepped up he did so with style! Right from the start he was convincing as the character, capturing the cheekiness and ingenuousness of the boy. He got through the lengthy opening speeches without resorting to the script, and his assurance must have been hugely reassuring to the rest of the young cast - some of whom were on stage at this theatre for the first time. They did themselves and the theatre proud. If I had choose a man of the play - apart from Peter Kelly who was undoubtedly the hero of the hour - I would go with Lee Wilkins who gave a impassioned performance as the tough but vulnerable Glaswegian orphan, Clogger.

This is a great family drama, full of humour, some sadness, lots of adventure and it is a credit to the cast and team to have produced such a good show under difficult circumstances.

Tickets are just £8 and will be money well spent for two hours of entertainment and the play runs until Saturday 29th October.

Denise Sparrowhawk

West Side Story – Newcastle Musical Theatre Company, Theatre Royal - Review

https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/westsidestory

West Side Story

Newcastle Musical Theatre Company

Theatre Royal

19th Jul 2016

 

 

 

 

After seeing their last production Sister Act I was very much looking forward to seeing West Side Story and it didn't disappoint.

West Side Story is a tale of love and gangs  which is gripping from start to finish.  The Jets and The Sharks., led by two great leaders Riff played fantastically by Dan Dickinson and Bernardo, Ty Roach Thompson. These two seem to be like ghosts in the second half of the show but their presence is still felt.

The Jets and The Sharks and have a dance this is where our two star crossed lovers meet; Maria who is Bernardo's sister played by the amazingly talented lady, Nikki Cunningham, falls head over heels in love with Tony played by Jamie Douglass.

I would love to take a minute to talk about The Jets because these guys were great and they really made you believe that they could be a gang, we have spoken already about Riff but in every team you need the engine and in the Jets you have Action played amazingly by Simon Pinkney. A-Rab played really well by Jack Hindmarsh, Baby John (Curtis Appleby), Diesel (James Mitchinson), Big Deal (Martin Hampton Matthews), Tiger (Daniel Thomas), Mouthpiece Nathan Denton), Aisling Vallely and Carl Luke who plays Snowball.  The star of the Jets is a girl called Anybodys (It couldn't have been Anybody else) played to perfection by the amazingly talent Beth Johnson who was full of energy throughout the show (and her hair grows back really fast!)

The Sharks comprised of Bernardo,  Anita played by Lauren Gordon, Rosalia played by Helen Cash who brings great comedy to the role, Ellen Crake who plays Velma, JoJo Hatfield who plays Consuela, Kara Ferguson plays Somewhere Girl and Savanna,  and finally the star of the Sharks, Chino played extremely well by Andrew Ewart.

Keeping the two gangs from fighting are four brilliantly actors  Dan Greener as Lt Shrank (and you should have seen the crowd of girls that flocked to him at the stage door after the show)) and the wonderfully talented Joe Costigan playing the delightful Officer Krupke, Noel Harris as Glad Hand and finally Ken Allen is brilliant and deserves great praise for the work he does for the company leading the Junior Section of NMTC.

Taking over as MD this year was Malcolm Moffat who does a great job with the baton with his 18 person band (yes it is that many).

The Crew deserve a mention because a lot of the great work they do goes unnoticed unless there are hiccups! The sound and lighting are great - a few little technical glitches but not enoughto spoil the show.

The Ending! Now some people would say that I have a heart of stone but jeez guys the ending nearly had me in tears (Don't believe anybody who says I was crying, they were tears of joy). I'm not going to ruin the ending but it will make you shed tear or two…

Before I finish I just have to give a shout out and an amazing well done to one lady who has worked on this show and the last 2 shows the NMTC have done - the amazingly talented Sandra Laidler. She has done a brilliant job with all the shows that she has worked on and I wish her all success with Copacabana in 2017. The  NTMC will have their work cut out finding a replacement, although of course she couldn't do it without her amazing production team - Chantal Riley ( Dance Captain), Philip Stockley ( Production Manager) Malcolm Moffat (MD) and Julie Macnaughton ( Accompanist).

Once again I would say that this is one show that will make you laugh and cry and take you on a journey and you will come out feeling better and having seen a great show performed by a great theatre company. This show is amazing and I do want to see it again and I definitely think that you should go down to the Theatre Royal box office and get your tickets before they run out.

It Plays until Sat 23^rd July. 

Reuben Hiles

Lords and Ladies - Review - People's Theatre

Lords and Ladies

People's Theatre
19th July 2016

Based on the book by Terry Pratchett, adapted for the stage by Irana Brown, Lords and Ladies is a mad tale of magic, folklore and politics...

Disc World has become complacent. Years of peace have worn away the knowledge of what life was like before the elves (whisper it, they come out when they are called) were banished. Those days have sunk into folklore - tales to scare the children, not real.  But the elves have been plotting and they want to claim back their land. The old Witches' powers have waned and there are few of them left. The young people are dabbling in magic and setting themselves up as New Witches with new magic, and they are drawn to the tales of the Elves, seduced by the glamour. The Elves are waiting their chance and preying on the weak to inveigle their way back into the world they once ruled.

The People's Theatre have once again taken on the challenge of a big cast production with over 25 characters. And that's before you even consider the legacy of Terry Pratchett hovering over the whole proceeding! But as usual the People's team have taken on the challenge and presented a blinding production. Magnificent costumes, spectacular sound and lighting, a few clever special effects and some almost perfect comic timing make this an incredible show. We have morris dancers, wizards, witches - old and new. You have to love the teenage emo witches with their carefully ragged outfits and their self-consciously co-ordinated black lace handkerchiefs). An unexpected king and his queen to be, chosen from his subjects ( like all good fairy tales). Wicked elves, a glamourous bad queen and of course, an Orang-utan.
Pratchett tips the wink to all manner of art and literature from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream to modern film ( yes, Arnie gets in there too). If you were thinking it's all sounding a bit panto-ish, you'd not be far wrong, and of course, there is nothing the People's theatre do better than panto and Shakespeare.
The characters are colourful, larger than life, the humour is witty and bawdy, and at times cuttingly sharp. The tale is one of good versus evil, and the dangers of lessons not learned, or possibly forgotten. There's a lot going on in this play - and if you aren't familiar with Pratchett you have to pay attention to keep up with the plot! If you do then you will be rewarded with romance, fight scenes, lots of silliness and much laughter!

Standout performances from Sarah Scott as Magrat Garlick, Kath Frazer as Granny Witherwack, and Val Russell as nanny Og, who btween them save the day! Aided and abetted by the Rude Mechanicals and Sean Og (David Robson). One last round of applause to Count Casanunda - the world's second best lover, played fabulously by John MacDonaold. he deserves an Oscar for coping with that wig!

All in all this is a marvellous feel good production with a serious message about society if you'd care to look for it, or you could just enjoy the spectacle of a well put together hilarious show!

Lords and Ladies plays till 23rd July.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Figureheads - Review - TVLB Watch House

Figureheads

TVLB Watch House Museum
24th Jan 2016

Last weekend I was invited to a live performance of a new radio play at the Watch House Museum in Tynemouth: Figureheads, written by Whitley Bay writer Noreen Rees, with readings from members of Whitley Bay's creative writing group  Elementary Writers. The event was organised by Sam Levy, education officer at the museum and Rachel Cochrane of Listen Up North.

Elementary Writers have produced poems and stories inspired by Whitley Bay and St Mary's Lighthouse. The readings were lively and the range of subjects surprising - from a Russian love letter to a first football match.

Through a Prism a poem by Harry Gallagher
Famous Five at St Mary's Lighthouse by Moira Conway
New Year Resolution by Jean Laurie
Letter from Cholera Island by James Tucker
Wish You Were here by Jennifer Wilson
My Team by Mike Cockburn
St Mary of the Lighthouse by Harry Gallagher

Elementary Writers is run by Victoria Watson .

After a short break that gave us all the chance to see some of the interesting and intriguing artefacts in the museum, we sat back for the main feature: Figureheads tells of the fateful events on the 24th November 1862, when two ships ("The Stanley", a passenger steamer from Glasgow, and the schooner "Friendship") foundered on the notorious Black Midden Rocks with the loss of 24 lives, including members of the lifeboat crew who were attempting a rescue in the heavy seas.
The tale is narrated by eye witness, Brendan, who recalls the storm, and the sight of a strange figure up on the cliffs. It then unfolds through the eyes of four Figureheads from wrecked ships, as they try in vain to save the Stanley and the Friendship. 
Each Figurehead has a tale to tell, and a different outlook on events, from the practical Lowestoft, to the lugubrious Rupert. The four characters of the Figureheads are brought to life in this original and touching play, and the actors make the events feel very real. Because this is a radio play the writing is very visual, aided by sound effects of sea and wind and the cries of the shipwrecked, it is a very atmospheric and moving experience - all the more so because of the venue and the tolling of the actual bell from the Stanley as the names of the lost are called at the end of the play. I highly recommend listening later in the year when it will be available online, and definitely find time to visit the museum to find out about the history and the on-going good work of the TVLB.

'Figureheads' was written by Noreen Rees

Lowestoft by Mary Pickin

First of May by Karen Traynor

Fame by Ann Ridley

Rupert by Penny Lamport

Brendan (narrator) by Ray Moore

Produced and directed by Rachel Cochrane

 

Available to listen as a radio play on listenupnorth.com in the Spring

 

Denise Sparrowhawk

Double Bill - The People's Theatre - Review

Double Bill
The People's Theatre
28th Oct 2015

Five Kinds of Silence by Shelagh Stephenson  The Zoo Story by Edward Albee

The People's Theatre have chosen two hard hitting, uncompromising short plays for their Studio productions this month. Tackling themes of abuse, isolation, loneliness, and the nature of love, loyalty and justice, these plays are once again choices that will make you uncomfortable, make you think and almost certainly make you count your own blessings.

Five Kinds of Silence  is the story of Billy, the product of an abused and chaotic childhood. He has grown into a man who needs control and order. But he achieves this through violence and intimidation, physical and mental. On the surface he is a fine family man - he has a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters. Everything he has ever wanted, and he plans to keep them safe - from everyone, and everything but himself. They live in fear of him and yet both they and he himself talk of love. As the play progresses the sense of isolation grows, flashbacks to his childhood, and early adulthood reveal the horror he has lived and is perpetuating - but there are flashes of hope when he meets Mary which are sadly dashed and which lead to his death. (this is not a spoiler - he is shot in the opening scene).
Five Kinds of Silence was originally written as a radio play and this shows in the visual quality of the language - the characters conjure images with their words that make the horror of the situation all the more telling.
The cast led by Gordon Russell as Billy give a astounding performances. He is larger than life, expressive, he dominates the stage whenever he is on it. Whereas his wife Mary (Val Russell) and daughters Susan (Anna Dobson) and Janet (Nicky White) are cowed, but no less compelling as they deal with his violence and the array of professionals who they subsequently come into contact with.
It is a harsh, ugly existence yet we are left feeling a great deal of sympathy not only for the women but for Billy too - for how was he ever to escape the violence that was imprinted in his psyche from childhood?

The Zoo Story is a much quieter and yet somehow even more perturbing story of two strangers who meet in the park. Peter, ( is minding his own business reading on the park bench as he has done every day when he is greeted by a passer by (Stuart Douglas) and reluctantly enters into his erratic conversation.  Again the themes of exclusion and isolation, social acceptability are explored in what is essentially a monologue by Jerry punctuated with occasional comments and questions by Peter. What starts as a friendly, if somewhat random conversation soon begins to take an ominous turn and it becomes clear that jerry is leading up to something - taking the long way, to go a short distance. Something has happened at the zoo, but before we find out what we must hear all of jerry's stories about the dog, about the place he lives, about his landlady, and we must watch Peter's growing discomfort as he is constantly wrong-footed by Jerry. It is a tense and unrelenting play and builds to a sudden and shocking climax!
Stuart Douglas gives an unnerving performance in the role of the edgy, erratic stranger against Sean Burnside's  polite, apologetic victim.

These are two strong plays, and both make emotional demands on the audience. They work well as a double bill in so far as they cover such similar themes and issues, and both illustrated with a dog metaphor. Hard hitting plays, powerfully performed.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Daisy Pulls it Off - Review - People's Theatre

Daisy Pulls It Off
People's Theatre
21st Jan 2015

Daisy Meredith, daughter of an opera singer, has won a scholarship to Grangewood School for Girls. She is the first elementary school pupil to to benefit from the new scholarship. Naturally she is thrilled and cannot wait to meet the rest of the girls, dreaming of the hockey and games, midnight feasts and jolly japes that she has read about in books. She soon discovers that life at a boarding school full of girls who have money and family behind them is not always as jolly as she had imagined. Not all the girls are so happy for her to be there as she is herself. And one or two are just plain mean! Daisy has her work cut out to forge a place for herself in the school, and must battle against class prejudice to win through. Along the way there is of course the mystery of the Burlington treasure, Mr Thompson and the enigmatic Mr Scoblowski to solve.

This is an amusing spoof of the girls' boarding school story. It is full to the brim of the aforementioned japes - both jolly and downwright mean - plenty of topping plans, secret societies, best chums, midnight adventures and a bucketload of patriotism! It is given the added twist of the casting of adults in all the parts and a team of teaching staff that would make Alistair Sim proud!

A clever set and lighting ease the play through its many scenes and skillful direction keeps the action flowing and the audience involved. Maggie Childs and Alison Carr pull off the roles of best friends Daisy and Trixie with ease.

There is a lot riding on her being able to prove her worth - Will Daisy pull it off? Will it be Jubilate! or expulsion? Come to the People's Theatre this week to find out!

A topping romp through boarding school!
Plays until the 24th Jan.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Habeas Corpus - Review - People's Theatre

Habeas Corpus
People's Theatre
8th October 2014




Alan Bennett's play - set in the early seventies is a middle class family farce - and Kevin Gibson has directed a production that sets off at a run and barely stops! A beautifully simple set, in monochromes set against a brilliant orange backdrop, serves to ensure the focus is always on the characters. There are no scene changes, other than the addition or removal of a chair here and there, because the important thing here is the words and there is nothing to distract the attention from them.



The Wicksteeds are a  dysfunctional middle class family, about to discover that thing called the permissive society...
Stephen Noone is perfectly cast as Dr. Arthur Wicksteed, 53 (fifty-three!) bored with life - as a doctor he has already seen every possible illness and patient, and as a husband he is bored with his wife, (Sarah Mclane) disappointed in his son, and more or less indifferent to his spinster sister. Over the years he has relieved his boredom by seducing any beautiful woman who strays into his surgery. An activity which is about to catches up with him through the course of the play! Muriel Wicksteed fills her time with cake decorating and social groups, and dreams of the now successful doctor she spurned in favour of her husband. Their teenage son, Dennis,(Theo Hornsey)  a hypochondriac, dreams of girls, and imagines himself to be dying. Aunt Connie, (Alison Carr)spinster, tries to avoid the attentions of  Cannon Throbbing (Sean Burnside) and dreams of bigger boobs and Mr Right. Their lives are disrupted with the arrival a collection of strangers and a life changing parcel for Connie. Naturally, farcical misunderstandings abound - entrances and exits are made, identities are inevitably mistaken.


Cutting asides, withering looks, passionate kisses and unfortunate errors are played and portrayed with perfect comic timing, characters bounce off one another, and have the audience laughing out loud. Should any doubt about the significance, (or lack of it) for any character or incident in the minds of the audience it is lucidly and witheringly explained by Mrs Swab the cleaner, played with exuberance by the marvelous Anne Cater.

There are echoes of Kenny Everett and Captain Mainwaring in the performances of Sean Burnside and Keith Henderson, and Roger Liddle plays a perfect traveling appliance consultant, Mr Shanks, prepared and trained for every eventuality - until the day he comes across the Wicksteeds!

Brilliantly funny, the first act is a tour de force. Habeas Corpus runs till Saturday 11th Oct and is not to be missed!

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!

Review - Red Hot and Cole - Tynemouth Amateur Operatic Society

Red Hot and Cole 
Tynemouth Amateur Operatic Society
Thursday 17th July 2014

On Thursday evening I was invited along to King's Priory School in Tynemouth to the dress rehearsal of Red Hot and Cole, performed by the Tynemouth Amateur Operatic Society, directed by Bryan Watson (making his directorial debut).

As you might expect, this is a feast of wonderful show tunes. Following the life of the millionaire composer through anecdotal reminiscences from friends, the show reveals the hedonistic lifestyle of the rich and famous and Cole Porter's rise to fame, his careful manipulation of friends to make the right contacts, but also his insecurity and need for affirmation and adoration. Even before he is famous he has a band of loyal supporters - but were they true friends or merely sycophants drawn to a wealthy man? Time would tell. As his fame grew, so did his lavish lifestyle. Like moths to a flame people were drawn to him, and he to them. A workaholic, despite being rich in his own right ("What did your grandfather do to make you so wealthy?" "He died...") Cole (Phil Dixon) gradually alienates his wife Linda (Rebecca Mellor) and they end up living apart until tragedy strikes reunites them for a while. And in the hard times that follow, the true friends stick by him.

The show flows through Porters hits - each one illustrating a development in his life. The musical numbers are beautifully performed, with musical direction from Andrew Soulsby and choreography by Lyndsey Harrison. The costumes are sumptuous - as they should be, and the wit is cutting!
It's hard to single out individuals as all the performances were excellent. Phil Dixon in the lead is brilliantly cheeky, and Lucy Cockeline as Elsa sets the scene and mood of the show right from the start. I particularly liked Julia Neale in the role of Bricktop - her voice was amazing. And Chris Carr played Noel Coward to a T!

This was the dress rehearsal, so there were a few minor glitches - which will no doubt be ironed out by time the show opened to the public. It is a glorious celebration of Porter's work - well performed, beautifully sung. Bryan Watson and the cast can be suitably proud of their show.

Red Hot and Cole plays on Fri 18th and Sat 19th July. It is well worth a visit - you will leave the theatre humming your favourite tunes and tapping your feet!

Denise Sparrowhawk

Review - Up Pompeii - Royalty Theatre

Hawksword: Titter Ye Not...?:
Review -  Up Pompeii - Royalty Theatre      

The Royalty Theatre have chosen a corker for their season finale. And I have to admit I had mixed feelings about going along to it - here is another well-loved classic from TV and film adapted for the stage with all the potential to ruin some youthful memories. If you've seen my reviews of other classics such as "Dad's Army" and "Allo Allo", you'll know I viewed them with similar trepidation... Could any production of Up Pompeii do justice to it without succumbing to a half-cocked (ahem!) Frankie Howerd impersonation? I had more or less decided that I'd give it a miss, until a friend recommended it as a "must see". So I dragged my sister along and I'm glad I did!

I'm sure you all know the plot - Vesuvius is about to errupt, while a Roman senator, Ludicrus Sextus (Peter Kelly), and his family get up to all sorts of things they shouldn't, under the watchful eye of the head slave Lurcio. It is brim full of innuendo, double entendres and straight up smut!

There is a distinct pantomine atmosphere to it with a lot of audience engagement - characters cajole the audience to laugh at jokes, (or not!) depending on how good or bad they are. And some of them are awful!

There are a lot of laughs, and even with a fairly small audience, the actiors build the momentum and keep the mood high.

David Farn plays Lurcio with quite a bit of ham, but, thankfully no half-cocked (or not that we saw!) Frankie impersonation. He made it his own character which was all to the good. Irene Lathan is suitably manic as Senna the Soothsayer, and I especially like Henry Cockburn (surely this was no coincidental casting choice??) as the unfortunate and iffeminate Nauseus, and Michael Luke as the very gruff  Capt Treacherus, adding just the right amount of machismo to the proceedings!

My only criticisms would be that The Royalty has a very small stage and there was a lot of scenery on there and, at times, a lot of actors which made it all a bit crowded. The final scene with its excellent special effects and sounds could be an absolute killer (pun fully intended!) as the volcano erupts but it just lacked a little bit of crispness in the execution which left the audience slightly unsure if it was time to applaud or not...which is a shame as it was definitely worthy of a longer show of the audience's appreciation.

Full of laughs, it is well worth the £8 entry. It runs until Sat 28th June. Definitely not one to miss! Thanks to Kathy for persuading me to go along!

Review - Get Up and Tie Your Fingers - Town Hall Theatre

Get up and Tie your Fingers

 

Thurs 5th June

 

Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool

 

 

Get Up and Tie Your Fingers is based on the lives of the herring lasses - independent women who followed the herring fleets. Tough, strong, hardworking women they travelled with the fishing fleet as it followed the shoals along the coast, gutting and selling the fish. It was a hard but rewarding life that gave these women the opportunity to travel and to earn money of their own at a time when independent women in any society were a rarity.

It is a tale of hardship and tragedy. Lives lost through sickness and drowning, families broken by cholera and the sea, a tale of despair and regret, guilt and blame.

But it is also of resilience, of loyalty and of hope. It is a story of identity, told through song (using local choirs at each venue on the tour, in this case from Hartlepool Sixth Form College) and reminiscences and action.
 

Jean (played by Barbara Marten) has spent a lifetime lost in regret. She clings to her daughter Molly (Samantha Foley) refusing to let her join a crew to follow the herring, arguing with her friend Janet (Sian Mannifield) over it. The three characters each represent a different outlook on life - Jean dour and intransigent, full of self recrimination and regret, Janet practical but full of life, refusing to let the tragedies of life weigh her down, and Molly, a dreamer, full of hope and excitement, impatient to experience life for herself. The love between these three women shines out despite their arguments and differences.

The cast is entirely female yet men are central to the women's lives - husbands, fathers and sons - they appear in the story only through the words of the women and yet are as real as the characters on the stage.
 

This is an incredibly moving play, beautifully produced and presented and performed, portraying a way of life and an industry that was once the mainstay of coastal communities, and which is now gone forever. You will laugh and, possibly, cry at at it.

There is one more show in Hartlepool tonight then, like the herring shoals it moves on down the coast.

 

For more information  Follow the Herring!

 

Denise Sparrowhawk

Review - The Next Train to Depart - Arts Centre Washington

The Next Train to Depart

Arts Centre Washington
30^th Jan 2014
 

Written by John Challis and directed by Melanie Rashbrooke, The Next Train to Depart is the first of three Bitesize plays from Queen’s Hall Arts.

The play follows the developing relationship of two people who meet by chance at a railway station. Dante (Adam Donaldson) is a would be poet, sitting in the station day after day people watching, and writing, and waiting for his girlfriend to call. Kayleigh (Alex Tahnee) is a call centre worker, on her last warning for being late, and stuck in a rut in her personal life.

We see them develop from chance acquaintances to friends, and maybe more. Kayleigh dreams of another life, another world, finding an escape in their daily meetings, growing in confidence finally realising that she must take the chance to change her life. Dan matures and becomes less self conscious as a writer, finding inspiration in Kayleigh’s dreams. But will he have the strength to choose adventure when the time comes?

 

This is a simple, gentle play, with some beautiful, poetic moments set against the background of station sounds (which were recorded for real at Newcastle Central). It asks questions about life and relationships, personal happiness and development, and our ability to choose to change.  There is a real sense of two people on the brink of discovery, but perhaps too afraid to step out. In the end you are left feeling that one of them at least will take the opportunity and move forward.

The Next Train to Depart is playing at Seaton Delaval Arts Centre and Alnwick Playhouse in February and is well worth an hour of your time.

Denise Sparrowhawk