Review: Plays For Today at Newcastle Live Theatre

The Truth Is Out There

Plays for today

Part of the 15^th Annual Youth Theatre Festival

Newcastle Live Theatre

7^th August 2014

Testament  Photo: Chris Auld

This is a festival that poses many questions: Is there enough theatre for kids to attend once they get past the CBeebies target age group? Are there enough opportunities for this age group to create high quality theatre which is based upon their current experiences? Are there enough plays (which are not musicals) for them to perform which are relevant to their life as they see it?

R.A.T.S. Photo: Chris Auld

This production comprised of three very different short plays, each devised by its participants with the help of an experienced director. The students aged between 11 – 19 have done a fabulous job of creating a new production from scratch using news headlines as their source material.

R.A.T.S. Photo: Chris Auld

R.A.T.S., directed by Jackie Fielding, was a funny and interesting look at how the young people today could easily be monitored and potentially controlled by their use of new technology. The ‘Regular Average Teenage Subjects’ are sent a text and find themselves face to face with the people who monitor them. Each of the characters were likeable and convincing.

Testament  Photo: Chris Auld

Testament, directed by Ben Ayrton, was a very different ensemble piece which demanded total commitment from its young cast. A troupe of Russian Clowns are about to give their final performance as the world ends. What would someone say as life as we know it finishes?

Book13  Photo: Chris Auld

The final play, Book 13, directed by Neil Armstrong, features an author Oliver Trench who has writers block so he signs a pact with the devil to improve the situation. He ends up in a café with an overenthusiastic fan serving him. Everything he writes starts to happen in real life. The comedy element comes from the characters such as the old couple choosing their order, a kleptomaniac who keeps taking the evidence and a pair of nuns who randomly walk into the café. The young cast have produced a delightful farce.

Book13  Photo: Chris Auld

The evening finished with a post show chat with some of the cast and creatives, along with Jeff Brown from the BBC, who gave a clear message that persistence pays off. The festival has started with performances of high quality and showing the talent and potential of the next generation of actors in our region.

Book13  Photo: Chris Auld

The festival continues and was previewed on our blog: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/preview-right-here-right-now-youth.html

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo 

Tickets:
Live Theatre celebrates the 15th annual Youth Theatre Festival from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 August.

Tickets for Right Here, Right Now events are £8, £6 concession, £3 Youth Theatre members for each performance. 

Tickets can be booked by contacting Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or online at www.live.org.uk.

Online

Twitter: Find out more about Right Here, Right Now via our Twitter https://twitter.com/LiveTheatre using the hashtag #LYTFest14.

Follow Your Aunt Fanny, all girls’ sketch group, on https://twitter.com/YourAuntFanny

Facebook: www.facebook.com/livetheatre

Remaining Event Details


Friday 8 August, 7.30pm 

Your Aunt Fanny

Your Aunt Fanny is a sketch group formed by some of the most talented female members of Live's Youth Theatre.

From the absurd to the downright ridiculous the girls celebrate everything that is funny and inappropriate. Their hilarious collection of original and new sketches have been written especially for them by two of the region's most exciting writers Laura Lindow (Wishbone and Sawdust & Stardust) and Lee Mattinson (Never Forget, Chalet Lines and Donna Disco). 

Part of Live Theatre's Youth Theatre Festival, Right Here Right Now, in which young people from the Youth Theatre take over Live Theatre for two weeks to create three evenings of entertainment based around the theme of current affairs. 

Follow Your Aunt Fanny, girls’ sketch group, on @yourauntfanny

DATES: Friday 8 August, 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre
DURATION: Approx 1hr

SUITABILITY: 14+
TICKETS: £8, £6 concs, £3 Youth Theatre member

Saturday 9 August, 7.30pm
#MouthingOff

Join the Youth Theatre comedy coalition for a new panel show in which they take a satirical look at our current affairs and the people that make them. A politically theme game show in which leaders of tomorrow point out what's wrong with the ones we have today. #MouthingOff will feature very special guest Davey Hopper from Durham Miners Union.

Part of Live Theatre's Youth Theatre Festival Right Here Right Now. Young people from the Youth Theatre take over Live Theatre for two weeks to create three evenings of entertainment based around the theme of current affairs. This is Live Theatre's fifteenth annual Youth Theatre Festival and is produced and facilitated by Live Theatre's Education and Participation Team. 

DATES: Saturday 9 August, 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre
DURATION: Approx. 2 hours, including an interval

SUITABILITY: 11+
TICKETS: £8, £6 concs, £3 Youth Theatre member

Sunday 10 August, 7.30pm  
24/7

Seven 10 minute plays are performed after an adrenalin fuelled 24 hours. Seven writers each choose a director, two actors and a prop to inform their work and write, rehearse and perform their piece in a day.

Live Theatre is pleased to announce the writers are  Paddy Campbell (Wet House), Lee Mattinson (Chalet Lines), Ian Mclaughlin (Good Timin'), Louise Taylor (10 Minutes to...), Neil Armstrong (Adam's Family Tree - YTV) as well as recent Northumbria University graduates Nina Berry (10 Minutes to...) and Francesca Wright. They will be joined by directors Paul James and Kwabena Adjei, Jackie Fielding, Tracy Gillman, Rachel Glover, Lewis Gray, Philip Hoffmann and Dave Raynor.                    

                                                                                        
Part of Live Theatre's Youth Theatre Festival Right Here Right Now. Young people from the Youth Theatre take over Live Theatre for two weeks to create three evenings of entertainment based around the theme of current affairs. This is Live Theatre's fifteenth annual Youth Theatre Festival and is produced and facilitated by Live Theatre's Education and Participation Team.

DATES: Sunday 10 August, 7.30pm 

LOCATION: Main Theatre
DURATION: Approx 1 hr 30mins

SUITABILITY: 11+
TICKETS: £8, £6 concs, £3 Youth Theatre member