Review: Stone Cold Murder at South Shields Customs House

Stone Cold Murder

by James Cawood

South Shields Customs House

Tuesday 31^st March – Wednesday 1^st April 2015

Freya Copeland & Nick Barclay

in Stone Cold Murder

Photo: Frazer Ashford

Olivia married Robert after a whirlwind month long relationship. They decided to buy a Hotel in a quiet spot in the Lake District surrounded by stunning steep cliffs.  It was an opportunity to leave their previous lives behind.

The show opens in the living room of the hotel. The furniture is pretty much what one would expect, the slightly tired Chesterfield sofa, oddments of brown wooden shelves and cupboards. The phone rings and Olivia (Freya Copeland) goes off to answer it. She can tell it is a mobile in a windy place but the call quickly becomes disconnected. Husband Robert (Nick Barclay) appears and puts her mind at rest.

James Cawood has written an exciting and tense thriller based upon what happens on the first night without any guests at the end of their first season. It becomes quickly apparent that in the first rushes of their love life there is lot of history in their past lives that they haven’t had chance to discuss.

David Callister in Stone Cold Murder

Photo: Frazer Ashford

When a lost hiker called Ramsey (David Callister) appears and asks to spend the night the hosts are less than comfortable with the idea. Ramsey seems overtly familiar with Olivia when Robert heads off for some wood for the fire.  This leads to some tension on stage between the three characters.  The proprietors head off to bed after a night cap and leave Ramsey to enjoy the wood fire. When Olivia’s former boyfriend Sam (Gary Turner) appears the story quickly picks up pace.

Gary Turner & Freya Copeland in Stone Cold Murder

Photo: Frazer Ashford

The show is like a rollercoaster and it starts off fairly slowly as the scenario is set up but the momentum soon picks up.  Under Patric Kearns direction, the audience are given plenty of jumps, loud bangs and laughs. On more than one occasion the play doffs a cap to the work of Alfred Hitcock. Stone Cold Murder is less of a whodunnit and more of a whataretheyreallyupto? The cast do a tremendous job as they keep everyone guessing. Unlike an Agatha Christie story, the play is refreshingly set in our modern times. 

The show is intriguing thriller which has more twists than a fairground corkscrew.

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 www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Original Jowheretogo Preview Link

Cast

Olivia: Freya Copeland

Robert: Nick Barclay

Ramsay: David Callister

Sam: Gary Turner

Creatives:

Director: Patric Kearns

Designer: Geoff Gilder

Lighting Designer: Keith Tuttle

Sound Designer: Patric Kearns

Tickets:

Talking Scarlet presents Stone Cold Murder

It finishes its run at The Customs House on Wednesday 1st April 2015 at 7.45pm

Price: £16 / £15 Conc.

Box Office: 0191 454 1234 Website: www.customshouse.co.uk

Tour:

15-18 April Buxton Opera house

20-22 April Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage

23-25 April Grove Theatre, Dunstable

12-13 May Marina Theatre, Lowestoft

18-20 May Orchard Theatre, Dartford

15-20 June Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

22-27 June Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

14-15 July Towngate Theatre, Basildon

4-8 August Grand Theatre, Swansea

Preview: Stone Cold Murder at South Shields Customs House

'Carry no bright torches for me ….'

Stone Cold Murder

by James Cawood

South Shields Customs House

Tuesday 31^st March – Wednesday 1^st April 2015

Gary Turner & Freya Copeland

in Stone Cold Murder

Photo: Frazer Ashford

James Cawood's tense thriller set in deep winter in the English Lake District. Olivia and Robert, owners of the Langstrath Country House Hotel, are enjoying the success of their first season and the respiteof the winter break when their solitude is disrupted by the appearance of Ramsay, a lost climber looking for shelter. 

 

David Callister

in Stone Cold Murder

Photo: Frazer Ashford

As the evening unfolds, it becomes apparent that Ramsay's presence in this desolate spot is anything but a coincidence, and soon events will take a murderous turn.

Freya Copeland & Nick Barclay

in Stone Cold Murder

Photo: Frazer Ashford

This show has been produced by Talking Scarlet which was founded in 2001 as a trading name for Big Dog Productions. Since then the company has produced and collaborated in productions at theatres all over the country. They produced Double Death which we reviewed last year. link to Double Death review

Cast

Olivia: Freya Copeland (Law and Order, Holby City, The Bill, and Emmerdale)

Robert: Nick Barclay (Record breaking production of Singin’ in the Rain)

Ramsay: David Callister (The Bill, The Chief, Crime Monthly and True Crimes)

Sam: Gary Turner (Emmerdale, Hollyoaks - Let Loose, Soldier, Soldier and The Bill. On film he played Duncan Grant in Carrington)

Director: Patric Kearns

Designer: Geoff Gilder

Gary Turner & Freya Copeland

in Stone Cold Murder

Photo: Frazer Ashford

Tickets:

Talking Scarlet presents Stone Cold Murder

31st March & 1st April 2015, 7.45pm

Price: £16 / £15 Conc.

Box Office: 0191 454 1234 Website: www.customshouse.co.uk

Preview: A MAD WORLD MY MASTERS at Darlington Civic Theatre

A MAD WORLD MY MASTERS

Darlington Civic Theatre

Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 April 2015

English Touring Theatre presents the Royal Shakespeare Company production at Darlington Civic Theatre, Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 April.

The cast of A Mad World My Masters.

Photo by Manuel Harlan

Thomas Middleton, one of Shakespeare's greatest playwriting contemporaries and close collaborator on several plays, is most famous for writing two of the finest seventeenth-century tragedies, The Changeling and Women Beware Women. 

Nicholas Prasad as Master Muchly-Minted and

Charlie Archer as Master Whopping-Prospect

in A Mad World My Masters. Photo by Manuel Harlan

But he also created a brilliant array of witty and entertaining comedies set in early Jacobean London, which explore with relish a cutthroat urban world, where the "best art" of the inhabitants is "to dissemble well". A Mad World, My Masters is one of the most inventive of these London comedies.

The cast of A Mad World My Masters.

Photo by Manuel Harlan

The play takes its audience on an exhilarating ride through a series of plots and counterplots, with surprises around every corner and some clever comic plotting and dialogue.

The action weaves together two contrasted stories of trickery and deceit (one involving money, the other adultery), in which those who think themselves most cunning - and who may indeed seem to be so - do not always win the race.

The cast of A Mad World My Masters.

Photo by Manuel Harlan

Director Sean Foley has skilfully updated the action to take place in London, Soho... 1956. Glamour rubs up against filth, and likes it. The posh mix with musicians and racketeers and a dashingly penniless bachelor, in need of quick cash and a good time, finds he has to live on his wits.

Becoming a con-man to fool his rich uncle, he variously becomes a lord, a high class call girl, and – God forbid – a poor actor. But a beautiful Soho tart is also on the scam: a whore to some, a religious instructor to others, and a debutante in need of an eligible bachelor to yet more.

A fabulous cast has been assembled including Joe Bannister, Ellie Beavan, Ben Deery, Dennis Herdman, Ian Redford and Sarah Ridgeway.

A Mad World My Masters is disgracefully entertaining and fun with a capital F.

Lois Meleri-Jones as Escort in

A Mad World My Masters.

Photo by Manuel Harlan

Special Events

Free pre show talk Tuesday 5.45pm, limited availability, advance booking required.

Free post show talk Wednesday - Stay behind after the show to take part in a Q&A with some of the cast. Booking not necessary.

Education workshops also available.

On The Web:

Website: www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/a-mad-world-my-masters/

Trailer: www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/a-mad-world-my-masters/trailer.aspx

Tickets:

A Mad World My Masters is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 April. Tickets* are priced from £17.40. Recommended age 12+.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk  

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

Preview: Geordie Legends: Them Off The Viz at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuide and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide

Geordie Legends: Them Off The Viz

Hosted by Chris Cross the Magician

Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Tuesday 4th to Wednesday 5^th August 2015

Tyne Theatre & Opera House opens it Bistros Bar doors to BRITAIN'S BEST SELLING TOILET HUMOUR MAGAZINE OF ALL TIME CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF NATIONAL PUBLICATION.

For the First Time in Over 20 Years* The Knob-Gag Gallaghers of Tyneside who Created the Legendary VIZ Comic, Will appear on stage together answering ALL of YOUR Questions in a Unique Q&A Show Hosted by Newcastle's Favourite Magician - Chris Cross! 

This will be ''A Geordie Night OOT Not to Be Missed, Like!''  Expect a Cabaret Show of Comedy Magic Trickery & Escapology from your Host - Newcastle's Very Own Mr. Chris Cross, LIVE Music from 'The Purest Green' Band, Stand-up Comedy from Simon Donald's alter egos: BINGO from Benton & Barry Twyford, Followed by an Interview with Chris Donald, before our BIG CLIMAX - The Q&A's Session with The Donald Brothers. This is YOUR chance to ask YOUR Questions to THE Creators of The Crappest Magazine in the World! 

How did a Cult Comic made in a small Jesmond Bedroom become one of the most Successful & Legendary Creations to come out of the North East? Whatever did inspire the creations of Biffa Bacon, Roger Mellie & Sid the Sexist? Why on earth did they call it 'VIZ'? What were the best ever Top Tips?

Exclusive Limited Edition Merchandise & Artwork will be available at this gig too, specifically created for this very one off show! There will also be a Charity Auction with Original VIZ Goodies up for grabs, Unique Artwork & More Treasures all in aid of St. Oswald's Hospice. 

This is a once in a lifetime unique opportunity for any VIZ fan that's NOT to be missed and promises to be a thoroughly entertaining evening for all!

Over 18's Only Please. No Ticket Refunds Afterwards! Tickets go on sale Monday 30^th March 2015.

*Promoter's Estimate!

Tickets:

Tickets are priced from £12 (plus booking fees when booking online and over the phone)

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House Box Office is open 10am-3:30pm Monday to Friday and event days

Booking and Information Line: 0844 2491 000 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday)

Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

 

Preview: Sarah Millican - Outsider On Tour

Sarah Millican  -  “Outsider”

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Tuesday 17^th November 2015

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Wednesday 25th – Saturday 28th May 2016

Returning to her homeland, we are delighted to announce local lass, Jowheretogo favourite, and critically acclaimed comedian Sarah Millican will wow North East Audiences on her new tour.

Sarah Millican

In just 7 years Sarah Millican has gone from winning the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to becoming one of the UK’s most successful and multi-award-winning comedians, who also holds the record as the highest selling female comedian in the DVD market. This autumn, Sarah will delight her fans as she heads out on the road again for her fourth stand-up tour, Outsider. 

In the past when you put South Shields lass Sarah Millican outside, she asked things like: ‘Why? Where is the taxi? Is that poo? Can we go home?’ and said things like: ‘There’ll be wasps’ and ‘I’ve nothing to sit on.’

These days things have changed; Now Sarah has outside slippers. She can tell a chaffinch from a tit (hey), but she still can’t tell if it’s an owl sound or her husband’s asthma.

As well as her success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Sarah was also voted the People’s Choice Queen of Comedy at the 2011 British Comedy Awards and has fronted three series of her critically acclaimed BBC2 series The Sarah Millican Television Programme, for which she received two BAFTA nominations. Sarah is also a popular guest on primetime shows such as The Graham Norton Show, QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Jonathan Ross Show, Live at the Apollo and The Royal Variety Performance. Her new tour, Outsider, will run for 119 dates, starting this October and finishing in Sept 2016. Sarah’s last tour, Home Bird, was seen by over 200,000 people.

Sarah is a natural storyteller who charms the audience through her skilfully delivered gag-packed anecdotes about life’s curiosities. With a track record of three sell out tours and 700,000 combined tour DVD sales to date, the Outsider tour promises to be another critically acclaimed triumph.

Back on home turf, Sarah Millican is venturing outside... We suggest you bring a cardie!

“To watch Sarah Millican is to watch a box of comedy fireworks going off” - The Independent

“The funniest woman in Britain”- The List

Tickets:

Whitley Bay: Tickets costing £25.00 and are available online, or from the booking hotline number 0844 248 1588 and 9 am from PLAYHOUSE Box Office.

Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am -2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588 or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

Newcastle: Tickets are priced at £25.00 (plus booking fees when booking online and over the phone)

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House Box Office is open 10am-3:30pm Monday to Friday and event days. Booking and Information Line: 0844 2491 000 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday). More information at our Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Preview: Return of the Grumpy Old Women at Darlington Civic Theatre

GRUMPY OLD WOMEN MAKE A WELCOME RETURN

Return of the Grumpy Old Women – Fifty Shades of Beige

Darlington Civic Theatre

Thursday 9 April 2015

Expect an evening of hilarity at Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 9 April. Come and bask in an orgy of fury and big laughs in this glorious live version of the hit TV show. 

Perrier award-winning comedian, writer and original star of Grumpy Old Women Jenny Eclair will be joined by fellow recruits Susie Blake (Mrs Brown’s Boys, Coronation Street) and actress and singer Kate Robbins (Where The Heart Is, Casualty) in this brand spanking new show.

This jam-packed show will include learning the art of ‘Grumpy Grooming’, the joy of large pants, a free nagging master class (how to get your own way without him even noticing), beards for women – which style will suit you?

Complimentary anger management workshop, middle aged drinking; the rules, navigating the smorgasbord of worry, voluntary euthanasia vs retirement, how to customise an unwanted pole dancing kit and a mercifully brief Zumba demonstration. All this and more! 

On The Web:

Website: www.grumpyoldwomenlive.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GOWLive

Tickets:

Return of the Grumpy Old Women – Fifty Shades of Beige is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 9 April at 7.30pm. Tickets* are priced £21.50 and £23.50.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk