The Walls Begin To Talk
Live
Garden Launch
Newcastle Live Theatre
Friday
8th - Sunday 10th
July 2016
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The
Live Garden represents a £10.5
million investment that creates not only a live performance space but also Live
Tales, a brand new creative writing centre for children and young people and
new commercial space. Such a large project deserves the recognition of a big
launch event. It is fitting that this show was both reflective of the Theatre’s
past and signposts its future too in an entertaining 50 minutes.
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Fresh
from his door-to-door poetry shows (LINK)
Rowan McCabe collects the audience from the bar and guides them to the new
garden. He was engaging as the Rhyming Guide, one participant was heard to
comment that he must surely be using a microphone given the clarity of his voice
projection. No, his experience on the fringe and festival circuit ensured he
knew how the get the audiences attention.
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Rowan
delivers the crowd to Trevor Fox for the single-handed piece Wor Tony And The Great White Shark by
Alan Plater. He plays Davie whose brother has told
the local press that a great white basking shark is heading up the River Tyne.
A great raconteur of tales, Tony has the media in a spin and he has the Tyne Bridge traffic at a standstill.
Trevor Fox has a friendly style that draws the audience in. His willingness to
use the audience helps break down the fourth wall. Laughs were aplenty.
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Rowan,
armed with a ukulele, was threatening to break out into a song about the Tyne when he was replaced by Slap, Strum & Squeeze, a musical 3
piece. Phil Corbett, Jane Holman and Zoe Lambert gave
a well executed medley of river based songs from Fog On The Tyne through to Shipbuilding.
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The
audience were then led to the middle of the garden to watch the specially
commissioned Peter And The
Wild Flowers.
With movement and direction by Liv Lorent and music by Scott Twynholm this was
a thoughtful exploration into childhood. This is a piece created in
collaboration, and performed by, the Live’s Youth Theatre who have been working
with balletLORENT dancers Natalie Trewinnard and Caroline Reece.
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The cast of
over 30 begin in a nightmarish world of masks and abstract sound. Quickly the
action turns into a full assault of children at play from fights with plastic
swords and water pistols to chasing each other around.
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The action is elaborately choreographed
building up to a climax in which the trappings of childhood are rejected. In a
bizarre scene we see the end of Barbie and this is followed by a Matrix-style
choice to accept or reject adulthood. The lively production was enthusiastically
received by the audience.
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The
launch event was completed with another performance by Slap, Strum &
Squeeze as they as eventually joined by the young people for If These Walls Could Talk. The overall
theme from Rowan McCabe, in his tour, was about the history of the area so it
is fitting that the show finishes with song which celebrates the great Live
Theatre productions. In the Jane Holman penned song we
are reminded of shows from Cooking With
Elvis through to Bones.
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A
release of balloons signalled the end of an eclectic series of performances.
From attention-seeking spoken word, through song to a fabulous performance by
the Live’s Youth Theatre, the launch was a treat from start to finish.
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The
cast of Peter And The Wild Flowers
included:
Izzy
Sorby, Lydia Brickland, Katie Shaw, Leo Wright, Callum Smith, Lilith Allen,
Louis Jolly-Passant, Chantelle Gibson, Miranda Williams, Caelan Oram, Finn
Conlan, Naimh Conlan, Molly Smith, Saffron Sims-Brydon, Pebble Jolly-Passant,
dawn Wangari Hardcastle, Tommi Vicky Otieno, Joe Theobald, Thea Nichols, Freya
Moss, Bob Oliver, Elspeth Robinson, Alex Wood, Sean Tyrala, Hannah McEwen, Leo
James, Jemima Green, Kalem Patterson, Sarah Armstrong, Reece Lumsden, James
Smith and Anna Robinson.
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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
Read
the original North East Theatre Guide preview: Review LINK
Future Events:
The Savage is a family
friendly play suitable for ages 9+ and is at Live Theatre, Newcastle
from Thursday 30 June to Saturday 23 July. Read the North East Theatre Guide
review here: Review LINK
Live
Garden
will also host further events throughout the year including a Mini Mela
on Sunday 17 July between 11am and 3pm. GemArts Masala Festival
will culminate with a spectacular outdoor event as it brings Live Garden
to life with all the fun, hustle and bustle of an Indian bazaar.
In
the autumn Live Garden will participate in the national Fun
Palaces initiative on Saturday 1 October between 11am and 5pm, with workshops and
performances, including puppetry and illustration, for families and young
people, as well as pop up events all day with storytelling, acoustic buskers
and much more.
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