Preview: Peter Antoniou at Edinburgh Sweet Grassmarket

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Peter Antoniou – Happy Medium

Edinburgh Sweet Grassmarket

Thursday 6^th August – 30^th August 2015

Star of the sell-out Evening of Burlesque tour and consultant to TV’s Dynamo, ‘Psychic’ Comedian Peter Antoniou brings his smash-hit show back to Fringe. Part life advice, part stand-up comedy, part psychic demonstration, it is a truly unique and unpredictable experience that showcases Peter’s quick wit and phenomenal ability to pick up thoughts.

If you could ask a Psychic one question what would it be? This is the simple concept Peter’s show revolves around. You merely think about your questions and Peter will read that question from your mind and set about delivering a funny and insightful answer. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching, not even Peter knows what is coming up next as each person used in the show is chosen by the roll of a dice.

Peter is quick to point out that he isn’t talking to the dead though. “I can talk to the dead. The problem is they don’t talk back, which I think is rude because it’s not like they are up to much,” he quips. The show is much more about the human connection. “Everyone has a special story, an interest fact, a personal quandary that is unique to them”, Peter explains. “My skill is to pull those stories out of people’s brains and stitch them together to make a show”.

Peter has wowed audiences the world over, including royalty and blue chip companies including Disney, Ernst and Young, and Drambuie. This is his eighth year at the Fringe and he has some very special surprises to celebrate. “I’ll be using twitter to announce a lot of pop-up performances, sneak peeks at exciting new projects I’m not allowed to talk about yet and give out free gifts during the month. I am really looking forward to creating an interactive experience that moves far outside the theatre for the whole month,” Says Peter. You can follow him on twitter for your chance to get free gifts and be the first to hear about the pop up performances at www.twitter.com/isyourmindsafe

A truly unique experience — come and witness a show that is never the same twice, and truly is made from the audience. Come and think your question and wonder: is your mind safe?

Tickets:

The show runs  at Sweet Grassmarket, Apex International Hotel, EH1 2HS from the 6^th August – 30th August at 19:35 (60 mins). Tickets £7 (£6 Concessions)
Previews 6^th and 7^th of August Tickets: £5

Preview: Our World at Newcastle Live Theatre

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Rehearsals underway for

Live Theatre’s Youth Theatre Festival

“Our World” - Youth Theatre Festival

Newcastle Live Theatre

Thursday 6^th to Sunday 9^th August 2015

Rehearsals are now underway for Our World, Live Theatre’s 16^th annual Youth Theatre Festival. The event, which will be at the quayside venue from Thursday 6^th to Sunday 9^th August, features theatre productions, a short film as well as an Edinburgh Festival Fringe comedy preview.

Over 70 young people, aged between 11 and 22 and from the company’s Youth Theatre, will present four evenings of entertainment which provide a glimpse into the worlds of young people and their place in it.

Paul James, Live Theatre’s Associate Director of Education & Participation said: “This year’s Youth Theatre Festival promises to be as diverse, eclectic and exciting as ever. A fantastic event with a wide range of new work and talent on display. Our World will be dedicated to our colleague Jackie Fielding who we had the pleasure of working with on at least 12 Youth Theatre Festivals. Jackie was an outstanding Theatre Maker and an inspiration to young people. She was able to draw amazing performances from the actors she worked with.”

Kicking off the Festival is Big Talk, Small Talk, on Thursday 6 August at 7.30pm. Featuring a selection of short plays, created over 10 days by the Youth Theatre members and some of the region’s leading freelance theatre makers, the event will give an alternative perspective on what really matters to young people in the 21^st century. The performance will be followed by a free Meet the Team talk where some of the young people involved in the production will be discussing the process of making their plays.

On Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August eight young people will take to the stage to give their personal, heart-warming and hilarious perspective on what it’s like to be 11 and 12 today.  For them being eleven is tough. And great. And weird. And confusing. And funny. The show, 11 Plus, was curated by writer Laura Lindow (Rendezvous) with assistance from fellow writer, Lee Mattinson (Donna Disco). The pair held interviews with the young people involved to create a piece using the interviewees’ own words. They talked about school, their families and their hopes and fears. Directed by Live Theatre’s Associate Director of Education & Participation, Paul James, 11 Plus is suitable for those aged 8 and over and will be performed at 7.30pm on both days with a matinee performance on the Saturday at 2pm.

Laura and Lee have also been busy writing new sketches for Live Theatre’s all-female sketch group Your Aunt Fanny who will be previewing their Edinburgh Festival Fringe show on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August at 9pm. From the absurd to the downright ridiculous they'll be celebrating everything that is funny and inappropriate in an evening of original sketches accompanied by music from DJ Mariam Rezaei. The show, suitable for audience members aged 14 and over, contains strong language and strong women.

Closing the Festival on Sunday 9 August is Invisible Cinema, a film like no other. Six Youth Theatre members will be working with directors Ian Mclaughlin and Bev Fox of Magic If to create six dynamic characters using improv techniques. Their newfound skills will then be put to the test during filming where then, and only then, will the storyline be revealed to the actors. Audience members will also meet the characters in a special pre-screening performance which begins at 7.30pm. After the screening the actors and directors will take to the stage to reveal more information about how the film was made and how the process was for them in our free Meet the Team talk. 

Writer Laura Lindow said: “Live Theatre’s annual Youth Theatre Festival is famed for being a colourful, thought-provoking, emotion-fuelled event. This year, as ever, the excellent Education & Participation team has put together a festival programme to platform the vibrant range of voices of the talented young participants, (on the main stage no less), all with sincerity and support. I feel so lucky to be amongst the other theatre professionals who have the chance to work amongst these exceptional young people. The final event promises to be a celebration of all things theatrical, (and all genuinely springing from the thoughts, opinions and ideas of the young people themselves!) Prepare for the kind of treat which rings with charm whilst biting with relevance as they tell you how it really is. I for one can’t wait!”

Festival goers should also be on the look-out for a series of wrap around events curated by Silver Arts Award participants who are working with Live Theatre. Arts Award is a national qualification that supports young people to develop as artists and arts leaders.

Tickets:

Tickets for Our World events are £8, £6 for concessions and £3 for 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. Your Aunt Fanny will be performed at The Fancy Room, Just the Tonic between Wednesday 19 and Saturday 29 August. To find out more visit www.justthetonic.com.

Festival Listings

Big Talk, Small Talk - Thursday 6 August, 7.30pm

A selection of short pieces devised over ten days by groups of young people with support from some of the region’s leading theatre makers. These original and imaginative plays will give an alternative perspective on what really matters to young people in the 21^st century.

Including Meet the Team - THURSDAY 6 AUGUST (after the show)

Some of the young people involved in Big Talk, Small Talk discuss the process to make their

short plays. Free, booking essential.

DATE: Thurs 6 Aug, 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 1hr

SUITABILITY: 8+

TICKETS: £8, £6 concs, £3 youth theatre members

11 Plus - Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August, 7.30pm
Saturday 8 August, 2pm

Directed by Paul James

Assistant Director Rachel Glover

Curated by Laura Lindow

Assistant Curator Lee Mattinson

 Being eleven is tough. And great. And weird. And confusing. And funny. A group of young people give their personal, heart-warming and hilarious perspective on what it’s like to be 11 and 12 years old today.

Developed through a series of individual and group interviews this exciting new piece explores friendships, families, politics, growing up and everything in between.

DATES: Fri 7 Aug 7.30pm & Sat 8 Aug, 2pm & 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 50mins

SUITABILITY: 8+

TICKETS: £8, £6 concs, £3 youth theatre members

Your Aunt Fanny - Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August, 9pm

Edinburgh Festival Preview

Your Aunt Fanny has her bus pass and is Edinburgh bound! See her comedy nieces’ brand new sketch show in two special preview events at Live Theatre before it heads north to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Written by award-winning playwrights Laura Lindow (Rendezvous) and Lee Mattinson (Chalet Lines) and directed by Rachel Glover, the show contains strong language and strong women.

Your Aunt Fanny makes her Edinburgh Fringe debut between Wednesday 19 and Saturday 29 August at The Fancy Room at Just the Tonic.

DATES: Fri 7 Aug & Sat 8 Aug, 9pm

LOCATION: Studio Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 1hr

SUITABILITY: 14+

TICKETS £8, £6 concs,

£3 youth theatre members

Invisible Cinema - Sunday 9 August, 7.30pm

An exciting new film in which six young actors work with directors Ian McLaughlin and Bev Fox of Magic If, to use improve to create six dynamic characters. The storyline is revealed to the actors only during the filming, prompting improvised performances.

Like in real life, you never know what’s round the corner. You’ll meet the characters during a pre-screening performance.

Anything could happen and probably will – especially at the screening.

Including Meet the Team - SUNDAY 9 AUGUST (after the film)

Join the actors and directors on stage to find out how the film was made, and how the process was for them. Free, booking essential.

 DATE: Sun 9 Aug, 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 1hr

SUITABILITY: 8+

TICKETS: £8, £6 conc,

£3 youth theatre members

Preview: A Haggis Queen Abroad at Alphabetti & Ed Fringe

“Can You Still Be Scottish If You Don’t Like Haggis??”

A Haggis Queen Abroad

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre,  

Wednesday 22^nd July 2015

Edinburgh theSpace on the Mile (Radisson Hotel) Monday 17th - Saturday 22nd August 2015

Tartan Socks Theatre wrestle this great and worthy question in their Edinburgh Fringe debut, A Haggis Queen Abroad.  Smugly enjoying being the only Scot on the block, the Haggis Queen finds herself suddenly adrift when the Scottish Independence Referendum hits and she must decide on which side of the fence her loyalties lie.  With a toe in the ‘Yes’ camp and a heel in the ‘No’, the Highland-dancing-Haggis-Queen debates her right to even have a say in the fate of the country she loved but left.

Through mischievous musings over the myths of Scottishness; the jokes, the flaws, and the downright untruths, the Haggis Queen takes us through her inevitable identity crisis as she tries to understand who she is, and where she really belongs.

Eilidh Talman is a Scottish-born actress and theatre-maker based in the North East of England.  She has recently enjoyed collaborations with Twenty Seven Productions, Theatre Space North East, and Eighties Doubt Films, as well as performing at Northern Stage and the Live Theatre.   ‘A Haggis Queen Abroad’ marks her first solo appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe.

“...hugely generous... The night was lit up by Eilidh Talman...”     Andrew Latimer, Arts blogger

Tickets:

Newcastle Preview:

Alphabetti Theatre, The Basement, 16 New Bridge Street West, Newcastle

Wednesday 22^nd July 2015 at 8pm (Bar opens 6.30) 

On The Web: Alphabetti Theatre website link

Tickets online: Online ticket link

Edinburgh Fringe:

Venue: V39 - Space 1 at theSpace on the Mile (Radisson Hotel)

Monday 17th - Saturday 22nd August 2015 at 10.05a.m.

Tickets: Fringe Box Office Online ticket link or theSpace Box Office Online ticket link

Duration: 50mins

Preview: An Illuminating Yarn at Edinburgh Fringe

Button Box Theatre Company hope to go down a ‘yarn-storm’ with their debut play.

An Illuminating Yarn

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Thursday 23^rd July

Whitley Bay Under the Dome Festival,

Friday 24^th July

Gateshead The Shipley Art Gallery,

Saturday 25^th July

Edinburgh Fringe: theSpace on the Mile

Friday 7^th – Saturday 15^th August

Do not be fooled by our soft and fluffy exteriors! Button Box Theatre Company bring together a mix of tragedy, comedy and knitted Bucks Fizz in their first production, ‘An Illuminating Yarn’. The play, written by Jane Pickthall, was originally developed through the Live Theatre’s Writers Group. The company was formed when Andy Patterson approached Jane about developing the play further for the Edinburgh Fringe and thus the adventure began.

In the play, Clare wants to cheer Nina up and thinks the knitted figures that have been appearing along the pier in Saltburn-by-the-Sea will do the job but when Clare accuses Nina of stealing Tom Daley, a storm starts to brew. Set against the backdrop of a divided Britain where austerity measures bite whilst celebrity culture feasts, ‘An Illuminating Yarn’ explores identity, values and the need to be heard.

Inspired by the real Saltburn-by-the-Sea yarn stormers, ‘An Illuminating Yarn’, features a cast of much loved British icons, lovingly knitted by our army of needle wielding volunteers, alongside an equally talented cast of three human actors. The knitters will be rewarded for their contribution with a complimentary ticket to see their work live on stage.

The Button Box Theatre Company have been kindly supported by The Arts Council to help us develop the piece, work with local knitters to create the set and complete a tour locally. Out There Brewing Company have also provided some sponsorship.

After the local tour Button Box Theatre Company will be taking the play to Edinburgh Fringe for the first week of the festival.

Cast:

Jill Dellow, Hannah Walker and Matt Howdon

Creatives:

Directed by Andy Patterson

Written by Jane Pickthall

Produced by Button Box Theatre Company, Newcastle upon Tyne.  

On The Web:

Website:    www.buttonboxtheatre.co.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/buttontheatre

Facebook: www.facebook.com/buttonboxtheatre

Events:

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Thursday 23^rd July 8 – 10pm (doors 6.30)

Whitley Bay Under the Dome Festival,

Friday 24^th July 9 – 10pm

Gateshead The Shipley Art Gallery,

Saturday 25^th July 1.30 – 3pm

Edinburgh Fringe theSpace on the Mile

Friday 7^th – Saturday 15^th August, 1.20 – 2.10pm

Preview: No Sleep ‘Til Scotland! at Alphabetti Theatre

Nine spoken word shows in just one day!

No Sleep ‘Til Scotland!

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre,

Saturday 1 August 2015.

In a brand-new partnership, Apples and Snakes together with Alphabetti Theatre are starting a new annual tradition in the north-east cultural calendar with this showcase of performance poetry en route to Edinburgh.

Nine artists from around the country have been invited to preview their full-length solo shows in Newcastle’s newest theatre space, a chance for them to hone their bucket pitches and impress reviewers before crossing the border to craziness that is Edinburgh fringe festival. 

David Lee Morgan with ‘Building God’

Audiences can expect a staggering variety of styles and subjects, from dark literary fairy tales to scathing political satires, and all in a ‘drop-in’ festival format. If the next show doesn’t take your fancy, simply take a break at the outdoor buskers’ stage for some music, open mic and a bite to eat.

Agnes Torok with 

‘If You’re Happy And You 

Know It – Take This Survey’

Kirsten Luckins, who is the North Co-ordinator for Apples and Snakes said “Both Alphabetti and Apples are committed to fostering excellent new writing and supporting emerging artists. It made complete sense for us to work together on this event, which will introduce audiences to a wide variety of high-quality, thought-provoking and entertaining spoken word shows”. 

Matt MacDonald with

‘Something Wicked

This Way Comes’

In keeping with our passion for developing artists, we have invited regional artists with debut shows to rub shoulders with multiple-award-winning veterans of the scene. The line-up includes several award-winners and slam-winners, including the 2014 BBC Slam Champion David Lee Morgan. Our headline act is a new piece from Sophia Walker, whose previous works have been voted Best Solo Spoken Word Show in the Saboteur Awards two years running.

Ali Pritchard, Artistic Director of Alphabetti Theatre, added “We are so excited to have this event with us, having artists like Sophia Walker and David Lee Morgan on our stage is something really special and it’s we can’t wait to welcome back the likes of AJ McKenna and Jenni Pascoe with their debut solo shows.”

Tickets

No Sleep ‘Til Scotland! Comes to Alphabetti Theatre, Basement, 18 New Bridge Street West, Newcastle NE1 8AW on Saturday 1 August 2015, 11am – 1am

Tickets: FREE! Pay what you want in the bucket at the end!

Full List Of Shows And Artist Blogs

Jennie Pascoe with ‘Workie Ticket’

How many times can you fall on your feet and get the cream before you get to your ninth life?

Jenni Pascoe is the founder and host of the immensely successful spoken word cabaret, JibbaJabba.

Matt MacDonald with ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’

Remember when you were scared of the dark? You soon will…fairy tales – with no happily ever after.

Matt MacDonald is published by Red Squirrel Press. This is his debut show.

Henry Raby with ‘Up The Nerd Punks!’

Henry dissects friendship, growing up, protest, feminism and dinosaurs. Think Joe Strummer battling a Tory-voting Darth Vader.

Henry Raby is the founder and host of York’s Say Owt Slam.

Agnes Torok with ‘If You’re Happy And You Know It – Take This Survey’

A show about pursuing and finding happiness in strange and scientific places.

Agnes Torok won the PBH award for Best International Spoken Word Show in 2014 and is a multiple slam-winner, current holder of the StAnza Slam title.

Hannah Chutzpah with ‘Asking Nicely’

All about the power dynamics of permission and politeness – with rhymes and reasons. Contains: feminism, funnies, psychology, sociology, wit and wordplay

Hannah Chutzpah is a poet and activist, and runs Whippersnapper Press.

David Lee Morgan with ‘Building God’

Communism or Oblivion? London, UK and BBC slam poetry champion spits over music tracks produced and mixed by CloudFistConceptz.

David Lee Morgan is the current BBC Slam champion.

Sara Hirsch with ‘How Was It For You?’

A hilariously awkward, poetic unravelling of what it is to be single for the first time since being a teenager.

Sara Hirsch was UK Slam Champion 2013/14. This is her debut show.

AJ McKenna with ‘The Howl Of the Bantee’

An angry trans lesbian poet bashes back at Banter Culture.

AJ McKenna is a multi-slam winning poet and activist.

Sophia Walker with ‘Cult Friction’

When cult tactics meet Apple's marketing machines, can Jane Fonda and a belieber save us?

Sophia Walker is a former BBC Slam champion, and winner of the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show 2013 and 2014.