Preview: Patrick Monahan ‘Adventures In Monahan Land’

Patrick Monahan

‘Adventures In Monahan Land’

On Tour including

Washington Arts Centre 13^th February

Northallerton Forum 5^th March

Hartlepool Town Hall 7^th March

Newcastle The Stand 8^th March

South Shields Customs House 1^st May

Durham Gala 2^nd May

Middlesbrough The Crypt 13^th June.

Patrick Monahan will be on tour across the UK from February 2015 with his brand new, energetically witty and charming family show! Expect plenty of playful audience interaction from this loveable Irish/Iranian Teessider!

Early in 2014 Patrick took part in the hit family entertainment series ‘Splash!’ (ITV) and appeared on the brand new series of ‘Celebrity Squares’ (ITV). He was also seen on ‘Fake Reaction’ (ITV) and on ‘Man Up’ (Fox) and was a regular 2014 guest on ‘Not The One Show’ (London Live). Last year Patrick could be seen as host of ‘Jongleurs Live!’ (Sky) and on ‘12 Again’ (CBBC/BBC2).

His 2013 TV appearances include ‘Comedy Annual’ (ITV1) ‘Daybreak’ (ITV1) ‘Loose Women’ (ITV1) and ‘The Wright Stuff’ (C5).

In 2012 he took part in Let’s Dance for Sports Relief on BBC, won Best Newcomer at the Loaded LAFTA Awards and Forth Radio Best Stand-Up People’s Choice Award for his hit show ‘Hug Me I Feel Good’.

Winner of the 2011 ITV1 series ‘Show Me The Funny’ which led to the release of his debut DVD ‘Patrick Monahan Live’ (2 Entertain).

Patrick is also a regular MC and headlining act at the top London and UK comedy clubs and in addition to this he is in huge demand on the corporate circuit as an after dinner speaker and awards host.

‘An adventure through the strange and hilarious products of his mind’.

✭✭✭✭✭ www.broadwaybaby.com  

‘Charismatic and positive’

✭✭✭✭ www.theedinburghreporter.com

‘A definite must see’

✭✭✭✭EDINBURGH FESTIVALS MAGAZINE

‘Monahan is a supremely engaging performer, adored by his audiences and capable of some terrific comedy’.

THE SCOTSMAN

‘Monahan possesses the rare ability to be hilarious without being outrageous’.

✭✭✭✭✭ THREE WEEKS

‘There isn’t a comic quite like him and his hugs alone are worth the price of admission’.

✭✭✭✭✭ www.thenewcurrent.co.uk 

‘The same mix of control and on-stage charisma as a young Alan Davies’.

✭✭✭✭ THE HERALD 2012

On The Web:

Website: www.patrickmonahan.co.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/patrickjmonahan 

Facebook: www.facebook.com

Tickets:

Washington Arts Centre 13^th February 7.30pm 0191 219 3455 www.artscentrewashington.co.uk

Northallerton Forum 5^th March 7.30pm 01609 776230 www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

Hartlepool Town Hall 7^th March 8pm 01429 890000 www.hartlepooltownhalltheatre.com

Newcastle The Stand 8^th March 7.30pm 0191 300 9700 www.thestand.co.uk

South Shields Customs House 1^st May 8pm 0191 454 1234 www.customshouse.co.uk

Durham Gala 2^nd May 8pm 0300 026 6600 www.galadurham.co.uk

Middlesbrough The Crypt 13^th June 8pm 01642 729729 www.middlesbroughtownhallonline.co.uk

Preview: Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Complete History Of Comedy (abridged)

Reduced Shakespeare Company

The Complete History Of Comedy (abridged)

Written and Directed by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor

Spring/Summer UK Tour 2015 including:

Wednesday 4^th February             Durham Gala

Thursday 5^th February                   Hexham Queens Hall Arts

Friday 6th February                       Kendal Brewery Arts Centre

Thursday 12^th February                 Middlesbrough Theatre

“This show proves (the Reduced Shakespeare Company) have not lost their touch - or their remarkable energy.”  The Stage (2014)

Following a hugely successful, critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 the Reduced Shakespeare Company will set out to reduce the UK to tears of laughter in Spring 2015. Yes that’s right, the bad boys of abridgement will finally tackle the subject they were born to reduce. From the high-brow to the low, The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) covers comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin.

The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) is far more affordable than tickets to an amusement park, but you’ll still come away with the same feeling of nausea and motion sickness. From cavemen telling “Rock Rock” jokes to Chris Rock and everything in-between, the Company leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe that takes long, serious subjects and reduces them to short, sharp comedies.

Since 1981, ‘The Bad Boys of Abridgement’ have created nine stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots and numerous radio pieces – all of which have been performed, seen, heard and translated into Klingon the world over.

The company’s first three shows, TheComplete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), TheComplete History of America (abridged) and TheBible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) enjoyed a nine-year run at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. Not only were they London’s longest-running comedies, but at one point the Reduced Shakespeare Company had more shows running in the West End than Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some of them were funnier too…

The company were last seen on a four month t+our of the UK and Ireland with The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) at the start of 2014. Before that a whirlwind eight month tour of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) played to packed houses throughout the UK and London’s West End throughout 2013. Prior to this the “other RSC” were wowing the UK with their highly successful Complete World of Sports (abridged), which toured the country before completing a season in London’s West End during the 2012 Olympics.

WARNING! Side-effects may include uncontrollable milking and painful running gags. 

“The trio deliver 70 minutes filled with laughter to a delighted audience.”

British Theatre Guide (2014)

On The Web:

Website:           www.reducedshakespeare.com

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/reduced

Facebook:        www.facebook.com

Tickets:

Wednesday 4^th February Durham Gala Box Office: 0191 332 4041 www.galadurham.co.uk

Thursday 5^th February Hexham Queens Hall Arts Centre Box Office: 01434 652 477 www.queenshall.co.uk

Friday 6th February Kendal The Brewery Arts Centre Box Office:  01539 725 133  www.breweryarts.co.uk  

Thursday 12^th February Middlesbrough Theatre Box Office: 01642 815181  www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Preview: The Snail And The Whale at Durham Gala

Children's Classic Comes To Durham

The Snail And The Whale

Durham Gala Theatre

13 & 14^th February 2015

Based on the 2003 modern classic by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

‘An exquisite piece of theatre... that leaves you smiling’ (The Stage 16/4/12)

Tall Stories (creators of the Gruffalo and Room on the Broom stage shows) are proud to present their latest exciting collaboration with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

A tiny snail longs to see the world, so she hitches a lift on the tail of a humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, experiencing sharks and penguins, icebergs and volcanoes. But when the whale gets beached, how will the tiny snail save him?

Tall Stories is a registered charity founded by co-directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell in 1997. The company has performed at the National Theatre, at various West End theatres and on Broadway. Tall Stories shows tour to small and large scale venues in the UK, and have performed abroad as far away as Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan and the US.

Tall Stories’ adaptation is inspired by the work of Storybook Soldiers, who help British military personnel abroad to record bedtime story CDs for their children back home. The amazing journey of the tiny snail is seen through the eyes of a very adventurous young girl – who’d love to be going round the world with her seafaring father...

Created in Tall Stories’ unique style, the show combines storytelling, music and lots of laughs.

All music and sound effects are created live on stage by an electric viola player with an effects pedal.

Storytelling, live music and lots of laughs, in a show for everyone aged 4 and up.

‘Faultless family fare… One of the best examples of children’s theatre’ Whatsonstage.com *****

Cast:

Lucy Grace (Snail/Daughter)

Lucy has previously worked with Tall Stories on ‘Twinkle Twonkle’ which toured the US, UK and played at the Roundhouse, London. Recent credits include ‘A Tree’ (Lyric Hammersmith/Hit the Ground), ‘Blueprint’ (Write by Numbers/Bikeshed Theatre) and ‘Regeneration’ (Write by Numbers/Rich Mix). She has also written her first solo piece 'Garden' which is being developed with support from Write by Numbers and Tamasha Theatre Company.

Tim Hibberd (Whale/Dad)

Tim has worked for Tall Stories previously on ‘The Gruffalo’, ‘Mr Benn’ and ‘My Brother the Robot’ and was a member of the original devising company for ‘The Snail and the Whale’ in 2011. He has also worked with Polka Theatre on a number of shows and is the former Artistic Director of Rejects Revenge Theatre Company. He is currently to be seen as Mr Fen in CBeebies’ ‘Topsy and Tim’ (together with his own twins Tom and Natalya) and heard as Vincent Van Coconut in Disney’s ‘Art Attack’.

Charlotte Mafham (Narrator/Musician)

Charlotte trained at Arts Ed and in puppetry with Blind Summit. Previous theatre credits include: Troilus & Cressida’ & ‘Coriolanus’ (Tristan Bates); ‘Zero Point Project’ (BAC), ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ (Hiccup Theatre, UK Tour), ‘The Dark Entry’ (Canterbury Festival), ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ (The Space), ‘The Just So Stories’ (The King's Head Theatre) and ‘Julius Caesar’ (The Scoop). Charlotte also plays the viola for the Whitehall Orchestra, the charity fundraising Amici Orchestra and band The Hidden Tracks.

On The Web:

Facebook: /tallstoriestheatre 
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Snail-and-the-Whale-Live

Twitter: @tallstoriesnews

Instagram: tallstories

Pinterest: /tall_stories

Tickets

Durham Gala

Friday 13th February 5.00pm

Saturday 14th February 11.00am & 1.30pm

Recommended age group: 4-10 and grown-ups.

Tickets £10 (£36 family ticket)

On Tour

February 2015

5-8 The Haymarket, Basingstoke

13-14 The Gala Theatre, Durham

15-16 MAC, Birmingham

17-18 The Corn Exchange, Newbury

20-21 The Curve, Leicester

26-27 Hall for Cornwall, Truro

March 2015

1-2 The Oakengates Theatre, Telford

3-4 The Grand Theatre, Lancaster

5-31 International Touring

April 2015

1-2 The Radlett Centre, London

3-4 Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham

7-8 The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

9-10 The Gatehouse, Stafford

11-12 The Octagon, Yeovil

14-15 The Berry Theatre, Hedge End

18-19 The Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon

20-21 The Courtyard Theatre, Hereford

23-24 The Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn

25-26 Jacksons Lane, London

Review: Bugsy Malone at Durham Gala Theatre

You Give a Little Love

Bugsy Malone

Durham Gala Theatre

28^th May 2014.

The Gala Theatre Stage School have put together the classic children’s musical with high production values and a very large cast. The large number of people who turned up just goes to show that family friendly half term shows will bring people in. It was very nearly a sell out for the Gala and the large crowd were in for a treat.

The stage production is based upon the 1976 Alan Parker debut which starred Jodie Foster as Tallulah as one of the central characters. With such large shoes to fill it is pleasing to see the children seemed to be at ease and relatively undaunted at entering such a large Durham crowd.

Silly string replaced custard in the splurge guns and they were a source of much amusement in the crowd. When the curtain was finally raised to reveal a multi-level set centred around Fat Sam’s Speakeasy and it reflected a professional mentality by the show’s producers.

The children are all to be commended for their performances and their ability to sing, dance and act. The characters Fat Sam and Tallulah were well charatcterised. In terms of singing, Blousey Brown stole the show with a mature sounding rendition of Ordinary Fool. However the titular character, Bugsy Malone, was extremely well casted as the young chap narrated, acted and sang his heart out for the full show.  With a show like this it is shame not to be able to pick out each fabulous performance from such a large cast. Each one can be proud of entertaining the audience and, as Baby Face showed at the end, provide some heart warming and funny moments.

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