Preview: Joseph And the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Sunderland Empire

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuide and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide.  Read about JoWhereToGo and its PR and photography services here.

 GO, GO, GO JOE!

Joseph And the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 31^st May – Saturday 4^th June 2016

CHART-TOPPING X FACTOR STAR JOE MCELDERRY

STEPS INTO TECHNICOLOR TITLE ROLE

X FACTOR winner Joe McElderry gets set to put on a dazzling coat of many colours as he steps in the  title  role  of  the  UK’s  longest  running  musical Joseph And the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Photo: Mark Yeoman

Joe was just 18 when won the sixth series of The X Factor having been mentored by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and beating off fierce competition from Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon. 

Joe then soared to number one on the UK Singles Charts with his rendition of Miley Cyrus’s The Climband his debut album Wide Awake went straight in at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. He has since gone on to have two more top ten albums, and he became the first X Factor star to release four albums, with a fifth in the making.

Joe, who hails from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, is also the first and only celebrity to win threereality TV shows! He was crowned the winner of the second series of ITV’s Popstar to Operastar before strapping on his skis and slaloming his way to become champion of Channel 4’s celebrity ski competition The Jump last year!

Joseph marks Joe’s first major theatrical appearance following a one-off West End gala performance as the lead in The Who's Tommy in 2012.

Having garnered sensational reviews and standing ovations at every performance since its inception almost 35 years ago, Bill Kenwright’s Amazing’, ‘Superb’, ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Brilliant’ production of this sparkling  family  musical  has  now  sold  an  estimated 20  million  tickets. 

This  vibrant  and  exciting retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours sings out to young and old alike with a score which is crammed wall to wall with hits, including Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.

Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with the Really Useful Group presents Joseph And the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Lyrics by Tim Rice

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Tickets:

Joseph And the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat  Sunderland Empire 31^st May – 4^th June 2016

General Onsale: 10am, Friday 25^th September 2015

Box Office: 0844 871 3022*
Groups 10+: 0844 871 3042
Online: www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*
*Booking fee and charges apply

Preview: New Season at South Shields Customs House

Arts Venue Unveils its New Line-up

South Shields Customs House

Autumn 2014

Thirsty

Lotto winners, gruesome murders and happily ever afters will all be part of the entertainment at The Customs House this season.

The theatre in South Shields has, as ever, an eclectic mix of music, drama and comedy as well as the return of the ‘little panto with the big heart’.

Lucky Numbers

Customs House executive director Ray Spencer, MBE, said: “This season we can guarantee we have something for everyone. There are so many shows I’m looking forward to seeing myself and in particular the return of Mike Yeaman’s Lucky Numbers as our annual Customs House production. We’re particularly excited to have Sunderland-born Michael Strassen to direct our flagship production, fresh from picking up the 2014 Off-West End Awards best director gong. We’re delighted the award-winning play will star Pat Dunn, who shot to fame as Nana in BBC’s Hebburn.”

A Doll’s House

For those who like the tried and tested classics the Mill Dam venue in South Shields has a new version of A Doll’s House, Henrick Ibsen’s play about marriage, money, and the freedom of women in the late 19th century and the ever popular Rumpus Theatre return with Charles Dickens’ marvellously macabre Captain Murderer.

Money the Gameshow

The Customs House has a long tradition of supporting new writing and this season is no different with plays including Butterfly, Money the Gameshow, Dead to Me, Collector of Tears, GSOH ‘Would Like to Meet’ and Thirsty sure to whet the appetite of any theatre fan.

I Left My Heart in Roker Park

This autumn also sees old favourites, which originally premiered at the arts venue, return. The hilarious Dirty Dusting sweeps back in and the updated version of I Left My Heart in Roker Park is back.

Perfect Wedding

Other plays include farce Perfect Wedding, mobster comedy The Big Hit and Not About Heroes, which takes a look at Britain’s greatest war poets.

Chris Ryan

If you’re looking for something other than drama, there’s plenty of shows with a bit of a difference, including former SAS commander turned author Chris Ryan, LDN Wrestling, stand-up comedian Micky Cochrane and murder squad detective Trevor Marriott, who will be back to give his insight into Jack the Ripper.

Joe Longthorne

Music fans are never disappointed with a mix of the real thing and the best tributes around. Joe McElderry is back in his hometown theatre ahead of the festive season – but be quick because tickets have almost sold out. Another much-loved Joe is back in the form of Joe Longthorne and Pal of My Cradle Day singer Ann Breen will also take to the stage this season.

Musical lovers can see Over the Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story, starring Bad Girls’ Nicole Faraday, South Shields Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s Jesus Christ Superstar, regulars Encore return, Tenors Unlimited will give an operatic take on well-known songs and the youngsters of Performer Stage School will perform the newly-released Ghost. Top tributes The Hollywood Bees, Nights on Broadway – The Bee Gees Story, Patsy Cline The Concert, Unforgettable, Rolling Back the Years and The Counterfeit Sixties will impress throughout autumn.

Santa’s Naughty Elf

The venue is always keen to introduce youngsters to the theatre and children’s shows this season include the return of Santa’s Naughty Elf in the run up to Christmas. This time Elfluent the Elf has broken the toy machine and needs the help of the boys and girls to save Christmas. There’s also interactive show Babar the Little Elephant, a special junior edition of Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking (with an adult version in the evening) and Wendy the Witch and the Haunted Mansion, which runs this Halloween.

Little Red Riding Hood

Finally, Ray Spencer - who was Tommy the Trumpeter for 25 years - will be returning to pantomime as Granny Hood in Little Red Riding Hood. Having performed in panto for almost 40 years alongside Bob Stott as Dame Dotty, it will be Ray’s first outing as dame.  Bob hung up his wig and frock two years ago after 37 years treading the panto boards, while Ray retired as Tommy last summer. Ray added: “I have big boots to fill but I can’t wait to get back up on the stage and see all the regulars in the audience – I have really missed them.  This is my first time as dame but this year will also mark another first which I am really looking forward to; Little Red Riding Hood will be the first time I have professionally performed with my daughter Natasha who will be playing Red.”

Tickets:

For more information about the new season or to book tickets for any show call the box office on 0191 454 1234, visit www.customshouse.co.uk or pick up the new What’s On brochure from The Customs House, your local library or the Tourist Information Centre.

Preview: Joe McElderry at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Driving Home for Christmas with Joe McElderry

Joe McElderry

Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Friday 21^st November 2014

The Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre is delighted to announce that people’s favourite Joe McElderry is coming to the Tyne Theatre on Friday 21^st November 2014.

Joe McElderry has soared from X Factorgolden boy to national treasure after crooning his way into the heart of the nation. Now the sweet singing sensation with the boyish charm is taking his 24-carat voice on tour with his 2014 Set Your Soul Alive nationwide tour. Since storming to victory in front of millions of fans on the TV talent show, Joe has matured into one of the country’s most polished and popular singing stars.

His 2013 tour performed to sell-out, spell-bound audiences with fans dancing in the aisles and giving him a thunderous reception. Joe takes his audience on a singing, emotional rollercoaster, moving effortlessly from heart-warming romantic ballads to tragic arias. Laughter, love and tears lie at the very heart of this show.

His smash hit single The Climb rocketed to number one and his album, Classic, went gold within two weeks. He’s also the first X Factor winner to release four albums.

But it’s as a live performer where Joe’s charismatic performance lights up the stage and packs theatres. And his four-piece backing band, made up from some of the best musicians in the business, compliment him perfectly.

Joe’s mystical ‘X factor’ ingredient springs from a mix of highly versatile yet accomplished singing styles from opera to rock. His unique vocal talents hit the headlines recently when he starred in the live TV show Popstar To Operastar. Mentored by the tenor Rolando Villazon, he performed classical arias such as Nessun Dorma, and went on to win the show with a landslide victory, amassing 80% of the votes. But it’s his endearing, good natured charm and sunny, warm personality which has raised him to the ranks of one of Britain’s best loved family entertainers. Commanding a loyal fan base aged from five to 95, an entertainer so rounded and with such mass appeal, comes along just a few times in a generation.

A Joe McElderry show has that truly enigmatic sprinkling of something special which makes it a superb and memorable family show – a song for every generation. Joe cemented his place in the nation’s hearts after Cheryl Cole nurtured the shy, good natured lad from South Shields and turned him into an overnight sensation on X Factor.  At just 18 years old, he auditioned for the ITV show and bowled the judges over with his rendition of Luther Vandross’ Dance with My Father.

Joe also impressed Whitney Houston who appeared as a guest mentor. And in one of TV’s most memorable moments of the year, he performed a brilliant duet with George Michael on the live semi-final and went on to be crowned the winner of X Factor 2009 by a clear majority.  After wowing the audience with his dazzling vocals, modesty and charm, he soared straight to number one both the UK and Irish Singles Charts with his beautiful rendition of Miley Cyrus’ The Climb.  Soon after came his first studio album Wide Awake under the Syco/Sony Entertainment record label, an exciting mix of up-tempo songs and the powerful ballads which Joe has become famous for.

His second album, Classic, was under the record label giant Universal Music and went Gold within two weeks of release, hitting number two in the UK Album Charts and selling over 250,000 copies. In 2011, another album, Classic Christmas, went gold in just one week. And that year alone, Joe sold over 550,000 albums, a stunning achievement for any artist to accomplish.

In between all this, Joe managed to fit in a performance for Her Majesty the Queen at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and a live regional tour at 16 major venues, culminating in a rapturous reception at the Royal Festival Hall.  And he is the only X Factor contestant to address the Oxford Union, following in the illustrious footsteps of Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein!

Seeing and listening to Joe is an unforgettable experience.

On The Web:

Website: http://joemcelderryofficial.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joemcelderry91

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joemcelderryofficial

Ticket details:

Tickets are priced at: £19.50, £18 Concessions

The Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre Box Office (10am-3.30pm and event days)

Credit Card Booking and Information Line 0844 493 9999 (24 hour 7days)

The Metro Radio Arena Newcastle Box Office (Mon - Fri 10.00am-4.00pm & Sat 9.30am – 1.30pm)

Internet Site:- www.millvolvotynetheatre.co.uk 

Tourist Information Centres: Carlisle, Harrogate, Wakefield, Stockton on Tees & Darlington

Postal applications: Metro Radio Arena Newcastle, PO Box 304, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 4YJ

Group Bookers should call (0191) 260 6006

Special Needs bookings should call (0191) 260 6066 for further details