Spring 2015 at Northern
Stage
From
action-packed drama and breathtaking dance on the main stage, to new work by
some of the country’s most inspiring companies and a new series of residencies
in Stage 2, to a diverse programme of fringe performances, spoken word, and
scratch nights in the intimate setting of Stage 3, Spring 2015 is jam packed
with the kind of bold, innovative, top quality work audiences have come to
expect at Northern Stage.
Kicking
off the season in style is A Night Extraordinary (4 February) – a
special Gala event celebrating some of the North East’s best talent, including
performances from Mark Benton (Waterloo Road), Charlie Hardwick (Emmerdale) and
Vicky Elliot (Hebburn) alongside new and emerging artists. The event will raise
funds to enable Northern Stage to continue to support and develop young
theatre-makers in the region, and A Night Extraordinary will showcase some of
the outstanding talent to come out of Northern Stage’s NORTH programme,
including The Letter Room and Camisado Club.
The
critically acclaimed Birdsong (23 – 28 February), written by Rachel
Wagstaff based on the world famous novel by Sebastian Faulks, was seen by over
130,000 people in 2013 and 2014. The author was thrilled the show has been
re-mounted to tour again marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War
saying, “Both Rachel and I want this to be the definitive version of Birdsong
on stage. The audience watch it and think, ‘thank God I have never undergone
all of this’. These experiences are far outside the lives of most people but
there is something about the way the production works which makes people
identify and think, ‘it could be me..’.”Jowheretogo Reviewed this show on its 2014 tour: Birdsong Review
Northern
Stage Artistic Director Lorne Campbell will direct Cyrano de Bergerac (29
April – 16 May) in a new production based on Anthony Burgess’ translation of
Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play. Lorne said: “This is a play of true scale, and
Royal & Derngate and Northern Stage collaborating again in this way allows
us both to create something this ambitious for our stages. It is a remarkable
play in a remarkable version. An epic and profoundly human love story about the
greatness and weakness that lives in all of us.” Alongside the professional
cast, the Cyrano ensemble will made up of six emerging actors from NORTH 2015 -
a professional development programme for young theatre-makers to develop their
skills and begin to build a sustainable, diverse and exciting career in the
North East.
After
the success of Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream, Filter
return to Northern Stage with their trademark fusion of performance with
integrated live music and sound in a radical re-creation of Macbeth (10-14
March).
For
theatre goers with a taste for the wonderfully
unconventional
there’s Unfolding Theatre’s 2014 Edinburgh Fringe hit, Lands of Glass (26-28
February) - live music played on specially created glass instruments bringing
best-selling Italian novelist Alessandro Baricco’s work to life.
Improbable
Theatre explore what happens when they meet experts in their field from outside
the world of theatre on stage in The Still (6-7 February).
The
genre defying Clod Ensemble come to Northern Stage for the first time with The
Red Chair (24-25 March), an intimate show with an original dark fairy tale
at its heart.
A
Lyrical Dance Concert (24-25 February) - a party in a comedy double act, in a
cabaret show, in a gig, in an experimental dance performance.Jowheretogo has a preview of this show: preview Lyrical Dance Concert
For
families with children aged 6 and over, Theatre Alibi’s I Believe in Unicorns
(16-18 April) is a spellbinding tale about the power of stories to
transform our lives from the writer of Warhorse, Michael Morpurgo. While for
younger children, Big Red Bath (7-9 May) is quirky, vibrant and humorous
adaptation for 2-5 year olds of Julia Jarman’s popular children’s picture book.
When
it comes to ground-breaking dance, Wim Vendekeybus’s thrilling, dangerous and
playful show is still one of the most theatrical and physical performances ever
made - Dance Touring Partnership presents Ultima Vez: What the Body Does Not
Remember (17-18 March).
Phoenix
Dance Theatre return with Shadows (28 May), an exhilarating mixed
programme including a double bill by renowned choreographer, Christopher Bruce CBE.
Spoken
word shows include Confirmation (23-24 March), Chris Thorpe and Rachel
Chavkin’s award-wining 2014 Edinburgh Fringe show about the gulfs we can't talk
across, and the way we choose to see only the evidence that proves we're right.
Standby
for Tape Back-Up (10-11
March) - Ross Sutherland’s extraordinary one man show compiled from found
footage;
Jack
Bennett asks ‘Isn’t it daft that we ask teenagers to make really big decisions
about their lives?’ in Too Much Too Young (10-11 February) - Joweheretogo reviewed Jack's show in 2014: Review: Too Much Too Young
Award-winning theatre-maker Daniel Bye is Going Viral (15-16 July); and
Crick Crack Club return with grown up fairy tales in Where the Bear Sleeps (13
May).
A
new residency scheme sees Northern Stage supporting some of the region’s most
exciting artists and companies. In 2015, Theatre Hullaballoo, Unfolding
Theatre, Selina Thompson, Fuel and Will Adamsdale, Hannah Nicklin, Luca
Rutherford and Camisado Club will be in residency to develop new work for
audiences in the region and beyond.
Our
collaboration with Northumbria University final year BA (hons) Performance,
Scriptwriting and Drama students includes performances of Roland
Schimmelpfennig’s Idomeneus directed by Rebecca Frecknall (working with
Northern Stage for 18 months through the Regional Young Director Scheme), and More
Light by Bryony Lavery directed by Amy Golding, alongside free script
readings, presentations and a public symposium asking Do Young People Really
Need Drama? (20-23 May).
Plus,
stand-up comedy from Mark Thomas with Cuckooed (20 February), poetry
with Radikal Words’ Great Northern Slam (8 April) and scratch nights First
in 3 (5 March & 7 May) and Young People’s First in 3 (18
February).
Tickets:
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