Preview: Red is the New Blue at Live Theatre

Is there life on Mars?

Red is the New Blue

Newcastle Live Theatre

Tuesday 23^rd & Wednesday 24^th June 2015
 
On Tuesday 23^rd and Wednesday 24^th June at 7.30pm Live Theatre will be presenting Red is the New Blue a out of this world show that has been created as part of Live Theatre’s Live Lab programme, which aims to develop new talent and give theatre makers a forum to try out new material and gain insightful feedback.

Set in 2029 Red is the New Blue follows the antics of three ordinary people who are sent to Mars, by Stargaze Incorporated, for a reality TV show like no other. The crew are left alone, abandoned on Mars forever, and it doesn’t take long before the cracks begin to show. The production has been created and will be performed by three emerging theatre makers who have all been awarded Live Lab Associate Artist status. These are spoken word artists Rowan McCabe, Matt Miller and Matilda Neill (who is also one of the members of Live Theatre’s all female sketch group Your Aunt Fanny).

Matilda Neill

In January 2015, Live Theatre re-launched its Live Lab programme creating more opportunities for budding writers, theatre makers and audience members to get involved. As part of this re-launch Live Lab announced their new Live Lab Associate Artists scheme. The inaugural Live Lab Associate Artists include the three spoken word artists involved in Red is the New Blue and theatre director Anna Ryder, who recently co-directed Rendezvous with Clive Judd at Live Theatre.

Rowan McCabe

The Live Lab Associate Artists receive mentorship from Live Theatre’s literary team as well as career support and talent development.

As Gez Casey, Live Theatre’s literary manager, explains: “Following the successful Live Lab re-launch earlier in the year, we’re delighted that the collaborative project with three of our Live Lab Associate Artists is going to premiere in the Studio Theatre this June."

Matt Miller

This is the first time that Rowan, Matt and Matilda have worked together to create a show. Matt Miller said: "Red is the New Blue initially took the upcoming Mars One space mission as an impetus and asks questions like 'Why would anybody want to go to Mars forever?' and 'What would happen to those individuals? What about our society? Will our voyeurism be fulfilled?' as well as 'What actually is there to do on a spaceship?' It has poignancy. It has poetry. It has tongue in cheek humour. Cos when you're going to Mars forever, really, you've got to be able to laugh about it, don't you?"

The show fuses together theatre, spoken word and film elements and offers a funny, moving and thought-provoking night out whilst asking audiences what they would do if they found themselves stuck on Mars forever?

Tickets:

Red is the New Blue appears at Newcastle’s Live Theatre on Tuesday 23^rd and Wednesday 24^th June 2015, 7.30pm
 
Created and performed by Live Lab Associate Artists Rowan McCabe, Matt Miller and Matilda Neill.
Presented as part of Live Theatre’s Live Lab programme.

Tickets for Red is the New Blue costs £8 full price or £6 for concessions. To book tickets and to find out more visit www.live.org.uk or contact Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232. 

Review: North East Rising at Washington Arts Centre

Culture is a matter of perspective

North East Rising

Washington Arts Centre

4^th September 2014

An evening of poetry and music showcased some of the great talent that we currently have in the region. Alix Alixandra opened up with her songs about love and meeting up with her ex’s best friend on her ukulele. Gentle songs with poetic lyrics provided a reflective start to the evening. 

Alix was the calm before the storm as Jessica Johnson took to the stage with her vitriolic punk poetry. Topics range from what it must be like to be married to a comic like Jim Davidson, through drinking with a sister who doesn’t shy from a fight, to being married to a photographer who uses your house to photograph various girls. It may have been her first performance for 2 years but the verse flowed like a torrent. 

It was really pleasing to see a packed house experiencing the culture on show tonight and Rowan McCabe delivered an entertaining yet very personal journey around the North East. He segued the introductions into the poetic compositions to provide a seamless journey around the both the undesirable elements of the region and some of the highlights. Stotties and Tony the Fridge are celebrated whilst Cheryl Cole and dodgy company in a nightclub provide a counter argument to what is great about the region. Joseph Swan need not have a nightmare. Culture in the North East is in safe hands as long as talent like Rowan, Alix and Jessica can continue to perform in packed venues.

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 Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo 

On tour:

Sunderland Independent Tuesday 16^th September

Northern Stage Tuesday 21^st October

ARC Stockton Thursday 23^rd October

The show will appear as part of Sunderland Stages at the Independent (27/28 Holmeside) on Tuesday 16 September, 7.30pm. tickets £8.50, £6 conc, £5  students are available from Arts Centre Washington, by calling 0191 219 3455 or online at www.sunderlandstages.co.uk.

It then continues to Northern Stage on Tuesday 21^st October, 8.00pm. Tickets are £7.50 / £5 (conc) and will be available from www.northernstage.com or by calling 0191 230 5151.

It will finish at ARC Stockton on Thursday 23^rd October, 7.00pm. Tickets are £8.50 / £6.50 (conc) and will be available from http://arconline.co.uk/ or by calling 01642 525199.

 

Preview: North East Rising at Washington Arts Centre

For all those sick of Geordie Shore… Please stand up!!!

 North East Rising

Arts Centre Washington Thursday 4^th September

Northern Stage Tuesday 21^st October

ARC Stockton Thursday 23^rd October

 

‘North East Rising’ is Rowan McCabe’s new show about North East identity and it opens at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 4th September before touring regionally. 

Do you ever feel like the media is being a bit unfair about the North East? Like there’s a bit more to it than closed down mines and drunken Ken and Barbie dolls? Well, Rowan is pretty sure that there is and he’s on a mission to find the true heart of the region’s culture.

An energetic one person show of performance poetry, theatre and stand-up; expect hallucinatory tales, laugh-out-loud satires and a few pauses for thought as Rowan goes on a journey that shakes apart Northern stereotypes and celebrates the regions more quirky side. Prepare to meet a load of eccentric characters along the way, including: a down-and-out Cheryl Cole, an incredibly strange athlete and a criminal pensioner... oh, and there’s also a gangster rap about stotties.

The evening will be hosted by comic and actor Robbie Lee Hurst with support from Spoken Word artist Jessica Johnson, who will perform a series of explosive and hilarious poems with a distinct North East twang. The show will open with music from Alix Alixandra, who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and has built a reputation as a singer songwriter with a beautiful voice and a knack for a catchy melody.

Ticket Details:

‘North East Rising’comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 4^th September, 7.30pm. Tickets are £7.50 / £5 (conc) and are available from www.artscentrewashington.co.uk or by calling 0191 219 3455.

It then tours to Northern Stage on Tuesday 21^st October, 8.00pm. Tickets are £7.50 / £5 (conc) and will be available from www.northernstage.com or by calling 0191 230 5151.

It will finish at ARC Stockton on Thursday 23^rd October, 7.00pm. Tickets are £8.50 / £6.50 (conc) and will be available from http://arconline.co.uk/ or by calling 01642 525199.