Review: The Duke in the Cupboard at South Shields Customs House

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Benwell’s Most Wanted

Appears at The Customs House

The Duke in the Cupboard

South Shields Customs House

Until Saturday 10^th October 2015

 

Playwright Susan Wear digs deep into the true story of one of the world’s greatest art theft mysteries after it is released from the National Archives in 2012. So did a retired bus driver from Benwell steal the latest star picture to hang in the National Gallery? And what was his motivation? 

1961 was a different time. You could retire with a pension but the perks of old age were few and far between. No free bus passes or cheap seats at the cinemas for the generation that fought in the wars. They even had to pay for their TV licences. Such a concept seems to have outraged Benwell resident Kempton Bunton so much he decides to make a stand. Despite only watching ITV he finds himself foul of the law by not buying a TV licence. Refusal to pay the resultant fine puts him in prison for a short time. Unrepentant, he still wants to make a protest when he stops his incarceration.

When the government finds the £140 000 to secure a painting of the Duke of Wellington for the nation Kempton is outraged. This puts him on collision course with not just the police but also the British establishment.

The play centres around Kempton and his long suffering wife May. Both parts benefit from the superb acting of Graham Overton and Zoe Lambert. Graham plays the cantankerous Kempton who clearly loves his wife but has a real bee in his bonnet about what is right. Likewise Zoe shows how strong the lady in his life had to be. Their stage chemistry was a real highlight of the show.

Supporting Graham and Zoe is Stephen Gregory as their son John and Tom Machell as the young reporter Bill Chester. BBC Look North’s Jeff Brown also pops onto the tv screen to report the national news which was a nice touch.

The change of pace as the show broke the fourth wall at the end of the first half is a masterstroke by director Katy Weir. The entry of Adam Donaldson and Scott Ellis lightened the mood as the interval approached.

The Duke In The Cupboard is yet another premiere at South Shields Customs House that captures the stories and the spirit of this region. Their work in this regard needs to be acknowledged and the theatre continues to play a significant role in Tyneside’s cultural scene.

The Duke is a warm, light hearted play that highlights the frustrations of the individual battling against the system. Susan Wear should be very proud of her first play and Executive Director Ray Spencer needs commending for spotting the talent.

See the show before Saturday - It’d be criminal to miss it!

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/preview-duke-in-cupboard-at-south.html

Tickets:

Tickets are available from The Customs House Box Office, South Shields, tel 0191 4541234 or buy tickets on line at http://www.customshouse.co.uk/whats-on/Theatre/1933/the-duke-in-the-cupboard

 

Review: Steffen Peddie at Newcastle Stand Club

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99 Problems And The Chips Ain’t One

Steffen Peddie

Newcastle Stand Club

5^th October 2015

The Stand Comedy Club was rather full when we arrived but we found good seats all the same and settled down for what was to be a rib tickling evening even without a beer. I was designated driver. Steffen Peddie has grown and bloomed as a stand-up in the last few years. He’s no newcomer, as he says, he did his first comedy slot at the tender age of 13. 99 Problems but the Chips Ain’t One creates shows that are never going to be the same twice. The audience donates questions, about anything and Steffen attempts to answer them. Fortunately Steffen has a rich stash of stories and anecdotes, as well as ideas, that had me rocking with laughter.

The one-man show lasted 2 hours and at no point did Steffen “dry up”. The Stand also can provide snacks with your beers, which is very nice. This show did incredibly well getting such a crowd in on a Monday night. The night also raised  money for Big Pink Dress Fundraising, collecting for Breast Cancer Now, with Colin Plews adorned from massive wig to his toes in pink, and joined by his pink dressed lady friends to help out.

Steffen did end the night of fun with a serious point: we all go through difficulties and there’s too much dependency on social media for therapy. Just meet up with a friend, share a bag of chips and have a good chat. Problems seem so much smaller that way. I agree, Steffen, fancy some chips?

This review was written by Joanne Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/preview-steffen-peddie-on-tour.html

Tour:

Sunday 11^th October 2015 Hull Fruit (under Giggles Live) https://www.hullboxoffice.co.uk/tickets/buy_ticket/676
Thursday 15th October 2015 Hexham Queens Hall http://www.queenshall.co.uk/events/comedy-night-steffen-peddie 

Friday 23^rd October 2015 Stockton on Tees Arc (under Ten Feet Tall) http://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/steffen-peddie-99-problems-and-the-chips-ain%E2%80%99t-one

Saturday 14^th November 2015 Nottingham Comedy Festival at Navigation (6 Wilford St, Nottingham NG2 1AA) http://www.nottscomedyfestival.co.uk/calendar_156039.html

 

Review: Les Misérables at London Queens Theatre

A return to our Theatre Blog... Victoria Ling, from 137 Imaging (www.facebook.com/137imaging)  is guest reviewer:

Les Misérables

London Queens Theatre

19^th September 2015.

Booking until October 2016

It’s been a while since I have seen Les Misérables in the theatre (Manchester, five years ago to be precise) and on the back of watching the network premiere on television the hunger to see it on stage came back and a Saturday matinee awaited me at the Queens Theatre in the West End of London.

As always with these long-serving productions, there was an excitement in the air and I was right bang in the heart of the action, front row middle and the orchestra at my feet.

For anyone reading this I am sure we are aware that this musical is based on the Victor Hugo novel of a time of oppression, warfare, economic strife, famine, and disease in France where love, passion and sacrifice prevails. All the famous songs like On My Own, I Dreamed A Dream and Do You Hear The People Sing? are all there.  And if you have not heard of Les Misérables in one form or another or recognize at least one song then it is time to climb out from under that rock.

Queens Theatre is a beautiful little place and as It had been over five years I forgot how they would place such a stunning set to that stage, so hats off to the designers and engineers of such a magnificent piece of staging (John Napier).

From the get go we are thrown into emotional turmoil with the release of Jean Valjean (Bradley Jaden) of his nineteen years in a chain gang. A special mention for Jaden as he took to his first time being Valjean at this particular performance; a very hard role to take but as the performance progressed, he became stronger and confident in those shoes.

The whole ensemble was strong, from the factory workers to whores, drinkers and wedding guests. And thankfully we have comedic roles of the Thennardiers forever present (Phil Daniels and Katy Secombe) otherwise your heart would be torn apart throughout. Both Daniels and Secombe deliver their roles brilliantly. Other mentionable comedic performances come from Adam Pearce as part of the ensemble in the ‘wedding scene’ and Jo Parsons role as Grantaire as the drunken student.  Unsure if comedic is the right description of the latter but he plays a drunk-happy student brilliantly.

Each big scene is introduced to the audience with place and year from a drop screen. This helps as the musical is fast paced and covers so many events.  I guess the most memorable scene for the majority of the audience that has attended Les Misérables is the barricade scene.  The way in which it comes alive on the stage is one of the best sets I have witnessed in theatre.  We see it as a backdrop to the students planning their revolt and then both sides of the barricade in battle.  Then there is the lighting from the sewer scene and then when Javert jumps to his own death.  The lighting designers (David Hersey) have not missed a thing bringing this to life.

You cannot fault anything of Les Misérables, which is a testament to the many castings worldwide over the years.  There have been many famous faces of theatre and of the silver screen and music world that have stepped into these famous roles and not one that I saw on this particular matinee performance let the side down, so to speak.  Most mentionable would be Jeremy Secomb as Javert.  The menace in his facial expressions and that in the tone of his voice.  If I was Valjean I think I would have failed to run as Secomb had me quivering in my seat, he was that believable. Carrie Hope Fletcher taking the role as Eponine stirred every emotion in my body from being the girl in love from afar to helping the one she wanted find his own love. Secomb and Fletcher definitely stood out throughout in this particular performance.

Les Misérables is such an emotional piece of theatre.  The story, the lyrical content and the orchestral pieces tug on heartstrings.  I prepared my emotions to be ripped apart and held well but the sniffles from the grown men to each side of me were definitely in the works.  Then the ending was nearing and the return of Fantine (Rachelle Ann Go) and Valjean on his deathbed and being reunited with Cosette (Fantine’s daughter that Valjean takes under his wing) and Marius who she marries finally opened my water works. 

Whoever gets to step in each of the roles, from ensemble to main character, in Les Misérables is definitely worthy to be put on a pedestal, as these roles are very emotive and powerful and when you are approaching your 30^th Anniversary with an eager audience says it all. Yes, Do You Hear The People Sing? They ask for more than One More Day if not more of Les Misérables.

Tickets:

http://www.lesmis.com/uk/tickets/booking-information/

This review was written by Victoria Ling  for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Victoria on twitter @LilVik or follow her photography on Facebook (www.facebook.com/137imaging)

Review: Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour at Newcastle Live Theatre

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.

Explosive Action Comes to The Live

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour
Newcastle Live Theatre
Until Saturday 24^th October 2015

Photo: Manuel Harlan

They sing like angels and they have dreams, just like any other kids. The only difference for these 6 girls from Oban, Scotland, is they’re off to discover themselves on a trip to the capital.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

The show opens with the 6 girls, in perfect school uniform singing Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Their voices combine to make a truly beautiful sound. They are going to perform in a singing competition which means that thy need to wait for their teacher at 6am at the station. Quickly the action spins to some quick introductions.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Fionnular (Dawn Sievewright) lives in a council house bought with granda’s money. Manda (Kirsty MacLaren) lives with her Da after their mam left them. Chell (Caroline Dayga) has had a lot of tragedy in her family. Orla (Melissa Allan) has had a run in with cancer but seems better after a trip to Lourdes.  Kylah (Frances Mayli McCann) sings in a band whilst Kay (Karen Fishwick) appears to have everything going for her.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

The show works because, not only can the cast sing wonderfully but they also come across as authentic. As the story follows the girls on their journey to Edinburgh we see their dreams, the insecurities and their humour. The six girls play a variety of roles from a fellow pregnant school friend to the random men they meet along the way.

After sneaking drink on board, the trip was going to have a lively start. When the teacher tells them to be good and be unsupervised until the competition starts at 6pm the real adventures begin. What trouble can 6 teenage girls with a love of drink get up to?

The exposition is subtly interwoven within the story in Lee Hall’s adaptation of Alan Warner’s The Sopranos. This helps keep the pace up and under the direction of Vicky Featherstone there is always something happening on stage.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

When the story centres around Kylah joining her band her love ELO comes to light and the inclusion of Mr Blue Sky is one of the many musical treats. The songs are performed live with a young talented band on stage. Amy Shackcloth on keyboards; Becky Brass on drums and Emily Linden on guitar do a cracking job on a few of Jeff Lynne’s finest compositions.

Photo: Peter Dibdin

The show is a free spirit, a punkish play with a musical core rather than another typical jukebox musical that lacks a story. The story is a strong one. Whilst the passage to adulthood is an often told story, this story feels fresh and exciting and is full of energy. In short: great music and exciting action make this production hard to beat. Tickets are being quickly snapped up – it is no surprise that this show has performed to sell out crowds throughout its tour. It is fabulous.

Photo: Peter Dibdin

Adapted by Lee Hall from The Sopranos by Alan Warner
Directed by Vicky Featherstone
Music Supervisor Martin Lowe
Designed by Chloe Lamford
Lighting Design by Lizzie Powell
Choreography by Imogen Knight

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/preview-our-ladies-at-newcastle-live.html

Photo: Manuel Harlan

On The Web:

Website: http://www.live.org.uk/whats-on-book/our-ladies-of-perpetual-succour

Tickets

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour opens at Live Theatre on Thursday 1 October and runs until Saturday 24 October. 

For more information on Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour and to buy tickets costing between £26 to £10, over 60s concessions £16 and other concessions between £18 to £6 call Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or see www.live.org.uk.

 

Preview: Chorus Of Disapproval at Newcastle People’s Theatre

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Let our Ayckbourn evergreen chase away those Autumn blues!

A Chorus Of Disapproval

Newcastle People’s Theatre

Tuesday 6^th to Saturday 10^th October 2015

Newcastle’s People’s Theatre are excited to start our new Season next week, kicking off with Alan Ayckbourn’s hilarious comedy A Chorus Of Disapproval.

Photos: Paula Smart

Shy widower Guy Jones (Colin Jeffrey) joins his local operatic society during their rehearsals for The Beggar’s Opera.

But for nice guy Guy who just can’t say no, the onstage dramas and off stage shenanigans are soon proving difficult to untangle.

Photos: Paula Smart

A Chorus Of Disapproval offers a fun-filled glimpse into the rehearsal rooms of PALOS (the Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society). And if there’s something we know a little bit about, it’s amateur dramatics!

We’re not suggesting, of course, that members of the People’s Theatre go on like this lot with their illicit backstage affairs, a cuckolded director, prima donnas and a grumpy backstage team!

Prolific playwright Alan Ayckbourn recently directed his 79th play Hero’s Welcome at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre.

Photos: Paula Smart

In A Chorus Of Disapproval, which premiered in Scarborough in 1984 and subsequently transferred to the National Theatre, he ingeniously mirrors Gay’s story of the dashing highwayman Macheath with the amateur thespians and their own romantic entanglements. 

Director Chris Heckels comments “The PALOS players really do get themselves into a mess with their intrigues, back-biting, back-stabbing and sometimes full on aggression! But they have real emotion and enthusiasm too – director Dafydd and his company truly care about theatre and believe in its importance, which is something that we at the People’s can certainly relate to”.

The People’s Theatre can’t wait to welcome audiences back after our summer break with this smart, funny, fast-paced comedy of theatrical mishaps and misunderstandings.  

Tickets:

A Chorus Of Disapproval comes to The People’s Theatre from Tuesday 6^th to Saturday 10^th October 2015 at 7.30pm

Tickets: £13.50 (Concessions £11)
Box Ofiice: 0191 265 5020
Website: www.peoplestheatre.co.uk