Preview: Heads Up at Northern Stage & ARC

Show And Tell and Kieran Hurley present

Heads Up    

Winner: Scotsman Fringe First 2016

Written and performed by Kieran Hurley

Directed by Alex Swift and Julia Taudevin

Newcastle Northern Stage Tuesday 11^th April 2017  

ARC, Stockton Arts Centre Thursday 8^th June 2017

Following a solid sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, the multi-award winning theatre-maker’s depiction of the life of a city at the brink of an apocalypse embarks on a UK tour

“Acutely observed yet ferociously powerful storytelling… an absolute highlight of the Edinburgh Fringe” ★★★★ The Independent

“Superb storytelling theatre… Hurley’s new show is a quiet hurricane blowing through the city. It is an anxious whisper that becomes a shout; a moment of silence that turns into the high-pitched whine of catastrophe” ★★★★ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

This compelling new performance written and performed by Kieran Hurley (Beats, Chalk Farm, Hitch) and co-directed by Alex Swift (Caroline Horton’s Mess) and Julia Taudevin (Blow Off, Chalk Farm) weaves a picture of a familiar city at its moment of destruction, asking what we would do if we found ourselves at the end of our world as we know it. The performance intertwines the stories of starkly different modern lives: a teenage girl who boils up in rage in a toilet cubicle; a finance worker who preaches doom in a busy train station; an absurd coke-addled celebrity who races through town on a mission and a paranoid stoner who stares blankly at the endless disasters on the TV news. In just one moment all their worlds will end. 

Kieran Hurley Photo: Niall Walker

Writer and performer Kieran Hurley said: “Heads Up is about living in a world built on disaster. It's about how we make sense of our lives in the context of global catastrophe; economic, environmental and humanitarian. It's difficult to say what the impulse behind making it is, beyond needing to deal with the feeling of incredible anxiety I sometimes have when reading the news. There are some jokes too though, don't worry. It bears a clear relationship to some of my previous work if you liked that, but it's also unlike anything I've made before. I'm trying out some entirely new approaches as a performer, through a really innovative sound design by Michael John McCarthy which I'll be controlling and operating from the stage.”

Kieran Hurley is an award-winning playwright, performer, and theatre maker based in Glasgow, whose work has been performed throughout the UK and internationally. He makes work that is experimental and innovative but accessible, for a wide audience. Sometimes he writes words for other people to perform, sometimes he tells stories to an audience himself. Often he collaborates with creatives in other fields including live bands, DJs, and audio-visual artists. Past work includes Hitch, Beats, Chalk Farm, and Rantin. Beats received the Best New Play award at the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2012, and Kieran was nominated for Best Solo Performer on the Fringe at the Stage Awards 2012.

Producers Show And Tell are a London-based, award-winning production company working in close collaboration with established and emerging comedians and theatre-makers to bring their work to audiences on a national and international stage. They are currently working with Kieran Hurley, Sh!t Theatre, Josie Long, Gary McNair, Ross Sutherland, Richard Gadd, Kieran Hodgson, John Kearns and more. Show And Tell enjoyed a very successful 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Fringe Firsts for Kieran Hurley’s first Edinburgh Festival Fringe premiere Heads Up and for Sh!t Theatre’s Letters to Windsor House.

Part of the Made in Scotland showcase 2016

Cast & Creatives:

Written and performed by Kieran Hurley   

Directed by Alex Swift and Julia Taudevin

Sound/music by Michael John McCarthy

On The Web:

Website: www.showandtelluk.com 

Twitter: @show_and_tell | @kieran_hurley | #HeadsUpKH

Running time: 60 minutes (no interval) | Age restriction: 14+

Tickets:

Northern Stage

Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RH

Tuesday 11^th April 2017 7.45pm

£10 (£8)

Tickets: 0191 230 5151| www.northernstage.co.uk  

ARC, Stockton Arts Centre

Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LL

Thursday 8^th June 2017 7pm

Pay what you decide

Tickets: 01642 525199 | www.arconline.co.uk

 

Preview: All Or Nothing at Sunderland Empire

Small Faces Musical Comes To Sunderland

All Or Nothing

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 18^th - Saturday 22^nd April 2017

Written by Carol Harrison

All Or Nothing, the new Small Faces musical sensation, will play Sunderland Empire for one week only, during April as part of its second UK tour.

Carol Harrison

Carol Harrison said “It’s a real honour to be able to bring the extraordinary world of The Small Faces back to the fans and to a brand new audience, young and old. Audiences have embraced the chance to enjoy a bit of mod nostalgia and the critics have all acknowledged the vivid underground vibe on stage as we bring the 60s scene into sharp focus. Our live band and cast tell the story of the rise and fall of the band, a journey as vivid and colourful as their sound, and get to showcase an amazing catalogue of music - hard edged R&B.

This is music which influenced a generation of musicians from Paul Weller and The Jam to Oasis, Blur, The Verve and The Arctic Monkeys, not to mention millions of fans. We’ve found an amazingly loyal fan base and are thrilled to be bringing the show back across England, into Wales and into Scotland for the first time. Book – it’s truly a concert of a lifetime!"

Written by the award-winning actress Carol Harrison, All Or Nothing tells the electrifying yet bittersweet tale of Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriott; four charismatic young kids from East London with humour, attitude, passion and above all talent. They became The Small Faces and were rocketed into the big time, only to discover the path to fantastic success is paved with exploitation, betrayal and ultimately tragedy.

  

All Or Nothing celebrates the unique sound of the iconic Mod band. The musical is packed full of all the timeless hits, including the brilliant Whatcha Gonna Do About It, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Here Comes the Nice, Itchycoo Park and of course All or Nothing.

In 1964, a new phenomenon exploded on to the dingy British streets. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod. Mods stuck two fingers up at the class-ridden society and its dull redundant culture. They were working-class free spirits who rode sexy streamlined Italian Vespas or Lambrettas. The sharpest Mod of all was known as a ‘face’. The Small Faces encapsulated all that is Mod, a unique blend of taste and testosterone, neat, clothes obsessed, and streetwise. But these cult sophisticates shared another passion, their dedication to ‘Rhythm and Blues.’

Carol Harrison is an award-winning actress and writer, well known for her theatre and TV work. Carol is probably best known as the exciting, fiery and passionate Louise Raymond in Eastenders. The storyline between her and son-in-law Grant Mitchell gripped the nation and it was for this storyline that Eastenders won the BAFTA for ''Best Soap'' for the first time. For seven years she played the incorrigible Gloria in the popular series Brushstrokes, and also starred opposite Ray Winstone as sassy Loretta in the comedy series Get Back. She also starred as Dorothy in two series of London's Burning. Her latest TV movie Martha, Jac a Sianco for S4C won six BAFTA awards.

The show is endorsed and supported by many of those who feature in its story, including singer P.P. Arnold and Steve Marriott’s daughter Mollie Marriott, who is the show’s vocal coach.

On The Web:

www.allornothingthemusical.com

Tickets:

Tickets available from the Box Office on High Street West, via the ticket centre 0844 871 3022* or www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland *calls cost up to 7p per minute plus standard network charges. Booking and transaction fees may apply to telephone and online bookings.

News: Auditions for “PETER PAN” at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay

Auditions for “PETER PAN” at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay

Sunday 30^th April (with recalls on Saturday 6^th May)

Male and Female, age range 8-21

Dancers/Singers/Actors/Performers need to register at 10.30am

PLEASE BE PREPARED TO STAY UNTIL 4pm.

Anne Dalton, from ABD Productions, is searching for lead child roles such as Tinker Bell, Michael, John, Slightly and Tootles, as well as a junior ensemble to play The Lost Boys (girls and boys), Indians, Pirates, Neverland animals, Tinker Bell’s street dancing fairy friends, Water Sprites and Flame Dancers.

Older performers and senior dancers are invited to support the visiting adult professional company as the senior ensemble and also fill several adult character roles. A variety of dance styles is necessary together with the ability to act and sing in ensemble.

Several teams of musical theatre performers will be needed for this exciting new production. Would–be performers must check their holiday dates against show dates prior to audition. Those who are successful will be required to pay a one-off show charge of £40 plus a small sub of £1 per rehearsal to cover costs of rehearsals, tuition, lyric books, CDs, costumes etc. There will be no other charges to take part in the production.

SHOW DATES AND REHEARSALS

“Peter Pan” will be staged at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay during the summer holidays, from Thursday 3^rd to Saturday 5^th August with matinee and evening performances each day. Tech/dress rehearsals will be held on Tuesday 1^st and Wednesday 2^nd August. We do not envisage that any time off school will be needed. Rehearsals will be held out of school hours, mainly at weekends and possibly half term.

Auditionees need to come in comfortable clothing, appropriate footwear and bring drinks and packed lunch. They should not bring backing tracks or prepared pieces.

General Information

• Youngsters under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult to register at 10.30am prompt. Adults return at 4pm unless their youngsters are unsuccessful, in which case you may be telephoned earlier during the afternoon.

• Previous auditions have taken several hours. We have known 300 youngsters to arrive in the past and you will appreciate it presents difficulties for even the best run organisation to process and audition such numbers successfully. We do ask that parents/guardians are patient.
 

• Please do not bring valuables to the audition. We cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage.

• ALL AT ABD LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU AND WISH YOU “GOOD LUCK” FOR YOUR AUDITION.

Contact details:

ABD Productions, 68 Bescar Lane, Scarisbrick, Lancs. L40 9QS.

Telephone: 01704 880607/07814 618531

email: abd@abdproductions.co.uk

REVIEW: West Side Story at Yarm Princess Alexandra Auditorium

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We welcome guest reviewer Alex Hall to the North East Theatre Guide. Many thanks for this review Alex.

West Side Story

Yarm Princess Alexandra Auditorium

Until Saturday 8^th April 2017

Director and Choreographer JOANNE HAND

Musical Director NIGEL BALL

I've just worked out that I've now seen the last 16 of Darlington Operatic Society's shows. It was probably after the first three that I realised the incredibly high production values were not merely good luck, or the consequence of planets being in harmony, but the result of a company which prides itself on consistently professional standards.

This week at the Princess Alexandra auditorium ( a temporary home while their usual venue, the former Darlington Civic theatre enjoys a refurb) West Side Story opened to a packed house. It's a show that consistently tops the charts in those Channel 4 bank holiday offerings, listing the Nation's Favourite Musical.  It's never been one of my favourites. I mean, I know how it ends and I don't much like being seen in public with mascara running down my cheeks.

Photo: Scott Akoz

But tonight, (Tonight. Yes I know.) I saw this show in a very different light.  Usually acclaimed for its high energy and glorious tunes and yes, they were all there. And beautifully performed. But for me the greatest joy was in the the stillness. There were moments of tenderness and of tension,  when this wonderful company came together to create moments of absolute truth. It can be easy for the singing and dancing to dwarf the acting, but the mature performances brought out every tiny, heartbreaking subtlety. Neil Harland as Tony and Rhiannon Walker as Maria had such chemistry which,  along with excellent vocals made for some very moving duets.
 

There isn't a weak link in the cast and I shouldn't really single anyone out.  But hey, Ben Connor really deserves every plaudit as Riff. I've enjoyed watching him grow up over the last few years from a bright and talented little chap to a confident young performer with great comedy bones, who oozes presence and can hold the audience in the palm of his hand.

Photo: Scott Akoz

The choreography was wonderful, as you'd expect from Jo Hand who also directs. Costumes were just right, the set was spot on and respectful enough to know its place and not detract from the action. The orchestra, under the leadership of Nigel Ball, did full justice to the beautiful score. Always tricky after such an emotional ending, the elegant and restrained curtain call was perfectly pitched with a final rendition of the entire company singing Somewhere, which started off a capella , then soared to a glorious climax, loud enough to drown the sobs of this emotionally drained member of the audience. Congratulations Darlington Operatic Society, you've done it again.

Review by Alex Hall

Tickets:

Darlington Operatic Society presents West Side Story at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium in Yarm from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 April. Tickets are £16 for adults and £12 for children (14 and under) and are on sale now by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 244 659 or by booking online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk

REVIEW: Copacabana at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

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West End Operatic Society presents

Copacabana

Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House

Until Saturday 8^th April 2017

Music by Barry Manilow

Lyrics by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman

Book by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman and Bruce Sussman

Orchestrations by Andy Rumble

Director/choreographer: Sandra Laidler

Musical director: Steven Hood

‘Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl’… Copacabana is a bright production about glamour and show girls. The music by Barry Manilow captivates like a Radio 2 show, easy on the ears but somewhat deceptively complex for the musicians to pull off.

The story features Stephen (Liam Gilbert), a present day aspiring songwriter, who is in the midst of writing a tune telling the story of Lola (Helen Cash) who arrives at a nightclub in New York, full of show-biz aspirations, fresh off the plane from Tulsa. Tony (Liam Gilbert) is a bartender/composer who falls in love with her and, along with Gladys (Emma Scott), helps her become a Copa girl. Lola, of course, attracts the amorous attentions of rival nightclub owner Rico (Simon Pinkney). When Rico goes a bit too far by abducting Lola and taking her to his rival nightclub in Havana, Tony and the whole Copacabana crew set off to rescue Lola!

The two principal characters are well played by Liam Gilbert and Helen Cash. Their singing ability is consistently strong across the piece. Likewise the support from Simon Pinkney, Leanne Harrison (as Conchita, a showgirl at Rico’s club) and Emma Scott helped the show to flow.

Funnily enough, this musical was on tour in 2014 and was supposed to come to the Tyne. We were all set up to see the show but it had run out of steam before it landed in Newcastle. As a result tonight was the first time that we’d seen this musical. Manilow’s songs are still fresh and our music loving son wants to hear more for ideas for a piece he is currently working on. Having said that, something tonight didn’t, in our opinion, quite click in the right place. Perhaps it was too much to ask in order to turn a single pop song into a 2 hour rags to riches tale? As musical choices go, it isn’t one that we will be rushing back to see.

The final scene was worth waiting for as the large ensemble sang and danced their way through the Copacabana song itself. The costumes and lighting, plus enthusiastic playing by the live band added to a fitting end to the evening.

Now let’s see if I can find that song on Spotify for our son…

Review by Stephen Oliver.

Tickets:

West End Operatic Society presents Copacabana at the Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House from Tuesday 4^th – Saturday 8^th April 2017. Evenings 7pm Matinees Thursday and Saturday 2pm.

Tickets are priced £8 - £18, groups buy 10 get 1 free (Plus booking fees when booking online or over the phone)

Online booking: http://tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/events/west-end-operatic-society-presents-copacabana/

Tickets can be bought in person from the theatre. The Tyne Theatre & Opera House is open 10am-3.30pm Monday to Friday and Event Days.

By phone: 0844 2491 000

(calls will cost 7 pence per minute plus your telephone company's access charge)

Tickets subject to booking fee & charges apply when paying by debit/credit card. No fees for cash payment at box office.

Preview: Educating Rita at Durham Gala Theatre

Educating Rita rehearsals gathering steam ahead of opening night

Educating Rita

Durham Gala Theatre

Tuesday 4^th to Saturday 8^th April 2017

Rehearsals are now well under way for Gala Theatre’s in-house production of Educating Rita as a new set of visuals reveal.

Educating Rita - in rehearsal

Written by Willy Russell, the story became a national hit in 1983, when a screenplay based on his 1980 stage production starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters was nominated for three Oscars.

The production is part of a new drive to produce more work at Gala.  It is being directed by Newcastle-based Rebecca Frecknall.

Educating Rita - in rehearsal

The new production transports the drama from Liverpool to more familiar territory, with Sunderland-born actress Jessica Johnson taking the lead role as Rita, a wise-cracking, no-nonsense hairdresser from the working-class streets of the North-East.

Educating Rita - in rehearsal

Fed up of her life and with aspirations for better things, she soon enlists the help of middle-aged academic Frank Bryant, played by Patrick Driver, as she enters the world of academia.

With Rita’s brash honesty and Frank’s deep intellect, each inspires the other as they begin to form an unlikely bond.

Educating Rita - in rehearsal

Jo Cundall, Gala’s arts programme manager, said: “This fresh new adaptation, based in the North-East, is as relevant today as when it was written and has really stood the test of time. 

“This brand new production is right up to date and set with contemporary themes and familiar locations from around the region.

“We are delighted to be bringing this British theatre classic to Gala audiences.”

Tickets:

Educating Rita is at Gala Theatre from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 April, 7.30pm, with 2.30pm matinees on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are priced at £15 or £13 for concessions. £12 tickets are also available for opening night, matinees and Gala members

A special two for one ticket promotion will also be in place on opening night for Gala Members.

Booking online: https://www.galadurham.co.uk/galapost/educating-rita/