REVIEW: Hairspray at Sunderland Empire

We Hear The Bells In Sunderland!

Hairspray

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 30^th September 2017

Hairspray is a modern classic. Visually it is bright and energetic. Beneath the candyfloss is a message of social harmony and the fight against small mindedness that is as relevant today as it was in the 1960s.

The show begins with a big production number as the hero, Tracy Turnblad, wakes up on a beautiful morning in Baltimore. This is a chance for Rebecca Mendoza to shine in front of an appreciative Sunderland audience. She meets up with her mate Penny, played by understudy Lindsay Atherton, in order to watch the Corny Collins Show. This is a dance show which in 1963 has an all-white ensemble except for one show each month which is known as “Negro Night”.

The news that one of the dancers is leaving to have a baby means Tracy has her chance to audition and meet the dancers like Link Larkin (Edward Chitticks), on whom she has a crush. Being open minded she wants to bring integration to the show and to have kids of all races dancing together. But this is 1963, the producer Velma (Gina Murrray) and the shows sponsor Mr. Harriman F. Spritzer (Graham MacDuff) have other ideas.

Support for Tracy in her conquest is from her larger than life mother Edna and father Wilbur, played by Matt Rixon and Norman Pace. They are a great double act and created many of the shows lighter moments - especially during their duet ‘You’re Timeless To Me’.

Singing is faultless throughout the show. One particular highlight is when Brenda Edwards, as DJ Motormouth Maybelle, nails ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’. The dancing from the ensemble was a real highlight of the show. Layton Williams, as Seaweed, had opportunity to show his moves.

The set and lighting are both effective in delivering the show without gaps in the action. There may have been a delay at the start but it was well worth the wait. The set featured the live band, under Musical Director Ben Atkinson, at the back of the set during the Corny Collins TV show scenes. The band didn’t put a foot wrong all night.

Director Paul Kerryson and choreographer Drew McOnie have delivered a positive show that has many laughs. The dancing and on stage action have a real energy that left the audience buzzing at the end. The cast, band and crew deserved the standing ovation at the end.  Whilst it is a 21^st century musical - it is a firm favourite with musical fans and it is easy to see why.

Review by Stephen Oliver.

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Booking Information:

Tickets are available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online using the banners from our afilliate ATG Tickets below*

*Calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your standard network charge. Booking fees may apply to telephone and online bookings

Preview: Lambton Worm at South Shields Customs House

PANTO STARS LAUNCH COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS AT THE CUSTOMS HOUSE

The Lambton Worm

South Shields Customs House

Tuesday 28^th November 2017 - Saturday 6^th January 2018

Whisht lads - there’s only three months to go until Christmas!

The stars of this year’s panto at The Customs House - The Lambton Worm - have officially launched the theatre’s countdown to Christmas. There’s something for all the family to enjoy, not least the hilarious re-telling of one of the region’s most famous pieces of folklore. The Lambton Worm, sponsored by Hays Travel, runs from Tuesday 28^th November 2017 until Saturday 6^th January 2018.

Penned by Ray Spencer, executive director of The Customs House, and Graeme Thompson, a former broadcaster and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Sunderland, it has been written in celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the folk song The Lambton Worm.

The song, written in 1867, tells the legend of the brave Sir John Lambton, who returns home from war to slay a ferocious beast who has been terrorising the villages around the Lambton estate, gobbling up livestock and small children.

The beast, said to have wrapped itself around Penshaw Hill when full, is slain after Sir John seeks the guidance of a local witch, but he fails to follow her instructions to the letter, leaving the family cursed for nine generations. There will be a twist in the tale –and a much happier ending - in The Customs House version of the story, however, as well as a love triangle and a battle between good and evil.

Mr Spencer, who also directs the show and stars as Dame Bella Ballcock, said: “I think it is really important that some of our traditional folk tales are passed on to new generations. At a time when so much is changing, being able to tell this story and have children interested in places like Penshaw Monument and Penshaw Hill, and getting them to go out and about and see these places, is something we should celebrate. Of course, we should recognise that the original song was written for pantomime, so we will celebrate that 150^th anniversary.”

Dame Bella, the castle cook, is joined in the kitchen by her hapless son Arbuthnot, played by David John Hopper, who returns to the panto for a second year, having made his debut in last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk.

Steven Lee Hamilton also returns as The Brave and Bold Sir John, taking on the role of principal boy once again after three years of playing the villain in Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Eleanor Chaganis takes on the principal girl role as the princess, while Natasha Haws is moving away from principal girl for the first time to play Susie Soothsayer from Southwick. Georgia Nicholson plays her sister, Poison Pen from Penshaw.

Gareth Hunter also returns to the pantomime as The Sultan, while comedian and one half of Britain’s Got Talent’s The Mimic Men, Cal Halbert, and Lewis Jobson make their debuts as Lord Larry Lambton and Puddles the Dog respectively.   

Designers Paul Shriek and Max Fox have once again worked their magic on the costumes and sets and South Tyneside Dance Workshop are back to provide the dancers.

But it’s not just ‘The Little Panto with the Big Heart’ that draws in the crowds over the festive period at The Customs House.Santa’s Naughty Elf, starring Wayne Miller as the mischievous Elfluent, is also back in A Christmas Carol, a new 60-minute show aimed at the under-sevens, from Saturday, December 2, until Christmas Eve. Inspired by the Charles Dickens classic, families will be transported back in time to find out how Elfluent earned his title – and whether he can mend his ways and become the elf that Santa knows he can be.

Other events include a Christmas Murder Mystery on Monday, December 11, which includes a three-course meal and festive whodunit, and A Christmas Carol: A Folk Opera, on Wednesday, December 13, both in Daltons Suite from 7.30pm.

Christmas Swing with Danny Reed takes place on Thursday, December 14, at 7pm, with the swing singer entertaining diners during a three-course meal, all for £18.95.

Angela’s Festiva Frolics returns on Monday, December 18, at 2pm, for an afternoon of Christmas fun and tasty turkey broth, mince pie and a cuppa, all for £9.95.

There will be special screenings of Miracle on 34^th Street and Elf in the cinema, from December 4 to 7 and Deecmber 20 to 24 respectively.

And for New Year’s Eve entertainment, look no further than Jason Cook’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Club on Sunday, December 31, at 7.30pm. 

Tickets:

Tickets for The Lambton Worm are priced from £9.99 and the Christmas Eve performances are already sold out. Tickets for Santa’s Naughty Elf: A Christmas Carol start at £10.

Tickets for the Christmas Murder Mystery are priced from £21.95 and A Christmas Carol: A Folk Opera, a re-telling of the story set to traditional English folk tunes, is priced from £12.50.

Jason Cook’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Club is a two-hour show recommended for those aged 16 and over. Tickets are from £25.

For more information, contact the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or visit www.customshouse.co.uk. 

Preview: Madama Butterfly at Billingham Forum Theatre

Russian State Opera performs Madama Butterfly in Billingham

Madama Butterfly               

Billingham Forum Theatre

Tuesday 3^rd October 2017

Madama Butterfly – perfect tragic opera

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Sung in Italian with English Surtitles

The highly acclaimed Russian State Opera returns with the most colourful & exotic opera. Featuring an impressive cast and accompanied by a large live orchestra with over 30 musicians.

No opera can match the tragedy and sorrow of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. This tale of the doomed love of an American naval lieutenant and his young Japanese bride inspired Puccini to write some of his most sublime and beautiful music.

Set in Japan at the turn of the century, Madama Butterfly is among the most colourful and exotic of all operas, and from its theme of noble self-sacrifice spring melodies that grip your heart. It tells the story of a doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride, whose self-sacrifice and defiance of her family leads to heartbreak and tragedy.

The premiere of this exquisite production, with its beautiful set and costumes, intensifies the emotion in an already heart-breaking opera.

If you’ve never tried opera before, you will love this full orchestra experience with brand new settings and fantastic costumes, exquisite singing, and those wonderful tunes that the audience will still be humming to themselves on their way home, making this a must- see opera production for everyone.

This touching story of innocent love crushed amidst two utterly different cultures resonates as strongly as ever in today’s world!

Tickets:

Opera performances of Madama Butterfly in County Durham:

                  

Tuesday 3^rd October 2017 at Billingham, Forum Theatre - tickets: 01642 552 663 or online from https://forumtheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows

Pricing: All Seats £31.00 Conc £28.00 Under 16's £19.00

Preview: Sunset Boulevard at Newcastle Theatre Royal

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SMASH HIT MUSICAL SUNSET BOULEVARD

Sunset Boulevard

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Monday 9^th – Saturday 14^th October 2017

One of the all-time great musicals, Sunset Boulevard, is returning to Newcastle Theatre Royal this Autumn.

Danny Mac as Joe Gillis

Ria Jones as Norma Desmond and

Adam Pearce as Max Von Meyerling

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Ria Jones stars as ‘Norma Desmond’ – a role she received rave reviews and standing ovations for every night when performing at the London Coliseum – with Danny Mac as ‘Joe Gillis’, the impoverished screen writer who stumbles into her reclusive world and is seduced by her and her luxurious lifestyle.

They are to be joined by Adam Pearce as ‘Max Von Mayerling’, Molly Lynch as ‘Betty Schaefer’, Dougie Carter as ‘Artie Green’ and Carl Sanderson as ‘Cecil B DeMille’.   The rest of the company includes Bernadette Bangura, Matthew Barrow, Benjamin Chambers, Joanna Goodwin, Kristoffer Hellström, Iain Mattley, James Meunier, Gemma Naylor, Fiona O’Carroll, Joanna O’Hare, Jessica Paul, Sam Peggs, Tom Vincent and Barney Wilkinson

Danny Mac as Joe Gillis

Ria Jones as Norma Desmond

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Ria Jones has recently starred as ‘Dorothy Brock’ in 42nd Street at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Her West End credits include ‘Fantine’ in Les Misérables, ‘Grizabella’ in Cats and ‘Florence’ in Chess.

Danny Mac made it all the way to the 2016 final on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing. He most recently starred as ‘Gabey’ in On The Town at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. His other musical theatre credits include Wicked and Legally Blonde.

Danny Mac as Joe Gillis

Molly Lynch as Betty Schaefer

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Adam Pearce’s many West End credits include Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, Love Never Dies, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sweeney Todd all at the Adelphi, The Light Princess at the National Theatre and Urinetown at the St James Theatre.

Molly Lynch most recently appeared in English National Opera’s Carousel at the Coliseum, where she has also appeared in Sweeney Todd.

Dougie Carter recently played ‘Jean-Michel’ in the national tour of La Cage Aux Folles. His West End theatre credits include Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre and Alice at St James Theatre.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Carl Sanderson’s many West End credits include Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Acorn Antiques – The Musical and Starlight Express. His other theatre credits include the national tours of My Fair Lady and Hairspray as well as Guys and Dolls, The Music Man and The Pajama Game all at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Adam Pearce as Max Von Meyerling

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning masterpiece Sunset Boulevard is a compelling story of romance and obsession, based on Billy Wilder’s legendary film, with Don Black and Christopher Hampton's wonderful book and lyrics. This much-loved score includes the title number Sunset Boulevard, With One Look, As If We Never Said Goodbye, The Greatest Star Of All and The Perfect Year and will be performed by a full orchestra.

In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess, Norma Desmond, lives in a fantasy world and persuades Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, to work on her ‘masterpiece’, a film script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras.  Joe becomes entrapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free with dramatic consequences.

Tickets:

Sunset Boulevard plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Monday 9 – Saturday 14 October 2017.  Tickets are from £17.50 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).