Preview: Paloma Faith at Stockton Globe

Stockton Globe Exclusive:
Paloma - The Infinite Things Tour

Paloma Faith with special guest Josef Salvat.

Stockton Globe
Saturday 9th October 2021

Tickets are on general sale from 10am Friday 2^nd October from ATG Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/StocktonPALOMA #Ad

 

This is a new Paloma Faith, an artist who has retreated within herself and found not the careful, polished veteran of show business, but the 22-year-old art student being led by her own creativity.

Paloma wrote most of the songs for her new album, Infinite Things, before the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world. Then we went into lockdown, and she ripped them all up and started afresh. She spent her downtime creating, learning to engineer her own music and just thinking about the world.

The enforced downtime was creatively fruitful and taught her that she had been on a sort of conveyor belt of music and promo. The lockdown gave her the space to take stock of her frenetic career, and decide what is meaningful to her. She is emerging from lockdown with a new sense of her priorities which has seen her reconnect with her roots steeped in creativity.

Supporting Paloma will be special guest Josef Salvat.

ATG Proudly Present: Stockton Globe

Situated in the heart of Stockton High Street, Stockton Globe originally opened its doors in 1935. During its life as an entertainment venue it has played host to many international names from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Sadler's Wells Ballet and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

Tickets are on general sale from 10am Friday 2nd October from ATG Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/StocktonPALOMA #Ad

 

Preview: Cinderella at South Shields Hedworth Hall

Oh Yes There Is! The Show Will Go On As Cinderella Comes To South Shields This Christmas

 

Cinderella

South Shields Hedworth Hall

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th December 2020

What is a traditional staple of the Christmas period, has left many families across South Tyneside devastated at recent pantomime cancellations across the region this year. With many theatres closing their doors due to the Covid-19 crisis a local production team are determined to sprinkle a little festive panto magic this Christmas with a socially distanced pantomime.

 

Producer Kevin Reay said, ‘It has been an absolutely devastating year for theatres and we all definitely need a little Christmas cheer. I am delighted to be bringing Cinderella to The Hedworth Hall. It is a fabulous venue and Cinderella is arguably one of the most popular pantomimes in the world. We will be adhering to all of the necessary government guidelines and seating will be in social bubbles.”

The story of Cinderella is deep rooted in romance and tradition. After the untimely death of her father, Cinderella is troubled by her stepmother and stepsisters. However, her life changes forever after a chance meeting with a handsome prince. Expect the usual twists and turns from wicked stepmothers, ugly stepsisters, and a host of fabulous characters! 

 

Director and Choreographer Adam Allinson said, ‘Cinderella really is the Fairygodmother of all pantomimes! It is a true family favourite. With the fabulous cast we have lined up and the absolutely hilarious script written by Tom Whalley this production is going to be something really special. The Hedworth Hall lends itself perfectly to a show such as Cinderella. I know that audiences are going to absolutely love this production! 

 

Cinderella! The Fairygodmother Of All Pantomimes is being performed live at The Hedworth Hall on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th December with a 2.30pm & 7.30pm performance on both days. Tickets must be pre-booked by calling the box office on 0191 243 86 55 or by booking online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/northernarts

 

Preview: Little Cog’s Funny Peculiar goes online

 Little Cog’s Funny Peculiar goes online

 

Funny Peculiar is the latest lockdown production from Little Cog as part of the Staging Our Futures programme, co-commissioned with ARC Stockton and Northern Stage.  

Written and directed by Vici Wreford-Sinnott, the piece also stars Liz Carr of Silent Witness fame, Mandy Colleran, a comedian and activist, and Bea Webster who is currently an associate of both the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Playwright's Studio of Scotland.

Vici said, "We are absolutely thrilled to be working with such an amazing cast to tell the stories of disabled women. It feels more important now than ever that we ensure we are visible". Vici is referring to the figures recently released showing that disabled women are 11.9 times more likely to die in the current pandemic than other people. "Terms like 'vulnerable' and 'underlying health conditions' have led to thinking that the deaths of certain groups of people are inevitable. Expected and accepted."

Little Cog decided to challenge that belief and develop work that celebrated disabled women in their rich and complex glory. Vici said, "We are so excited to be working with Liz, Mandy and Bea. We have spent time discussing disabled women's experiences with all cast members and have written bespoke work for the actors."

Liz Carr is known to millions for playing Clarissa Mullery in the BBC's  Silent Witness for eight years. She is an actor, comedian and disability rights activist. Others will know her from the Disabled/Deaf women’s comedy group, Nasty Girls or the BBC Ouch! podcast with Mat Fraser or her stand up with Abnormally Funny People, her Criptease routines or her passionate opposition to legalising assisted suicide through both campaigning and her creation of the show, Assisted Suicide - The Musical.

Liz said, “I’m thrilled to have this chance to give voice to and highlight the fears, dark humour and incredible resilience of Disabled women as together we fight for our very existence not just during this pandemic - but always."

Zsa Zsa, Raquelle, Blanche and Cuba are in quarantine – four disabled women locked down, locked in, shut up and shouted down. While the rest of the nation is in meltdown, it takes a lot to faze this quartet. The new terrain is worrying and frustrating but these women are prepared - perhaps they have waited for a moment like this their whole lives. In a sequence of four original, cross-cutting, witty and wise monologues, broadcasting from their own homes during quarantine, these women are myth-busters giving their all to expose the lie of vulnerability.

"This piece is particularly of this moment and we don't expect to see any of our broadcasters making work like this, although we'd love their support, so we just thought, okay then, let's make it ourselves and the response and interest has been phenomenal.”, says Vici. "There is a danger with a period of potentially prolonged isolation that we could disappear from view, and we were in unanimous agreement that none of us is prepared to let that happen. So here we are making glorious work together."

Mandy Colleran has been involved in Disability Arts since the 1980s. She was a founder member of the comedy trio No Excuses which produced the legendary piece Know My Place, still available to view on YouTube. Mandy was also a founder of North West Disability Arts Forum, later becoming its director. She won a Lifetime Achievement Award from Dadafest in 2007. She was involved in Kaite O'Reilly's In Water I'm Weightless for National Theatre of Wales and has had a long career as a speaker, feminist and campaigner for disability rights.

Bea Webster is a deaf actor who trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is an actor, drag artist, writer and speaker on Deaf equality. She is currently in rehearsals with the Royal Shakespeare Company for The Winter's Tale, and starred in Red Ladder's Mother Courage and Her Children, and Kaite O'Reilly's Peeling which toured in the Uk last year. Bea is passionate about classical and contemporary texts in English and BSL, has contributed to  BBC Social, has hosted several events, and has published a poem in both BSL and English titled Long Lost Lover, about her birthplace of Thailand.

Vici is Artistic Director of Little Cog, writing and touring nationally a number of pieces of work including, Butterfly which was named Best One Person Play by the British Theatre Guide, Another England, Lighthouse and her recent commissions The Wrong Woman Discussions and Siege for ARC Stockton and Home Manchester can still be seen online as part of the Homemaker's commissions. She is a lifelong feminist and activist, regularly speaking and campaigning on disability rights matters and the role of culture and the arts in equality. She is a founding member of both Disconsortia and We Shall Not Be Removed.

Funny Peculiar is a Staging Our Futures Commission from Little Cog, ARC Stockton and Northern Stage, funded by Arts Council England. 

Funny Peculiar will premiere online on Thursday 24 September 2020, 7pm via Little Cog’s YouTube channel and will be available until 24 October.  

 

News: Ghost Light Switched back on at South Shields Arts Centre

 Ghost Light Switched back on at South Shields Arts Centre

The ghost light at The Customs House has been switched back on.

 

The arts centre and charity in Mill Dam, South Shields has suspended live theatre for September and October following concern over the rise in the covid infection rate.

 

Customs House executive director Ray Spencer said: “After consultation with performers and our partners in public health we have taken the decision to cancel live shows for September and October.  We managed to have 11 live performances in our theatre, we managed to do it safely, we managed to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. However, due to the rise in the covid infection rate here in South Tyneside, and indeed across the north east, we have decided to do what we consider to be the right thing.

 

“The right thing isn’t always what’s legally required but sometimes you have got to do what’s morally required and we feel that our moral obligation is to keep you safe and to keep our community as covid-free as we can.   I have spoken to the artists that were due to grace our stage in September and October and they have agreed that the best way forward is to cancel those shows. We will review the situation in the future.

 

“So, another chapter in what seems to be the covid-saga but what we do know is we will be keeping our community safe and for now from The Customs House I can tell you the ghost light is back on.”

 

A ghost light is left on as a beacon of hope, ensuring that the theatre never goes completely dark and the light will return to the stage once more.  The decision to cancel live performances follows the venue’s closure of its restaurant and cinema earlier this week.

 

Shows that were due to go ahead in September and October but have now been cancelled included: Cook and Bennett are Blethering On, Cook and Hutchinson Have Literally No Plans Whatsoever, Jason Cook’s Comedy Club, A Live Audience With Adam Allinson and Joe McElderry: ‘The Tour that Couldn't Tour' Tour.

 

Staff at the theatre will be contacting customers, starting with the shows due to take place this weekend, in the coming days. If you have a query, email boxoffice@customshouse.co.uk.

To find out more about The Customs House visit www.customshouse.co.uk.

Preview: Jack and The Beanstalk at Newcastle Boulevard

Boulevard's first ever family pantomime

 

Jack and The Beanstalk - Socially Distanced Family Pantomime!

Newcastle Boulevard

Thursday 24^th - Wednesday 30^th December 2020

 

The Boulevard has announced that it will host its first ever family pantomime this Christmas in conjunction with producer Liam Glendinning.  It will be Covid secure, socially distanced with track and trace measures of course. The tickets have gone on sale today.

 

Show producer, Liam Glendinning said 'I was devastated when the theatre pantomime rescheduling started to happen across due country to the uncertainty of the Government lifting restrictions and producers therefore being unable to forward plan.

Luckily for us, Boulevard had already been made fully COVID secure in July ready for their grand reopening in August. As I already had a relationship with Boulevard management we came up with a plan and we were able to budget the show around a very limited audience capacity, something which theatres with extremely high overheads quite understandably can't do.

I've been involved in professional Christmas pantomimes now for the last 6 years and even before that I performed in them from the age of 12, so I'm delighted to be able to stage this in the North East this Christmas at this fabulous venue until the theatres are back to full capacity. 

I hope that the industry as a whole gets back on it's feet in the not too distant future and that you will support this great venture. 

 

Jack and his poor mother, Dame Trott, live in a tiny cottage in the shadow of the terrible giant, Blunderbore. With the rent overdue they have no choice but to sell their beloved cow, Daisy. After tricking the Trotts into selling her for a bag of worthless beans, the villainous giant’s henchman Fleshcreep kidnaps the Princess for his master’s supper... Will Jack be able to rescue Daisy and Princess Jill in time? Could he be the hero the village has been waiting for? Perhaps those beans aren't as worthless as they seemed… This 'GIANT' adventure is the pantomime you've BEAN waiting for!

 

Tickets:

Jack and The Beanstalk - Socially Distanced Family Pantomime!

Thursday 24th December - 1.00pm & 5.00pm

Saturday 26th December - 1.00pm & 5.00pm

Sunday 27th December - 1.00pm

Monday 28th December - 3.00pm & 7.00pm

Tuesday 29th December - 3.00pm & 7.00pm

Wednesday 30th December - 3.00pm

Tickets are available now by calling 0191 250 7068

 

Preview: Unsung Heroes - A brand new augmented reality gig comes to Hexham

 

Unsung Heroes - A brand new augmented reality gig comes to Hexham

 

Queen’s Hall Arts have commissioned international multimedia artists Davy & Kristin McGuire and North East musician Bridie Jackson to create Unsung Heroes - a brand new augmented reality gig co-created with the local community.

 

Bridie Jackson
Photo: Nick Pierce

Songwriter Bridie Jackson will work with communities in and around Hexham to collect stories about the everyday people who have inspired them. Whether it’s the neighbour who brought their shopping during lockdown, someone who has made a difference in their village or a figure from local history who did something incredible but never got the recognition they deserve, Bridie will create songs celebrating these unsung heroes to be performed by North East musicians.

 

Audiences will then be able to experience a ‘mini gig’ wherever they are simply by pointing their camera phone at a postcard which will make the musicians pop up to perform the songs on a ‘postcard stage’.

 

Kristin & Davy McGuire
Photo:Together & Sunspell

The McGuires said, ”In this time of isolation where people can't go to gigs, we thought it would be a good idea to transport the gigs to the people. Tabletop Rock will be an augmented reality app where musicians will be shrunk down to the size of a coffee cup and perform to people directly from their kitchen table. We are really excited to be working with Bridie and Queen’s Hall Arts on this first of a kind project.”

 

Davy & Kristin McGuire’s work combines mesmerising theatricality with technical wizardry and exquisite craftsmanship.  Renowned for their digital projection and storytelling, combining physical installations and virtual experiences, the McGuires create delicate and exquisitely crafted worlds full of visual wonders. Crossing genres of theatre, film, live performance and installations they have been commissioned by organisations such as The Royal Shakespeare Company, Hull UK City of Culture and Museums at Night, and the couple’s work includes the world‘s first projection mapped pop-up book The Icebook. 

 

Their renowned projection mapping installations have been exhibited, sold, published and screened internationally and their critically acclaimed theatrical projects have been invited to tour to more than 60 different countries. For Unsung Heroes, the McGuires will combine augmented reality technology with original music composition to create an immersive multimedia experience that can be accessed anywhere.

 

Bridie Jackson is a musician based in North East England, well known within the region and beyond for her work as a songwriter and performer. As a songwriter, Bridie's expertise is in socially engaged projects, and she enjoys working collaboratively on community focused projects, having written for a range of organisations including Streetwise Opera, Curious Monkey Theatre Company, Sage Gateshead and Summer Streets Festival. 

 

Bridie said, “I think the concept behind Unsung is particularly resonant right now. At this moment in time, I feel we are viewing the notion of heroes through a much wider lens, and rightfully wondering how we can honour those who perhaps have not always had the recognition they deserve in our society. Folk songs have always been a fantastic medium for revealing untold stories and sharing different lived experiences in a way that’s relatable. I feel very honoured to have been trusted with this project, and telling other people’s stories through songs in an authentic and sensitive way is not something I’m entering into lightly.”

 

Unsung Heroes is part of Here and Now, a national and local celebration of culture within communities. 40 brand new projects will take place in and around 40 arts centres across the country, led by artists and co-created with local people. The project is supported by Arts Council England and Future Arts Centres, marking The National Lottery’s 25th birthday.

 

As well as a smartphone app, there will also be an interactive exhibition at the Queen’s Hall in Hexham and Unsung Heroes will tour in early 2021. Details will be announced later in the year.

 

For more information or to nominate your Unsung Hero, go to https://www.queenshall.co.uk/events/unsung-heroes

 

Online

#UnsungHeroesHexham

@QueensHall

 

Preview: Damn Seagulls and Door to door National at ARC

 Theatre returns to Stockton’s ARC with spoken word shows from two North East artists

Damn Seagulls

Stockton ARC

Wednesday 21 & Thursday 22 October at 7pm

 

Door-to-Door Poetry: National

Stockton ARC

Thursday 12 November at 7pm

 

Two spoken word theatre shows at ARC have been announced in October and November as the latest part of the Stockton venue’s autumn reopening programme.

 

In October Mike Edwards will present Damn Seagulls. Mike is a Teesside-born writer and performer who has performed at venues and festivals across the UK. Damn Seagulls sees Mike reflecting on the death of his older brother Stephen, but he’s keen to point out that this is a comedy show. “I set out to not only write about Stephen but to write some poems, sketches and characters that he would have found funny. It’s a show about having a sibling, growing up together in the 1980s and 90s, sharing adventures, sharing a ‘language’ your parents wouldn’t understand.”

 

November will see Rowan McCabe, the world’s first Door-to-Door Poet, return to ARC’s stage. Newcastle upon Tyne-based Rowan spent time knocking on doors and writing poems for the residents of Stockton-on-Tees during the making of his previous show, Door-to-Door Poetry, and now Door-to-Door Poetry: National continues the story of his travels around England, charting the build-up to the lockdown. In this funny and thought-provoking show, Rowan is “trying to prove absolutely anyone can enjoy poetry and that strangers aren’t as scary as they’re made out to be.”

 

Damn Seagulls is at ARC on Wednesday 21 & Thursday 22 October at 7pm, and Door-to-Door Poetry: National will be performed on Thursday 12 November at 7pm.

 

Audiences are advised to book early for these shows as social distancing measures will be in place so ticket availability will be limited.

 

Tickets:

The shows are priced on a Pay What You Decide basis, which means that audiences can book a ticket in advance but only pay after they’ve seen the show, giving them the opportunity to pay whatever they thought the experience was worth. Full details of the shows can be found on ARC’s website, and tickets can be booked via www.arconline.co.uk or by calling 01642 525199.