Preview: Priscilla Queen Of The Desert at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

 

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Astravaganza Entertainment Are Set To Bring 'Priscilla' Back To Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre

 

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert

Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House

Wednesday 27th - Sunday 30^th July 2022

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/PriscillaAtTheTyne

 

Based on the 1994 Australian movie The Adventures of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, the show is being produced by 'Astravaganza Entertainment' at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House this July.

Astravaganza’s Managing Director and the show’s Producer, Liam Glendinning said: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted that our production of Priscilla which was previously staged at the venue in February 2017 to sell out crowds is coming back to delight audiences this July.

“It will be the return of an exciting and spectacular production which will capture the imagination of our audiences, as it has done everywhere the show has played. Combined with sumptuous scenery, dazzling costumes and an array of local talent including Schooch’s David Ducasse as Mitzi/Tick, Pat Clutcher as Bernadette and Amandah Hart as Adam/Felicia.”

This feel-good show follows the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who contract to perform a drag show in a resort in Alice Springs in the Australian desert.

They hop aboard a battered old bus, which they nickname Priscilla, and cross the desert searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could ever dream of.

With a hit parade of dancefloor classics including Go West, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Hotstuff, I Will Survive and Boogie Wonderland, the show is the ultimate party night for all.

The cast will perform an excerpt from the show at the Northern Pride festival on Sunday 24^th July ahead of the show hitting the stage of the Tyne Theatre from Wednesday 27th to Sunday 30^th July, 2022 -  2.30pm and 7.30pm Wednesday & Thursday; 5.00pm and 8.30pm on Friday & Saturday.

Tickets:

Tickets can be obtained from https://tinyurl.com/PriscillaAtTheTyne

Preview: Shrek The Musical at Darlington Hippodrome

 

North East theatre company set their sights on a Swamp

Shrek The Musical

Darlington Hippodrome

Wednesday 26 October - Saturday 5 November 2022

Following the glitz and glamour of their most recent production, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, north east based theatre company DarlingtonOS has set their sights on a dark and damp swamp for their next blockbuster musical – Shrek!

Julian Cound, Chairman of DarlingtonOS told us the company is so excited to be able to present this musical having been delayed for two years due to the covid pandemic. He said:

“We were to have presented Shrek back in October 2020, but due to the extended closure of theatres worldwide from March 2020 this much anticipated production was put on the back-burner. But now we are finally in rehearsals and it’s all systems go for this family favourite blockbuster of a musical to make its way on to the stage.”

“Since theatres were able to re-open post-covid back in June 2021, DarlingtonOS has presented a socially distanced concert which involved video footage merged with live performers, a full-scale songs from the shows musical extravaganza and, most recently, Priscilla Queen of the Desert which played to over 5000 people.”

“It is clear that local audiences are aching to see live theatre and we are only too happy to offer what audiences want. Shrek The Musical is the perfect opportunity for families to experience live theatre together – kids love the show on one level and, much like pantomime, adults love the show on a completely different level.”

“Audiences will experience the DreamWorks animated movie adapted for the stage with all the main characters they love including Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and, of course, the love-struck, fire-breathing dragon as well as a host of fairytale characters including Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, Peter Pan, The Big Bad Wolf, and the Three Blind Mice who all come together to tell the story of acceptance, pointing out that everyone may be different but they all have a story to tell.” 

L to R – Katie Blythe, Ben Connor, Leighton Taylor Jones (kneeling), 

Nicholas Fletcher-Holmes, George Hurley, Rhiannon Walker

A cast of 41 local performers has been announced with Nicholas Fletcher-Holmes playing the title role of Shrek and Ben Connor as his side-kick Donkey. Claire Willmer takes on the role of Princess Fiona and Leighton Taylor-Jones has the knee-numbing task of playing Lord Farquaad. George Hurley plays Pinocchio with Katie Blythe doubling as Sugar Plum Fairy and ‘Gingy’ - The Gingerbread Man. Shrek would not be complete without a fire breathing dragon, this role is to be played by Rhiannon Walker.

Tickets:

Shrek The Musical runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 26 October to Saturday 5 November. Tickets are available now from www.darlingtonos.org.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 244659.

Preview: SUPERNOVA at Durham Assembly Rooms Theatre

SUPERNOVA - Play by local writer Lizzy Mansfield

Durham Assembly Rooms Theatre

Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th July 2022

“All it takes is one experiment to turn the universe on its head.” Asking the question, ‘can you do time travel with a toaster?’, Supernova is a moving and funny new play about love, grief and Physics.

There’s no scientific reason why time moves forwards. And, after her Dad’s funeral, Lucy is determined to prove that it doesn’t have to.

Dragging her partner Phil into her experiment, Lucy tries rewriting the rules of the universe from her kitchen using Einstein’s theory of relativity…and a lot of burnt toast. But will Lucy and Phil discover the answers she seeks, or simply lose those that they had already?

Asking the question, ‘can you do time travel with a toaster?’, Supernova is a moving and funny new play about love, grief and Physics.

Lizzy Mansfield is a local writer from Newcastle.. Her debut play Supernova is touring the UK this summer, and will be coming to the Durham Assembly Rooms on 11th - 12th July. The play stars Adeola Yemitan (RSC: Much Ado About Nothing) and Emilio Iannucci (The Death of Stalin). It will be directed by Fay Lomas (The Girl Who was Very Good at Lying). 

Adeola Yemitan

The play is inspired by Lizzy’s background as a physicist, and weaves real science through the story. Alongside the performances, there will be an engagement workshop for local schools on 12th July as well as a short talk from Dr. Francesca Chadha Day about access to university physics.

Emilio Iannucci

Lizzy Mansfield’s debut play was a finalist for the Hope Mill Theatre’s ‘Through the Mill’ playwriting competition. Lizzy has a background in comedy in film and TV. She is currently writers’ Assistant on Ted Lasso and was part of BBC Comedy Writer’s Room in 2020-2021. Her short film, An Inorganic Love Story, screened at Cannes Film Festival 2019.

Award-winning director Fay Lomas’ work includes The Girl Who Was Very Good At Lying (Omnibus Theatre; Nominated for 3 Offies, including Best Director); Land Skeins (winner of OnComm Award 2022) and shows at Rose Theatre Kingston, Royal and Derngate Northampton and Arcola.

 

Content:

TW // Grief // sexual content // strong language // mental health issues

 

Tickets:

 

https://www.theassemblyroomstheatre.org/whats-on/

Preview: The Mousetrap at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 

Todd Carty - From The East End to Monkswell Manor

 

The Mousetrap

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Monday 6 – Saturday 11 February 2023

Star casting has been announced for the 70^th Anniversary tour of The Mousetrap – the longest running play in the world – with TV favourite Todd Carty taking to the stage in the role of Major Metcalf at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Todd Carty as Major Metcalf.
 Photo by Matt Crockett 

With a long career on stage and screen, Toddy Carty is best known for his television roles of Mark Fowler in EastEnders, PC Gabriel Brent in The Bill and Tucker Jenkins in Grange Hill. He was a contestant Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Masterchef. Further casting is to be announced.

The genre-defining murder mystery from Agatha Christie, the world’s best-selling novelist of all time, is embarking on a 70-venue tour to mark the anniversary and will visit will all cities to which it originally played 70 years ago, plus many more.

This 70^th Anniversary tour marks the first of many ways that The Mousetrap will be celebrating its extraordinary milestone year.

Following its 1952 premiere touring production, The Mousetrap opened in the West End where still to this day, it continues its record-breaking engagement at the St Martin’s Theatre having been performed there over 28,500 times, selling over 10 million tickets.

As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at Monkswell Manor, a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst. One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Which one is the murderer? Who will be their next victim?

The Mousetrap is produced by Adam Spiegel Productions and Directed by Ian Talbot OBE. 

Tickets:

The Mousetrap plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Monday 6 – Saturday 11 February 2023. Tickets are priced from £15.00 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Review: Charlie And The Chocolate Factory The Musical at Sunderland Empire

 

Roald Dahl’s
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Musical

Arriving at Sunderland Empire from
2 - 13 August 2023

 

Further touring dates have been announced for the new production of the West End and Broadway smash hit Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical.

The tour opens at Milton Keynes Theatre on 9 February 2023. The new venues announced today are Theatre Royal, Plymouth (7 – 18 June 2023), Manchester Palace Theatre (4 – 30 July 2023), Sunderland Empire (2 – 13 August 2023), Mayflower, Southampton (16 August – 3 September 2023), Hull New Theatre (6 – 16 September 2023), Bristol Hippodrome (20 September – 8 October 2023), Birmingham Hippodrome (17 October – 5 November 2023) and Liverpool Empire (8 – 26 November 2023).

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical tells the devilishly delicious tale of young golden ticket winner Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectionary wizard Willy Wonka.

When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it’s a chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets they’ve always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors and amongst the incredible and edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.

Featuring memorable songs from the iconic 1970s film as well as a host of new numbers, this sensational musical is choc-full of fantastical treats to dazzle your senses taking you to a world of pure imagination.

Based on the novel by Roald Dahl and the Warner Bros. film, Charlie and Chocolate Factory - The Musical has a book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It is directed by James Brining and designed by Simon Higlett.

The Leeds Playhouse production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical is produced by Neal Street Productions & Playful Productions.

Show Website: www.charlieandthechocolatefactory.co.uk

Tickets on sale from Friday 8^th July 2022 from ATG Tickets: https://prf.hn/l/Nk8xYkm

 

News: Tyne Theatre & Opera House Receives National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant

 Tyne Theatre & Opera House Receives National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House is delighted to announce that it has just been granted an award of £242,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project will help the theatre to develop a number of key elements within its proposed restoration of the grade I listed building. As part of the work the theatre will be engaging with the community to restore its Victorian stage machinery as well as develop a performance calendar database by researching all the performances that took place between 1867, when the theatre first opened, and 1919 when the theatre was converted for cinema use.

 

Jo Johnson and Michael Wilmot

The project also involves investigating the options for restoring the original “Grand Salon” which was built as an extension to the theatre in 1892 by the owner Joseph Cowen for the lessee Sir Augustus Harris – the owner of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. This space was originally a large front of house space with balconies and was also known for a while as the Westgate Music Hall.

The project will run for twelve months during which time the work will encompass not only the restoration of the existing stage machinery but also the acquisition of “missing” machinery which has been in store for over forty years. The theatre will be looking for community involvement from carpenters and joiners interested in helping with this exciting restoration work.

Michael Wilmot, Chairman of the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust said, “This grant is the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey to restore the theatre back to its former glory and in doing so creating a building unlike any other the theatre in the British Isles. For many years we have not been unable to operate the historic stage machinery and we have also been desperate for new front of house spaces – The National Heritage Lottery Fund have placed their confidence in us to deliver a unique project and that is precisely what we intend to do.”

The development of the performance calendar will be undertaken by members of the theatre, local historians and the triumvirate of North-East Universities, Newcastle Northumbria and Durham who will contribute expertise in theatre history, music and architecture. The project has been developed by Theatresearch historic theatre consultants under the leadership of Dr. David Wilmore who began his professional career at the Tyne Theatre more than 40 years ago.

News: Darlington Hippodrome Proud To Support Pride

Darlington Hippodrome Proud To Support Pride

 This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in the UK – a day when hundreds of LGBTQ+ people and their supporters arrived in London to protest a society where they were not safe to be themselves.

 Today, we live in a society where LGBTQ+ people can live openly and free, where LGBTQ+ lives and history are taught in schools to the next generation.

 Darlington Hippodrome will always be an inclusive venue and is proud to show support for the Pride movement. Inclusive workplaces and venues play a huge part in making sure LGBTQ+ people can feel safe and fulfil their potential.

 Andrew Hutchinson-Clish, Senior House manager told us “‘Pride is important today, more than ever and we take pride at Darlington Hippodrome as being an inclusive venue that welcomes all of our customers. Arts venues have always been a safe place for the LGBT+ community and we will always ensure we are a welcoming venue where people are free to be their authentic selves. We have actively invested in our front of house teams to receive dedicated training to raise awareness and increase confidence in using inclusive language.’

 To help celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Pride, a special art film is currently being created. Called Opening The Closet Doors this is a socially engaged art project facilitated by artist Sarah Li. Sarah has been working with local LGBTQ+ people to create a film exploring LGBTQ+ themes, histories or inspirations in the Darlington Hippodrome archive.

 Sarah said “LGBTQ+ histories have been erased, ignored or lost due to historic policies, societal perceptions and ongoing issues affecting the community. With this project, we hope to start to change that a little by bringing some of these histories to the fore in a creative, explorative way and acknowledging the gaps or difficulties in uncovering these histories”.

 “Building on the amazing work of the artists in the Hippodrome’s archive, we are also planning a special legacy exhibition. This exhibition will celebrate the role of principal boys in Pantomime and showcase the host of famous faces who have played this unique role at the Hippodrome over the last 100 years”.

 The Hippodrome’s Programming and Development Director Heather Tarran-Jones said “The Hippodrome prides itself on creating an open and inclusive atmosphere for our audience, visiting theatre companies and the theatre team.  We’re always proud to support Pride month but just as importantly we are focused on offering a safe and welcoming environment  for the LGBTQ+ community every day of the year.  Opening the Closet Doors offers an exciting glance into the hidden LGBTQ+ stories of the theatre’s past, and we’re delighted to be supporting such a valuable Arts Council funded project and celebrating the findings through the upcoming screening and exhibition.

 Opening The Closet Doors will be screened at Darlington Hippodrome on Thursday 11 August at 7.30pm on a ‘pay wat you can’ basis. For more information or to book call the Box Office on 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk.