Preview: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

From Greatest Days to Panto Royalty: Regan Gascoigne Cast as Prince in Snow White.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House 

Friday 6th December 2024 - Sunday 5th January 2025

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House is excited to announce that Regan Gascoigne will be stepping into the role of the Prince in this year’s enchanting pantomime,

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Known for his dazzling performances on Dancing on Ice 2022, where he skated his way to victory, and his recent appearance in the Greatest Days UK tour, Regan is ready to bring his charm and charisma to the stage as the dashing Prince. 

Fresh from his success in Greatest Days, the official Take That musical, Regan has proven himself as a versatile performer. His dancing, acting, and stage presence have captivated audiences across the UK, and now he’s set to shine in this festive family favourite. Regan, the son of football legend Paul Gascoigne, continues to build his own legacy in the entertainment industry, saying:"I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of Snow White at the Tyne Theatre. Pantomime is such a fun and magical part of the festive season, and I can’t wait to step into the Prince’s shoes and be a part of this incredible production!" 

Regan will be joining a stellar cast, including actress Grace Davison as Snow White, Britain’s Got Talent winners Twist & Pulse as the Wicked Queen’s Henchmen, and comedy duo Charlie Richmond and Lewis Denny, promising plenty of festive fun and laughter for audiences of all ages.  

Those looking for something a bit cheekier, the Tyne Theatre & Opera House will be hosting an Adults-Only Pantomime on the 4th and 5th of January 2025, featuring the whole cast in a performance that's strictly for over-18s. With strong adult language and lots of laughs, it’s the perfect way to kick off the new year.  

Guy Pascall, one of the producers of the panto, added: "Regan is an incredibly talented performer, and we’re so excited to have him as our Prince. His background in dance and theatre makes him the perfect fit for the role, and we know he’s going to bring something really special to this year’s pantomime." 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs from 6th December 2024 to 5th January 2025, with 55 dazzling performances. Audiences can expect stunning costumes, magical music, and a show full of laughter and festive cheer. 

Tickets:

Tickets for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are on sale now and selling fast. Don’t miss out on this magical Christmas panto – book your tickets today by calling the Tyne Theatre & Opera House box office on 0191 243 1171 or by visiting www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk . 

Preview: Black Is The Color Of My Voice at Darlington Hippodrome

Black Is The Color Of My Voice

Darlington Hippodrome

Monday 14th October 2024

Written and Directed by Apphia Campbell

Performed by Nicholle Cherrie

“Moving portrayal of determination and survival.” ★★★★ Times 

Inspired by the life of Nina Simone and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live.

Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful jazz singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

The show has played nationally and internationally to standing ovations from Shanghai and New York to Edinburgh and the West End of London. It recently toured Australia and won the Best Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe 2024.

Photo: Steve Ullathorne; 

Nicholle Cherrie graduated from ArtsEd in 2017. Her theatre credits include Soon (Eclipse), Mansfield Park (Watermill), Splintered (Soho), Black Love (Kiln), 15 Heroines (Jermyn Street), Girl From The North Country (Gielgud/Toronto), Richard II (Shakespeare’s Globe), Leave Taking (Bush), Mamma Mia (Cyprus), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park). Her television credits include Doctors (BBC). 

Apphia Campbell is originally from United States and graduated from Florida International University with a BFA in theatre performance. She wrote Black Is The Color Of My Voice in 2013. In 2017 her new show with Meredith Yarbrough, Woke, was presented as part of the Made In Scotland Showcase, where it won a Scotsman Fringe First, a Highly Commended from Amnesty International Award, and was shortlisted for The Filipa Bragança Award and Scottish Art Club Theatre Award. 

In 2019, she made her West End debut with Black Is The Color Of My Voice at Trafalgar Studios and had a London premiere of Woke at Battersea Arts Centre. 

Her first commission from the BBC for a children’s story, called Zachary The Zebroid aired in 2020 and she also wrote Birdie’s Dilemma for Scenes for Survival (BBC in collaboration with NTS Scotland). She was one of six writers who wrote for the National Theatre of Scotland’s Christmas show Rapunzel. 

Recent Credits: The Last Bordello (David Leddy, Director) Woke (Caitlin Skinner, Director), Black Is The Color Of My Voice (Arran Hawkins, Director), The Color Purple (James Harkness, Director), Soul Sessions ( Cabaret), No Exit (Michael Beets, Director).

On the Web:

@bitcomv      |      @bitcomv      |      @bitcomv

Tickets:

Box Office: 01325 405 405

Online:               www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk 

Recommended for ages 12+

REVIEW: Gerry & Sewell at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Gerry & Sewell

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Until Saturday 5 October 2024

The tale about two Gateshead Lads who, despite their lack of funds, want to get hold of season tickets in order to see their heroes play at St James Park is back on stage. Jonathan Tulloch's The Season Ticket has already had a movie and a stage adaptation before, but this show has genuine authentic grittiness rather than feeling like voyeuristic punching down. It has made the move from Laurels fringe stage in Whitley Bay, via Live Theatre, to a full blown production at a major theatre.

Dean Logan and Jack Robertson reprise their roles as the lovable pair Gerry and Sewell. A couple of cheeky chappies who did not get any luck from the lottery of life, They strive, they take chances. Where there's muck, there's brass and these two will life a take to get fed or a toilet if they think they can get a few quid. Their ultimate aim is to have enough money to obtain a pair of season tickets for Newcastle United. For this to work as a piece of theatre, these two characters have to get the audience on their side - we have to care for them and want success for them. Fortunately this is the case here as there is real heart in the way they are portrayed.

The show is set in 2019 - the final year of Mike Ashley's ownership and Steve Bruce as manager. Whilst there is chaos at the club, the fans make their pilgrimage up the hill to see their team and to belong to the club. This element of belonging is examined here by director Jamie Eastlake. Can the club replace the vacuum left behind by a dysfunctional family unit? Dean Logan's Gerry in particular, gets into this question. His interaction with his parents, performed by Bill Ward and Michelle Heaton, adds to the void in his life. It is as much about the non-verbal signals from Heaton's character or the assuredness of Ward's that adds as much as any dialogue to the tale. Gerry's sister Bridget (Erin Mullen) has a small part to play though it is her absence that is clearly on Gerry's mind.

The original novel has been sent to stage and screen before but this version has deep Geordie roots. It knows where it is coming from. The dialect, the humour and the local references are deeply rooted in the region's DNA rather than what an outsider feels is the case. Nice little touches to the set include a couple of graffiti tags that proliferated the bridges and walls of the north east.

The scaling up is always going to be a challenge. It doesn't always work. I remember one of my all time favourite Live Theatre shows struggling to keep any of the intensity when it transferred to a big stage tour that included the Theatre Royal. Gerry & Sewell, however, has made the big leap up in style. The metro now moves and is still the source of some of the jokes. I love the fact that Jack Robertson is so comfortable in his character that he appears to improvise occasionally as the metro is late or the doors may not have quite worked as planned.

We now have a bigger ensemble cast who dance and deliver props. They add the the flow of the emotion and give that sense of scale that this show benefits from.

Another role reprised is that of "almost every other speaking part/narration/puppetry" is still handled by the superbly talented Becky Clayburn, who not only never misses a beat as flies up and down this bigger set, she also adds much to the humour.

Whilst the scaling and the use of a bigger ensemble are new - the core beating heart of the show - Logan/Robertson/Clayburn is still a finely tuned machine. They make the audience want their characters to have that moment of luck against the odds. Gateshead may be a place where the river is the colour of concrete and the concrete is the shade of the river but it is a community. From the eccentrics to the hopeful, the cast bring it alive.

I enjoyed it a lot - and as regular readers will have picked up over the years - Newcastle are not my team (don't worry - neither are that Wearside lot!)

It is a real shame that this show is on such a short run. It was full on opening night and the audience clearly loved it in the stalls where I was sat. This is a fun show at times, challenging at other, that has a core message about the Geordie nation. It offers hope - and that's what people need right now.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Von Fox

Tickets: Gerry & Sewell plays Newcastle Theatre Royal during Oct 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Preview: Opera North Season at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 Opera North brings magic, mystery and mischief to the stage 

Opera North Season

Newcastle Theatre Royal

November 2024

Audiences are invited to join Leeds-based Opera North on a journey of magical discovery this autumn as the company prepares to open its latest season with three fantastical tales told through compelling drama and unforgettable music. 

The Magic Flute - Photo: Tristram Kenton

The magic opens with Benjamin Britten’s retelling of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a revival of Martin Duncan’s original production directed by Matthew Eberhardt. A tangled web of relationships is being played out in the woods, with the feuding Fairy King and Queen locked in a fierce dispute, while four lovers from the city try to work out their feelings for each other. With Bottom the Weaver confident in his dramatic prowess, and Puck and his fairies eager to cast a spell or two, mischief and mayhem are never far away.

Opera North Music Director Garry Walker conducts a cast including James Laing, Henry Waddington and Daniel Abelson who reprieve their roles as Oberon, Bottom and Puck, and Daisy Brown who sings Tytania. Johan Engels’ set and Ashley-Martin Davis’ costumes add a colourful 60s vibe to proceedings, perfectly complementing Britten’s witty and beguiling score.

Another comic opera complements the season with Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilariously inventive Gothic parody, Ruddigore, in a production by Jo Davies which was hailed as an instant classic in its first run. Bad baronet Sir Despard Murgatroyd (John Savournin) has inherited a centuries-old curse to commit a crime a day. Imagine his delight when the virtuous Robin Oakapple (Dominic Sedgwick) is revealed as his long-lost brother and the true inheritor of the curse. Things are looking up until it becomes all too apparent that Robin’s feeble attempts at wrong-doing are failing to impress his ghostly ancestors.

The Magic Flute - Photo: Tristram Kenton

The season finishes with Mozart’s mesmerising final opera The Magic Flute. James Brining, Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director, returns to direct his 2019 production, fresh from the success of My Fair Lady, the latest in a series of collaborations between Leeds Playhouse and Opera North. As Prince Tamino embarks on a quest with the bird-catcher Papageno to rescue the captive Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, he relies on a magic flute to help him battle all the trials which await him – but will it prove strong enough to protect him in a shape-shifting world?

A fantastical adventure with romance at its heart, The Magic Flute is the ideal introduction to opera for all ages. Having made his Opera North debut as Fenton in last year’s production of Falstaff, tenor Egor Zhuravskii returns to the stage to sing Tamino, alongside Claire Lees as Pamina. Anna Dennis takes on the vocal fireworks of the Queen of the Night, following her virtuoso performance in Masque of Might during the company’s Green Season. 

The Magic Flute - Photo: Tristram Kenton

Laura Canning, General Director, Opera North, said: “This season, we invite everyone to come along on a terrific journey through drama and music, encountering magic, sorcery and supernatural forces along the way, as we tour three of the most overtly theatrical of all operas and a new family show across the north of England. 

“We believe opera and music offer extraordinary experiences for everyone which is why we are delighted to have found more ways than ever to make great opera accessible, from earlier start times and more matinees, to special ticket deals for newcomers and new initiatives for families. Our ‘right up your street’ campaign also seeks to reassure everyone that a warm welcome awaits them if they do decide to step into the world of opera this autumn.”

Performance Diary 

All performances start at 7.00pm unless otherwise stated.

AD Audio described performance
BSL Sign interpreted performance for D/deaf and hard of hearing bookers

THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE

Wed 6 Nov A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Thu 7 Nov Ruddigore AD

Fri 8 Nov         The Magic Flute

Sat 9 Nov 2.30pm The Magic Flute AD and BSL

Preview: My Name Is Rachel Corrie at Newcastle Alphabetti

wet arts ltd & Alphabetti Theatre present the North-East Premiere of 

My Name Is Rachel Corrie

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Tuesday 8 – Saturday 26 October 2024

Directed by Ryan Hay 

Performed by Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock

Sound design by Shevek Imogen Fodor.

"I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop. I don’t think it’s an extremist thing to do anymore. I still really want to dance around to Pat Benatar and have boyfriends and make comics for my coworkers. But I also want this to stop".

Alphabetti Theatre and wet arts ltd proudly present My Name Is Rachel Corrie. Rachel Corrie was an American activist who was killed in 2003 by an IDF bulldozer, at the age of 23.
First performed in 2005 at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, the play - edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner – draws on Rachel’s own diaries and emails to create a powerful testimony. My Name Is Rachel Corrie has garnered global attention for its raw portrayal of a young woman’s courage, idealism, and unflinching dedication to justice.

Alphabetti Theatre and wet arts ltd are proud to bring this seminal work to North-East audiences for the first time. Driven by a shared belief that the theatre is a place where communities can come together to think and feel their way through the big questions of our day, we are mounting this production to hold space for our audience to have an urgent conversation about the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Director Ryan Hay said: “I spent the best part of a year walking past an encampment of protesters at Newcastle University on a daily basis, as they campaigned to ensure their institutions divested from the IDF. They embodied the message of Rachel Corrie’s testimony, which stands to remind us that we are inextricably connected to our international siblings: that our choices, words, and actions have an impact on the lives of countless people we may never even meet. I look forward to having conversations with audiences at Alphabetti about how we reckon with that”.

Incoming Artistic Director at Alphabetti, Edward Cole, added: Everyone at Alphabetti is honoured to host Ryan and Wet Arts at Alphabetti for their debut production and humbled at being able to platform this enduring and emotive production. Theatre is a place for discussions, ideas, and the sharing of stories. At a time when some theatres feel the need to censor their artists, Alphabetti is proud to provide a home for such crucial work. 

Performing the role of Rachel Corrie is Rebecca Glendinning-Laycock, an incredible up-and-coming local actor whose portrayal will bring the audience into the heart and mind of the young activist. Known for her magnetic stage presence and stirring honesty, Rebecca is returning to Alphabetti following her appearances in Angela and Hope is a Four-Letter Word.

This North East premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie is an opportunity for theatregoers to engage with theatre that challenges perceptions and invites difficult, necessary conversations about global justice, activism, and human empathy. Alphabetti Theatre’s commitment to innovative work and platforming vital voices ensures that this will be a highlight of the autumn theatre season.

Tickets:

Pay What You Feel (8th – 12th October)

£15 - £3 (15th – 26th October)

Age recommendation: 14+

Website and ticketing: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/mynameisrachelcorrie 

Accessibility:

• Captioned: Wed 16th October

• Touch Tour: 18:30 – 19:00, Wed 23rd October

• Audio Described: Wed 23rd October

• Relaxed performances: All Saturday matinees

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