REVIEW: The Little Mermaid at Newcastle Theatre Royal

The Little Mermaid 

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Until Sunday 12 January 2025

Danny Adams and Clive Webb return for their 19th Michael Harrison pantomime at the Theatre Royal and it is a real treat. The show has a well deserved reputation for being a lavish production however, this year, they seem to have managed the impossible and eclipsed their recent shows by actually sticking to delivering a story rather than just being a vehicle for mad (and very funny antics). 

I have to confess that the only experience I have of the story was Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch - a parody that was at the Theatre Royal back in July. On that basis, I was at home when Chris Hayward opened the show as The Sea Witch. Now co-star Joe McElderry will often pick up the plaudits for his singing ability but Chris has a canny ability to knock out a tune too.

So the story is that Prince Eric (Christian Maynard) was shipwrecked and he was rescued by the little mermaid Ariel (Maggie Lynne). Before he gets a chance to thank her she swam away so he seeks a chance to find her and to thank her. King Triton (Wayne Smith) is keen to keep his daughter in her place at the bottom of the sea, as is the plotting Sea Witch and her two hench-eels Eileen (Kylie Ann Ford) and Elsie (Christina Berriman Dawson). The court jester Danny Crabstix (Danny Adams) is also fond of Ariel though he ends up helping her with the help of Clive Cod (Clive Web). This leaves Dishy Fishy (Joe McElderry) to pop on stage, at regular intervals, and sing songs as that's what he is good at.

The show benefits from a regular cast that the audience know well and buy into immediately. This formula is now replicated at many theatres. This show also doesn't waste time with "when I come on I want you to..." as it does not need to. Danny comes on, giggles, the audience repeats.

Mick Potts also added to the laughs
whenever he appeared on stage

This is a really funny panto - the cast, Danny in particular, has "funny bones". He knows how to make everyone laugh. This year we also see more of Clive which adds more balance to the action. It has classic elements in their including a very messy scene and a sea themed 12 days of Christmas.  

The costumes are lavish and often have the wow-factor, especially Chris Haywards. Talking of Chris, he seems to be really enjoying the dark side and playing the baddie these days. The stronger evil characters do suit him.

The special effects support the story more this year - no random rats or London buses this year. Rather we have a flying mermaid, seahorse drawn carriages and a story-relevant shark. Coupling the skills of The Twins FX with lighting designer Ben Cracknell adds to the wow factor. Talking of lighting, the black light techniques where in use for those fish above the stage and at least one of the dance routines.

The only issue mentioned on my row of the theatre was the volume - it was perhaps more rock concert than theatre. 

The Little Mermaid couples storytelling with "no expenses spared" set/costumes/ special effects. This is a real spectacle which we are very lucky to have here in our region. This panto really hits the spot.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Paul Coltas

Tickets: 

https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/the-little-mermaid-pantomime/ 

REVIEW: Mother Goose at South Shields Customs House

Mother Goose

South Shields Customs House

Until Sunday 5 January 2025

Writers: Ray Spencer, Graeme Thompson

Directors: Ray Spencer, Natasha Haws

The little panto with the big heart is back with a golden egg. This show is a fabulous production that will be as entertaining for kids and the adults alike. Clever writing that really understands how to create a great family show coupled with an entertaining cast couple to make one of the very best shows in the North East. 

Mother Goose is not performed much these days, perhaps because it has not had the Disney animation makeover but it is one of our traditional pantos. I know it is early in the season but I have been lucky to see enough pantos over the years to know that this show will be up there with the best by the time we have completed our tour of the shows. This is a real special gem. 

This production of Mother Goose falls into the category of pantos that aim to tell a story and as a result it draws the kids in. This is apparent when they are asked to be a part of it during the take off scene or are screaming with laughter during the messy scene. 

So what is it about? Priscilla (Georgina Whale-Spencer) is a very special goose with the ability to lay golden eggs for those she loves. Unfortunately a Demon (Steven Lee Hamilton) gets hold of her and treats her badly as she doesn't lay the eggs. She escapes and seeks support from a fairy Twyleth (Emma-Katie Adcock) who sends her to Cooksonville to be protected by Dame Bella Ballcock (Ray Spencer) on her petting zoo.

Alas Bella and her nephew Dennis (Glen Richard Townsend) are struggling financially and the mayor's henchmen Waldorf (Tom Morris) is taking great pleasure is repossessing the zoo. Add in a love interest for Dennis in the shape of the mayor's daughter Dolly (Lucy Davis) and the fact that the demon wants his goose back and we have the set up for just under 2 and a half hours of songs, fun, jokes and mayhem. 

In Dame Bella,  Dennis and the Mayor (Alfie Joey) we have three naturally funny performers who understand panto. If anything, Dennis and the Mayor had less of the spotlight this year, or so it seemed. The one star who was given plenty of chance to shine was Steven Lee Hamilton who strikes a stunning pose as the evil Demon/Lord Gander. Once again he shows off his ability to harvest the booing, and to sing. The lad has a great voice. 

Georgina Whale-Spencer has moved through the ranks from being one of the young dancers to a starring role and she has pulled it off. She confidently engaged the kids as the cute, vulnerable yet clever goose.

Talking of which, the 2 professional swings, Beth Ellis and Andrew Borthwick, and the young dancers did a great job during the big production numbers.

The jokes are a plenty. Ray knows how to deliver those lines but, thanks to the intimate venue, he can use his facial expressions for more impact. A smile or raised eyebrow adding emphasis. 

This is a classic panto that delivers. It is a hidden gem that deserves to be playing to packed houses. It reminded me why I love panto so much and I plan to return once the panto loving offspring is back from university as I know he'll love it too.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Benjamin Michael Smith

Cast:

Dame Bella Ballcock – Ray Spencer MBE

Dennis – Glen Richard Townsend

Priscilla The Goose – Georgina Whale Spencer

The Mayor – Alfie Joey

Dolly – Lucy Davis

Demon – Steven Lee Hamilton

Twyleth – Emma Katie Adcock

Waldorf – Tom Morris

Swings – Beth Ellis & Andrew Borthwick

Tickets:

https://www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre/mother-goose/ 

REVIEW: Only Fools and Horses The Musical at Sunderland Empire

Only Fools and Horses The Musical

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 30 November 2024

Stick a pony in your pocket – The Trotters musical has arrived in Wearside for one week only. We had been looking forward to this one as the source material is the popular and iconic television series. The story is written by John Sullivan's son Jim and Paul Whitehouse.  Their knowledge of characters and their situation ensures a faithful representation for fans of the show.

So what is the show about? Del (Durham's own Sam Lupton), brother Rodney (Tom Major) and Grandad (Philip Childs) live together in a Peckham flat. Del is an older brother by some margin and he effectively raised his younger brother after their dear old mother died and their dad ran away. They try to get by selling goods in a market but financially they are on hard times. But as Del says: 'he who dares, wins' and 'by next year we will be millionaires.' 

The point at which the musical starts, Rodney is about to get married to Cassandra (Nicola Munns) and needs £2000 for the flat deposit. Del is still looking for love but is about to find Raquel (Georgina Hagen) through an agency. The action is centred around their local, The Nags Head which gives the writers a chance to bring the other much loved characters to live, including Boycie (Craig Berry) with his characteristic laugh, who is struggling to get his wife Marlene pregnant, and Denzil (Bradley John) who continues his run of bad luck. 

We also meet Trigger (Lee VG), who insists on calling Rodney Dave - a running joke in both television series and this musical. In fact, in my opinion,  Trigger gets the most laughs in the show.

The characters will be familiar to those who watched the series, indeed, a number of the jokes and routines have been recycled from the original show. How well this works on those unfamiliar with it is hard to judged. 

The characters are dressed in familiar outfits making them recognisable even though we have different actors. There was even a cheer when Uncle Albert appeared to recite one of his naval anecdotes. 

This is a musical and in addition to the theme song, a number of 'I want' songs proliferate the story, accompanied by a very tight live band under music director Rachel Murphy. The songs tend to be on the functional shorter side. The pick of the singing bunch was Gloria Acquaah-Harrison, as Mrs Obooko, who has a lovely soulful singing voice.

Del, with his inappropriate use of foreign phrases in order to look clever, does get a chance to show some of his feelings about the hand life dealt him. This leads to some pathos and potential empathy from the audience. 

Rodney, performed by Tom Major on his first  professional engagement,  made his character more likeable as his Rodney is less of a drip. 

As a show for fans, this works well as a musical. Certainly, we enjoyed it and it served as a fun night at the theatre, bringing back memories of when there was something decent to watch on tv. Whether it works for a younger person who hasn't seen the show would be for someone else to comment upon. After all, it is getting on for decades since it was a regular series on the BBC. 

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Johan Persson

On The Web:

Website: OnlyFoolsOnStage.com

X / Twitter: @OFAHMusical

Instagram: @OFAHMusical

Facebook: /OFAHMusical

Based on the programme ‘Only Fools and Horses’ written by John Sullivan

Written by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, fully endorsed by the Sullivan estate

Original music - Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan

Additional music - John Sullivan & Chas Hodges

Director - Caroline Jay Ranger

Musical Supervisor & Arranger - Stuart Morley

Tickets are on sale now from ATG Tickets at: https://prf.hn/l/ZZG8Z2N

 

REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast at Durham Gala

Beauty and the Beast

Durham Gala  

Until Tuesday 31 December 2024

Pantomime season is back with the traditional, in many senses of the word, curtain raiser that is the show at Durham Gala. Or should one say "Durjambon" as the latest show renames the city. 

The show begins with a song which shows off the tight dance routines from an ensemble that did not put a foot wrong. Then first up is Jude Nelson, appearing once again as the show's comic, as Jongleur. She follows the convention of immediately getting the audience involved, in that they should respond when she comes on stage, but unusually she does this before giving her characters name. The younger members of the audience quickly take to Jude and she builds a report with them that has them contributing throughout the show.

Next up is Beth Crame as Belle, who runs a book stall. Beth appeared to have a better grasp of the script than some of her colleagues and helps them out - unless that's part of the act. In panto it is hard to tell sometimes. As Zoe Lambert appears as the inventor Madame Perplexe you quickly recognise the unique feature of the show when compared to other north east shows: it is largely female led and this is to be welcomed. For once it is the lads, with the exception of the Beast, who are largely sidelined as minor characters. 

The Gary Kitching script is full of family friendly jokes and it makes it a safe show for the family. But there is another key point here. Pantos either stick to the job of telling the story with humour along the way, or the show title is merely a theme that is mostly acknowledged in the first and final scenes but rarely through the show. Beauty and the Beast firmly sticks in the former group - resulting in a show that is more satisfying for the younger people as they tend to want a story and not just endless stand up routines.

That is not to say that we don't get some panto formula here: a messy scene, which will be familiar to the Customs House regulars, and community singing which was a nice finish to the action.

The double act of Adam Donaldson and Sarah Bulmer worked well as Monsieur Brillant and Madame Horlodge once the action moved to the Beast's Chateau. The show does feel Disneyfied at this point with Suryan Hadrick, as the Beast, holding the same poses as the animation at times.

Director Rachel Glover has some calls to make to bring the action closer to the audience in what is already a fairly small two level auditorium. It is difficult to move into the audience without leaving half of the audience wondering where the action is. Putting a couple of the cast on the upper level during the big production number was a good call. The extended introduction of Kieron Michael as Gourmand dragged that phase of the show and perhaps it would be better to start on the stage to keep the pace up.

On the other half of the upper level is the live band, under musical director Gabrielle Ball, who do a great job in backing the singing. Having a live band rather than recorded music does add to the atmosphere and lifts the show.

The key indicator of a pantos success is how involved the young audience gets. Do they want to help those on stage with their quests? In this respect the 2024 Durham Panto is a success. The families left with smiles on their faces.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Cast and creatives:

Written by Gary Kitching
Directed by Rachel Glover
Musical Supervisor & Arrangements Joshua Tarrier
Musical Director & Additional Arrangements Gabrielle Ball
Choreographer Helen West
Costume Designer Emily Baxendale

Cast

Belle: Beth Crame
Madame Perplexe: Zoe Lambert
Jongleur: Jude Nelson
Prince Alphonse / The Beast: Suryan Hadrick
Gourmand: Kieron Michael
Monsieur Brillant: Adam Donaldson
Madame Horloge: Sarah Bulmer

Tickets: 

https://galadurham.co.uk/galapost/beauty-and-the-beast/ 

Box Office: 03000 266 600

Accessible performances of Beauty and the Beast:

BSL (British Sign Language) interpreted performances on Sunday 1 December, 11.00am, Saturday 7 December, 2.00pm and Monday 30 December, 2.00pm; a relaxed performance on Friday 6 December, 1.30pm and a BSL and captioned performance on Tuesday 17 December, 6.30pm.

Preview: Here & Now at Stockton Globe

 New musical Here & Now produced by UK pop sensation Steps stomping in Stockton in December 2025

UK pop band Steps are delighted to announce that their official musical HERE & NOW, which has been wowing audiences in Birmingham for the last few weeks, will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour from August 2025 through to May 2026, appearing at the Stockton Globe 15 - 28 December 2025.

HERE & NOW began previews at The Alexandra, Birmingham on Saturday 9 November and will finish it’s run on Saturday 30 November 2024. The musical was The Alexandra’s fastest selling on-sale in history, which saw 50% capacity sold within 24 hours.

Featuring Steps’ most beloved hit songs, HERE & NOW is produced by the band and ROYO with Pete Waterman and Fascination Management with an original book by Shaun Kitchener and is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and choreographed by Olivier Award winning Matt Cole.

Casting for the UK and Ireland tour is to be announced.

Welcome to seaside superstore Better Best Bargains, where it's Friday night, the vibe is right, and everyone's dancing in the aisles. But when Caz discovers the shelves are stocked with lies and betrayal, the summer of love she and her friends dreamed of suddenly feels like a tragedy. Have they all lost their chance of a 'happy ever after'? Or does love have other plans in store… 

Steps (Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Ian ‘H’ Watkins’, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee) are the UK’s most successful mixed sex pop group of all time, with 14 top five singles, 4 number one albums, 22 million record sales, 500 million streams & 11 sold-out national arena tours under their belts. The band’s hits include #1 singles Tragedy/Heartbeat and Stomp, the gold certified One For Sorrow & Better Best Forgotten, the silver certified 5,6,7,8, Last Thing On My Mind, Love’s Got A Hold Of My Heart, Chain Reaction, all of which will feature in the musical alongside many more.

Steps’ 2017 comeback tour sold out all 300,000 tickets, making it one of the biggest pop tours of the year. The band have since continued to release new music including two further iTunes #1 singles, the Sia-penned What The Future Holds in 2020 and the Michelle Visage duet Heartbreak In This City in 2022. In 2022 Steps celebrated their 25th anniversary with a headline summer tour and released the #1 album Platinum Collection which means they join ABBA, Rolling Stones and Stereophonics as the only groups in UK history to score #1 albums in four consecutive decades.

Photo:  Pamela Raith Photography

Musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Matt Spencer-Smith, set design is by Tom Rogers, costume design is by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Adam Fisher, wigs, hair and makeup design by Sam Cox, casting by Will Burton for Grindrod Burton Casting, Music Technology by Phij Adams with Production Management by Setting Line.

#ad 

Tickets:

Steps fans will be excited to hear that this STEPTACULAR musical is heading to Stockton Globe for Christmas 2025! Tickets are now available from ATG Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/StepsMusicalStockton 

REVIEW: Dear Evan Hansen at Sunderland Empire

Today is going to be a good day. And here’s why…

Dear Evan Hansen

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 November 2024

Book by Steven Levenson

Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

This hugely popular musical has so much going for it as it lands on Wearside this week for the first time. It has hope, compassion and a strong sense of humanity. But it is more than that, as it has a Hitchcock-vibe of redemption. 

Dear Evan Hansen is a musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, "who invents an important role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn".

They said "Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him."

The thing is, it was an interesting feeling at the interval. An uplifting song finished act one but the audience knows at this point that there is more afoot than the characters know. You go into the interval wondering how it will unravel. The feeling of a possible Hitchcock twist makes you want to go back for Act 2.

Evan Hansen (Ryan Kopel) is about to start his final year at school before heading, possibly, to college. He struggles in social situations. For example, he does want to order a take away delivery as that will involve small talk with delivery person as they sort out the change.

His mother Heidi (Alice Fearn) is juggling a full time job with classes in order to change her career and hopefully bring more money in. The downside is she is rarely at home. Recognising the issues Evan has, she sends him for therapy. The therapist suggests, as homework, Evan writes positive letters to himself - Positive affirmations that will help his mental wellbeing.

He is printing one such message off at school when Connor (Killian Thomas Lefevre) picks it up off the printer. Connor, who has family issues himself, spots that the letter refers to his sister Zoe (Lauren Conroy) and he decides to walk off with it. Thus a chain of events is now going to take place changing a lot of people's lives.

There is a lot to praise this show, no wonder it has won so many awards. The set (Morgan Large) and lighting (Matt Daw) has an ability to combine and support the songs in a really effective way.

The original songs are memorable, unlike some new musicals. But the really clever part of the design is in the sound (Tom Marshall). The quiet moments of the show, including the quiet songs, are particularly quiet. This boosts the louder songs by introducing a bigger dynamic range than is often the case. It is nice to hear live strings in the mix too rather than just keyboards.

Another noticeable moment was during Evan's mother's final song So Big/So Small. As it was quiet you could hear quiet emotional sobbing around the circle. Sniffles of appreciation - this musical had hit an empathy spot in audience which is rare.

Great performances all around lift this show and it is easy to see how it has built up a following not dissimilar to Blood Brothers in loyalty. This includes Helen Anker and Richard Hurst as Connor and Zoe's parents Cynthia and Larry. Ryan Kopel is masterful in such a difficult role - how do you have commanding stage presence when playing a character that is supposed to have a lack of such?

The is a powerful portrayal of teens and some of their issues. The fear of not being noticed in a digital age. Yet it manages this without sentimentality. Review: Stephen Oliver

Note: The show includes the issues of suicide which can be upsetting.

Tickets:

Tickets are on sale now at https://tinyurl.com/SunderlandDearEvanHansen* 

Preview: Lee Kyle: Bottle It on tour 2025

 A stand up comedy tour show about messages in bottles and secrets

Lee Kyle: Bottle It

On Tour 2025

Following his 2024 show at a packed Tyne Theatre in Newcastle, South Shields comedian Lee Kyle will be taking his next show ‘Bottle It’ on tour throughout the North of England and into Scotland in early 2025.

Photo: Elaine Robertson

The show will take him to Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre, Darlington, Washington  and a number of other theatres and arts centres.

Lee has been throwing messages in bottles into the sea! Lots of them. He’s been asking people to reply and people have. What has this led to? Adventure? Discovery? Surprises?

Well yes. He’s learned a lot. Join Lee, a top class ad-libber and storytelling comedian, as he recounts this tale while revealing so much more about himself than even he is strictly comfortable with.

Photo: Claire Kyle

This relentlessly funny show deals with the harm done by a big family secret and about his struggles with his own mind in a way that is raw and honest while never forgetting the comedy.

Growing up as a somewhat lonely, feminine, heterosexual male on a council estate with a biracial stepson and a predominantly female friendship group has given Lee an outlook that confounds the stereotypes associated (Often lazily) with the working classes, who are often viewed as a homogeneous group by those who have never met any.

Through this prism, Lee will deal with his solutions for the male mental health crisis and will look outward to the potential world of adventure contained in every message he has released into the water.

Photo: Sammy Dobson

One of the most versatile comedians in the UK, Lee is as at home performing stand up for families as he is compering lively Saturday night comedy club gigs. These experiences have led to him being particularly noted for his quick thinking ad libs and crowd work.

However, it is his full length stand up shows, weaving storytelling with relentless punchlines and his unusual outlook that are where his true strength lies.  As such, it is no surprise that he is now a much in demand director of stand up comedy shows.

Venues and dates

Sunderland Carnival House 21 February 2025
Darlington Forum 13 March 2025
Whitby Coliseum Centre 14 March 2025
Arts Centre, Washington, 28 March 2025
Bedlington Platform One 11 April 2025
Newcastle Tyne Theatre 18 April 2025

Tickets from: https://www.imleekyle.com/2025-tour