North East Theatre Guide

Looking at theatre and the arts across North East England, the North East Theatre Guide continues to celebrate culture in our region. If a link is labelled #Ad: Tickets are now available from one of our affiliate ticket suppliers. The ticket company will also be the official supplier of tickets for the event. This means we receive a small share of the sale. Clicking on these links helps us to cover the costs of producing the NE Theatre Guide free of charge to both our readers and theatres.

Showing posts with label Ali Pritchard. Show all posts

23/10/2015

Review: The Rooms at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

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The Rooms
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Until Saturday 31^st October 2015

The Alphabetti Theatre is a real hidden gem in the centre of Newcastle. The Rooms are 3 short plays that take full advantage of the unique space that exists underneath New Bridge Street.

Three talented young actresses are able to hold the audience in their grasp. The strong scripts often provide more questions than answers. The loose ends suggest a greater depth to the subject matter.

The audience is divided up into three groups, each group enjoying the 3 shows in a different order.

First up tonight was Dreaming Is Free by Michael Brown. As you enter Jessica Johnson is lying on her single bed. She has woken up in a room but isn’t entirely sure how she ended up there.

As with all 3 productions, the audience is stood up around the space as the performance unfolds. Jessica springs from her bed and draws the audience into her performance. As she stands up, and stares you in the face, you will become drawn into the performance. Under Matt Jamie’s direction this is not a passive form of theatre.

The monologue suggests a captive girl who dreams on seeing the outside world. The person that she describes as a “kind friend” is probably far from it. There are many questions that are left unanswered as you leave and that is perhaps what makes it such a powerful realization.

After a short interval the group were escorted into another room to see Paper Walls by Nina Berry. A number of comments about The Rooms on Twitter refer to the intense experience. Indeed as Arabella Arnott rips the paper off the walls whilst looking for something one is drawn into a personal hell. A lady undergoing intensive treatment, a baby that is missing and a partner that has kept her in this place. Powerful and, indeed, it is very intense. Lee Rosher has directed a profound and passionate experience.

The third show had a change in pace. As Rosie Stancliffe led the group through the corridors at the rear of the venue it is clear that this is not going to be a conventional show.

Meat Factory by David Raynor looks at meat production and convenience foods such as chicken nuggets. Rosie is Shirley Dobson OBE, one of the North East’s leading business women. Not shy to brag about her achievements she is looking for investment to increase production.

Rosie’s performance is as funny as it is shocking. As she stares maniacally into your eyes and offers you the food products you know something is not quite right. Director Ali Pritchard has created the most interactive of the three shows.

The three actresses were simply stunning. Jessica Johnson, Arabella Arnott and Rosie Stancliffe are both believable and captivating. The audience is very close up to the action, sometimes painfully so. The tickets are limited and already audiences are booking return visits with new groups to share an experience like no other in town.

The Rooms are three experiences that are well worth seeking out.

Read the original North East Theatre Guide Preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/preview-rooms-at-newcastle-alphabetti.html

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

The Rooms: Video Trailer -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOBECiKaPiU

Performance Details

When:
Bar Opens 6.30pm. Performance starts 7.30pm

Where:
Alphabetti Theatre, The Basement 18 Newbridge Street West Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AW
Ticket Price:
£8 / £6
Running Length:
Approx. 1 Hour 15 minutes (including 3 x 15 minute intervals)

Capacity is limited –booking is essential.
Please be advised that this a promenade production, where audiences will be watching the show on their feet.

Website: http://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/whats-on/24-whats-on-articles/144-the-rooms

Ticket website: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/100136

17/10/2015

Preview: The Rooms at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

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The Rooms
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Monday 19^th- Saturday 31^st October 2015

The Rooms is a harrowing and chilling immersive promenade production created for Halloween made up of three short plays situated in three rooms not normally accessible to the public, in the depths of Alphabetti Theatre – underneath the old Odeon Cinema.

Paper Walls written by Nina Berry
Directed by Lee Rosher
Performed by Arabella Arnott
Mary is trapped, with thoughts that aren't hers. A truth buried beneath false stories and harsh punishment. She knows the answer is somewhere, and if these walls could talk...they'd tell everyone.

Dreaming is Free written by Michael Brown
Directed by Matt Jamie
Performed by Jessica Johnson
I do not remember getting to this room. Just waking up in bed with my kind friend sat in that chair. He was very sad and told me it was too dangerous to live with him anymore. It would not be safe to leave the room until he said so. I was desperate to get out to see the moon and stars….But he brought them to me.

Meat Factory by David Raynor
Directed by Ali Pritchard
Performed by Rosie Stancliffe
Here at Quick N Easy Meat Based Products Ltd there are no problems, only opportunities. Come and look around...taste the future.'

The Rooms: Video Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOBECiKaPiU

Performance Details

When:
Bar Opens 6.30pm. Performance starts 7.30pm

Website: http://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/whats-on/24-whats-on-articles/144-the-rooms

Ticket website: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/100136

14/03/2015

Preview: The Frights at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

The Frights
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre 17th – 22nd March 2015
Darlington Jabberwocky Market 28th March 2015
Stockton Arc 15th April 2015

When are you most compromised – in the spotlight? Under lock and key? Or in the arms of the one you love?

Activist Hanny is finally back where she belongs, walking the streets of her hometown with boyfriend Luke. But her three months of captivity overseas is proving difficult to leave behind.

As the remnants of Hanny’s time away begin to claw their way back to the surface, Luke attempts to pick up their relationship from where she left it behind – which is a challenge when Hanny can’t promise not to take another deadly risk, and he can’t face being left behind again to fear the worst. With their happy reunion interrupted by soundbite-hungry strangers Tash and Kieran, Luke begins to question everything Hanny has told him.

Has Hanny embellished her ordeal to gain her cause some extra column inches? Or is she hiding what she’s really been through in order to ease Luke’s conscience? The prison doors may have closed behind her, but Hanny’s interrogation is about to begin…

The Frights is a twisting, darkly funny play that explores the shades of right and wrong and asks: is there ever a right time to look the other away?

This is one of the first productions to appear at Newcastle’s newest venue - see our Jowheretogo Review

Cast & Creatives:
Written by Louise Taylor
Directed By Ali Pritchard
Featuring James Hedley, Christina Berriman Dawson, Jacob Anderton & Sally Collett

On Tour:
Darlington Jabberwocky Market 28th March 2015 Tickets Link

Stockton Arc 15th April 2015 Tickets Link

Tickets:

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre 17th – 22nd March 2015
Doors 18.30 Begins 20.00 Running Time: 110 minutes (with interval)
£8/6 – Book tickets online: http://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/whats-on/24-whats-on-articles/95-the-frights
Age recommendation :14+

08/03/2015

Review: Grand Opening at Alphabetti Theatre

The Fringe Comes To Newcastle In This Perfectly Formed Little Venue

Grand Opening

Alphabetti Theatre

7^th March 2015

Hidden away in a basement under Market Street West is a real gem of a venue. It is well worth seeking out and the forthcoming programme is packed with real potential.

A city isn’t defined by the big venues, that pull in Lionel Ritchie or some former west-end production, but by the quality of the smaller spaces. It is apparent that Artistic Director, Ali Pritchard, knows what facilities are needed to create such an exciting space.

The first part of the fun is finding the venue, the small blue gate next to the NCP car park has never stood out. Now it leads to an underground venue that has a real Berlin feel. The licensed bar has soft drinks as well as tea & coffee too. Prompt friendly service was maintained throughout the evening.

The bar leads into a comfortable seating area which has a wall with the names of the generous crowdfunders whose philanthropy enabled the venue to happen.

Beyond a curtain lies the theatre itself. A simple box with black walls, a white ceiling and a stage in a corner – this is the ideal size for the fringe events that made Edinburgh famous.