Preview: Grow Up Grandad at Stockton ARC

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Steel speaks about world premiere of new play at ARC

Grow Up Grandad

Stockton ARC

Friday 4^thto Saturday 12^th September 2015.

Teesside’s leading playwright Gordon Steel is preparing for the world premiere of his first play produced under his new theatre company.

STEELWORKS is Teesside’s first producing professional theatre company and its inaugural production Grow Up Grandadwill run at ARC from Friday 4 September to Saturday 12 September.

The play is Steel’s first venture into producing and he is proud to be premiering it in Teesside and commented: “I’ve always been proud of where I come from and I’ve never hidden the fact I’m from Teesside. I’m very proud of it. I love where I come from. And when you go to write, you write about what you know and I know this area so I try to write about it.

“Producing Grow Up Grandad takes me back to my Stockton Youth Theatre days because in those days we would produce it very much on an amateur basis but with professional standards. It has come full circle just the expectations and the stakes are higher. In those days I was producing the work of others but now the added pressure is it’s my own work – hoping people will like it. Inevitably, whenever I ask people to come and see a play their response is, “Is it any good?” or worse, the statement, “It had better be good!”’

Gordon who is born and bred in Teesside has mentored hundreds of the region’s aspiring actors whilst at Stockton Youth Theatre and many have gone on to be well recognised faces of the TV screen and stage including; Jill Halfpenny, Daniel Casey, Mark Benton and Simeon Truby who is the star of Steel’s new play.

Stockton born Truby will star as ‘Grandad’ and local school girls Eliza Dobson and Rose Allen will both share the role of grandaughter Poppy. Actress Liz Carney (Emmerdale, The Royal) will star in the role of Margret.

Both heart-breaking and humorous, Grow Up Grandad is an intergenerational story that deals with love and loss, hope and sadness, as the relationship between a young girl and her grandad is thrust together and torn apart. 

Grow Up Grandadhas been written and directed by Gordon and has been produced in conjunction with ARC with funding from Arts Council England.

Currently based at ARC in Stockton, it is intended that STEELWORKS will become Teesside’s resident theatre company producing plays regularly and providing an opportunity for talented actors and creatives to work in their own town.

Tickets and Further Information

On The Web: http://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/drama-and-spoken-word/grow-up-grandad

 

News: Going Viral receives a Fringe First Award

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Going Viral receives a Fringe First Award

A play that has been produced by ARC and written and performed by Middlesbrough born Daniel Bye has received a prestigious award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

A Scotsman Fringe First Award has been awarded to the brand new show Going Viral which received a series of 4 star reviews last week at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The awards are one of the most long established at the festival and are only awarded for new pieces of work.

Photo: Alex Brenner

The show has been praised for Bye’s trademark blend of comedy, storytelling and performance lecture and explores the spread of disease, panic and ideas. Drawing on science and social study, it is performed solely by Bye himself and delves into the terrifying knowns and unknowns of epidemics, how they spread and how society reacts.

Dr Mark Booth, Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health at Durham University is the scientific advisor for the show and has helped to inform its material and structure through his background in epidemiology of parasitic infections in developing countries. Dr Mark Booth commented: “ARC in Stockton on Tees and Durham University have a history of collaboration so I wasn't surprised when Annabel Turpin got in touch and asked if I would like to work with Daniel Bye on his new work around the origin and spread of an epidemic condition. Public awareness of how infections can enter our bodies, easily spread across populations, cause illness and confusion, and also lead to inequalities in terms of personal, institutional and national wellbeing can make a significant contribution to discussions about the value of scientific research.”

Writer and performer Daniel Bye said: “Winning a Fringe First is about as big as it gets, so I’m absolutely thrilled.”

ARC's Chief Executive and producer of Going Viral, Annabel Turpin commented: "Winning a Fringe First is a huge accolade and further evidence that some of the UK's best new theatre is being made right here in Stockton."

Bye’s recent work includes The Price of Everything, How to Occupy an Oil Rig as well as Story Hunt; a show which took the form of a treasure hunt-meets-walking-tour of town centres which has been performed in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Gateshead and Berwick as well as other towns around the UK.

Tickets:

Going Viral will be performed at ARC on Thursday 3 December at 7pm and is priced as Pay What You Decide, tickets can booked person at ARC, via www.arconline.co.ukor by calling the Box Office on 01642 525199.

Running Time: 70 mins. Suitable for ages 14+

Company Information

Written and performed by Daniel Bye        Directed by Dick Bonham

Designed by Emma Tompkins                    Lighting design by Katharine Williams

Scientific Advisor Dr Mark Booth                Dramaturg Sarah Punshon    

Preview: The Art Of Not Getting Lost at Arc & Northern Stage

Brand New Play Tackles

The Stigma Of Mental Health

The Art Of Not Getting Lost

ARC, Stockton: Wednesday 20 May
Northern Stage, Newcastle:Thursday 25 June
 

A brand new play tackling the stigma of mental health is set to be performed for the first time at both Stockton’s ARC and Northern Stage in Newcastle over the next few weeks. Written and directed by Saltburn based Vici Wreford-Sinnott, The Art of Not Getting Lostfollows the story of two characters who have made their home in the hidden tunnels of London’s Bakerloo Station.

Performers: Ree Collins (L) and Eleanor Crawford (R)

Creating their own fictional Lost Property Centre to help them retrace their lives, are they hiding themselves or are they actually being hidden from public view? Vici said: “One in four of us will experience mental health distress at some point in our lives. It does not define who we are, but there remain many negative and stereotypical perceptions. It affects all of us in some way, and if we do not talk about it, it will remain hidden, shameful and stigmatised.”

Writer & Director: Vici Wreford-Sinnott

Vici, originally from Durham, has carved a career in ground breaking theatre, said: “The play is an exploration of friendship, truth and lies, and what happens to people when they are under pressure of stigma. Do they hide, do they look the other way, or do they stand up and be counted?  I’ve taken some of my own experiences and my two characters – Everyoneand No-One – have allowed me to tell the stories of mental health past and present, and to look at how we have arrived at our ideas of what is and isn’t ‘normal.’ The play looks at two aspects of mental health. We have the personal experiences of someone undergoing mental health problems, and how that affects them and the people around them. And there’s the wider issue of the continued stigmatisation both throughout history and right up to the here and now of people experiencing mental health problems.”

Performers: Ree Collins (L) and Eleanor Crawford (R)

Tickets:

The Art Of Not Getting Lost by Vici Wreford-Sinnott. The show has been supported with funding from Arts Council England, and produced in association with ARC Stockton & Zinc Arts, Essex and is performed by Ree Collins and Eleanor Crawford.

ARC, Stockton: Wednesday 20 May. 7pm.

Age: 14+. Tickets: £pay what you decide. Box Office: 01642 525 199 or www.arconline.co.uk

Northern Stage, Newcastle: Thursday 25 June. 7.30pm.

Tickets: £10 / £8 concs. Box Office: 0191 230 5151 or www.northernstage.co.uk

Both performances are BSL interpreted.

 ________________________________________________________

Come and celebrate the launch of the new Meghann Clancy EP 'Lay it on the Line'!

Sunday 31st May, TheCumberland Arms. Doors open at 7.30pm. First up is the absolutely stunning Agerskow, followed by MeghannClancy and band (Liam Gaughan - bass, Danny Ward - drums, Paul Emmett - keys/guitar)

We hope you can make it! See www.facebook.com/eventsfor details of the event. Follow Meghann Clancy on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meghannclancymusic

Preview: Rehearsed Readings at Stockton ARC

Emerging theatre-makers to present rehearsed readings

Rehearsed Readings

Stockton ARC

Every Wednesday throughout May and June 2015

A group of eight emerging playwrights will be presenting rehearsed readings of new, and in some cases, debut scripts at ARC, Stockton.

The talented writers who are all part of Writers ARCADE, a peer led group of new and emerging playwrights, have benefited from a ten month professional development scheme, pairing them each with a professional playwright as a mentor and supporting them to work towards a new play.

The grant has also enabled the writers to receive advice and support from industry leaders including Alex Chisholm, Associate Director and Literary Manager of the West Yorkshire Playhouse and broadcaster and Emmerdale writer Nick Ahad, who both led writing based workshops with the group over the past few months.

Now, the eight writers are preparing to perform their developed scripts to the public through a series of Rehearsed Readings every Wednesday at ARC throughout May and June.

Themes of some of the scripts include; an overnight car journey for two colleagues whose lives are suddenly changed forever, a surprise discovery for friends and family of a girl whose flat has been empty for the past sixteen years and a war hero who returns home to swap a real gun for a supermarket gun.

Details of all the writers and their Rehearsed Readings can be found at www.arconline.co.uk

The Readings:

Rehearsed Readings - all readings are at 7.30pmand are priced as Pay What You Decide.

Louise Taylor - Preservation (Wed 6 May)

Dan Perry - Breakdown (Wed 13 May)

Nicola Cameron - Wasters (Wed 20 May)

Chrissie Petrie - One Cold Clear Night in November (Wed 27 May)

Scott Young - If I Should Wake (Wed 3 June)

Mhairi Ledgerwood - White Noise (Wed 10 June)

Becci Sharrock - Yes Chef (Wed 17 June)

Allison Davies - Song of the Hive (Wed 24 June)

Tickets: Call the Box Office 01642 525199 or visit www.arconline.co.uk  

Preview: Josie Long On Tour

Josie Long

Cara Josephine

On Tour including:

Tuesday 24^th February        HULL, Fruit Space

Monday 16^th March            NEWCASTLE, The Stand

Thursday 19^th March           STOCKTON, Arc

Saturday 20^th March           KENDAL, Brewery Arts Centre

RADIO ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE – 2014

BAFTA SCOTLAND NEW TALENT AWARD NOMINEE – 2013

EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE - 2012

EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE - 2011

EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE – 2010

BARRY AWARD – NOMINATION 2008

CHORTLE BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACT 2007

PERRIER BEST NEWCOMER AWARD – 2006

CHORTLE BEST NEWCOMER AWARD – 2005

BBC NEW COMEDY AWARD – 2005

Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and cult optimist is back on the road  with her most personal show to date about love, family and being as outdoorsy as a bear.

Josie Long

Photo: Giles Smith

In her seventh nationwide tour and with a new niece in the picture, Josie reflects on her own childhood and the resilience of an older sister. She had never really truly known heartbreak until now, and she is using this  experience to change her ways; to be more patient, to work out what she really wants and to become a better person. This is truly her most heartfelt, honest and revealing material, but don’t fret - Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg still get a mention…

In her last Fringe appearance in 2012, Josie received her third Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination, and at this year’s festival she collected more stars than a small solar system and was officially cited the best reviewed comedy show. Throwing aside the whimsical reputation that she had become known for, a new, more politically aware and socially conscious comedian had emerged and captivated the comedy industry in a totally different way.

Josie is renowned for writing about what she cares about and, although there has more recently been a political underlying to her material, she always has the ability to make her shows friendly and silly. As many reviewers point out, you cannot help but come away from her shows hoping to become her best friend.

In addition to her numerous DVD releases, TV appearances, sell-out tours, charity benefits and a co-host slot on BBC Radio 6 Music,  Josie started an ongoing project in 2011 called the Alternative Reality Tour; an anti-cuts, pro-youth, no-profit performance in a bid to fight for social justice and support public art. They even bring blankets in case it’s cold. She runs a monthly club night in London, The Lost Treasures of the Black Heart, which celebrates the world’s unsung heroes and has since been turned into a podcast. She was recently nominated for a Radio Academy Award for her adventurous short documentaries Short Cuts on Radio 4, earned a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award nomination for her two short feature films, Let’s Go Swimming and Romance and Adventure, and is co-founder of the Arts Emergency Service, a charity which aims to support students from underprivileged backgrounds who wish to study arts degrees. Her showcase for adventurous documentaries, Short Cuts, can currently be heard on Radio 4 on Tuesdays at 3pm.

On The Web:

Website:www.josielong.com / www.showandtelluk.com  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosieLong

Press On ‘’CARA JOSEPHINE’: Edinburgh 2014

★★★★★ “By turns raucously silly and profoundly moving, Long is a top class performer at the top of her game” EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

★★★★★ “An absolute gem of a show” ONE4REVIEW.COM

★★★★★ “A sincere, wonderful, hilarious, life-affirming triumph” THREEWEEKS

★★★★★ “She’s the consummate comedian. A wonderful talent” BROADWAYBABY

★★★★★ “Long has crafted a show nothing short of joyous” GIGGLEBEATS

★★★★★ “Josie Long is a truly fantastic comedian, and Cara Josephine is a masterpiece”FRESH AIR

★★★★★ “A one hour master class in storytelling” THE MUMBLE

★★★★ “Authentic, revealing and generous of spirit… this is a lovely show” THE GUARDIAN

★★★★ “Delightful and more widely digestible… brilliantly evocative… original and unflagging” THE TIMES

TOUR DATES

JANUARY                                              VENUE                                                    BOX OFFICE

Mon 19^th – Sat 31^st (not 25^th)    LONDON, Soho Theatre                                 020 7478 0100

FEBRUARY

Weds 4^th                              EXETER, Phoenix Theatre                                 01392 66708

Thurs 5^th                               WINCHESTER, Railway Inn                               01962 867795

Sat 7^th                                  CANTERBURY, Marlowe                                  01227 787787

Tues 10^h                               CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach                                029 2023 2199

Thurs 12^th                             COVENTRY, Tin Angel                                      02476 230 699

Fri 13^th                                  DUBLIN, Workmans Club                                 +353 1 670 6692

Sun 15^th                               BIRMINGHAM, Electric Cinema                      0121 643 7879

Tues 17^th                              LEICESTER, The Y Theatre                                 0116 2557066

Weds 18^th                            WOLVERHAMPTON, The Civic                        0870 320 7000

Thurs 19^th                             BRIGHTON, Dome                                            01273 709709    

Fri 20^th                                  NORWICH, Playhouse                                     01603 598 598

Sun 22^nd                              BRISTOL, Tobacco Factory                              0117 902 0060

Mon 23^rd                             CAMBRIDGE, Junction                                     01223 511 511

Tues 24^th                             HULL, Fruit Space                                              01482 221113

Weds 25^th                           LEEDS, Wardrobe                                              0113 383 8800

Thurs 26^th                            SHEFFIELD, Crucible                                          0114 249 6000

Fri 27^th                                 YORK, Duchess                                                  01904 641413

Sat 28^th                               DERBY, Deda                                                     01332 370911

MARCH

Mon 2^nd                              LIVERPOOL, Unity Theatre                               0844 873 2888

Tues 3^rd                               FOLKESTONE, Quarterhouse                            01303 858500

Weds 4^th                             NOTTINGHAM, Arts Theatre                             0115 947 5925

Thurs 5^th                              NORTHAMPTON, NN Café                               01604 638944

Fri 6^th                                   READING, South Street                                     0118 960 6060

Sat 7^th                                 MANCHESTER, Gorilla                                       0161 407 0301

Sun 8^th                                COVENTRY, Warwick Arts Centre                    024 7652 4524

Weds 11^th                           OXFORD, The North Wall                                  01865 319450

Fri 13^th                                 MULL, Comar                                                     01688  302211   

Sat 14^th                               SKYE, Aros Centre                                              01478 613649

Mon 16^th                             NEWCASTLE, The Stand                                     0844 693 3336

Tues 17^th                             EDINBURGH, The Stand                                     0131 558 7272

Weds 18^th                           GLASGOW, The Stand                                      0844 335 8879

Thurs 19^th                            STOCKTON, Arc                                                 01642 525199

Sat 20^th                               KENDAL, Brewery Arts                                       01539 725 133

Fri 27^th                                 BELFAST, MAC                                                    028 9023 5053

Sat 28^th                               LONDON, Battersea Arts Centre                     020 7223 2223