Review: Freeze FRAME at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Freeze FRAME: The Illustrated Cinemas of Newcastle

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Monday 1^stJune to Tuesday 30^th June

Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House has had a number of interesting events on since the preservation trust set up an operating company to look after the running of the historic theatre. June sees the arrival of an art exhibition covering both this building’s past and that of many other much loved buildings.

Ben Holland has been working hard over the last two years trying to capture the spirit of Newcastle’s cinema scene.  His research took him to the local history archive at Newcastle libraries. When he asked for photographs of Newcastle’s cinemas past and present he was taken back by how many there were. He has concentrated on some the popular city centre establishments which the people of the North East will have taken to their hearts.

The chosen venues will be places that many will have fond memories of though it is a shame a number of them no longer exist or, like the Odeon, cease to operate.  The pieces in this exhibition cover the entire 20th century from the Westgate Picture House (now the O₂ Academy) in the 1920's through to Pilgrim Street's Odeon in the 1990's. In between the collection takes in the Paramount, Tyneside News Reel Theatre, Queens Cinerama, Pavilion, ABC Haymarket and, of course, the very venue it shall be exhibited in – in its previous incarnation as The Stoll Picture Theatre.

Each pen and ink drawing has been painstakingly crafted by Ben. The high level of detail in order to pick out each brick is admirable. On a larger scale they capture the emotion of an evening at the flicks with the crowds lining up outside awaiting a chance to go in. The scenes often feature a notable film in the life of that cinema: its first film in cinemascope or the last film shown.

For the first week of the exhibition, the pictures are being displayed on the stage of the theatre with fabulous music for some of the biggest films of the 20^th century in the background. After Friday 5^th June they will move to a gallery space within the theatre for midweek daytime viewing. See the box below for viewing dates and times. Each scene is also available for sale as a limited edition print so you can take a memory home too.

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

Original North East Theatre Guide Preview:

http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/preview-freeze-frame-at-tyne-theatre.html

Ben Holland is on the web:

Website: http://lowmoonoverhightown.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmoht

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lowmoonoverhightown

FREE ENTRY. On Stage Exhibition: Mon 1st June from 7pm to 9pm, Tues 2nd - Friday 5th June from 10am to 3.30pm. Gallery Exhibition: From Mon 8th to Tues 30th June (Mon to Fri only) 10am to 3.30pm.

Venue On The Web:

Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tynetheatreandoperahouse

Twitter: twitter.com/tyneoperahouse

Theatre Address: 109 – 119 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG

Forthcoming events at The Tyne Theatre & Opera House include:

Geordie Legends: Them Off The Viz 5/8/15 North East Theatre Guide preview link

Pirates of Penzance 22-26/9/15 North East Theatre Guide preview link

Swan Lake 18/11/16 North East Theatre Guide preview link

Legally Blonde 23-28/11/15 North East Theatre Guide preview link

Circus of Horrors 13/2/16 North East Theatre Guide preview link

Elvis Years 28/4/16 North East Theatre Guide preview link

Simon & Garfunkel Story 5/5/16 North East Theatre Guide preview link

Preview: Freeze FRAME at Tyne Theatre

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Freeze FRAME: The Illustrated Cinemas of Newcastle

Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Monday 1^st June to Tuesday 30^th June

Newcastle’s glorious cinema heritage is being celebrated with a new collection of eight artworks. Heaton based artist and illustrator Ben Holland has been working on the series of drawings for the last two years and will exhibit the collection for the first time in one of Newcastle’s most historic cinema buildings.

The Tyne Theatre and Opera House, previously the Stoll Picture House on Westgate Road, first opened its doors as a cinema on 2^nd June 1919 with a screening of Tarzan of the Apes. 96 years on, the auditorium will once again be filled with memories of the silver screen as the collection, entitled Freeze FRAME, is displayed in the theatre, initially onstage (1^st & 2^nd June) and then throughout the remainder of the month in a public exhibition space.

“There’s something about old cinema buildings, a certain romanticism that I really like. These drawings try to encapsulate these eras, certainly with a hint of nostalgia but also with an undercurrent of edginess. Often these were the places that provided real talking points for their customers, from the news reel films of the 30’s through to controversial movies of the 70’s, into 90’s blockbusters and beyond.”

“It’s not a definitive collection of every Newcastle cinema by any means – there’s been more than eight for starters. Rather it’s a snapshot of some of Newcastle’s key buildings throughout the 20^th century. Some of those buildings, like the Tyne Theatre and Tyneside Cinema are very much still here today. Others, notably the Odeon on Pilgrim Street are, shamefully, derelict and further still the Pavilion and ABC have been pulled down altogether. These new artworks will hopefully both rekindle some memories as well as add to the debate about the regeneration of Newcastle’s city centre.”

All eight artworks have been researched by piecing together several library archive photographs. Each composition has then been painstakingly hand drawn in pen and pencil. All limited edition prints are hand coloured after printing – giving each print a unique touch of originality. 

Ben’s work – which has until now centred around the subject of Newcastle’s pubs and cafes – has previously been displayed in galleries and venues throughout the city. He has also previously been nominated as a finalist for The Biscuit Factory’s UK Young Artist of the Year Award. Freeze FRAME is his first major solo collection.

Tyne Theatre & Opera House are thrilled to be playing host to this event and using the stage space in a different way. Attendees are welcomed to join Ben and his work on stage on Monday 1^st June from 7pm to 9pm. Freeze FRAME will stay on stage on Tuesday 2^nd June from 10am to 3.30pm then moved to a gallery location within the Tyne Theatre & Opera House for the duration of June 2015.

FREE ENTRY. On Stage Exhibition: Mon 1st June from 7pm to 9pm, Tues 2nd June from 10am to 3.30pm. Gallery Exhibition: From Wed 3rd to Tues 30th June (Mon to Fri only) 10am to 3.30pm.

On The Web:

Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tynetheatreandoperahouse

Twitter: twitter.com/tyneoperahouse

Theatre Address: 109 – 119 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG