Preview: Our World at Newcastle Live Theatre

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Rehearsals underway for

Live Theatre’s Youth Theatre Festival

“Our World” - Youth Theatre Festival

Newcastle Live Theatre

Thursday 6^th to Sunday 9^th August 2015

Rehearsals are now underway for Our World, Live Theatre’s 16^th annual Youth Theatre Festival. The event, which will be at the quayside venue from Thursday 6^th to Sunday 9^th August, features theatre productions, a short film as well as an Edinburgh Festival Fringe comedy preview.

Over 70 young people, aged between 11 and 22 and from the company’s Youth Theatre, will present four evenings of entertainment which provide a glimpse into the worlds of young people and their place in it.

Paul James, Live Theatre’s Associate Director of Education & Participation said: “This year’s Youth Theatre Festival promises to be as diverse, eclectic and exciting as ever. A fantastic event with a wide range of new work and talent on display. Our World will be dedicated to our colleague Jackie Fielding who we had the pleasure of working with on at least 12 Youth Theatre Festivals. Jackie was an outstanding Theatre Maker and an inspiration to young people. She was able to draw amazing performances from the actors she worked with.”

Kicking off the Festival is Big Talk, Small Talk, on Thursday 6 August at 7.30pm. Featuring a selection of short plays, created over 10 days by the Youth Theatre members and some of the region’s leading freelance theatre makers, the event will give an alternative perspective on what really matters to young people in the 21^st century. The performance will be followed by a free Meet the Team talk where some of the young people involved in the production will be discussing the process of making their plays.

On Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August eight young people will take to the stage to give their personal, heart-warming and hilarious perspective on what it’s like to be 11 and 12 today.  For them being eleven is tough. And great. And weird. And confusing. And funny. The show, 11 Plus, was curated by writer Laura Lindow (Rendezvous) with assistance from fellow writer, Lee Mattinson (Donna Disco). The pair held interviews with the young people involved to create a piece using the interviewees’ own words. They talked about school, their families and their hopes and fears. Directed by Live Theatre’s Associate Director of Education & Participation, Paul James, 11 Plus is suitable for those aged 8 and over and will be performed at 7.30pm on both days with a matinee performance on the Saturday at 2pm.

Laura and Lee have also been busy writing new sketches for Live Theatre’s all-female sketch group Your Aunt Fanny who will be previewing their Edinburgh Festival Fringe show on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August at 9pm. From the absurd to the downright ridiculous they'll be celebrating everything that is funny and inappropriate in an evening of original sketches accompanied by music from DJ Mariam Rezaei. The show, suitable for audience members aged 14 and over, contains strong language and strong women.

Closing the Festival on Sunday 9 Augustis Invisible Cinema, a film like no other. Six Youth Theatre members will be working with directors Ian Mclaughlin and Bev Fox of Magic If to create six dynamic characters using improv techniques. Their newfound skills will then be put to the test during filming where then, and only then, will the storyline be revealed to the actors. Audience members will also meet the characters in a special pre-screening performance which begins at 7.30pm. After the screening the actors and directors will take to the stage to reveal more information about how the film was made and how the process was for them in our free Meet the Team talk. 

Writer Laura Lindow said: “Live Theatre’s annual Youth Theatre Festival is famed for being a colourful, thought-provoking, emotion-fuelled event. This year, as ever, the excellent Education & Participation team has put together a festival programme to platform the vibrant range of voices of the talented young participants, (on the main stage no less), all with sincerity and support. I feel so lucky to be amongst the other theatre professionals who have the chance to work amongst these exceptional young people. The final event promises to be a celebration of all things theatrical, (and all genuinely springing from the thoughts, opinions and ideas of the young people themselves!) Prepare for the kind of treat which rings with charm whilst biting with relevance as they tell you how it really is. I for one can’t wait!”

Festival goers should also be on the look-out for a series of wrap around events curated by Silver Arts Award participants who are working with Live Theatre. Arts Award is a national qualification that supports young people to develop as artists and arts leaders.

Tickets:

Tickets for Our World events are £8, £6 for concessions and £3 for Youth Theatre members for each performance. Tickets can be booked by contacting Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or online at www.live.org.uk. Your Aunt Fanny will be performed at The Fancy Room, Just the Tonic between Wednesday 19 and Saturday 29 August. To find out more visit www.justthetonic.com.

Festival Listings

Big Talk, Small Talk - Thursday 6 August, 7.30pm

A selection of short pieces devised over ten days by groups of young people with support from some of the region’s leading theatre makers. These original and imaginative plays will give an alternative perspective on what really matters to young people in the 21^st century.

Including Meet the Team - THURSDAY 6 AUGUST (after the show)

Some of the young people involved in Big Talk, Small Talk discuss the process to make their

short plays. Free, booking essential.

DATE: Thurs 6 Aug, 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 1hr

SUITABILITY: 8+

TICKETS: £8, £6 concs, £3 youth theatre members

11 Plus - Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August, 7.30pm
Saturday 8 August, 2pm

Directed by Paul James

Assistant Director Rachel Glover

Curated by Laura Lindow

Assistant Curator Lee Mattinson

 Being eleven is tough. And great. And weird. And confusing. And funny. A group of young people give their personal, heart-warming and hilarious perspective on what it’s like to be 11 and 12 years old today.

Developed through a series of individual and group interviews this exciting new piece explores friendships, families, politics, growing up and everything in between.

DATES: Fri 7 Aug 7.30pm & Sat 8 Aug, 2pm & 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 50mins

SUITABILITY: 8+

TICKETS: £8, £6 concs, £3 youth theatre members

Your Aunt Fanny - Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August, 9pm

Edinburgh Festival Preview

Your Aunt Fanny has her bus pass and is Edinburgh bound! See her comedy nieces’ brand new sketch show in two special preview events at Live Theatre before it heads north to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Written by award-winning playwrights Laura Lindow (Rendezvous) and Lee Mattinson (Chalet Lines) and directed by Rachel Glover, the show contains strong language and strong women.

Your Aunt Fanny makes her Edinburgh Fringe debut between Wednesday 19 and Saturday 29 August at The Fancy Room at Just the Tonic.

DATES: Fri 7 Aug & Sat 8 Aug, 9pm

LOCATION: Studio Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 1hr

SUITABILITY: 14+

TICKETS £8, £6 concs,

£3 youth theatre members

Invisible Cinema - Sunday 9 August, 7.30pm

An exciting new film in which six young actors work with directors Ian McLaughlin and Bev Fox of Magic If, to use improve to create six dynamic characters. The storyline is revealed to the actors only during the filming, prompting improvised performances.

Like in real life, you never know what’s round the corner. You’ll meet the characters during a pre-screening performance.

Anything could happen and probably will – especially at the screening.

Including Meet the Team - SUNDAY 9 AUGUST (after the film)

Join the actors and directors on stage to find out how the film was made, and how the process was for them. Free, booking essential.

 DATE: Sun 9 Aug, 7.30pm

LOCATION: Main Theatre

DURATION: Approx. 1hr

SUITABILITY: 8+

TICKETS: £8, £6 conc,

£3 youth theatre members

Review: Frank Sumatra at South Shields Customs House

Charity Begins At Home

Frank Sumatra

South Shields Customs House

9^th March 2015 and on tour

Imagine what would happen if your charitable cause suddenly decided to deliver the animal that you used to sponsor to your home. Keith had originally bought his wife, Bev, a sponsorship of an endangered orang-utan. Little did he realise that a few years later the bundle of hairy orange fun would land on their doorstep armed with an iPad that acts like a speak and spell. Any teenager will often have attitude but this simian can also literally swing off the lampshades.

Mike Yeaman, whose writing credits include Lucky Numbers, has written another comedy cracker which frequently had the audience laughing. Presented as a recording of a radio show in which the voices are separated from the sound effects, a number of the laughs come from that partitioning. Indeed the audience’s imaginations are allowed to explore the scene being described in the same way as one would listening to a play on the radio. Director Bev Fox is therefore able to weave a scene of chaos and the pace is not held up for a prop to arrive. It is an interesting delivery which works very well.  Our sound engineer, Mat Hobbins, finds himself producing many of the sounds that Frank would produce with tight comic timing.

In the centre of the story is a couple that is trying for a baby. Bev, played by Jessica Johnson, is strong willed and enthusiastic. She is not always sympathetic the needs of others such as her elderly kleptomaniac mother.  Her other half Keith is less than enthusiastic about his lot, worrying more about the contents of the bin than trying to conceive a new child. Pip Chamberlin is engaging as the bloke for whom quickly changing circumstances are taking things beyond his control.  His cynicism is typified by his outburst “I don’t want to be oppressed by simian overlords!” Much humour is gained by the banter that often goes on in relationships behind closed doors.

The short play is a real gem that frequently made the audience laugh. It might answer questions such as whether an alpha male can drive a Fiat Punto or if an orangutan can be mistaken for Mick Hucknell? The radio play format adds to the humour and the actors did a fine job presenting the pandemonium of an teenage bundle of joy who refuses to tow the line.

Frank Sumatra is a wonderful comedy riot highlighting the discord in relationships.

Frank Sumatra was commissioned by Queens Hall Hexham.

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

Original Jowheretogo Preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/preview-frank-sumatra-on-tour.html 

Cast: Jessica Johnson, Mat Hobbins, Pip Chamberlin. 

Directed by Bev Fox.

Remaining Tour Dates:

12/13 Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre Venue website link

14 Bedlington Community Centre Venue website link

Preview: Frank Sumatra On Tour

Frank Sumatra

On Tour Across The North East

Imagine Paddington Bear gone wrong. And not a bear. Bev and Keith are a nice young couple who do their bit for the environment and pay 10 quid a month to the World Wildlife Fund to sponsor an orphaned orangutan. They’re also trying very hard to have a baby but when their orangutan turns up on the doorstep they find themselves parents to a hairy, unruly teenager.

A dark and surreal comedy written by Mike Yeaman (Lucky Numbers, Canoeing for Beginners) performed live in the style of a radio drama.

Frank Sumatra is a new One Act play, commissioned by Queens Hall Hexham.

Cast: Jessica Johnson, Mat Hobbins, Pip Chamberlin. 

Directed by Bev Fox.

Tour Dates:

March 06 Hexham Queens Hall Venue website link

07 Bishop Auckland Town Hall Venue website link

08 South Shields Customs House Venue website link

12/13 Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre Venue website link

14 Bedlington Community Centre Venue website link

Review: The Suggestibles Impro Pantso

Christmas Spirit For Adults

The Suggestibles Impro Pantso

Northern Stage

18^th December 2014.

This was a play with no script, no idea and totally reliant on the imagination of the audience.

For the 8^th year running a team of improvisational actors have entertained a packed Stage 1 at Northern Stage. This took a basic story from the audience, with characters designed by the audience, named by the audience and interpreted by the players.

The crowd, in a festive mood and perhaps a little mellow from visiting the bar, came up with the silliest names and ideas, and led to some anarchic and occasionally, a tad rude, interpretations. This is definitely not for children, and most of the filth comes from the punters. The set was from the kids’ Get Santa production and the team made use of the advent calendar windows as part of the fun.

The usual story of the lovesick princess, the wicked witch, the handsome prince (with a massive, er, chicken), and Cliff Richard, was played as a story within a story of a very dysfunctional family. Ian McLaughlin led proceedings and did try to keep the story on track. There were some awkward moments but the actors managed to keep the madness moving. Bev Fox, Carl Kennedy, Tom Walton, Jayne Humphreys made for an anarchic onstage ensemble along with guest player Steve Steen and musician Alex Ross providing the ever changing score and accompanying the crazy songs that hatched out of nowhere. The crowd got up to sing and do a special dance, this was very much a two-way performance. Highlights included a rap battle between Bev Fox and Jayne Humphreys and the annual rewrite of The Twelve Days Of Christmas using alternative lyrics from a very naughty audience.

This was an excellent antidote to the kids’ pantos, and a chance for the grown ups to get into the party mood. Catch it next year!

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

Coming up For The Suggestibles:

The Suggestibles play The Stand in Newcastle the 2nd Monday of each month. The Suggestibles New Year Impro Comedy Ding Dong takes place at the Cumberland Arms on Wednesday 31^st December 2014 and must be booked in advance from their website: www.thesuggestibles.com.

Currently on at Northern Stage:

Get Santa: preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/

Get Santa:review: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/review

The Christmas Grump: preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/preview

Suggestibles Online:

Website: http://www.thesuggestibles.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/suggestibles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suggestibles

Cast:

Ian McLaughlin

Bev Fox

Carl Kennedy

Tom Walton

Jayne Humphreys

Alex Ross (musician)

And special guest Steve Steen