Preview: Janis Blower at South Shields Customs House

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An Afternoon with Janis Blower

South Shields Customs House

Sunday 24^th January 2016

Former Gazette reporter and Cookson Country writer Janis Blower will be telling all at a special event this weekend. The much-loved historian will be looking back at South Tyneside’s history at The Customs House in South Shields at 5pm on Sunday.

The event, An Afternoon with Janis Blower, will include afternoon tea and will feature tales from across South Tyneside and through the ages.

Customs House Executive Director Ray Spencer said: “Janis is a legend and we’re thrilled to have her with us this weekend. “She has the most amazing knowledge of the area and I think this Sunday’s event will be extremely interesting.”

Janis retired from The Shields Gazette last year after 44 years with the newspaper. During her retirement Janis has written a book charting The Customs House’s 150 year history, which will also be available to buy on the day.

The book, which is called The Little Theatre with the Big History, was researched by South Shields Local History Group and is £4.

Janis said: “It was really interesting for the Local History Society and I to explore the origins of the Customs House and to chart how it evolved into, first, the heart of the town's seafaring community, as the Mercantile Marine office, and then of the borough's cultural landscape.

"For me, with the centre of Shields on the cusp of far-reaching redevelopment, it's also a timely reminder of how much we should treasure our historic buildings, and of how - with flair and imagination - they can be found new roles.

"I hope people enjoy reading about the building's fascinating history and its place in the wider narrative of Shields's maritime and cultural identity."

Tickets:

Tickets for An Afternoon with Janis Blower is £15.95 and includes afternoon tea. For more information or to book tickets visit www.customshouse.co.uk or contact the box office on 0191 454 1234.

Preview: Alice in Wonderland at South Shields Customs House

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Alice and The Customs House

Celebrate 150 years!

Alice in Wonderland

South Shields Customs House

Tuesday 1^st December 2015 to Saturday 9^th January 2016.

Alice 150: Natasha Haws as Alice blows out the birthday candles

It was celebrations all round at The Customs House theatre this week.

The venue in South Shields is staging a lavish production of Alice in Wonderland, which celebrated its 150^th anniversary on Thursday 26^thNovember, as its annual pantomime. 

The theatre chose Lewis Carroll's zany tale as it too is celebrating 150 years this year since the building first opened its doors as a customs port in 1865.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party: 

Natasha Haws and Steven Lee Hamilton

Customs House Executive Director Ray Spencer, who directs, co-writes and stars in the annual festive show, said: "Alice in Wonderland was the obvious choice for this year's pantomime.  “It’s a fantastic story with very colourful characters who really lend themselves to the art of pantomime. And, as some of the story was written in South Tyneside, we felt we had to really celebrate our link to one of literature’s greatest and most iconic tales. Come take a trip to a winter wonderland this Christmas."

Alice and White Rabbit: 

Luke Maddison and Natasha Haws

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published in November 26, 1865 and tells the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world.

It was written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll and it is said he wrote famous poems Jabberwocky and The Walrus and the Carpenter while visiting family in Whitburn.

The Customs House is also adding to the madness of Carroll’s world with Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties throughout the festive season. On December 6, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 and 30, children will be able to enjoy special parties with an afternoon tea, party games, entertainment and an opportunity for a meet and greet with some of the panto cast members.

Read the original preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/preview-alice-in-wonderland-at-south.html

Dame: Ray Spencer as The Duchess

Tickets:

Alice in Wonderland, sponsored by Hays Travel, is at The Customs House from Tuesday 1^st December 2015 to January 9^th.

Tickets for the pantomime and Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties start from £9 and are available from the box office on 0191 454 1234 or from www.customshouse.co.uk.

For exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, competitions and all the latest news in Wonderland follow #BigHeart @thecustomshouse.

Cast:

Anne-Marie Owens – Queen of Hearts

Ray Spencer – Duchess

Natasha Haws – Alice

Steven Lee Hamilton – Mad Hatter

Luke Maddison – White Rabbit

Afnan Iftikhar – Knave of Hearts

Stephen Sullivan – King of Hearts & Mad March Hare

Kylie Ann Ford – Dormouse

Craig Richardson – Tweedle Dum

Gareth Hunter – Tweedle Dee

Review: The Duke in the Cupboard at South Shields Customs House

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Benwell’s Most Wanted

Appears at The Customs House

The Duke in the Cupboard

South Shields Customs House

Until Saturday 10^th October 2015

 

Playwright Susan Wear digs deep into the true story of one of the world’s greatest art theft mysteries after it is released from the National Archives in 2012. So did a retired bus driver from Benwell steal the latest star picture to hang in the National Gallery? And what was his motivation? 

1961 was a different time. You could retire with a pension but the perks of old age were few and far between. No free bus passes or cheap seats at the cinemas for the generation that fought in the wars. They even had to pay for their TV licences. Such a concept seems to have outraged Benwell resident Kempton Bunton so much he decides to make a stand. Despite only watching ITV he finds himself foul of the law by not buying a TV licence. Refusal to pay the resultant fine puts him in prison for a short time. Unrepentant, he still wants to make a protest when he stops his incarceration.

When the government finds the £140 000 to secure a painting of the Duke of Wellington for the nation Kempton is outraged. This puts him on collision course with not just the police but also the British establishment.

The play centres around Kempton and his long suffering wife May. Both parts benefit from the superb acting of Graham Overton and Zoe Lambert. Graham plays the cantankerous Kempton who clearly loves his wife but has a real bee in his bonnet about what is right. Likewise Zoe shows how strong the lady in his life had to be. Their stage chemistry was a real highlight of the show.

Supporting Graham and Zoe is Stephen Gregory as their son John and Tom Machell as the young reporter Bill Chester. BBC Look North’s Jeff Brown also pops onto the tv screen to report the national news which was a nice touch.

The change of pace as the show broke the fourth wall at the end of the first half is a masterstroke by director Katy Weir. The entry of Adam Donaldson and Scott Ellis lightened the mood as the interval approached.

The Duke In The Cupboard is yet another premiere at South Shields Customs House that captures the stories and the spirit of this region. Their work in this regard needs to be acknowledged and the theatre continues to play a significant role in Tyneside’s cultural scene.

The Duke is a warm, light hearted play that highlights the frustrations of the individual battling against the system. Susan Wear should be very proud of her first play and Executive Director Ray Spencer needs commending for spotting the talent.

See the show before Saturday - It’d be criminal to miss it!

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

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/preview-duke-in-cupboard-at-south.html

Tickets:

Tickets are available from The Customs House Box Office, South Shields, tel 0191 4541234 or buy tickets on line at http://www.customshouse.co.uk/whats-on/Theatre/1933/the-duke-in-the-cupboard

Preview: The Disappearance Of Dorothy Lawrence at South Shields Customs House

 Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuideand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide.  Read about JoWhereToGo and its PR and photography services here.

The Disappearance Of Dorothy Lawrence

South Shields Customs House

Thursday 17^th September 2015

A new play by award-winning theatre artist Julie McNamara directed by Paulette Randall MBE explores the remarkable stories of the silenced First World War correspondent Dorothy Lawrence.

It’s 1915. England is at war. Journalist Dorothy Lawrence aims to become War Correspondent, cycles to the frontline in France never to be seen in public again.

Vital Xposure interrogates the ways society deals with women who step out of line.

A cast of four with subtitling, filmed BSL narrative and audio-visual elements leads the audience back in time to explore themes of inequality and power that still resonate today.

Vital Xposure is a bold, dynamic, disability-led production company operating under the creative leadership of Julie McNamara, who has just completed a 19-month tour of her latest show Let Me Stay. Vital Xposure promotes hidden voices with extraordinary stories to tell. The company creates exciting, innovative theatrical experiences for audiences, artists and communities alike. All our work is inclusive and BSL integrated. Vital Xposure is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.

An interview with Julie McNamara and Paulette Randall can be read on The Public Reviews: http://www.thepublicreviews.com/interview-julie-mcnamara-and-paulette-randall/

Cast:

Penelope Freeman, Suni La, Gareth Turkington, Simon Balcon with filmed sequences featuring Matthew Gurney and Becky Allen

Creatives:

Directed by Paulette Randall MBE

Written by Julie McNamara

Design by Libby Watson

Lighting Design by Crin Claxton

Visuals by Caglar Kimyoncu

Produced by Vital Xposure with David Duchin

On The Web:

Website: www.vitalxposure.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vitalxposure

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VitalXposure

Tickets:

Thursday 17^th September 2015

South Shields Customs House

Mill Dam, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE33 1ES Website: http://www.customshouse.co.uk/whats-on/Theatre/2025/the-disappearance-of-dorothy-lawrence

Box Office 0191 454 1234 Tickets £12/£10

Tour:

11 & 12 September Arena Theatre, WOLVERHAMPTON University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE www.wlv.ac.uk/arena-theatre Box Office 01902 321 321 Tickets £10/£8

17 September Customs House, SOUTH SHIELDS Mill Dam, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE33 1ES www.customshouse.co.uk  Box Office 0191 454 1234 Tickets £12/£10

22 – 26 September Pleasance Theatre, LONDON Carpenters Mews, North Road N7 9EF www.pleasance.co.uk Box Office 020 7609 1800 Tickets £12/£10

29 & 30 September Dugdale Centre, LONDON 39 London Road, Enfield EN2 6DS

www.enfield.gov.uk/millfield  Box Office 020 8807 6680 Tickets £16 (concessions £14) or £14 (£13) online

2 October New Wolsey Theatre, IPSWICH Civic Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2AS www.wolseytheatre.co.uk  Box Office 01473 295900 Tickets from £10 (concessions for under 26s & disabled companion £10, British Sign Language User £10-15)

Pre-show talk: Suffragette ‘Hotbloods’: The Pre-War Militants 2 Oct 6pm Tickets £5

7 & 8 October Salisbury Arts Centre Bedwin Street, Salisbury SP1 3UT www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk Box Office 01722 321744 Tickets £10

Review: Cinder Path at South Shields Customs House

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World Premiere of Cookson Classic

The Cinder Path

South Shields Customs House

Wednesday 9^th to Saturday 12^th September 2015.

Fresh off the heels of Geordie The Musical (North East Theatre Guide review) comes a hit drama based a story by one of the regions most successful authors. Catherine Cookson’s tale pulls together the friction caused by battles between classes, sexes and countries and wraps it up in a tender love story.

Photo: George Knox

Paul Dunn has adapted the popular novel into a tight drama that went down a storm to a packed Customs House.  Central to the drama is young Charlie Macfell, played by the versatile Jamie Brown, who rarely leaves the stage.  Charlie may be at school but his father is both trying to marry him off and ensure he is capable of running their farm. He doesn’t approve of some of the harsh ways in which he deals with his staff.

Photo: George Knox

As landlord to some of his staff, his Father is able to wield considerable power. At the start of the show we witness the lad from the workhouse, Ginger Slater, being punished on the cinder path for his apparent laziness.  As is often the case, what goes round, comes around and we also see Ginger grow as the plot develops. James Hedley does a great job as the lad makes the most of his opportunities.

Photo: George Knox

Of course Cookson always develops strong female characters.  Sarah Boulter has great pathos as Nellie. She is able to show empathy whilst never being weak. At times Charlie’s inexperience makes the character comes across like Fast Shows Ralph from the Ralph and Ted sketches. The ladies in Charlie’s life are instrumental in the decisions that he makes and the path that he follows. However, as Charlie heads off to fight in The Great War, he grows in maturity though many events are beyond his control, such is the nature of war.

Photo: George Knox

The Cinder Path features a strong supporting cast who perform a large variety of demanding roles. Paul Dunn, for example, was the aggressive Dad in one scene and the solicitor shortly after.  Rosie Fox, Anna Nicholson and Georgia Nicholson play the other women, and some of the soldiers, in Charlie’s life with a wonderful presence. Paul is joined by Steven Stobbs who plays a number of allies to the sometimes hapless Charlie.

Photo: George Knox

The much missed Jackie Fielding was directing the show with Ion Production’s Gareth Hunter until her untimely death. The creative pair have delivered a passionate play that has both comedic lighter moments and some pretty intense points.   The movement of the cast, particularly during the war battle scenes was fluid.

Jamie Brown leads a strong cast in a production which is a must for the many fans of South Shield’s born Catherine Cookson. The show represents another cracking world premiere at South Shield’s Customs House.

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

Read the North East Theatre Guide Preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/preview-cinder-path-at-south-shields.html

Tickets:

Photo: George Knox

The Cinder Path runs from Wednesday 9^thto Saturday 12^th September 2015at the Customs House with matinees on the 10^th and 12^th. For tickets contact The Customs House on 0191 4541234 or visit www.customshouse.co.uk.

Promo photography by George Knox (weblink)

Preview: Duke in the Cupboard at South Shields Customs House

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STORY OF NOTORIOUS ARTHEIST - PREMIERE AT THE CUSTOMS HOUSE

The Duke in the Cupboard

South Shields Customs House

Wednesday 7^th – Saturday 10^th October 2015

The true story of one of the world’s greatest art theft mysteries is finally being told in a play – 50 years after a Newcastle man confessed to stealing the masterpiece.

The play has been written by Susan Wear, from Jarrow, South Tyneside, who became fascinated with the story in 2012 when secret Director of Public Prosecution papers relating to the case were finally released from the National Archives.

She spent two years researching and writing the play ‘The Duke in the Cupboard’ and is the first she has had produced.  It will be performed at The Customs House, South Shields, from Wednesday October 7 to Saturday October 10.

In 1961 Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington was stolen from the National Gallery in London.  Four years later, Kempton Bunton, a 61-year-old unemployed former bus driver from Benwell, Newcastle, confessed to the theft. 

Scotland Yard detectives found it hard to believe the overweight, bespectacled Geordie was the criminal mastermind who had outwitted the gallery’s sophisticated security and bamboozled Scotland Yard detectives, taunting them with ransom letters in the national newspapers.

The case sparked a national sensation and became so famous it featured briefly in Dr No, the first James Bond film, in 1962.

“I felt compelled to keep going and uncover the incredible twists and turns of this story much of which has not been told before,” said Susan, who works for the Port of Tyne.  “It is about one man taking on the establishment – the police, the art world, the Government, and the press - for a good cause.  His long-suffering wife supported him through it all and the play is about her story too.”

The play is directed by Katy Weir, joint artistic director of OddManOut, a new-writing company based in Darlington. She was thrilled to be asked to direct 'The Duke in the Cupboard' and still finds it hard to believe it was a true story.   “Susan has done a brilliant job capturing the essence of a fascinating piece of North-East history,” she said.  “This play has a little bit of everything:  love, upset, anger, intrigue, and a sprinkle of comedy.  I hope it gets the audience it deserves”.

Ray Spencer MBE, Director of The Customs House, said: “This is an incredible story and we are delighted to give this piece of new writing its first airing at The Customs House, and I think our audiences are going to enjoy it.”

Tickets:

Tickets are available from The Customs House Box Office, South Shields, tel 0191 4541234 or buy tickets on line at http://www.customshouse.co.uk/whats-on/Theatre/1933/the-duke-in-the-cupboard