Preview: Iris at Newcastle Live Theatre

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World Premiere Comes To

Newcastle Venue

Iris by Alison Carr

Newcastle Live Theatre

Wednesday 6^th to Saturday 30^th April 2016

From Wednesday 6^th to Saturday 30^th April, Newcastle playwright Alison Carr brings her heady world of caustic humour and tender pathos to Live Theatre for the world premiere of Iris. Directed by Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Max Roberts, Iris is Alison’s first full-length play to be presented on Live Theatre’s main stage.

Iris is a three-hander that follows the relationship of sisters Julie and Ruby who are coming to terms with the death of their mother Iris. This formidable matriarch manages to control their lives from beyond the grave. On the night of the funeral, Julie gets off with Gerry, a crime scene cleaner. Maybe that’ll help. It doesn’t.

When their mother’s unusual bequest unearths a story that leaves some indelible marks, something more than a deep clean is needed.

As Live Theatre’s Literary Manager Gez Casey explains:  “Alison Carr has a distinct and individual voice as a playwright – witty, quirky and engaging. Following her previous work for Live Theatre, including The Girls From Poppyfield Close and The Soaking of Vera Shrimp in our Studio Theatre, I’m delighted that audiences will be able to see her first full commission in the Main House.”

Iris was first seen at Live Theatre as a play called The Day We Rode the Shuggy Boat when a short extract was presented at the theatre in 2012.

As Alison explains:  "My first piece of writing performed at Live Theatre was part of Short Cuts in 2002. Ten years later an extract from the script that became Iris was showcased as part of the final Short Cuts event. In the decade in-between I have worked with Live Theatre on a variety of projects including The Girls From Poppyfield Close, Paines Plough's Come To Where I’m From and Boys on the Edge. Live Theatre is where I first met and worked with Rosie Kellagher, and we went on to win the Live Lab and The Empty Space Bursary Award and take The Soaking of Vera Shrimp to the Edinburgh Festival  Fringe last year. Seeing Iris on the main stage at Live is the culmination of a long-held ambition and I am incredibly excited to start rehearsals and for audiences to see the play."

Alison’s relationship with Live Theatre began in 2002 when she assisted Jeremy Herrin in directing Double Lives by Julia Darling and Sean O’Brien. In the same year Alison wrote her first short play for the company called Yellow (part of Short Cuts), which was also directed by Jeremy Herrin. In 2003 Alison also took part in Live Theatre’s popular Introduction to Playwriting course to hone her playwriting craft.
 

Since then Alison has gone on to write numerous plays for Live Theatre including Come to Where I’m From (Paines Plough), The Girls From Poppyfield Close, When It’s Gone (part of nabakov’s Present:Tense) and Ten Tiny Tyneside Plays. Alison has also worked with Live Theatre’s Education and Participation team as a dramaturge for their Write Stuffprogramme, which works with young people still in education to develop their writing and literacy skills.

Notably in 2013, Alison won Live Theatre’s 40^th Anniversary Bursary for her heart-warming one woman show The Soaking of Vera Shrimp. The show was described by The Telegraph as ‘achingly beautiful and utterly compelling’ when it later toured to the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Iris is the third production supported by the Friends of Live Theatre. The Friends membership scheme enables individuals who are passionate about Live Theatre’s work to make a tangible difference and get closer to work the company produces. Through regular financial contributions Friends play a pivotal role in unlocking creative talent and supporting emerging playwrights such as Alison Carr.

Friends have special access to exclusive behind-the-scenes events which this year include a series of play-development events around Iris following the play from script to stage. On Wednesday 6 April and Saturday 9 April Friends of Live Theatre can benefit from 241 tickets to see the show.

On Saturday 9 April audiences can join Alison, following the 2pm matinee performance, for the Meet the Writer event where she’ll discuss the making of the play.

Tickets:
Tickets for Iris cost £22-£10 full price, £22-£12 over 60s and £15-£6 for other concessions. For more information or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact the box office on (0191) 232 1232.

Review: Turning Pages at Newcastle Live Theatre

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Six exciting short plays by young writers from Gateshead & Sunderland

                                             
Turning Pages
Newcastle Live Theatre
Saturday 5^th December 2015

The Live Theatre Write Stuff project has produced six little gems that show how creative young people can be. Professional actors perform in an eclectic mix of stories. This is the generation that plays games consoles, use their mobiles as torches and watch the likes of the Hostel and Saw movies.

An inventive set and great lighting design provide a number of tricks of the theatre trade to bring these stories alive. The real power though, is in the scripts themselves, as each play ultimately looks into relationships.

Photo: Chris Auld.

Memories Of The Sea by Amy Connor from Sunderland’s Red House Academy sets out the stall well for the evening. Adam Donaldson plays a lad who is looking for work. He has applied for many jobs but he is struggling to get his foot on the first rung of the ladder. He meets up with his Nan in one of his favourite spots, a bench with a sea view. Nan shares the contents of her box of memories whilst he is disturbed by the idea that Nan was once also a young passionate person in love. There is a genuinely natural reaction by the grandson to the concept of the grandparent dating. The script makes mature use of a third offstage character- the lad’s Mam. Judi Earl shows the tenderness of a loving family relationship whilst staying in alpha position in the relation. Memories Of The Sea was a delightful start to proceedings and, like many of the evenings stories, it has the potential to be expanded into a full length play.

Photo: Chris Auld.

Scary House by Reece Weightman from Gateshead’s Furrowfield School was a change in direction and pace. A lad, played by Chris Foley, breaks into a house for a dare. He uses a mobile phone for light. The audience can only see what he sees as he decides to vandalise the place. This production really benefited from the clever lighting design. But what is that in the corner? Is it a clown? We know from Wet House (Review: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-wet-house-at-newcastle-live.html) that Chris Connel does scary very well and tonight he did not disappoint as the somewhat unhinged clown. Reece’s play has a sense of dark comedy about it and the audience were frequently in stitches about the situation as it unfolded.

Photo: Chris Auld.

Could It Be A Tuna? By Red House Academy’s Nathan Beckett showed the how a young playwright can sensitively handle a tough situation.  A 4 year old lad has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. The NHS has run out of funding and so his parents have just 2 options: raise the funds to get him to America for treatment or watch him die before he turns 6. Christina Berriman Dawson plays the egocentric mum who is loving the attention that is being drawn to her family by the media campaign. Tom Booth is the poor 4 year old who idolises his parents. He gets his phrases wrong – as a 4 year old does. The tumour is referred to as a “tuna” and the USA becomes “United of America”. Nathan’s dialogue accepts the perception of a young child about his future.  One could feel empathy for the poor friendless lad who relies totally on his parents. The young parent too, at times, is also childish in her attitude. This was another show in which the audience clearly enjoyed the lighter moments in an interesting study of the human condition.

Photo: Chris Auld.

Furrowfield School’s Leonnie Lartey wrote Soulless and Goalless in which 18 year old Pamela Kingsley has moved into a new house.  Natalie Golightly plays the self obsessed teenager who feels that she will have a career as a singer. Once again, much to the audience’s surprise, a great trick of the lighting reveals Natalie Jamieson as the ghost of the house. The make up on the mischievous 7 year is stunning. The characters show a real mismatch in the expectations and attitude of Victorian children with their modern counterparts. The dark humour comes from the careful handling of the characters. Leonnie’s play finished the first half on a high. The ending shows a real creative flair that would have not been out of place in Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected.

Photo: Chris Auld.

The second set opened with Doctor Death from Furrowfield School’s Lee Harrison. Matt Jamie plays the game loving first aider on the building site of a new hospital. He is busy playing on his X-box when his boss comes in. The boss is on the search for a couple of employees that seem to have disappeared recently. Michael Lockhart’s character is then led into a game by Matt’s menacing character. Lee’s play has a number of surprises which unfold as the game proceeds. Certainly it has put this reviewer off mint tea.

Photo: Chris Auld.

Finishing the show was Never Never Land by Lauren Dickson. The Red House Academy student makes references to J.M.Barrie’s Peter Pan as she explores the desire to stay youthful. Set in 2071, Chris Foley is a 14 year old who is too grown up to listen to bed-time stories. But Donald McBride’s Grandad character is keen to give him a warning from the past as he recalls how everyone was willing to make sacrifices to stay young back in 2020. Both actors have a field day as they explore the ridiculous pursuit of the perfect body image.  Lauren’s cautionary tale is timely and heart-felt.

Credit must go to everyone who has had a hand in putting these shows on the stage. The team of professionals at Live Theatre, as well as the families and schools of the young creators of the plays must be justifiably proud.

Designer Alison Ashton, lighting designer Drummond Orr, costume designer Lou Duffy and sound designer Dave Flynn have each added their polish to a great evening. The show has the most creative use of a bed in the set design as it took part in numerous ways.

Each play has the potential for development into a longer piece. They show a much broader outlook, by the young writers, on the world than older observers may give them credit for. Their voice is authentically young whilst their observations and wit are sharply focussed. The Live Theatre continues, successfully, to develop the writers of the future. The world of culture is a better place for it.

The plays written by students from Furrowfield School in

Gateshead are Doctor Death by Lee Harrison, Soulless and Goalless by Leonnie Lartey and Scary House by Reece Weightman. The plays written by students from Red House Academy in Sunderland are Could It Be A Tuna? by Nathan Beckett, Memories Of The Sea by Amy Connor, and Never Never Land by Lauren Dickson. 

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 preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/preview-turning-pages-at-newcastle-live.html

Coming up at Live Theatre:

Next season Live Theatre has a selection of productions suitable for families and young people. You can see the next set of plays by young writers, as they are performed for the first time as script-in-hand performances in the Studio Theatre at 7.30pm on Friday 4 March as pupils from The Northumberland Church of England Academy take part in Write Stuff. In The Media Circus at 7.30pm on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 March, members of Live's Youth Theatre present imagainative short plays about the good, the bad and the ugly side of media presence in young people's lives. Find out more.

For more information and to buy tickets costing £8 and £6 concessions call Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or see www.live.org.uk.

North East Theatre Guide Preview of the new season at Live Theatre: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/live-theatres-january-to-june-2016.html

 

Review: Day of the Flymo at Newcastle Live Theatre

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“We cannot give up because it’s hard”

Day of the Flymo

Newcastle Live Theatre 

Until Saturday 21^st November 2015

Award winning playwright Paddy Campbell’s second play returns to the Live Theatre after it’s sell out run in April 2015. His first play Wet House was stunning (Wet House: NETG Review LINK) so will his second play live up to the high expectations?

Kalem Patterson & Tezney Mulroy

Liam is a 13 year old boy who cannot see the point of school. He has been expelled because of his behaviour. Compounding the problems is the nature of his home life. He lives with his Mum, Karen, and Sister, Becca, whilst his Dad is away at her majesties pleasure at HMP Durham. Dad is violent, and one episode resulted in Liam ending up in care whilst Mum had to go into hospital. The family are known to social services and Ben is looking after the case.

The play is both powerful and emotional without ever going for the obvious sob story. Director Paul James uses Paddy Campbell’s text to explore a situation sympathetically without cliché nor unnecessary overacting. Hence it is remarkable that this is done using genuine school aged actors rather than recent graduates pretending to be 13.

The central star is 14 year old local lad Kalem Patterson, as the troubled Liam.  Kalem owns the role, warts and all.  He is able fill the stage with boundless enthusiasm and draw empathy from the Live Theatre audience.

Tezney Mulroy is magnificent as Liam’s sister Becca. She is the straight one who is battling to keep her family together and study for exams despite the home issues.  It is easy to feel compassion rather than pity as she tries to lead the family.

Completing the young line up is Sophie Pitches as the slightly older girl Clara, whom Liam has found is also avoiding school Clara befriends him after initially appearing aloof.

Tezney Mulroy,  Sophie Pitches and  Kalem Patterson

All three young actors do a wonderful job in roles that are central to the plot. Whilst their performances can be, at times raw, it is in keeping with the nature of the story and they show a degree of maturity in their portrayal.  They have the potential to be future stars in the making.

Supporting the young cast are Jill Dellow, as the mother who is struggling with life, and Akemnji Ndifornyen as the pragmatic social worker Ben.  Their on stage relationships with the children are believable and compassionate.  Jill draws real emotion as her character’s fragile existence hangs in the balance. The role of Ben also involves a degree of narration, as the case notes on Liam, and his family, are revealed. Akemnji holds the piece together nicely and without fuss.

Day of the Flymo examines the role of the state when it gets involved in family relationships. It does not preach or over dramatise the scenario. The result is a powerful, rich and compassionate show that is well worth seeking out.

Creatives:

Written by Paddy Campbell
Directed by Paul James
Assistant Director Rachel Glover

Set Design by Phil Green

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/preview-day-of-flymo-at-newcastle-live.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

Tickets

Day of the Flymo comes to Live Theatre from Thursday 12^th to Saturday 21^stNovember.

PERFORMANCES: Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm
MATINEE: Saturday 14 November, 2pm

For more information on Day of the Flymo and to buy tickets costing between £18 to £10, over 60s concessions from £16 to £12 and other concessions £10 to £6 call Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or see www.live.org.uk.

DURATION:  Approx 1hr 20mins
SUITABILITY: 13+, contains strong language and some scenes of violence

TICKETS: £18-£10, over 60s conc. £16-£12 other concs. £10-6

ASSISTED PERFORMANCES: 

BSL Tuesday 17 November, 7.30pm

Captioned Wednesday 18 November, 7.30pm

Touch Tour Thursday 19 November, 6pm

Audio Described Thursday 19 November, 7.30pm

Related Events: 

Tuesday 17 November, Approx 9pm (10 minutes after the end of the play) – Talkback

Join writer Paddy Campbell, director Paul James and the actors from the show as they talk about the process of bringing the show to the stage and discuss the issues raised in the play 

DATES: Tues 17 Nov, 9pm (10 minutes after the end of the play)
LOCATION: Main Theatre
DURATION:  Approx. 40mins
SUITABILITY: 13+
TICKETS: Free, booking essential

Preview: Mixtape: Halloween at Newcastle Live Theatre

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Mixtape: Halloween

Newcastle Live Theatre

Friday 30^th November 2015

Having played to sell-out audiences at the Underbelly (as part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Mixtape return to Live Theatre this October with a ‘graveyard smash’ Halloween edition of their bite-sized comedy show. Audiences are invited to grab their broomsticks, sharpen their fangs and polish their cauldrons ready for a night of remixed spooky tunes. Guess what songs inspire the ghoulish comedy sketches to be in with the chance of winning a special, limited edition, Halloween Mixtape.

On Friday 30^th October Mixtape perform their unique comedy quiz show inspired by music on Live Theatre’s main stage. The performers, called Mixtapers, take songs and using only the song’s lyrics create mini comedy sketches. The running time of the sketches must not be longer than the tracks that inspired them. The words from the songs can be reordered and repeated in any way that the Mixtape writers choose, but no additional words can be added to form the script (bar the occasional improvised ad-lib).

Mixtaper Amy Foley

Audiences can play along in teams, or individually, to be in with the chance of winning one of the highly coveted Golden Mixtape awards. To win players need to guess which song or band / solo artist inspired each short sketch. The team, or individual player, with the most correct answers will walk away with that night’s Golden Mixtape prize.

Mixtaper Steven Blackshaw

For this edition, audience members are encouraged to ‘dress to distress’ by wearing Halloween attire. The player or team with the best Halloween costume, as picked by the Mixtapers, will win some additional spooky prizes on the night.

Mixtaper Zoe Hakin

Conceived by theatre director and writer Melanie Rashbrooke, Mixtape is a fun night out which is written and performed by some of the most exciting writers and theatre makers around. In addition to the sketches written by Melanie each Mixtape also features a selection of sketches written by guest writers. For the Halloween edition these include Traverse 50 writer Alison Carr (Fat Alice, Traverse), Lee Mattinson (who won the Royal Exchange’s inaugural Hodgkiss Award in 2014), Nina Berry (Rendezvous, Live Theatre) and Live Theatre’s Creative Producer Graeme Thompson.

Mixtaper Chris Foley

Mixtape is the perfect night out for comedy, music, theatre and pub quiz fans. Don’t miss this night full of tricks, treats and things that go bump in the night!

The Mixtapers regularly upload comedy sound-bites, videos and images to their Twitter @ukmixtape and website www.mixtapetheatre.co.uk

Mixtape are a North East theatre company based in Newcastle upon Tyne. 

Join the conversation on Twitter #MixtapeHalloween

Tickets:

Mixtape comes to Newcastle’s Live Theatre on Friday 30^th October 2015 at 19.30 Full price: £8 Conc: £6

Tickets and details: http://www.live.org.uk/whats-on-book/mixtape-halloween

Booking online:

It’s easy to book tickets online, via this secure website. An average booking will take 5 minutes, tickets can be booked 24 hours a day, seven days a week and there is no booking fee. Tickets can be mailed out, at an extra charge of £1, or can be collected from the box office. https://www.live.org.uk/pp/performance?id=11989&syos=1

By phone or in person

Call Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or to book in person visit the theatre, situated on Broad Chare, just off Newcastle’s Quayside.

Box Office Opening Times:

Monday to Friday 10am to 5.30pm (10am to 8pmwhen there is an evening show)

Weekend evening show only 5 to 8pm

Weekend matinee days 12 to 8pm