Preview: SALAAM at Hexham Queens Hall

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SALAAM

Hexham Queens Hall Arts Centre

Wednesday 10^th February 2016

Internationally acclaimed South Asian artists Sonia and Sarvar Sabri are performing in Hexham for one night only!

Salaam meaning ‘peace’ is Sonia Sabri Company’s latest stunning creation. This double-bill programme cleverly weaves a dialogue between live music and Kathak dance, celebrating harmony, inner –stillness and the simple bliss of being alive.

Salaam combines a rare treat of Tabla music by world-renowned maestro, Sarvar Sabri. Sarvar performs outstanding compositions of rhythm, with complexity and speed, through his unique finger work. The talented Shoma Dey joins Sarvar Sabri and performs endearing musical patterns on the harmonium accompanied with powerful vocals, which fuel and vibrates a resonance in the performance.

Sonia presents sheer magic through expressive and rhythmic dance with live music. The audience are taken on a journey with Sonia’s poignant metaphorical narratives and through her command of intricate footwork; audiences will be in awe when watching Sonia’s eloquent gesture and rapid spins.

Salaam was originally created in response to the unrest around the world and aims to refocus and reminisce on all that is good. If you've ever wondered where beat-boxing and rapping originates from, this is a show that will reveal the roots and more wonders!

“Such an incredible musicality, it was impossible not to gaze in wonder and adoration... An uplifting crescendo of music and dance” (Dance Europe).

                                      

Tickets:

Tickets rage from £6-£13 and are available online from http://www.queenshall.co.uk/events/salaamor from the box office on 01434 652477.

Review: Calamity Jane at Hexham Queens Hall

Laughs In The Black Hills of Dakota

Calamity Jane

Hexham Queens Hall

16^th May 2015.

You wait for Calamity Jane to be staged and 2 productions come along at once. After the Calamity of the professional show earlier in the year it was the turn of the Hexham Amateur Stage Societyto stage the thigh slapping musical.

Based upon the 1953 film starring Doris Day and Howard Keel, the musical keeps the sense of place and good humour. Calamity Jane rides into Deadwood, South Dakota, full of stories of her exploits. Her friends accept that she is good at bending the truth in order to create a good tale. When the local bar owner mistakenly books male actor Francis, thinking he was booking entertainment with a female called Frances, she decides to help out. She heads to Chicago in order to persuade big star Adelaide Adams to come back to Deadwood to entertain her fans. Nothing is what it seems and Calamity brings an entertainer back to help out. 

Early signs were good as a tight eight piece band, under the musical direction of Warren Smith, started up at Queen’s Hall. As the curtain was raised the large ensemble filled the stage and raise the roof with The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away!). Kenny Toal, as Bill Hickock, and Clair Applegarth as Calamity Jane are both great singers who come across as very likeable characters. Along with Ruby Westlake as Katie Brown, they are immediately engaging and this helps the audience laugh along with the many humorous lines in the script. Special mention must go to Mike Routledge for his hilarious rendition of Hive Full of Honey.

The songs are memorable classics and delivered with zest. Under Elva Mason’s direction, the show whips along at a entertaining pace and it the two and a half hours quickly pass.

The show was full of brilliantly coloured dresses and sharp suits, loud bangs and big laughs. It was a delightfully fun show.

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

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

Preview: Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Complete History Of Comedy (abridged)

Reduced Shakespeare Company

The Complete History Of Comedy (abridged)

Written and Directed by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor

Spring/Summer UK Tour 2015 including:

Wednesday 4^th February             Durham Gala

Thursday 5^th February                   Hexham Queens Hall Arts

Friday 6th February                       Kendal Brewery Arts Centre

Thursday 12^th February                 Middlesbrough Theatre

“This show proves (the Reduced Shakespeare Company) have not lost their touch - or their remarkable energy.”  The Stage (2014)

Following a hugely successful, critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 the Reduced Shakespeare Company will set out to reduce the UK to tears of laughter in Spring 2015. Yes that’s right, the bad boys of abridgementwill finally tackle the subject they were born to reduce. From the high-brow to the low, The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) covers comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin.

The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)is far more affordable than tickets to an amusement park, but you’ll still come away with the same feeling of nausea and motion sickness. From cavemen telling “Rock Rock” jokes to Chris Rock and everything in-between, the Company leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes.

The Reduced Shakespeare Companyis a three-man comedy troupe that takes long, serious subjects and reduces them to short, sharp comedies.

Since 1981, ‘The Bad Boys of Abridgement’ have created nine stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots and numerous radio pieces – all of which have been performed, seen, heard and translated into Klingon the world over.

The company’s first three shows, TheComplete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), TheComplete History of America (abridged)and TheBible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)enjoyed a nine-year run at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. Not only were they London’s longest-running comedies, but at one point the Reduced Shakespeare Company had more shows running in the West Endthan Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some of them were funnier too…

The company were last seen on a four month t+our of the UKand Irelandwith The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) at the start of 2014. Before that a whirlwind eight month tour of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) played to packed houses throughout the UKand London’s West End throughout 2013. Prior to this the “other RSC” were wowing the UK with their highly successful Complete World of Sports (abridged), which toured the country before completing a season in London’s West End during the 2012 Olympics.

WARNING! Side-effects may include uncontrollable milking and painful running gags. 

“The trio deliver 70 minutes filled with laughter to a delighted audience.”

British Theatre Guide (2014)

On The Web:

Website:           www.reducedshakespeare.com

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/reduced

Facebook:        www.facebook.com

Tickets:

Wednesday 4^th February Durham Gala Box Office: 0191 332 4041 www.galadurham.co.uk

Thursday 5^th February Hexham Queens Hall Arts Centre Box Office: 01434 652 477 www.queenshall.co.uk

Friday 6th February Kendal The Brewery Arts Centre Box Office:  01539 725 133  www.breweryarts.co.uk  

Thursday 12^th February Middlesbrough Theatre Box Office: 01642 815181  www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Preview: Donna Disco - On Tour

Donna Disco

Chicken Pox Fox Productions

On Tour

‘A tour de force of writing, actingand directing’ *****Three Weeks

Written by                    Lee Mattinson  

Directed by                 Laura Lindow

Performed by              Paula Penman

For anyone who ever thought thatbeing fourteen was easy...

Donna is fourteen, clumsy and fat. She’s bland, bespectacled and, if she’d ever heard of The Beautiful South, she’d adore them.

She also has a new school project, to source a stranger’s story and present her findings at the annual Christmas Pageant. And so Donna takes it upon herself to befriend the colourful cross-dressing butcher from downstairs.

But when her mother goes AWOL and an innocent crush on a local pretty boy goes hideously wrong, Donna’s world begins to disband and the disco that plays in her heart is in danger of grinding to a glittering, gobsmacking halt.

Originally commissioned by Live Theatre and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England & supported by The Empty Space and Dance City through This Way up.

Chicken Pox Fox is a show and tell theatre company founded in 2010 by writer Lee Mattinson and performer Paula Penman.  Their first show Donna Disco was produced to critical acclaim in 2011 and our most recent one woman show premiered at the Bush Theatre’s RADAR Festival in 2013. They are currently working on a mockumentary film project, a country and western musical and a multi-narrative project for radio.

Running time      60mins

                             No Interval

Links

Web                     www.chickenpoxfox.com

Twitter                 https://twitter.com/chickenpoxfox  

Facebook           www.facebook.com/chickenpoxfox

February
26th-28th @ 7.30pm  Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne – 0191 232 1232 / bookonline
March
4th @ 7.30pm The Place Theatre, Bedford – 01234 354 321 / bookonline
5th @ 8pm Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury – 01743 281 281 / book online
10th@ 7.30pm Stage, Leeds – 0113 343 8730 / bookonline
13th @ 7.30pm Assembly Rooms, Tamworth – 01827 709 618 / book online
15th @ 7.30pm New Diorama Theatre, London -0207 383 9034 / bookonline
17th @ 7.30pm Capstone Theatre, Liverpool – 0844 8000 410 / book online
19th @ 7.45pm Cast, Doncaster – 01302 303 959 / book online
20th @ 8pm Hull Truck Theatre, Hull – 01482 323 638 / book online
24th-25th @ 8pm Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham – 01434 652 477 / bookonline
28th @ 7.30pm The Western, Leicester – bookonline

Preview: Heaven Eyes at Hexham Queens Hall

Théâtre Sans Frontières presents

Heaven Eyes.

A play based on the novel by the internationally renowned writer David Almond. In partnership with Alnwick Playhouse

Heaven Eyes

Hexham Queens Hall

Tuesday 21^st October 2014.

Adapted for the stage by internationally acclaimed children’s author, David Almond (Skellig), Heaven Eyes is a poetic but gritty story about young people trying to find their way in the world.

Three orphaned teenagers (Erin, January, Mouse) run away from the children’s home they live in. They sail down the Tyne on a home-made raft and get stuck on mudflats in the Ouseburn area. Here they encounter a strange girl (Heaven Eyes) who speaks in pigeon English and is living with an old man, Grampa, whose jacket says “Caretaker” on it. The old man spends every evening digging in the mud flats looking for treasures. Mouse joins him. January distrusts the old man and thinks he is going to murder them all. Erin makes friends with Heaven Eyes. As tension mounts between the group, January discovers a photo of Heaven Eyes with her family and finally they begin to learn the truth of her past.

“Almond’s eerie tale is an astonishing piece of writing” The Guardian

Based in Northumberland, David Almond has won numerous awards for his work, including the Whitbread Children’s Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for his first novel Skellig, the internationally prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2010 and in 2013 the Eleanor Farjeon Award.

Heaven Eyes was first performed on stage by Pop Up Theatre Company at the Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh in August 2005. TSF has worked closely with David Almond on this latest production, collaborating fully on interpretation and any text or scene changes. The production, which runs approximately for one hour and 20 minutes and is suitable for everyone aged 9 years and over.

“So wonderful to see the story recreated and brought to life again”
David Almond in rehearsals with TSF

Performing in Heaven Eyes is TSF regular Paddy Burton (La Pelota Mágica, Contes Dorés, Canary Gold), TSF’s Joint Artistic Director Sarah Kemp and Robert Nicholson (If It’s Not On, It’s Not On). Joining them for the first time are Maria Lindh from Sweden, and Tyneside actors Natalie Ann Jamieson and Lawrence Neale.

The show is directed by TSF’s joint artistic directors John Cobb and Sarah Kemp. The set and costumes are designed by Alison Ashton (Canary Gold, Les Aventures de Lapin) and the music is composed by Ken Patterson (Les Aventures de Lapin, Round the World in 80 Minutes).

Tickets:

Heaven Eyes is at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham on Tuesday 21 October at 1.15pm & 7.00pm. Tickets are £5.00 - £12.00 and are available from the Queen’s Hall Box Office 01434 652477 or online at www.queenshall.co.uk

Following the performance, there will be a Q&A session with David Almond, as well as a book signing.

On the web:

Website: www.tsf.org.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theatresansf

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

On Tour:

Thu, 16/10/2014         1.15pm & 7pm           Alnwick Playhouse    

Fri, 17/10/2014           10am                            Alnwick Playhouse

Sat, 18/10/2014          7pm                             Eastgate Theatre, Peebles

Tue, 21/10/2014         1.15pm & 7pm           Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham

Thu, 23/10/2014         1.30pm & 7pm           Arts Centre Washington

Tue, 28/10/2014         2.30pm & 6pm           Juice Festival - Caedmon Hall, Gateshead

Wed, 29/10/2014       10.30am                      Juice Festival - Caedmon Hall, Gateshead

Fri, 07/11/2014           10am & 1.15pm         The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth

Tue, 11/11/2014         1.30pm                        The Phoenix, Blyth

Review: Money The Gameshow at Hexham Queens Hall

What’s the value of money?

Money The Gameshow

Hexham Queens Hall

Until 25^thSeptember then on tour

The bursting of the banking bubble affected us all back in 2008. Trying to produce an entertaining production about the causes of a financial disaster may not appear to be the material of a riveting yet extremely entertaining production and yet Clare Duffy has managed to achieve the impossible. By merging the story of the mismanagement of extremely large sums of money with the format of an interactive game show Unlimited Theatre have produced some quality theatre.

The audience are split into two competing teams: the gregarious Queenie leads one team whilst the risk taking Casino takes the other. Suzanne Robertson uses her charisma to encourage the audience, in her Queenie team, onto the stage to take part in challenges. Stuart Ryan, as Casino, has the competitive streak to match that of his female counterpart.  By using a set of straightforward games, the nature of the various banking gambles are explained as each team tries to get its share of the £10, 000 of real pound coins that start the show on the stage. 

It is real credit to the actors that people are made to feel at ease and never pushed to do anything that they don’t want to do – this is an interactive show that is not about embarrassing anyone other than the bankers and fund managers in the story.

The set and the lighting help make the scene feel more like a tv game show set than a theatre.  Just like a show on the box, the pace is rapid helping the time to fly by.

The production is a startling reminder of the collective belief that money has real value and in the ability of the few to make rash decisions with the property of the many.  As the show draws the audience in, it is able both entertain and educate. This is a great production as it leaves you pondering the serious questions as you leave. The end product is a thoroughly entertaining evening of which Unlimited Theatre can be justifiably proud.

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

Written and directed by: Clare Duffy

Assistant Director: Jenna Watt

Performed by: Suzanne Robertson (Queenie) and Stuart Ryan (Casino)

Designer: Rhys Jarman

Lighting Designer: Richard Godin

Sound Designer: Matt Angove

Original Music by: David Edwards

Stage Management by: Simon Perkins

An Unlimited Theatre and Bush Theatre co-production

On The Web:

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/93383644

Website: www.unlimited.org.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/untheatre

#moneygameshow

Tour Dates:

Bishop Auckland Town Hall – 22 September

Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham – 24 & 25 September

Saltburn Community Theatre – 26 September

Seaton Delaval Arts Centre – 27 September

The Customs House, South Shields – 29 & 30 September

Arts Centre Washington – 2 October

Alnwick Playhouse – 3 October

ARC Stockton Arts Centre – 8 & 9 October

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre – 10 & 11 October

For booking information see: http://www.unlimited.org.uk/performance-calendar/