Preview: The Business Of Murder at Darlington Civic Theatre

 A Night At The Theatre Where

Murder Is On The Agenda

The Business Of Murder

Darlington Civic Theatre

Tuesday February 10 to Saturday February 14 2015

A night of mystery and murder is guaranteed as Middle Ground Theatre Company present Richard Harris' acclaimed psychological thriller The Business of Murder, which enjoyed a successful 9-year run in the West End.

Stone, a humourless and dour man, invites Dee, a television playwright, over to his flat on the premise of discussing a script. Once there, she is surprised when superintendent Hallett, the man with whom she is having an affair, also arrives for an entirely different reason.

But nothing is as it seems, and as the plot twists and turns the motive of their host Stone gradually becomes clear. They are all, it would seem, in the same business.... The Business of Murder.

Starring Robert Gwilym, known by millions for his role as Dr Max Gallagher in Casualty, alongside Paul Opacic (a regular in Bad Girls, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks) and Joanna Higson, who played Maxine Donnelly for two series of Shameless and is currently appearing as Vicky Hall in BBC TV's WPC56.

Tickets:

The Business of Murder runs at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday February 10 to Saturday February 14. Tickets* are priced from £17

Evenings 7.30pm, Matinees Thu 2pm, Sat 2.30pm

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk  

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

Special Events

Free post show talk Wednesday - Stay behind after the show to take part in a Q&A with some of the cast. Booking not necessary.

Review: Stepping Out at Newcastle Peoples Theatre

Escaping reality…through dance

Stepping Out

By Richard Harris

Newcastle Peoples Theatre

Until Saturday 21^st June 2014.

Everyone has issues. Everyone has a need to escape those issues. Everyone wants to be acknowledged. Peoples Theatre’s latest play features an eclectic bunch who decide to do this through dance.

Mavis is the ex professional dancer who has decided to run the dance class for adults. Kath Frazer does a wonderful job in this role as the undervalued leader. Anne Havis appears as the pianist Mrs Frazer who knows it all. Throughout the story there is some attempt to suggest some of the characters back stories and their reasons for attending. The loan male participant is Geoffrey (Roger Liddle) though he is readily accepted by the others. We never find out where Maxine (Joanne Kelly) is sourcing the stuff she sells to the others; or why Andy(Emma Wass) seems to be so withdrawn. There are suggestions to the reasons why but plenty is left to the audience’s imagination – and it is probably better that way.

The story does look at how relationships strain when a group of strangers come together for a single purpose. As with real life, there are numerous light hearted moments as comedy can be found in many situations.

Director Sally-Anne Cooper and choreographer Julie Bowman have arranged numerous dance routines give the cast a chance to show-off their tap dancing skills. The confidence and ability improves as the show proceeds but that doesn’t stop the opportunity for some comedic moments.

The 8 dancers and their teacher do a superb job of dancing through the show, from the first steps as learners to the full “Top Hat” treatment of the grand finale.  The show features the professional hallmarks that one expects from Newcastle’s premier amateur theatre group.

Photos by Paula Smart: https://www.facebook.com/thejazzdevilphoto

 

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

STEPPING OUT by Richard Harris

DATE:             Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 June 2014

TIME:              7.30pm

VENUE:          The People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne,

NE6 5QF

TICKETS:        £12.50 (Concessions £10)
TELE:               0191 265 5020
WEBSITE:       www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

Preview: Stepping Out by Richard Harris at Newcastle Peoples Theatre

“And it’s 5,6,7,8 ...”

Stepping Out
Newcastle Peoples Theatre
Tuesday 17 June - Saturday 21 June 2014

The People’s Theatre prides itself on the variety it offers. So as well as regularly performing plays audiences might not have seen before they are also not adverse to some old favourites too.

 

Stepping Out Cast Photo: Paula Smart

From Tuesday 17^th June they present the Richard Harris toe-tapping comedy Stepping Out that charts the exploits of the Mavis Turner Tappers, a class of amateur hoofers who meet once a week in a scruffy church hall and who are forced to raise their game and work as a team when they are invited to take part in a big charity show.

 

Mavis (Kath Frazer) and Mrs Fraser (Anne Havis)

It’s a play so popular with People’s members and audiences that two of its cast are returning for a third time!  Anne Havis returns as acerbic pianist Mrs Fraser, while Roger Liddle reprises his role as the only man in the class, the rather hapless Geoffrey.  They are joined by eight actresses brand new to the play, and in some cases brand new to tap-dancing.

Because Stepping Out isn’t your usual production, as on top of the typical blocking and line learning there’s the added challenge of learning how to do the Time Step, the Maxi Ford, paradiddles and much more! Experience amongst the cast ranges from over ten years tapping to never having worn a tap shoe before lessons started in March. But under the patient tuition of choreographer Julie Bowman, Head of Dance at Central Newcastle High School, the routines have taken shape.   Julie comments, “it has been great fun to teach tap to the cast. They have worked very hard to learn and perform. I am delighted to be part of this company, and am looking forward to the show.”

 

Lynne (Jessica Chapman), Dorothy (Geffen Yoeli-Rimmer), Sylvia (Leigh Denley) and Rose (Eileen Davidson)

One of the great appeals of Stepping Out has got to be its characters. They’re a rag-tag bunch from different backgrounds and walks of life, each coming to the weekly class for their own different reasons.  Director Sally Cooper says “the people that we meet are so diverse and fabulous. They’re each juggling the traumas we all face in our daily journeys through life. Just about every problem of family, work, self-esteem, self-confidence and the decisions we make are represented.”

So The People’s Theatre is the place to be next week to see how Lynne, Dorothy, Maxine, Andy, Sylvia, Rose, Vera, Geoffrey, Mrs Fraser and Mavis cope with the steps - and each other - in this energetic, feel good comedy that is the ideal way to step (ball change) into summer!

 

Vera (Alison Carr), Maxine (Jo Kelly), Geoffrey (Roger Liddle) and Andy (Emma Wass)

Photos by Paula Smart: https://www.facebook.com/thejazzdevilphoto

 

STEPPING OUT by Richard Harris

DATE:              Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 June 2014

TIME:               7.30pm

VENUE:           The People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne,

NE6 5QF

TICKETS:          £12.50 (Concessions £10)
TELE:                0191 265 5020
WEBSITE:         www.peoplestheatre.co.uk