North East Theatre Guide

Looking at theatre and the arts across North East England, the North East Theatre Guide continues to celebrate culture in our region. If a link is labelled #Ad: Tickets are now available from one of our affiliate ticket suppliers. The ticket company will also be the official supplier of tickets for the event. This means we receive a small share of the sale. Clicking on these links helps us to cover the costs of producing the NE Theatre Guide free of charge to both our readers and theatres.

Showing posts with label Stephen Sullivan. Show all posts

05/12/2015

Review: Alice in Wonderland at South Shields Customs House

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuideand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide

Alice Is Simply The Best!

Alice in Wonderland

South Shields Customs House

Until Saturday 9^th January 2016.

What do you want from a pantomime? Easy to follow and recognisable story? Bright set and lush costume design? Lots of jokes for the kids (and some for the adults too)? A dame that takes control and is happy to interact with the audience? A cast of extremely talented actors who can sing, entertain and make everyone smile? Alice In Wonderland at the Customs House ticks each and every box.

Allow me to explain. Some pantos feel like they are done to you. A few, like Alice, make you feel that you are a part of it. The packed house were all willing to get involved in the antics. It felt like Christmas has arrived. This show is rather special.

Both Alice In Wonderland and the Customs House celebrated their 150^thanniversary this year. Even though it is not common panto material, it is sufficiently well known to make it work. Ray Spencer and Graeme Thompson have written a play that knows its audience well.

The story starts with the White Rabbit, played by Luke Maddison, running onto the stage and announcing he is late and shooting off. He is quickly followed by Alice who wants to chase him. Natasha Haws is very comfortable in her role of Alice and the audience quickly warm to her.

Alice then meets the Cheshire Cat, animated by Sheila Gruber and voiced by BBC Radio Newcastle’s breakfast show host Alfie Joey. After a few tongue in cheek jokes Alice decides to follow the rabbit and ends up in a strange world.

Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee are a likeable double act. Gareth Hunter and Craig Richardson spar off each other like a pair of Minions. Kylie Ann Ford’s Dormouse is delightful and the Mad March Hare features another entertaining performance by Stephen Sullivan.

The singing is this year’s Customs House show is a real strength. The operatic training and experience of Anne-Marie Owens, as the suitably terrifying Queen of Hearts, results in a some stunning vocals. Though I’m not sure what Carl Orff would make of the alternative lyrics to Carmina Burana!

Each member of the cast has something to offer in the singing department. Special mention should go to Natasha, Steven Lee Hamilton, as the Mad Hatter, and Afnan Iftikahr as the Knave of Hearts. Their singing contributions really lifted the show.

A great pantomime needs a dame that controls the show rather than wheeled on for a brief interlude. Ray Spencer gives a panto dame masterclass, handling both the audience and his cast well. There is a real element of the late great Les Dawson in his delivery.

Every panto has its young dancers and the members of South Tyneside Dance Workshop were delightful. Some of their routines were ambitious and they pulled them off.

Even though it was two and a half hours long, Alice In Wonderland flew by. Not only was it was great to see, but it was also great to be a part of. This show markets itself as the Little Panto with a Big Heart. Well there is a whole lot of loving in the venue. The audience and strong cast make it a panto with no weak links.

In fact, it is the most fun we’ve had at a panto for a while.

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

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

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

06/12/2014

Review: Little Red Riding Hood at South Shields Customs House

Once Upon A Time In Cooksonville…

Little Red Riding Hood

South ShieldsCustoms House

Until Saturday 10^th January 2015

A pantomime should have something for all of the family including laughs, songs and shouts of “behind you” and this year’s production at the Customs House has them all in bucket loads.

The storyline is revealed in the first scene but this production by Ray Spencer and Graeme Thompson is about much more than the final climax. Natasha Haws is the delightful Little Red Riding Hood and she puts her experience as a singer to good use early on with Pharrell Williams’ Happy. The jokes were flying from the start as Red described her family as consisting of “Aunty Freeze and Uncle Timber”. Timber, played by Craig Richardson, quickly engaged with the audience.

Granny Hood represented the come back of South Shields’ legend Ray Spencer. His wit and repartee often echoed the late great Les Dawson. Rarely was a line delivered without a pun. Occasionally the innuendo flew over the head of the younger members of the audience. Ray was as happy performing slapstick in his fish shop as he was tap dancing on the big production number Tap Your Troubles Away.

The lavish production values for one of the regions smaller pantomimes extended to the wonderful bad guys. The outfits of Wolfgang and Bracken coupled with the opportunity to wind up the audience on a regular basis must make these great roles to perform in. Steven Lee Hamilton, as Wolfgang, makes a great baddy for the kids to boo at. Jamie Birkett also produced the singing performance of the evening with her wonderful version of Disney’s Let It Go. The year’s hits fitted in well with the story and even included Everything Is Awesome from this year’s blockbuster Lego The Movie.

The supporting cast included Three lovely Little Pigs who were the source of many piggy jokes, a glamorous Prince Charming, the crafty Mr Fracker and a troupe of talented young dancers.

The show describes itself as the “Little Panto with the big heart and eyes and teeth” which is pretty accurate. The show is crammed full of jokes and popular recent hits. The talented cast offer a fun way to spend time with your family.

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.

Tickets:

Little Red Riding Hood is at The Customs House from December 2 to January 10.

Tickets, priced from £9, are available from the box office on 0191 454 1234 or visit www.customshouse.co.uk.

Cast:

Natasha Haws: Red

Ray Spencer: Granny Hood

Steven Lee Hamilton: Wolfgang

Jamie Birkett: Bracken

Jamie Brown: Prince Chop-a-lot

Craig Richardson: Timber

Stephen Sullivan: Mr Fracker

Luke Maddison: Savaloy

Gareth Hunter: Bratwurst

Kylie Ann Ford: Chorizo

18/11/2014

Preview: Little Red Riding Hood at South Shields Customs House

Panto has the Axe Factor

Little Red Riding Hood

South Shields Customs House

Tuesday 2^nd December 2014 to Saturday 10^th January 2015

This year’s Customs House panto has the axe-factor. For the first time in the venue’s history Little Red Riding Hood will be the festive offering. Leading the cast through the run from December 2 to January 10 will be panto legend and the Mill Dam venue’s Executive Director Ray Spencer as dame Granny Hood. It seems panto fans are seeing red with more than 15,000 tickets already being snapped up.

Ray, who’s starred in pantomimes in South Tyneside for almost 40 years, said: “Panto is in my blood and after a year out due to a knee injury I can’t wait to get back up on our stage and perform. It’s an exciting year – it’s the first time we have performed Little Red Riding Hood and we have created a brilliant family show.”

The show will mark several firsts. Ray’s daughter Natasha Haws will make her debut in a leading pantomime role at The Customs House as Red, long-time principal boy Steven Lee Hamilton will swap his smile for a sneer when he is unveiled as baddie Wolfgang and three new faces will be joining The Customs House panto family.

Ray, who also directs and co-writes the show with Graeme Thompson, added: “I can’t wait to get started and more importantly for the audiences to come in and see what we’ve created for them in this year’s ‘little panto with the big heart’. This year our designers Paul Shriek and Matt Fox have outdone themselves – the costumes are stunning and the sets are going to be just as amazing.”

Steven, 30, from South Shields, said: “I loved playing the principal boy and now I can’t wait to get my teeth into this new role.” Pairing up with Steven’s ‘Big Bad Wolf’ will be Jamie Birkett as Bracken the Witch. The West End star and I’d Do Anything finalist from Cumbria joined the cast last year as Cinderella’s stepmother and is looking forward to getting back on The Customs House stage. She said: “Once you’re in the panto family it just stays with you, I’m so excited to be back!”

Craig Richardson, one of last year’s Ugly Sisters, will play Timber and certainly has big boots to fill when he takes on the funny role traditionally filled by Ray’s alter-ego Tommy, while fellow ‘Ugly’ Stephen Sullivan will attempt to woo Granny Hood in his first none-dame pantomime role, Mr Fracker.

Also back from last year’s cast is the loveable Luke Maddison who will play one of the Three Pigs, Savaloy. His fellow pigs will be played by panto newcomers but Customs House regulars Gareth Hunter (Bratwurst) and Kylie Ann Ford (Chorizo). Also making his panto debut will be Jamie Brown as Prince Chop-a-lot. Jamie impressed earlier this year in Catherine Cookson’s Fifteen Streets, helping to land him the role.

No Customs House pantomime would be complete without the dancing babes. South Tyneside Dance Workshop – where Natasha first debuted in the pantomime – will once again be adding to the glitz and glamour.