Book review: How to be a Dynasty Diva

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How to be a Dynasty Diva

by Steve Burbridge

published by Creighton Publishing Company

Book review

“The female of the species is deadlier than the male.” – Kipling

Local playwright Steve Burbridge has entertained us with Testing Times (NETG Review) and now he guides us through one the classic tv series of the 1980s in his latest book.

2016 marks the 35th anniversary of Dynasty – a series that mixed power and glamour with strong female characters armed with sharp one liners. This is a world in which someone raises a son and then discovers that they have always been infertile; a world in which enemies unite to destroy a common enemy;  in which allies become mortal enemies on the sight of an embrace with the wrong person. It is a world that aired in America from January 12^th 1981 to May 11^th 1989. The 9 seasons and 220 episodes were beamed across the world and this included the home of North East author Steve Burbridge.

Steve is a fan of the show but this book isn’t about fan-worship. Neither is the book an academic paper. Having said that Steve has gone to great lengths to research this book. He presents the potted history of the characters and how the power-hungry ladies became such an influence other the men in their lives and each other. Each story is complex as a vine, entwined with many other stories. Some characters come and go, some even change actor completely and Steve has this all covered.  The result is a book which is both well-researched and readable. Whilst Steve was clearly hooked on the show, he isn’t blinkered and is willing to question, for example, some of the casting decisions made by the producers. His journalistic training enables him to remain objective.

After a discussion of the interactions and relationships between characters Steve discusses the 80s power dressing. It was about shoulder-pads, accessories and knowing how to make an imposing entrance or deliver a verbal killing blow.

The Dynasty diva liked to indulge in leisure activities and culture as they could afford to splash out. These are additional conduits of power for the socialite.  They need to consider what they eat, where they live and how it is furnished plus where they stay on their travels. Each aspect of the divas lifestyle is a tool for control and Steve’s book unpacks many aspects of their behaviour.

The dialogue and bitchy put-downs are, as Steve points out, often cliché – a readily accessed phrase book for each diva to exploit.

The Dynastay diva will always assume the alpha position in any situation. She is intelligent and aspirational. Dynasty was possibly ahead of its time in showing the woman in the driving seat rather than the male-led Dallas. Strong female roles may be “diva-like” but in the 80s it was rare to see strong roles for female characters, except, perhaps, on a different financial level in Coronation Street. 

The book highlights the matriarch as much as it does the diva. As someone who didn’t watch the show very often I found the book interesting as it shows the layers and fine details between the many characters that build up over time in a long running series. How To Be A Dynasty Diva is a great handbook for the fans of the series.

How To Be A Dynasty Diva is available now from Creighton Publishing Company, priced £12 or 2 for £20 if you’d like to buy an additional copy as a Christmas present + p&p. Postage costs: UK £2.50, Europe £8.00, USA/Canada/Australia £10.00. To order a copy, contact steveburbridge@outlook.comor contact Steve through his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/steveburbridgewriter.

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.

Article: A week for brave - risk taking in Newcastle

A week for brave - risk taking in Newcastle

Thoughts from Stephen Oliver.

Testing Times – Peoples Theatre 17^th Nov

Peculiar Disco Moves – Castle Keep 21^st Nov

Lady Gaga – Arena 22^nd Nov

This week I had the pleasure to see three very contrasting shows which all show that being brave can result in a great performances.

Kicking the week off was Testing Times which was written, produced and directed by Steve Burbridge. Later in the week he would also star in it as Jamie Brown’s daughter was born. It is a massive undertaking to turn a script into your own production. To see the show evolve as you originally envisaged it must also be rewarding. The end result was a stark and powerful reminder that we have not always lived in such accepting times.

Peculiar Disco Moves are a band I love seeing perform, with their catchy songs and entertaining delivery, I’m humming their numbers for days afterwards. In the past year they have performed at the Mining Institute, a band stand in a park and now the Castle Keep. Deviating from their back catalogue, the Castle show involved Mother related covers in support of their new release When Your Mother Goes Home.  Does Your Mother Know is a classic ABBA song and fitted well with the theme of the evening. I loved the atmosphere in the historic venue and it goes to show that music can be played in different venues with a little bit of imagination.

After a short acoustic set which finished with their new single we moved across the street to The Bridge Hotel when the tight three piece Iceni opened before Peculiar Disco Moves performed a more conventional set. Iceni impressed enough for us to buy their EP and PDM performed a number of new tracks which I look forward to them recording, surely an album will be on the cards soon? It was a great night’s entertainment which just goes to show how fabulous the talent is in our local region.

Our son announced mid-week that he fancied seeing Lady Gaga – and so we thought “why not”. It has to be said that there are often good seats that are available about a week before these big shows and we found ourselves sat near the front in the cheapest seats. Another tip is to pay cash at the box office. When we looked online, we saw that they wanted £25.50 for 3 tickets in assorted fees before we even told them about how we planned to pay.

Lady Gaga has many great songs and, just like Queen in their heyday, she is not afraid to chuck in a mix of hit singles and album tracks. She was supported by a talented hardworking bunch of dancers and musicians. The drummer seemed to be bashing everything out of his drum kit. The hits were there in a set that knew how to jumble up the loud with the quiet in order to make impact.

The stage produced into the audience with a piano at the front. The idea is to get Gaga close to the fans but it was more likely to obsure their view if they’d paid good money for standing tickets.  It also meant that between a third and half of the fans found themselves staring at her back for a number of songs as she sang from the middle of the venue. Bands, like Metallica, try this “in the round” idea but move back to stages at the end of the venue for a reason. The same reason why we still build venues with the stage at the end – so performers face the crowd most of the time. The set design was a brave and bold attempt at doing something different.

That gripe apart we were highly entertained with a big show with more wigs and costume changes than your average musical.  We had two and a half hours of Gaga and left suitably impressed.

Review: Testing Times at Newcastle People’s Theatre

Testing Times

By Steve Burbridge

Newcastle People’s Theatre

Until Thursday 20^th November 2014

Local musician Sam Dickinson’s brilliant “Learn To Wait” is playing as the three actors come to the stage. They sit perched on high chairs and tell a story of the lives of three people who are linked by love and the need to cope.

Christopher Strain appears as Dominic, a young lad who has had to put up with homophobic bullying throughout most of his life. At school his teachers felt such behaviours were more acceptable than racism or sexism. His peers felt it was an opportunity to abuse him verbally, physically and sexually. Christopher portrays Dominic as an engaging individual who draws the audience into his world without preaching or demanding the sympathy vote.

Chris is Dominic’s partner and is made more believable by having some significant differences whilst still being in a loving relationship. Dominic’s Mum is Brenda and she has raised him the best way that a loving Mother could. Jamie Brown and Pauline Fleming interact subtly as the story develops and react facially as news is delivered.

Steve Burbridge has written a play based upon the experiences of real people and the descriptions of the behaviour of those not on the stage may seem shocking. Perhaps life in 2014 isn’t as enlightened as one would hope. As the play unfolds the nature of Dominic and Chris’ relationship is explored from the first date.  Not everyone comes out with the response that you’d hope you would come out when big news is broken. Nor do they, with hindsight, wish they say or do the things they do.

The end result is a credible and satisfying play about the human condition and the need for love and ultimately acceptance. This is a play which shows that the 1,385 people have been diagnosed HIV+ in the North East of England are not the only ones affected.

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.

On The Web:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/testingtimesplay

Tickets:

Adult £11.50 and £9.50 Concessions

Monday 17 – Thursday 20 November, 2014 at 7.30pm

The People’s Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF

Tickets are available from Steve Burbridge or the People's Theatre Box Office. http://ptag.org.uk/

Telephone:  0191 265 5020

Preview: Testing Times at Newcastle's People’s Theatre

Testing Times

People’s Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne

Monday 17 – Thursday 20 November, 2014

Written, directed and produced by Steve Burbridge

Back by public demand, Testing Times returns after a triumphant try-out run last year. Described as being “as witty and uplifting as Calendar Girls; as profound and engaging as The Vagina Monologues; and as moving and emotive as Blood Brothers”, the play received critical acclaim and inspired cathartic outpourings of emotion from audience members.

Based on playwright Steve Burbridge’s interviews conducted with HIV+ young men from around the region, this compelling new play explores the life-changing impact of being diagnosed HIV+ from the perspective of a young gay man, his partner and his mother.

·        Key Fact: 1,385 people have been diagnosed HIV+ in the North East of England (source: MESMAC North East, 2014)

Frank and funny, poignant and provocative, Testing Times chronicles the journey from anger, fear and despair to acceptance, strength and hope.

Testing Times visits The People’s Theatre for a strictly limited run of only four performances.

Christopher Strain as Dominic

Even today, in the 21^st century, those living with the chronic condition of HIV are all-too-often demonized in the popular imagination and Testing Times counters this very effectively without being preachy. Set in the context of a loving relationship and a family and showing the human cost of prejudice, discrimination and ignorance, the play resonates far beyond the LGBT community.

·        12,583 people have been diagnosed HIV+ in the North of England   (source: PHE – Public Health England, 2012)

Although the impact of a young man’s HIV+ diagnosis is at the heart of the piece, the play delves far deeper than that, exploring many of the issues associated with what it means to be gay in today’s society.

Being ‘different’ can be an isolating and, indeed, frightening experience. During the course of the play, we see the central character, Dominic, endure childhood ridicule from his father, unmerciful bullying from other boys at school, an apathetic reaction from teachers and even sexual assault.

·        Key Fact: 65% of gay, lesbian and bisexual pupils experience homophobic bullying at school – despite the fact that schools have a legal duty to prevent and challenge homophobic bullying and to ensure the wellbeing of all children and young people (source: The School Report, Stonewall, 2012)

In Testing Times we learn how he and his partner, Chris, met and of their happiness together, prior to Dominic’s first symptoms. When the diagnosis is given, we encounter the public and inner angst and fears of all three characters: Dominic, Chris and Brenda (Dominic’s Mum). Through rows and recriminations, arguments and accusations, we witness the tumultuous – but ultimately loving relationship – between all three. Your heart will reach out to Dominic, whose sexual transgressions are minor on a scale compared with some heterosexual men. He is not stereotypically promiscuous, he is unlucky.

·        Key Fact: There are approximately 1,000 young people under 18 accessing HIV care in the UK (source: NAT – National AIDS Trust, 2013)

Colette Kelly as Brenda

Nevertheless, he is forced to deal with the harsh reality of the situation he finds himself in; to confront his own mortality; to question the purpose and meaning of his very existence; to find a reason and a way to make life worth living.

Testing Times is not merely a ‘gay play’, nor is it just a piece of ‘issue-based theatre’. It is a moving and well-crafted piece that could pertain to any family with a loved one dealing with a life-threatening condition.

·        Key Fact: More than 20,000 people in the UK don’t know they are HIV+         (source: Terence Higgins Trust, 2014)

The play features the talents of Christopher Strain as Dominic whose professional theatre credits include Les in East (Customs House), Dr Spivey in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Customs House), tours of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol and Lt. William Avery in We Got Mittens Too! (November Club; 2008 Newcastle Journal Culture Award for Performance of the Year). He has also appeared in various features and short films (including the BAFTA-nominated I am Nasrine), as well as writing, directing and performing in his own one-man play, Diary of a Madman.

Jamie Brown as Chris

With Christopher is Colette Kelly as Brenda who has appeared in the West End in the Wind in the Willows, followed by Salad Days both at the Duke of York’s Theatre. More recently, By the Bog of Cats at the Wyndhams Theatre, Siveat the Riverside Studios, and as the Duchess of Berwick in Lady Windermere’s Fan. Having performed the role of Pvt. Henry Stevens in critically acclaimed Death at Dawn (Cloud Nine Theatre) in September this year, Jamie Brown is delighted to be performing in his native North-East once again as Chris.

On The Web:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/testingtimesplay?fref=ts

Tickets:

Adult £11.50 and £9.50 Concessions

Monday 17 – Thursday 20 November, 2014 at 7.30pm

The People’s Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF

Tickets are available from Steve Burbridge or the People's Theatre Box Office. http://ptag.org.uk/

Telephone:  0191 265 5020

OPENING NIGHT OFFER - all tickets £9.50 for the first performance on Monday 17 November