Preview: Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at Sunderland Empire

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The National Theatre’s Internationally-Acclaimed Production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time Embarks on a Third UK Tour This Autumn

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time
Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 6 - Saturday 10 October 2020

Tickets available online at CURIOUS TICKET LINK #Ad

Back by popular demand, the Olivier and Tony Award®-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will tour the UK and arrive in Sunderland in October.

Curious Incident has been seen by more than five million people worldwide, including two UK tours, two West End runs, a Broadway transfer, tours to the Netherlands, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Australia and 30 cities across the USA.

Curious Incident is the winner of seven Olivier Awards including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design. Following its New York premiere in September 2014, it became the longest-running play on Broadway in over a decade, winning five Tony Awards® including Best Play, six Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Play, five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Play and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off Broadway Play. The 2015 production was voted “Drama of the Year” in the North East Theatre Guide.

Curious Incident is adapted by Simon Stephens (Carmen Disruption, Sea Wall) from the novel by Mark Haddon, and directed by Olivier and Tony Award® winner Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Angels in America, Company).

The play tells the story of Christopher John Francis Boone, who is fifteen years old. He stands besides Mrs Shears’ dead dog, which has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

The production is designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting design by Paule Constable, and video design by Finn Ross. Movement is by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph. The Associate Director is Anna Marsland. Casting is by Jill Green CDG.

This tour of Curious Incident is presented by the National Theatre and Trafalgar Theatre Productions. Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was published in 2003 and was the winner of more than 17 literary awards, including prizes in the US, Japan, Holland and Italy, as wellas the prestigious Whitbread Book of the Year Award in the UK in 2004. The novel has been translated into 44 languages and sold more than 5.5 million copies world-wide. His other novels include A Spot of Bother and 2019’s The Porpoise.

Curious Incident visits Salford and Sunderland as part of Theatre Nation Partnerships, a multi-year collaboration between the National Theatre and six partner organisations with the aim to broaden and grow local audiences for drama in England through touring, working with schools, and creating theatre with local communities. Drawing on combined expertise, resources and each partner’s deep community links, the project has engaged with over 100,000 people since 2017. As part of TNP, Curious Incident recently completed a second schools tour, which saw a specially staged in-the-round 90 minute version play to 25,000 students in more than 100 schools in London and the NT’s Theatre Nation Partnership areas of Doncaster, Greater Manchester, Hornchurch, Sunderland, Wakefield and Wolverhampton. National Theatre UK Touring is supported by The Thompson Family Charitable Trust, The Royal

Nation.

Photos from 2017-208 tour by Brinkhoff Mögenburg

Tickets:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comes to the Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 6 - Saturday 10 October 2020.
Tickets available online at CURIOUS TICKET LINK #Ad

* Booking fees may apply to telephone and online bookings.

 

Preview: Sleeping Beauty at Sunderland Empire

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Sleeping Beauty

Sunderland Empire

9^th -31^st December 2016

Pantomime will return to Sunderland Empire with the enchanting tale of Sleeping Beauty from 9^th - 31^st  December 2016.

Sleeping Beauty is set to be another spectacular pantomime that promises to add a fairy tale touch to your festive season. Packed full of hilarious jokes, show-stopping song and dance, larger-than-life characters, colourful costumes, sparkling sets and amazing special effects!

The timeless story tells the classic tale of Princess Briar Rose who has a spell cast over her by a wicked fairy sending her into a deep sleep – but can the spell be broken by a handsome Prince and will there be a happy ever after?

Sleeping Beauty guarantees another Christmas extravaganza for all the family with Martin Dodd for UK Productions, the producers behind Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and this year’s gem of a pantomime Aladdin.

Ben Phillips, Sunderland Empire General Manager, said: “The response to pantomime at Sunderland Empire continues to be wonderful and we look forward to hosting another spectacular family pantomime from UK Productions in 2016.”

Star cast to be announced!

Tickets now on general sale

Tickets:

Tickets available from the Box Office on High Street West, via the ticket centre 0844 871 3022* or www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*calls cost 7p per minute plus standard network charges. Booking and transaction fees may apply to telephone and online bookings.

Box Office: 0844 871 3022*

Groups 10+: 0844 871 3042

Online: www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

*Booking fee applies 

Review: Rocky Horror Show at Sunderland Empire

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuideand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide. Read about JoWhereToGo and its PR and photography services here.

About the most fun you can have with your clothes on, almost!

The Rocky Horror Show

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 20^th February 2016

Richard O’Brien’s homage to the late night b-movie sci-fi double bill is a deliciously fun mix of tongue in cheek jokes and entertaining songs.

Little Voice’s Diana Vickers and Emmerdale’s Ben Freeman appear as the hapless teen couple Janet and Brad. They are lost, their spare tyre needs blowing up when they need it most on a stormy night. They decide to head back to the castle that they had just passed in order to use their phone and summon help.

Butler Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe) opens the door and welcomes them in. They come to the immediate attention of Magenta (Kay Murphy) and Columbia (Sophie Linder-Lee) and before they know it they are dancing the Time Warp.

The master of the house, Frank N Furter (Liam Tamne) has no intention of letting them go and before they know it they meet zombie rocker Eddie (Zachary Morris) and his replacement, created by Fran N Furter, Rocky (Dominic Andersen).

Usually in a musical it is expected that the audience only clap at the end of the musical numbers. They shouldn’t sing along or interrupt the proceedings. But the Rocky Horror Show is no normal musical. It doesn’t so much as break the fourth wall, it smashes it to pieces. The audience joined in with the first song Science Fiction/Double Feature, danced to the Time Warp and added smart quips to the narration by Steve Punt.

There are no weak points in the singing abilities of this cast, which has not always been the case. They are enjoying the show and this helps bring a real warmth to the proceedings. The live band, under Musical Director Ben Van Tienen, don’t miss a beat from their perch above the stage. 

Liam Tamne is wonderful as Frank N Furter. Whilst he owned the stage with his performance, their was a deliious vulnerability to both his voice and interpretation of the role.

Diana Vickers and Sophie Linder-Lee were also given opportunity to use their vocal abilities to great effect.

The dance routines, choreographed by Nathan M Wright, are fabulous and fun. Dominic Andersen deserves special mention for his push up antics.

The set design by Hugh Durrant is highly effective at allowing the action to flow without interruption.

Tim Curry and co, from the film, leave big shoes to fill but this cast is more than up to the job. The show feels inclusive and entertaining. It is a great tribute to the late night movies. This production of The Rocky Horror Show is charming and not corny, provocative without being tasteless. It leaves the audience with a big grin on their faces.

“Take a step to the left…”

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 North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/preview-rocky-horror-show-at-sunderland.html

Tickets:

Tickets available in person at Sunderland Empire Box Office, by calling 0844 871 3022* or by booking online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland* plus a transaction fee applies.

The Rocky Horror Show 2015 / 2016 UK Tour Dates

15 – 20 February 2016                     Sunderland: Empire Theatre                       0844 871 3022   

22 – 27 February 2016                     Southampton:  Mayflower Theatre          0238 071 1811

29 February – 5 March 2016         Wimbledon: New Wimbledon Theatre    0844 871 7646

07 – 12 March 2016                          Torquay: Princess Theatre                           0844 871 3023

14 – 19 March 2016                          Bradford: Alhambra Theatre                        0127 443 2000

28 March – 2 April 2016                  Edinburgh: Playhouse Theatre                    0844 871 3014

4 – 9 April 2016                                  Belfast: Grand Opera House                        028 9024 1919   

11 – 16 April 2016                             York: Opera House                                        0844 871 3024

18 – 23 April 2016                             Aylesbury: Waterside Theatre                    0844 871 7607

25 – 30 April 2016                             Nottingham: Theatre Royal                         0115 989 5555

02 – 07 May 2016                              Richmond: Richmond Theatre                    0844 871 7651   

23 – 28 May 2016                              Stoke: Regent Theatre                                  0844 871 7649

27 June - 2 July 2016                       Woking: New Victoria Theatre                    0844 871 7645  

11 – 16 July 2015                               Watford: Watford Colosseum                    01923 571 102

18 – 23 July 2016                               Bristol: Hippodrome                                      0844 871 7652

8 – 13 August 2016                           Glasgow: King’s Theatre                               0844 871 7648 

Review: Thriller Live at Sunderland Empire

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Jackson’s Star Appeal

Still Shines Brightly

Thriller Live

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 30^th January 2016.

Michael Jackson is still a hugely popular star. His music is still selling by the lorry load and his videos live long in the memory of all that saw them. Could it be possible to simply put a show together that simply showcases his back catalogue in all of it’s splendour?

Thriller Live succeeds in pulling together the strong visual elements of Jackson’s ground breaking videos and the life defining songs.

Director and choreographer Gary Lloyd, fresh from his success with last year’s Carrie The Musical (Review) has pulled together a terrific show. The dancing is superb, the young dancers pull off the tight routines that characterised those memorable videos.

Cleopatra Higgins Photo: Irina Chira

Each of Jackson’s songs are sung faithfully by 5 talented singers. Cleopatra Higgins handled much of the earlier material. Rory Taylor brings a tear to the eye on the ballads. Shaquille Hemmans and Michael Kavuna share a clear passion for the Jackson back catalogue too. Stepping in as Michael himself was understudy Eddy Lima who was not phased by the magnitude of the task.

The show is filled with the hits. 33 of them pack the show, from ABC and Rockin’ Robin at the start of the career through to Dangerous, Beat It and Dirty Diana towards the end. However the big numbers are of course Billie Jean, Bad and Earth Song. The top billing goes to Thriller, a song that not only confirmed Jackson as a superstar but moved the concept of the music video to a whole new level.

The pulsing heart of the show are the 6 musicians under musical director Mike Lindup. Guitarists Allan Salmon and Rob Minns occasionally appear in the action though most of the time the musicians are behind a video screen, which is a shame as they didn’t put a note wrong all night.

The use of video screens and special effects adds to, but does not detract from, the core action on the stage.

This is not a traditional musical, as there is no story - other than a few pointers about Michael’s life and recording career. But it is a stunning celebration of a popular musician.  The singers invite the audience to be a part of the show and they had the packed Empire audience on their feet on a number of occasions.

This is a music event that shows that Jackson’s star has not faded and it is a highly entertaining live experience.

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 North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/preview-thriller-live-at-sunderland.html

Tickets:

Tickets are on sale now from the Box Office on High Street West, Sunderland, the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

The 2015/16 UK tour dates are:

Sunderland Empire, 25 - 30 January 

York Grand Opera House, 1 - 6 February

Stoke on Trent Regent Theatre, 11 - 13 February

Bristol Hippodrome, 15 - 20 February

Southend Cliff’s Pavilion, 22 - 27 February

Darlington Civic Theatre, 29 February - 5 March

Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, 7 - 12 March

Oxford New Theatre, 14 - 19 March

Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 21 - 26 March

Sheffield Lyceum, 29 March - 2 April

Liverpool Empire,11 - 16 April

Glasgow Kings Theatre, 18 - 23 April

Cardiff New Theatre, 25 - 30 April

Bournemouth 6 - 11 May