Preview: Going Viral at Washington Arts Centre

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

 

New show from award-winning Daniel Bye goes viral…

Going Viral

Washington Arts Centre

Thursday 26^th November 2015

From the award-winning creator of The Price of Everything and How to Occupy an Oil Rig comes a new show from the frontline of an epidemic comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 26^th November.

Daniel Bye’s latest solo show delves into the terrifying knowns and unknowns of epidemics, how they spread and how society reacts. Created with the support of scientific advisor Dr Mark Booth, Going Viral explores the spread of disease, of panic, and of ideas.

“Fascinating, terrifying and thought-provoking.” Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Daniel Bye is a theatre-maker from Middlesbrough and Associate Artist of ARC Stockton. His recent touring work includes The Price of Everything, which has been performed over 100 times in the UK and internationally, and the award-winning How to Occupy an Oil Rig.

“This solo show is both a captivating and at times illuminating insight into the science behind infection.” The Independent

Daniel said: “The contemporary obsession with disease is grisly. Maybe it's because we've nothing real to worry about. But still, it's totally fascinating. And in a world where we're more connected to each other than we've ever been, it's only going to get more pressing.”

Dr Mark Booth, Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health at Durham University, commented: “Public awareness of how infections can enter our bodies, easily spread across populations, cause illness and confusion. We all benefit, I think, from the synergistic results of combining art and science. Dan's work is an important contribution to this process as it seeks to shift people's perceptions and increase their knowledge about epidemic disease through strong and effective dramatisation - something that an academic paper alone cannot achieve.”

Tickets:

Daniel Bye presents Going Viral at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 26 November at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £8.50 / £6 (conc) and can be purchased from Arts Centre Washington at www.artscentrewashington.co.ukor by calling 0191 219 3455. 

Preview: A Christmas Carol at Washington Arts Centre

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

Dicken’s Classic

Will Delight Washington

A Christmas Carol

WashingtonArts Centre

Thursday 10^th December 2015

A fun and unique adaptation of Dickens’ classic ghost story comes to Arts Centre Washington this Christmas Box Clever Theatre Company will be performing at Arts Centre Washington with their new touring production, A Christmas Carol, on Thursday 10 December 2015.

Adapted by Box Clever’s Artistic Director, Michael Wicherek, the company’s production interweaves the traditional story with modern interpretation. A cast of three brings the revolving stage set to life with puppets and music.

Crammed full of dramatic scenes and characters, from Marley’s ghost to the saintly Tiny  Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge himself, A Christmas Carol depicts a truly British Christmas  filled with joy, eating too much, family reunions and goodwill.

The performance brings together National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Compan director Iqbal Kane with award winning set designer Rhys Jarman.

David Ajao rejoins the Box Clever team to bring to life a squeezing, wrenching,  grasping, Scrooge. The audience will join him and the rest of the cast on the  journey that he is forced to make through his past, present and future, until  laughter and goodness replace the ice in his heart.

Matthew Blyth, Audience Development Officer at Arts Centre Washington said: “We are delighted that Box Clever are returning to the arts centre after their previous show, Time for the Good Looking Boy was so well received.  Their shows are always modern and relevant as well as managing to be lively and exciting.  This classic Christmas story combined with live music and audience participation promises to be really entertaining festive fun!”

Tickets:

A Christmas Carol is on Thursday 10 December, 1.30pm + 7.30pm, it is suitable for ages 11+ and tickets start from just £6.   To book visit www.artscentrewashington.co.ukor call 0191 219 3455

Preview: We Are Brontë at Washington Arts Centre

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

A Brontë Adaptation like No Other

 

We Are Brontë

Washington Arts Centre

Thursday 29 October 2015

Photo: Jack Offord

We Are Brontë is a piece of comic visual theatre inspired by the real and imaginary worlds of Yorkshire's literary siblings and comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 29 October at 7.30pm.

 

Photo: Jack Offord

Physical theatre collides with stand-up, clowning and improvisation as two performers deconstruct not only gothic themes of love, madness, repression and revenge, but also themselves.

Photo: Jack Offord

Part play, part enquiry into the act of putting on a play, this promises to be no ordinary Brontë adaptation!

Photo: Jack Offord

The play is presented by Publick Transport theatre in their own irreverent style.  We Are Brontë premiered for three performances at the Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter, in June 2015 before embarking on a nation tour which brings it to the North East this October. We Are Brontë is devised and performed by Angus Barr and Sarah Corbett, and directed by Ed Rapley.

Photo: Jack Offord

This will be Publick Transport’s third visit to Arts Centre Washington, with  previously shows  ‘Very Hard Times’ and ‘Discombobulated’- being which were very well received by Arts Centre Audiences.

Photo: Jack Offord

 

Tickets:

We Are Brontë is on at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 29 October, 7.30pm tickets are £8.50 / £6 (concessions) and are available from www.artscentrewashington.co.ukor by calling 0191 219 3455.

Preview: Into Thin Air at Washington Arts Centre

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.

New play explores pressure in the modern world

Into Thin Air

Washington Arts Centre

Thursday 1^st October 2015

Newcastle based Precious Cargo are coming to Arts Centre Washington with their new show Into Thin Air, exploring the increasing pressure on everyone to succeed at everything. It looks at when ambition moves from a positive motivator to become the weight of expectation and an inability to live in and enjoy the present, as we are too fixated with what’s next. Using tight ensemble performances and magical-realism, Precious Cargo presents a slick, intelligent exploration of how we cope in an increasingly pressurised world.

Photo: Natasha Langstreth

Jonluke McKie -  Artistic Director at Precious Cargo said: "Into Thin Air came about after we found we were all having similar conversations with friends and families about the impossibility of trying to juggle the different areas of our lives. With social media providing a constant platform for comparison and increasingly busy lives, we wanted to explore what would happen if this pressure caused people to simply disappear when it got too much"

“This is a beautifully woven story…beautiful interludes and detours into a more poetic realm …combines concrete and more abstract emotions with empathy and plenty of humour.”

(Susanne Kass, Prague Film and Theatre Centre)

Photo: Natasha Langstreth

Into Thin Air is co-created by Precious Cargo (When She Went, The Last Drop) and North East writer Allison Davies (Weather to Fly – 2014 Journal Culture Awards finalist). The show has been developed with the support of ARC, Stockton, Arts Centre Washington, Live Theatre and Northern Stage. It has been supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Tickets:

Into Thin Air is on at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 1^st October 2015 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced £8.50 / £6 (conc) and can be purchased from www.artscentrewashington.co.ukor by calling 0191 219 3455.

Preview: People’s Republic of Poetry at WashingtonArts Centre

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

Experience a unique night of spoken word with Yorkshire troupe A Firm of Poets

The People’s Republic of Poetry 

Washington Arts Centre

Thursday 8^th October 2015.

A Firm of Poets are offering a poetry night with a twist when they visit Arts Centre Washington National Poetry Day, Thursday 8^th October.

The group of four poets will not only be performing a mixture of spoken word pieces but are also encouraging budding poets to appear on stage for the first time.

The Firm will be holding a workshop on the afternoon of the performance offering local poets advice and techniques on how to perfect their craft. They will then be invited to perform in front of an audience during the show that evening.

Ralph Dartford, a founding member of A Firm of Poets said: “The firm have been performing for a while but this is the first time we have involved the audience in this way. We can’t wait to meet budding poets in the workshops before the show and help them perform in front of an audience on the night.”

A Firm of Poets is Ralph Dartford and Matt Abbott, with the duo joined by fellow poets Jenni Pascoe and Rowan McCabe in Washington.

A cross between a poetic super group and Whose Line Is It Anyway, the show is fast paced, creating a fun and entertaining night out.

The group’s aim is to create The People’s Republic of Poetry – a network of spoken word performers throughout the UK.  Work performed by the participants will also be added to an online e-book, which will grow as the tour travels around the country.

Ralph continues: ‘This is a golden period for spoken word. With the emergence of such artists as Kate Tempest, George the Poet, Luke Wright, Hollie McNinsh, and also the reborn John Cooper Clarke, it appears that the nation is wonderfully engaged in rhyme and reason. We will give voice to some of the finest poets nationally, and just as important, the as yet unheard. The voices of any age, gender, race or background. We want the nation expressing themselves in word. Vive Le Republic!”

Tickets:

A Firm of Poets perform at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 8 October. To book call 0191 219 3455 or visit www.artscentrewashington.co.uk

UK Tour Dates

September

24th Harrogate Theatre

October

1st Theatre In The Mill, Bradford

2nd Junction, Goole

7th John Godber Theatre, Pontefract

8th Arts Centre, Washington

10th Durham Book Festival

14th Hull Truck Theatre

17th Musicport Festival, Whitby

22nd Cast, Doncaster

28th Bloomsbury Theatre, London

30th The Met, Bury

31st Helmsley Arts Centre

November

7th The Ropewalk, Barton-upon-Humber

8th HUB, Leeds

14th Letchworth Arts Centre

26th Unity Works, Wakefield

28th The Civic, Barnsley

December

1st Arts Centre, Norwich

2nd Arts Centre, Colchester

Preview: Our Teacher’s a Troll at Washington Arts Centre

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

 

Our Teacher’s a Troll

Illustration by Chris Riddell

Washington Arts Centre

Saturday 24 October 2015

An outrageously entertaining and deliciously dark tale from the writer of the west end hit Matilda the Musical comes to Arts Centre Washington this October.
 

Photo by Richard Davenport

Our Teacher’s a Troll, an outrageously entertaining and deliciously dark tale from the writer of West Endhit Matilda the Musical, comes to Arts Centre Washington on Saturday 24 October as part of a national tour.

Photo by Richard Davenport

Two terrible twins with a talent for turmoil rule their school with terror and tyranny. That is, until the arrival of a new head teacher with green scaly skin, sharp gnarly fangs, and a long spiky tail…

Can the twins save the school from the child-eating Troll? Can they get Brussels sprouts in peanut butter taken off the lunch menu? And most importantly, can naughtiness prevail? Come and find out and be outrageously entertained!

Photo by Richard Davenport

From Dennis Kelly, the writer of award-winning West End show Matilda the Musical, this is an exciting collaboration between Paines Plough and Half Moon Theatre, fresh from its success this summer at London’s Southbank Centre, Brighton Festival and Edinburgh Fringe 2015.

The colourfully comic show for ages 7+ and their accompanying trolls (or parents) features actors Sian Reese-Williams (Genesis Walker in Emmerdale) and Abdul Salis (Curtis Cooper on Casualty, Doctor Who, Love Actually, National Theatre production of War Horse).

Chris Riddell, who was recently appointed the next Children’s Laureate, drew the distinctive Troll illustration for the show’s publicity, which has already sparked the imaginations of young audiences.

Photo by Richard Davenport

Chris Elwell, Director of Half Moon commented: “We’re thrilled to be working with Paines Plough on this exciting national tour of Our Teacher’s a Troll, by the darkly humorous writer Dennis Kelly. It’s a show that celebrates the rebellious potential of children, and how they can be empowered to change the world, and we look forward to entertaining audiences across the country with this witty, theatrical treat. Prepare to let your imaginations run wild!”

Cast

Sian Reese-Williams

Abdul Salis

Creatives

Writer:                           Dennis Kelly

Direction:                     George Perrin

Design:                         Lucy Osborne

Lighting:                       Emma Chapman

Sound:                          Tom Gibbons

Original Music:             Dom Kennedy

Movement:                 Kate Sagovsky

Associate Sound:       Dom Kennedy

Creative Consultant: Chris Elwell

On The Web

Website: www.painesplough.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/painesploughHQ

Twitter: @PainesPlough

Tickets:

A Paines Plough and Half Moon production

Our Teacher’s a Troll

By Dennis Kelly

Our Teacher is a Troll, is on at Arts Centre Washington on Saturday 24 October at 11am + 2pm.  Tickets are £6 or £20 for a family (admits 4) and can be booked online at www.artscentrewashington.co.ukor by calling 0191 219 3455. 

Tour

Wed 9–Sun 13 September – Roundabout @ Corn Exchange, Newbury

Wed 16–Sun 20 September – Roundabout @ The Lowry, Salford

Wed 23–Sun 27 September – Roundabout @ Lincoln Performing Arts Centre

Wed 30 Sep-Sun 4 October – Roundabout @ Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal

Wed 7–Sun 11 October – Roundabout @ Theatre Royal, Margate

Wed 14–Sun 18 October – Roundabout @ Appetite, Stoke-on-Trent

Wed 21 -Fri 23 October – TakeOff Festival, County Durham

Sat 24 October – Arts Centre Washington, Tyne & Wear

Sun 25 October - Old Fire Station, Carlisle

Tue 27 October – Brewhouse, Burton

Wed 28 October – Derby Theatre

Thu 29 October – Nottingham Lakeside Arts

Fri 30 October – Royal & Derngate, Northampton

Sat 31 October – The Castle, Wellingborough

Mon 2 – Thu 5 November – Half Moon Theatre, London E1

Fri 6 November – Tarvin Community Centre, Tarvin, Chester

Sat 7 November - Whitby Hall, Action Transport Theatre, Ellesmere Port

Sun 8 November – Z-arts, Manchester

Tue 10 November – South HollandCentre, Spalding

Wed 11 November – Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton

Thu 12 – Sat 14 November – the egg, Bath

Sun 15 November – The North Wall, Oxford