Preview: Beauty and the Beast at Whitley Bay Playhouse

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The Easter Panto Spectacular

Beauty and the Beast

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Monday 28^th - Tuesday 29^th March 2016

The Playhouse is delighted to announce that Beauty and the Beast is coming to Whitley Bay on Monday 28th March 2016 & Tuesday 29th March 2016.

Beauty lives a provincial life with her father. Her world is shaken when a terrifying Beast takes her captive and the evil Enchantress holds her kingdom to ransom. Now it is up to the village idiot, his mother and the mysterious Fairy Tale to save the day.

Starring National Treasure Keith Chegwin, Anne Hegerty from ITV’s The Chase and the legendary Basil Brush. Prepare yourself for an all-singing, all-dancing, laugh a minute ride through the fun and frolics of panto land... Arriving Easter 2016!

Tickets:

Tickets costing £16, £14 conc. & £54 Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) are available now.

Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am – 2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588* or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

News: 2015/2016 Whitley Bay Playhouse Brochure is here!

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The 2015/2016 Whitley Bay Playhouse Brochure is here!

The the new Whitley Bay Playhouse online Brochure has been released – hard copies will be dropping on doormats early September.  The new  ‘What’s On’ edition has a whole host of brilliant forthcoming events inside. From a Britain’s Got Talent Winner to local punk rock, they all come alive on the stage at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay.  A copy can be viewed here.

Highlights include the Ocean Film Festival World Tourwhere all can immerse themselves in the big blue without getting wet on Friday 25^th September. NETG PREVIEW. Or if comedy is more your thing, we have fantastic stand up from Sean Kelly, on Saturday 26^th September, who you may recognise as the stand out star of the hit TV show, Storage Hunters NETG PREVIEW. For our loyal dance enthusiasts Moscow  Ballet La Classique return with the ultimate fairy tale ballet, Swan Lake on Tuesday 20^th October. NETG PREVIEW

The autumn season brings a diverse range of music talent, with The Lindisfarne Story, featuring Billy Mitchell and Ray Laidlaw on Sunday 4^thOctober, the last show sold out so you are advised to get your tickets quick! Staying on a local theme, North Tyneside Council present Seaside Special:  Penetration & The Middens for punk fans on Friday 16^th October. Returning for another year on Saturday 17^th October, Roy Orbison & Friendswill pay tribute to the music giant, with support from Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Dusty Springfield tributes! 

We are delighted to host Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts Live In Concert on Thursday 22^nd OctoberNETG PREVIEW. A PLAYHOUSE favourite That’ll Be The Day: 30^thAnniversary Show swings into town for their special birthday show on Friday 23^rd October.

December brings the most wonderful time of the year and we have the greatest pantomime of all – Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs! Running from Thursday 10^th December to Sunday 3^rd January 2016, there is a performance time to suit all. Turn to page 11 in the brochure to see the cast revealed in their dramatic costumes.NETG PREVIEW

Thank you again for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you soon at the PLAYHOUSE.

Tickets:

Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am-2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588 or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

Preview: Twist and Shout! at Whitley Bay Jam Jar Cinema

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 A live concert celebrating the best British singers and songwriters

Twist and Shout!

Whitley Bay Jam Jar Cinema

Wednesday 2nd - Saturday 5th September 2015

 

After the huge success of 'The Song That Goes Like This' CS Productions is back with their brand new show 'Twist and Shout!' at Jam Jar Cinema, Whitley Bay.

Photo: George William Knox

CS Productions was set up 2 years ago by local musical theatre actress Caroline Sabiston. Her last venture was 'The Song That Goes Like This', a live concert featuring music from the musicals. The show sold out and prompted Caroline to start planning 'Twist and Shout!' after she returned from performing as lead vocalist on the Seabourn Odyssey this year. "We always have such a fantastic week at Jam Jar Cinema and I couldn't wait to start planning 'Twist and Shout!'. We have a new Musical Director, Andrew Soulsby, who has done some amazing arrangements of the best British pop and rock hits. We're going back to the 60's and right through to today, with songs that are bound to get everyone's toes tapping! We just can't wait to get it in front of an audience and hear how it sounds with our fantastic band."

CS Productions always strives to bring the best performers to the North East and this year is no exception. Back for a second year is Jack Montgomery. Jack started performing at an early age and originated the role of Michael Banks in the hit West Endmusical 'Mary Poppins'. Since then, Jack has had various roles on stage and in BBC TV shows 'Torchwood', 'WPC 56' and 'Doctors'.

Photo: George William Knox

Completing the line up is local lad, Adam Strong. Washington based performer Adam trained at London School of Musical Theatre and has performed all over the world. He toured the UK and Australia with the arena tour of the hit show 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and created, directed and performed in 'The World of Musicals' which has had sell out tours in Germany and China.

Tickets:

'Twist and Shout!' runs from Wednesday 2^nd  - Saturday 5^th  September (including Thursday matinee) and features songs by Tom Jones, Adele, Take That, Queen, Sting and many more.

Tickets are priced at £13 (concession) and £15 (full price) and are available from the Jam Jar Cinema box office and online at www.jamjarcinema.com. This event is expected to sell out, so make sure you book in advance.

Tickets: http://rftk.bigcartel.com/

www.facebook.com/AcousticCircus

Preview: Payroll at Whitley Bay Playhouse

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 Life before Get Carter

Whitley Bay Film Festival present Payroll (1961)
Whitley Bay Playhouse
Sunday 30^th August 2015

After the huge success of ‘TOMMY’ with special guest appearance from Roger Daltrey, we are excited to announce the next instalment from Whitley Bay Film Festival will be on the 30^thAugust in the form of the crime drama Payroll which was filmed in the Newcastle, Gateshead, Tynemouth and Seaton Sluice.

Gritty north east crime films didn’t start with Get Carter, Payroll, a superb British thriller filmed around iconic locations in Newcastle and Tynemouth from 1960. From the moment the blag starts on The Tyne bridge, the tension mounts.

Michael Craig & Billie Whitelaw star in this classic heist movie. A gang of hoodlums carry out an audacious daytime robbery of a security van but things go seriously amiss. The stakes are dramatically raised when a security man is murdered.  Things rapidly spiral out of control.

Although the film is a stark and paranoid depiction of early 1960s England, it’s delivered with perfect pace and cool. The action is nonstop and the film is underpinned throughout by the hippest Brit Jazz score from Reg Owen.  Payroll is a compelling ride with great local resonance.

Tickets for the film screening are priced at £5 and available to purchase now.

Tickets
Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am-2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588 or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

Preview: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Whitley Bay Playhouse

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Thursday 10^th December 2015 – Saturday 3^rd January 2016

The Whitley Bay Playhouse is excited to announce that the cast of this year’s pantomime can now be revealed!

Mirror, mirror on the wall... What's the greatest pantomime of them all? It’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs of course! The Playhouse is thrilled to reveal the line up of their full star cast, for Panto 2015!

Faye Tozer

Alongside Tyneside resident Faye Tozer of Steps fame,  who will be joining us as The Wicked Queen, we can now make known that Rob McVeigh of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit talent show, ‘Any Dream Will Do’ will join the cast as this year’s dashing Prince. The Playhouse have also bagged Tyneside's favourite entertainer Steve Walls, who will join the cast as Muddles, as Blue Genie Entertainment returns for its 7th year of magic and fun, for panto at the Playhouse Whitley Bay in 2015.

Rob McVeigh

Rob McVeigh first found stardom in 2007, when he finished in 6^th place having appeared on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, talent themed show ‘Any Dream Will Do’. Originally a builder by trade, McVeigh was lovingly referred to as ‘Rob the Builder’ throughout the series that sought to find a new ‘Joseph’ for the West End Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream coat. Since his television appearances Rob has forged an impressive career for himself on stage and has gained musical accolades performing in the likes of Annie as Bert Healey, and in a UK tour of The Eva Cassidy Story. High baritone, Rob has also built up an impressive pantomime CV and has played a variety of roles including the lead in Aladdin and Prince Charming in Cinderella.

Charlotte Chinn

Charlotte Chinn will join the cast as leading lady, Snow White. Charlotte is returning due to popular demand after her performance as Wendy, in Blue Genie Entertainments 2013 pantomime of Peter Pan. Charlotte has attained many impressive roles on the stage to date, including playing Cosette in Les Miserables at The Palace Theatre, London and Olivia in Twelfth Night for The Principal Theatre Company.

Rebecca Shorrocks

Rebecca Shorrocks is the final cast member to announce for this year’s production. Another star returning to the venue by popular demand, Rebecca played both Le Shue and The Candlestick in last year’s pantomime to an array of rave reviews. Having always had a niche for comedy roles, she began co-writing and devising her own comedy called Triple Threat, a reality TV spoof, which had sell out runs in London at The Pleasance and The Etcetera Theatre, followed by a successful run at The Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh 2007. The Playhouse is ecstatic to once again, welcome Rebecca back to the venue for her role as Oddjob in 2015.

The team at the Playhouse Whitley Bay are delighted with the cast, set to take to the stage in December. With 46 performances at times to suit all this year, there are now even more chances to see this magnificent story come to life. Be sure to book your tickets now for the greatest Pantomime of all time.

Tickets:

Tickets are on sale now and are priced from £9

Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am-2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588 or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

Review: Ken Dodd at Whitley Bay Playhouse

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The Nicky Nocky Noo Happiness Show

Ken Dodd

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Sunday 9^th August 2015

About four summers ago I read Dara O’Briain’s Tickling The English which covered his thoughts about the English as he toured around the theatres. A secondary theme were the stories about another performer who was also doing the circuit ahead of Dara – the living legend that is Ken Dodd. A man who rarely finish shows on the same day that he starts them. A performer in which you not only have to ask “have I got anything on that night?” but also “am I busy the next day?” I saw Ken Dodd in the 70s and I was determined to catch him again. The announcement that he was going to do a show with an early start was my chance to take the family along.

Am I exaggerating? Well, Saturday’s show had finished at 12:30am.

So with a fresh portion of Whitley Bay’s fish and chip inside us we sat down for five and a half hours entertainment.  At 87 years old, he is probably Britain’s most experienced comic. The jokes kept coming and he is very funny. As an artist that is on permanent tour he has great comic timing.

He is accompanied by Terry Bell and Malcolm Garrett on keyboards and drums which enables him to break into song. This helps break up the show and the audience frequently joined in on his many memorable hits. Most often the musical interludes were brief medleys of songs rather than whole songs.

An octogenarian is allowed to have some senior moments and the first half had occasions when Ken lost his thread of thought. This wasn’t helped by his frequent deviations from the story he was telling resulting in him forgetting which plot he was on. After three hours we had an interval and Ken came back on with all guns blazing and he was much sharper in the second half as he proceeded to keep the audience in the palm of his talented hand for another couple of hours.

This is a classic variety show and Ken had a couple of breaks for a pair of acts to have their turn. In the first half was the hugely talented Andy Eastwood. A multi-instrumentalist, he was able to pick up the pace whilst playing the banjo, ukulele, violin and guitar on a variety of popular songs. Starting the second half was Sybie Jones who did a few medleys of popular songs and classical pieces on piano and then another couple on the flute. Sybie was not my cup of tea to be honest. The North East is full of incredibly talented musicians and I must have been spoilt as I found the performance well below par.

Towards the end Ken gave us treat with his ventriloquism as he worked with his puppet Dicky Mint. After a very long show, he was able to keep the audience laughing.

Ken will continue to perform around the country for the rest of the year and the details are on his website. He is next in the north east when he visits Darlington Civic theatre on 8^th & 9^th October. He is well worth seeing. His humour is never crude, though occasionally not pc either. He starts his second half set with a flask and a box of sandwiches and it is worth planning how you’ll keep going during the 5+ hours.

Ken Dodd. Hilarious. Unique.  A legend. 

This review was written by Stephen Oliver the North East Theatre Guide Preview from 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:

Website:  www.kendoddshows.com

News: Free Metro Travel with your Whitley Bay Playhouse Ticket

Free Metro Travel with your Whitley Bay Playhouse Ticket!

All Playhouse tickets for shows from the 7th August 2015 now come with an additional benefit as you can now travel to the Playhouse on the Metro for free with your theatre ticket. Theatre tickets are valid up to two hours before and after the performance, just simply retain your Playhouse ticket for inspection by Metro Staff when travelling to or from the Playhouse for a show.

The Playhouse Whitley Bay is delighted to be working with Nexus to provide this extra added benefit to ticket holders on a trial basis until April 2016, and it’s hoped the partnership continues.

North Tynesideis well serviced by the Metro and is Monkseaton Metro Station the nearest to the Playhouse just a 10 minute walk away from the theatre.  Alternatively the Whitley Bay Station is also just over 10 minutes away through the centre of Whitley Bay.

Cllr Eddie Darke, cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “This is a great initiative and one that I’m sure will be very popular with those going along to enjoy all of the fantastic events and performances at the Playhouse.”

The Metro is the hassle free choice to travel to the Playhouse Whitley Bay.   With frequent services you can arrive ready to relax with a pre-show with a drink from our well stocked bars in advance of the performance. A full range of alcoholic and soft drinks are on offer, with nibbles to enjoy throughout the show.

With a varied and busy Autumn and Winter Season coming up, from The Lindisfarne Story to Paul Potts, and of course the ever popular Christmas Pantomime we hope patrons take advantage of this opportunity to hop on the Metro free and save on the search for parking space and parking fees!