Preview: Sleeping Beauty at Newcastle Theatre Royal

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MATTHEW BOURNE’S SLEEPING BEAUTY  A GOTHIC ROMANCE REVIVED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL FOR 2 WEEKS ONLY

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 5^th – Saturday 16^th April 2016.

The UK’s most popular dance company, New Adventures, returns to Newcastle Theatre Royal this Spring with Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, a gothic tale for all ages. This ground-breaking production heads to Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 5^th– Saturday 16^th April 2016.

Directed and choreographed by probably the ‘hottest’ choreographer in the world right now, Sir Matthew Bourne OBE,and from the UK’s most popular dance company, Sleeping Beauty is a revival of this new classic, giving audiences one more chance to see the final piece in the trio of Tchaikovsky masterpieces.  With sumptuous sets, costumes and evocative lighting, the audience will be transported in time.

Returning to the central role of Aurorain this first revival is rising star Ashley Shaw. Ashley recently played Lana in the triumphant revival of The Car Man, also played Kim in Edward Scissorhands, Sugar in Nutcracker! and the title role in Cinderella. Cordelia Braithwaite made her debut with New Adventures in Swan Lakein 2013 and has since featured in this year’s revival of The Car Man, covering the role of Lana. Cordelia makes her debut as Aurorathis season; her first Principal role with New Adventures.

Matthew Bourne’sSleeping Beauty premiered in 2012, and was the fastest selling production in the company’s history. Sleeping Beauty was created for New Adventures 25th birthday celebrations and completed Sir Matthew Bourne’s OBE trio of re-imagined Tchaikovsky ballet masterworks that started in 1992 with Nutcracker! and, most famously, in 1995, with the international hit Swan Lake. This dazzling production has won the hearts of thousands and smashed box office records across the UKand at Sadler’s Wells. 

The leading role of Leo will once again be played by Dominic North and Chris Trenfield who co-created the role in 2012.

Perrault’s timeless fairy tale, about a young girl cursed to sleep for one hundred years, was turned into a legendary ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographer, Marius Petipa, in 1890. Bourne takes this date as his starting point, setting the Christening of Aurora, the story’s heroine, in the year of the ballet’s first performance; the height of the Fin-de-Siecle period when fairies, vampires and decadent opulence fed the gothic imagination. 

As Auroragrows into a young woman, we move forward in time to the more rigid, uptight Edwardian era; a mythical golden age of long Summer afternoons, croquet on the lawn and new dance crazes. Years later, awakening from her century long slumber, Aurorafinds herself in the modern day; a world more mysterious than any Fairy story!

Tickets:

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 5^th – Saturday 16^th April 2016 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinee: Thursday 2pm, Saturday Matinee 2.30pm). Tickets are from £17.00 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).

Preview: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at Newcastle Theatre Royal

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FLAMBOYANT BALLET IS BACK AS THE TROCKS RIDE AGAIN!      

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 6^th and  Wednesday 7^th October 2015

The reigning ‘queens’ of classical ballet, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carloare returning to the UK for the first time since 2013 and bringing their delightfully comedic classic ballet back to the Theatre Royal this Autumn on Tuesday 6^th and  Wednesday 7^th October2015.

For two nights only, the Theatre Royal will become the home of fantastical dance and divine comedy – a must-not-miss occasion.  New York’s all-male, professional comedy ballet company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, or 'The Trocks', as they are affectionately known present a loving knowledge of dance with a brilliant comedic approach.  This unique blend is combined with the astonishing fact that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces!

Dancers ‘Ida Nevasayneva’, ‘Olga Supphozova’, ‘Lariska Dumbchenko’ and fellow broad-shouldered, hairy-chested ballerinasgrace the stage in up to size 12 pointe shoes, with their playful and entertaining take on traditional ballet; a true en travesti parody of favourites from the classical and modern repertoire.

The Trocks’ much welcomed return marks the company’s fourteenth visit to the UK and follows extensive tours to Europeand Japan in spring and summer 2015. The Newcastle Theatre Royal performances include the show-stopping Swan Lake Act II; the abstract humour of the Merce Cunningham-inspired Patterns in Space; Go For Barocco, a satire on Balanchine's choreography complete with killer hips and plenty of attitude, and the fan-flicking, castanet-clicking, UK premiere of Don Quixote.

Founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts, The Trocks first performed in the late-late shows in Off-Off Broadway lofts and are now treasured all around the world by audiences and critics alike. In 41 dynamic and non-stop years the award-winning company has clocked up hundreds of thousands of touring miles to over 610 cities in 40 countries. Company dancers currently hail from Australia, Cuba, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Spain and USA.

Under the artistic directorship of Tory Dobrin, who first joined the company as a dancer in 1980, the company continues to appeal to a wide range of theatregoers, from those new to the art form to balletomanes accustomed to the hilarity and precision of these men en pointe.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo’s UK tour is organised by Dance Consortium.  For further information please visit www.danceconsortium.com.  

 “This is the funniest night you’ll ever have at the ballet” Sunday Times

Tickets:

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is at Newcastle Theatre Royal for two nights only, Tuesday 6th and  Wednesday 7th October 2015, playing evenings at 7.30pm.

Tickets from £15.50 (save 50p per ticket online). Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Preview: Aladdin at Customs House

New Production Is En Pointe

Aladdin

South Shields Customs House

Friday 19^th June 2015.

A classic fairytale will pirouette into a north east theatre this week.

Ballet Theatre UK return to The Customs House in South Shields to bring their production of Aladdin to life on Friday June 19^th.

The company returns after its successful production of The Little Mermaid last summer.

Customs House Executive Director Ray Spencer said: “We are delighted to welcome Ballet Theatre UK back to The Customs House.  The Little Mermaid was absolutely stunning and we can’t wait to see what they do with Aladdin.  With just one rub of the magical lamp, Aladdin’s journey will sweep you into an exotic world full of daring adventure, enchanting spells and true love.”

Tricked by an evil sorcerer, Aladdin sets out on a quest in search for the ultimate treasure. Deceived, Aladdin is left alone in a dark and damp cave but it leads to him uncovering a life-changing object - a dusty old lamp.

This exotic tale is brought to life through the magic of classical ballet.

David Brewer, who plays Aladdin, said: “When it comes to translating something into ballet you need to find the truth behind every step you do.  One of my favourite moments is when Aladdin is dancing with the princess and he’s found a way into the world he’s been dreaming of.”

Sarah Mortimer, who plays his princess, said: “Every girl would love to be a princess but what I like about this one is she has an adventurous side.”

Charlotte Eades, who plays the Slave of the Ring, added: “The rehearsal process is really interesting and fun. You learn so much about yourself to really push the limits.”

Ballet Theatre UK are returning to The Customs House next year to perform The Snow Queen – the story Disney’s smash-hit Frozen was inspired by.

Tickets:

Tickets for Aladdin at The Customs House on Friday at 7.45pm are £18 and £10 for under 16s and are available from the box office on 0191 454 1234 or by visiting www.customshouse.co.uk.

Preview: Swan Lake at Whitley Bay Playhouse

Moscow Ballet La Classique presents - Swan Lake

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Tuesday 20th October 2015

The PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay is delighted to announce that Moscow Ballet La Classique will be returning to the coast, with their latest production of Swan Lake in October.

Swan Lake has been celebrated for over 100 years, becoming the most popular ballet of all. The world-renowned Moscow Ballet - La Classique demonstrate their continued quality of dance and performance in a dramatic production of this timeless favourite set to Tchaikovsky's superb score.

The famous Moscow Ballet of Classical Choreography - "La Classique" was founded in 1990, utilising ballet dancers from the leading theatres of the CIS Countries and the Bolshoi, Kirov and Ballet Theatres of Kiev and Odessa.

Moscow Ballet - La Classique has thrilled ballet lovers during hugely successful tours of Egypt, Morocco, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Norway, Israel, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand as well as the UK and this world famous company have gained vast international acclaim.

Some of the male dancers in this talented company have themselves achieved star status in their own country. World-renowned soloists Nadezda Ivanova, Andrey Shalin, Andrey Lyapin, and Dmitry Smirnov lead the Moscow Ballet Company under the direction of Elik Melikov. The company of Moscow Ballet – La Classique prepare to once more, dance themselves into the dreams that legends are made of in yet another world class production of Swan Lake.

The ballet is a favourite of ballerinas and audiences alike; all leading dancers dream to dance in Swan Lake whilst audiences dream to witness, the ultimate fairy tale ballet.

Music: Piotr Ilyich Tchiakovsky, Librettto: Vladimir Begichev & Vasily Geltser, Choreography: Marius Petipa & Lev Ivanov

Swan Lake – A Synopsis: Prince Siegfried is celebrating his coming of age in the garden of his ancestral palace. His mother observes that it's time to consider marriage and that tomorrow at the formal celebration of his 21st birthday, the court ball, he should select his future wife from the lovely ladies in attendance.

But, tomorrow is another day and for today Siegfried prefers to go hunting. Alone, by a lake, he sees Odette, Queen of the Swans, who appears to be both swan and woman. She explains that an evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart, has cast a spell on her and she must remain a swan, except between midnight and dawn, unless she is saved by true love. 

Siegfried, in love at first sight, swears his undying love,

promises to marry her and never to love another, but the wicked magician who disguises his own daughter, Odile, as the Swan-maiden, tricks him. Siegfried asks for her hand in marriage and swears an oath of fidelity to Odile. Suddenly Von Rothbart and Odile stand before him in a triumph of self-revelation as the pathetic figure of Odette, sobbing helplessly is seen at a distance. Siegfried collapses in an agony of guilt and despair. 

Heartbroken, he returns to thelakeside to beg Odette's forgiveness and declares his infinite love for her. Against all odds, the power of true love eventually overcomes the evil spell. The swan-maidens are restored to human form and Odette and Siegfried are reunited in eternal happiness.

Tickets

Moscow Ballet La Classique presents - Swan Lake at the Whitley Bay Playhouse on Tuesday 20th October 2015 at 7.30 pm

Tickets are on sale now and are priced at £23.50, £21.50 conc.

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.

Summer Preview at South Shields Customs House

Theatre Season is Red Hot  

Even if the Weather Isn’t

Summer Preview

South Shields Customs House

The return of one of the region’s most loved duos, a world-class musician and a new musical are all coming to The Customs House stage this summer. The Mill Dam venue in South Shields has an exciting summer season lined up. Even if the weather doesn’t always heat up the theatre certainly has all the hottest acts.

Customs House Executive Director Ray Spencer said: “Once again we have a full and interesting line-up with something that everybody can not only enjoy but plenty of things that people can try for the first time. This season sees us bring the vision of ex-pat Andy Bogle to life in Geordie The Musical, bring live cinema events to The Customs House for the first time and so much more. We have everything from the opportunity for cellists to have their cello played live on stage by the best in the world to a sing along to the country’s all-time favourite musical. Pick up a brochure today!”

Waiting for Gateaux

Waiting for Gateaux, from the writers of Dirty Dusting, will have you rolling in the aisle with a tale about chips, chocolate, weight loss and friendship from June 10 to 13.

Aladdin

Ballet Theatre UK, who last year brought The Little Mermaid to the theatre, will present Aladdin in a stunning new show on June 19.

Live Cinema events are kicking off this summer with Andre Rieu live from Maastricht in July and The National Theatre’s Hamlet will be beamed into the cinema in October.

This August Geordie The Musical will hit The Customs House stage. Step back to 1890 as The Customs House presents the premiere of this brand new musical which combines traditional Northumbrian songs and music with the award-winning storytelling skills of Tom Kelly, from a story from Andy Bogle.

Jive Aces

You won’t be short for things for the kids to do this summer. The venue boast a cinema which shows plenty of children’s films including Minions. Also in the theatre there’s Only One Direction in July and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Silly Simon the Sailor in August.

Top-notch music includes crooner Joe Longthorne in June and Britain’s Got Talent’s Jive Aces in August. July sees a free comedy show from Lewis Scheffer and August will see a 50^th anniversary celebration with Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music.

Andre Rieu

The venue has some of the best tribute bands around gracing the stage including The Blues Brothers Experience, Abba The Show and Magic, A Kind of Queen in June, The Robbie Williams Experience and The Billy Fury Years in July, and Beatlemania will be on stage in August.

For musical lovers Customs House favourites Encore are back, South Shields Gilbert and Sullivan Society are performing the A- Z of Musicals, Reavley Theatre School are producing Seussical Jr and Starset Theatre are performing Hairspray.

Only One Direction

The venue’s latest What’s On guide also looks ahead to the next season with acts including comedian Chris Ramsey, Catherine Cookson’s The Cinder Path and An Audience with The Original Stig. And, of course, the pantomime Alice in Wonderland is on sale now.

The What’s On guide can be picked up from The Customs House, local libraries and tourist information centres.

Tickets:

To book tickets or for more information on the season visit www.customshouse.co.uk or call the box office on 0191 455 1234.

Preview: BalletBoyz at Darlington Civic Theatre

THE BOYZ ARE BACK IN TOWN

BalletBoyz “theTalent”

Darlington Civic Theatre

Tuesday 26^th May 2015.

Following a sell-out run at The Royal Opera House, BalletBoyz are set to bring their explosive choreography to Darlington Civic Theatre later this month.

theTalent is a superb double bill from BalletBoyz featuring ‘The Murmuring’ choreographed by Alexander Whitley and ‘Mesmerics’ choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. The programme premiered at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House last year to capacity audiences and tours for the first time this spring playing at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 26 May.

Alexander Whitley has chosen the subject/title of The Murmuring for his new piece; as well as a low, distinctive and continuous sound, murmurings is also the extraordinary undulating flight pattern of flocks of birds, particularly starlings. "I’m delighted The Murmuring is going out on the road,” says Alexander, “and that I’ve had another opportunity to work with the BalletBoyz after having enjoyed so much working with them making the piece." Set to music by the London based electronic duo Raime (Tom Halstead and Joe Andrews) the precise nature of Alexander’s choreography contrasts arresting group dances with twisting, weighted solos; the company’s ten dancers create a seamless ebb and flow of beautiful movement.

Mesmerics is a piece created by Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, co-founders and artistic directors of BalletBoyz , with Christopher Wheeldon in 2004 for three men and two women. Christopher has re-worked the piece and re-created it for eight of theTalent’s dancers. “We’ve always loved the piece,” says Michael Nunn. “The music is a gorgeous score by Philip Glass featuring haunting, hypnotic string sections. We knew it wouldn’t work in the old format because there’s a lot of pointe work and traditional partnering, so Chris has re-invented it and we’ve worked with him in tiny moments through his busy schedule.”

Tickets:

BalletBoyz perform at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 26 May. Tickets* are priced £21, £19 and for under 16s £11

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk  

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

Breaking News is the new EP from North East band Peculiar Disco Moves. The new video is a portrayal of celebrity life, where red tops will sell their Granny to get a picture of a Z-lister parking his car one minute, then drop him or her like an anchor in the sea the next. 

See the new PDM video on this link here 

Follow Peculiar Disco Moves here