The Jowheretogo Theatre Year 2014

The Jowheretogo Theatre Year

So what were the productions that made the Jowheretogo team smile, laugh and/or cry the most this year? Stephen Oliver looks back at an exciting 2014.

Funny play of the year: The Play That Goes Wrong which we saw at the Darlington Civic Theatre. This play had us laughing from start to finish – memories of watching Airplane! the movie at the cinema when we were very young. The show is still on in the London West End and a sequel Peter Pan Goes Wrong reaches Darlington Civic and Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2015. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/review-play-that-goes-wrong-at.html

Musical of the year: Urinetown which we saw at the St James Theatre in London and became the play we love to quote thereafter. Great memorable songs, coupled with a cracking storyline – a feature that was missing on a number of musicals this year. We would love to see it tour to the North East. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/review-urinetown-musical-at-st-james.html

Moving Play of the Year: the revival of Wet House at Live Theatre was superb. Joe Caffrey was in great form as one of the trouble souls in Paddy Campbell’s debut play. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-wet-house-at-newcastle-live.html

Small scale show of the year: Thirsty from The Paper Birds which we saw at The Arts Centre Washington was a rollercoaster of emotions as Jemma McDonnell and Kylie Walsh consumed large amounts of liquid whilst exploring friendship and the demon alcohol.

http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/review-thirsty-by-paper-birds-at.html

Whodunnit of the year was Jason Durr’s portrayal of Agatha Christie’s Poirot in Black Coffee which had us guessing to the end at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal. We saw a number of murders of stage this year but this show was a cut above the rest. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/review-black-coffee-at-newcastle.html

Amateurs showing the professionals how it is done play of the year has to be the moving Duet For One at the People’s Theatre in Newcastle. A fabulous look into some really difficult questions.  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/review-duet-for-one-newcastle-peoples.html

Kids show of the year is one we hand over to the wee-man of the team.  Robert loved Get Santa! at Newcastle’s Northern Stage. A funny show that wasn’t afraid to connect with the young audience. It was funny and heart warming without any unnecessary innuendo.  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/review-get-santa-at-newcastle-northern.html

Dance show of the year was the incredible The Five & The Prophecy of Prana from Boy Blue Entertainment. The mix of manga style characters and strong storyline had the Northern Stage audience captivated. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/review-five-prophecy-of-prana-at.html

Wedding of the year? Well we see a lot of coupling on stage and the great farce that was Perfect Wedding at South Shields Customs House was very funny and showed that the North East produces entertaining theatre. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-perfect-wedding-at-south-shields.html

A massive thank you goes to the actors, producers, directors and theatres that have invited us along to the shows this year. Theatre remains a great night out and is not just about the Panto at Christmas. We have never seen a broadcast of a West End Show at a cinema because we now there is plenty of live entertainment out there in our wonderful theatres.

Looking ahead – 2015 is going to be another cracking year too!

Preview: New Season at South Shields Customs House

Arts Venue Unveils its New Line-up

South Shields Customs House

Autumn 2014

Thirsty

Lotto winners, gruesome murders and happily ever afters will all be part of the entertainment at The Customs House this season.

The theatre in South Shieldshas, as ever, an eclectic mix of music, drama and comedy as well as the return of the ‘little panto with the big heart’.

Lucky Numbers

Customs House executive director Ray Spencer, MBE, said: “This season we can guarantee we have something for everyone. There are so many shows I’m looking forward to seeing myself and in particular the return of Mike Yeaman’s Lucky Numbers as our annual Customs House production. We’re particularly excited to have Sunderland-born Michael Strassen to direct our flagship production, fresh from picking up the 2014 Off-West End Awards best director gong. We’re delighted the award-winning play will star Pat Dunn, who shot to fame as Nana in BBC’s Hebburn.”

A Doll’s House

For those who like the tried and tested classics the Mill Dam venue in South Shields has a new version of A Doll’s House, Henrick Ibsen’s play about marriage, money, and the freedom of women in the late 19th century and the ever popular Rumpus Theatre return with Charles Dickens’ marvellously macabre Captain Murderer.

Money the Gameshow

The Customs House has a long tradition of supporting new writing and this season is no different with plays including Butterfly, Money the Gameshow, Dead to Me, Collector of Tears, GSOH ‘Would Like to Meet’ and Thirsty sure to whet the appetite of any theatre fan.

I Left My Heart in Roker Park

This autumn also sees old favourites, which originally premiered at the arts venue, return. The hilarious Dirty Dusting sweeps back in and the updated version of I Left My Heart in Roker Park is back.

Perfect Wedding

Other plays include farce Perfect Wedding, mobster comedy The Big Hit and Not About Heroes, which takes a look at Britain’s greatest war poets.

Chris Ryan

If you’re looking for something other than drama, there’s plenty of shows with a bit of a difference, including former SAS commander turned author Chris Ryan, LDN Wrestling, stand-up comedian Micky Cochrane and murder squad detective Trevor Marriott, who will be back to give his insight into Jack the Ripper.

Joe Longthorne

Music fans are never disappointed with a mix of the real thing and the best tributes around. Joe McElderry is back in his hometown theatre ahead of the festive season – but be quick because tickets have almost sold out. Another much-loved Joe is back in the form of Joe Longthorne and Pal of My Cradle Day singer Ann Breen will also take to the stage this season.

Musical lovers can see Over the Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story, starring Bad Girls’ Nicole Faraday, South Shields Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s Jesus Christ Superstar, regulars Encore return, Tenors Unlimited will give an operatic take on well-known songs and the youngsters of Performer Stage School will perform the newly-released Ghost. Top tributes The Hollywood Bees, Nights on Broadway – The Bee Gees Story, Patsy Cline The Concert, Unforgettable, Rolling Back the Years and The Counterfeit Sixties will impress throughout autumn.

Santa’s Naughty Elf

The venue is always keen to introduce youngsters to the theatre and children’s shows this season include the return of Santa’s Naughty Elf in the run up to Christmas. This time Elfluent the Elf has broken the toy machine and needs the help of the boys and girls to save Christmas. There’s also interactive show Babar the Little Elephant, a special junior edition of Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking (with an adult version in the evening) and Wendy the Witch and the Haunted Mansion, which runs this Halloween.

Little Red Riding Hood

Finally, Ray Spencer - who was Tommy the Trumpeter for 25 years - will be returning to pantomime as Granny Hood in Little Red Riding Hood. Having performed in panto for almost 40 years alongside Bob Stott as Dame Dotty, it will be Ray’s first outing as dame.  Bob hung up his wig and frock two years ago after 37 years treading the panto boards, while Ray retired as Tommy last summer. Ray added: “I have big boots to fill but I can’t wait to get back up on the stage and see all the regulars in the audience – I have really missed them.  This is my first time as dame but this year will also mark another first which I am really looking forward to; Little Red Riding Hood will be the first time I have professionally performed with my daughter Natasha who will be playing Red.”

Tickets:

For more information about the new season or to book tickets for any show call the box office on 0191 454 1234, visit www.customshouse.co.ukor pick up the new What’s On brochure from The Customs House, your local library or the Tourist Information Centre.

Review: Thirsty by The Paper Birds at Washington Arts Centre

Why do we drink?

Thirsty by The Paper Birds

Washington Arts Centre

5^th Jun 2014

If three or more drinks makes it a binge session then how many of us binge drink? How often do we do it? And why do we binge drink? These and many other questions are discussed in Thirsty, the latest production from the Leeds theatre group Paper Birds.

Jemma McDonnell and Kylie Walsh met at university. They became great friends and moved in to a house together. When one of them moved to London their drinking sessions became far and few. Their story is intertwined with the stories of the many people who contacted them online and through a drunken hotline. One story in particular resonates through. An 18 year old girl from a small place who is new to the big city in which she attends university. She is keen to make friends and the alcohol helps. Jemma and Kylie try to stick to the positive stories at first. Their engaging manner is only second to their ability to consume bladder busting quantities of water whilst enacting the stories. The level of engagement with the audience includes the annoying antics of hen nights and the menace of the camera phone.

The set consists of 3 toilet cubicles – the third of which contains composer and pianist Shane Durrant who sets the mood for each twist of the tale. The intimate tales suited the cabaret seating format of the Washington Arts Centre. Jemma and Kylie are a well-oiled machine as they narrate their anecdotes working in unison with perfect timing. The have devised a cautionary tale which will appeal to a wide audience, especially the lady who apologises to Slimming World for her once a week binge. The human condition reveals a social animal that wants to be accepted.

The time flies by on this emotional rollercoaster about enjoying a tipple.

Directed by : Jemma Mc Donnell and Kirsty Housley
Performed by: Kylie Walsh, Jemma Mc Donnell, Shane Durrant
Creative Producer: Elle Moreton
Collaborating Artist: Wendy Houstoun
Design: Fiammetta Horvat
Lighting: Vince Fields
Sound: Benji Fox
Music: Shane Durrant
Photographer: Nigel Bewley  

Coming soon to the Arts Centre in Washington is Lydia's House [19th June] - see http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/preview-lydias-house-play-by-janet.html for details. 

This review was written by Stephen Oliverfor Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo