Preview: Beyond Caring by Christina Castling - Touring the North East of England

New play takes a frank, humorous and heartbreaking look at life behind the doors of a care home

A Gala Durham & Queen’s Hall Arts Centre co-production

Beyond Caring by Christina Castling 

Touring the North East of England 

from Saturday 7 October - Sunday 5 November 2023

Direction by Jonluke McKie

Design by Ellie Light

“Older people, they’re still people. Like you and me. Just a bit, well, baggier around the edges.”

Beyond Caring, a powerful new play by Christina Castling that takes a frank, humorous and heartbreaking look at life behind the doors of a care home, will be touring the North East of England this Autumn. Based on interviews with residents, relatives and staff, the play, co-produced by Gala Durham and Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, uncovers the reality of caring for others, looking after ourselves and getting older.

Audiences are being invited to meet Queenie, Elaine and Alex, resident, relative and carer at Cedar Point Care Home - a place where the corridors roar with laughter and ache with sadness and where outrageous antics mingle with tough conversations. 

Care home resident Queenie, played by Judi Earl, is staging a protest because she wants to have a tab and can’t have one without being supervised. Elaine, whose mum is busy deciding whether she wants to go into a care home, will be played by Jacqueline Phillips, and Alex, a carer working in the care home, will be brought to life by Rosie Stancliffe.

As playwright, Christina Castling explains: “In 2021, as part of the research and development phase of the play, I interviewed carers, 

residents and their relatives at care homes across the North East of England to better understand the reality of life working, living or supporting someone living in a care home. Alongside fascinating 

conversations with academics, social workers, and care home managers, the result is a play that shines a light on often hilarious and hard-hitting experiences and asks crucial questions about ageing, identity and adult care provision.”

Dr Clare Winter, Counselling Psychologist at Care Home Wellbeing Service, who shared her thoughts during the research and development of the play, said: “Covid19 tragically demonstrated how the needs of older people, their relatives and carers can be forgotten if not championed. It is vital for today’s society that older people’s stories are truly heard and valued. This is a timely and necessary project. I believe that Beyond Caring champions [our carers’] work, gives them an authentic voice and can be a real vehicle for reflection that is much 

needed.”

As part of the North East of England tour, Beyond Caring will feature as the centrepiece at two special celebration events in Durham and Darlington encouraging care staff to explore their wellbeing and help them feel empowered. These events, delivered in partnership with Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council, aim to provide opportunities for skill-sharing across cultural organisations and councils regarding training, recruitment and retention of social care staff. 

Christina added: “We’re delighted that Beyond Caring will help facilitate crucial conversations about the wellbeing of care home staff. We hope the play will have a lasting impact on audiences, whilst demonstrating 

how the arts can play a meaningful role in encouraging debate around timely issues.”

To ensure that staff and residents at care homes and their families also get the opportunity to watch the play together and be part of the tour a digital recording of the play will be made available to be screened/shown in care homes across the region for a limited time.

Beyond Caring is the second full-length play by Durham-based playwright Christina Castling. It follows the success of A Way Home, which toured theatre and community venues across the North East of England in 2022.

Beyond Caring has been made possible with funding from Gala Durham and Queen's Hall Arts Centre and with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England as well as support from the North East and North Cumbria Staff Wellbeing Hub, Creative Darlington, 

Darlington Borough Council and Darlington Hippodrome. It has also been supported by the Derwent Valley Partnership, East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership and Mid Durham Area Action Partnership through the Neighbourhood Budgets of Councillors Watts Stelling, Chris Varty and Jonathan Elmer.

Tickets:

For more information about Beyond Caring and to book tickets visit www.beyond-caring.co.uk 

 

Beyond Caring North East Tour Dates:

• Saturday 7 October, 2.30pm & 7.30pm - Gala Durham

• Wednesday 11 October, 7pm - Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham

• Thursday 12 October, 2pm - Blackhall Community Centre

• Friday 13 October 7.30pm - Hamsteels Community Centre

• Saturday 14 October, 7.30pm - Clara Vale Village Hall

• Tuesday 17 October, 8pm - Hipp @ The Hullabaloo, Darlington Hippodrome

• Wednesday 18 October, 7.30pm - The Customs House, South Shields

• Thursday 19 October, 7.30pm- Arts Centre Washington

• Friday 20 October, 7.30pm - The Witham, Barnard Castle

• Saturday 21 October, 7.30pm - Trimdon Grange Community Centre

• Tuesday 24 October, 7.30pm - Coundon & Leeholme Community Centre

• Wednesday 25 October, 7.30pm - Hamsterley & Low Westwood Community Centre

• Thursday 26 October, 7.30pm - Witton Park Village Hall

• Friday 27 October, 6pm - Pelton Community Centre

• Saturday 28 October, 3pm - St John’s Hall, Meadowfield

• Tuesday 31 October, 7.30pm - Live Theatre, Newcastle

• Wednesday 1 November, 7.30pm - Live Theatre, Newcastle 

• Thursday 2 November, 7.30pm - Casterton Village Hall, Carnforth*

• Friday 3 November, 7.30pm - Kirkby Stephen Sports & Social Club*

• Saturday 4 November, 7.30pm - Frosterley Village Hall*

• Sunday 5 November, 7.30pm - Middleton & Todridge Village Hall, Morpeth*

*These dates are presented as part of the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme

Jowheretogo Podcast- The Northeast Culture Show :

Previews and reviews of live music, comedy, theatre & more in Northeast England. New music, old music and a bit of what we fancy! Find out what's on in Northeast England: With Jo ; Northeast Music Guide , and Steve : Northeast Theatre Guide

Available now on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1NklmSYzgi6TL9Kaay5ztW?si=937e8672cbb94320

Preview: Shakespeare’s The Tempest at Sunderland Roker Seafront

 A storm in a teacup? Something is brewing…

Shakespeare’s The Tempest

A modern verse translation by Kenneth Cavander

Theatre Space North East

Sunderland Roker Seafront (The Pods)

Thursday 17  - Sunday 20 August 2023 at 7pm

Bold, localised, bard adaptations are being staged this summer in Sunderland – and hot on the heels of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ in July, Theatre

Space North East now present Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’ set against the 

epic backdrop of Roker seafront.

Theatre Space's Summer of Shakespeare heads to the seaside this August – in the year that marks the 400th anniversary of the Shakespeare’s First Folio – where a magical storm is brewing. Set sail on an open-air adventure with an epic retelling of Shakespeare’s classic, which will see a full professional cast, trainees, and a ‘Tempest 

Ensemble’ community choir use the natural landscape and evocative shanties to explore Sunderland’s industrial past – overshadowed and overlooked by visitors seeking a ‘prosperous’ future.

This modern verse translation by Kenneth Cavander maintains the mastery of the original whilst artistically updating the most unfamiliar language, making it sympathetic to the modern ear, as part of a long-standing relationship with Oregon's Play On Shakespeare. 

Corinne Kilvington, who will direct the piece, commented, “Sunderland’s industrial shipping boom, its loss, and its legacy, will always be a prominent feature within this community, and incorporating that into such a renowned play gives us a great opportunity to amalgamate the heritage of the area, alongside our national cultural heritage.” 

Producer Jamie Brown commented further, saying, “It’s a special year for all things Shakespeare, and we are going bigger and bolder with our offer than ever thanks to Play On Shakespeare, Arts Council England, The Barbour Foundation and Sunderland City Council. We have an excellent cast in place, the setting is perfect, and the style in which we’ll present the material will resonate with people today, from both the city and the wider area.”

Tickets:

The Tempest takes places at Roker Seafront (The Pods) from 17th to 20th August 2023, with performances at 7pm daily. Tickets can be booked at www.theatrespace.org.uk. 

As always, Theatre Space’s Summer of Shakespeare is free to attend - with those who are able being invited to make a donation at point-of-sale or following the event itself - but tickets for The Tempest must be reserved in advance. 

    

Preview: There and Back Again - An Odyssey at Newcastle Northern Stage

Lyngo Theatre presents 

There and Back Again - An Odyssey

Newcastle Northern Stage

Wednesday 2  – Saturday 5 August 2023

A show by Marcello Chiarenza

Adapted and performed by Patrick Lynch

Music by Carlo Cialdo Capelli

Design assistant Elena Marini

Ages adults and children over 6

Follow CBeebies Patrick Lynch as he uses a pioneering mix of live cinema and theatre to take you on a thrilling ride across the magical world of ancient Greece. With miniature sets he directs the lights, camera and action in front of your eyes to show the famous battles, floating islands, one-eyed giants and angry Gods that make up Ulysees' 20 year struggle to get back home.

The use of multiple cameras magnifies in wide screen our table-top pup-petry down to the smallest detail, turning a storm-in-a-teacup into an Ae-gean tempest, laying out the fundamental fable hidden in this classic of world-literature and proving that no matter how far you roam, there's no place like Homer.

Tickets:

https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/the-odyssey/

Preview: Tangerines at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

 "I just never thought I’d hear Princess Charlotte say 'dick move.”

Tangerines by Lydia Brickland

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Tuesday 25 - Saturday 30th July 2023 at 5pm

After enjoying a sell out run at The Kings Head Theatre, London; Tangerines is proud to be part of Newcastle’s Fringe Festival.

Charlotte has headed off to university and she’s ready to reinvent herself. But when your whole life is in the public eye, how exactly do you do that? Eager to get stuck in, she joins Durham University’s Dance Society - where she meets Kae. The pair start dancing together but it quickly becomes clear that there's more to their relationship than

dancing...

This punchy new play by Lydia Brickland examines a fictional future of the royal family and their relationship to queerness.

Lydia Brickland - Writer

Lydia Brickland is a writer, performer and burlesque artist from Gateshead in the North East of England. She likes to tell stories about big, complex issues in a fun, lively and accessible way. Her work is humorous and playful, infused with radical kindness. She is particularly interested in how queer women and non-binary folk take up space on stage.

She is currently a member of the Royal Court Writers Group and one of the founding members of all-womxn comedy collective Your Aunt Fanny.

Writing Credits include: Deck The Stalls (The Hope Theatre, London 2022) and Dear Sophie Ellis Bextor (Camden Peoples Theatre, 2022). Short Plays: Taking Stock (The Lowry, Manchester, 2022), Frubes, Creme Eggs, and Massive Slags (Live Theatre, Newcastle, 2022), Ice Cream Van Fucker (The Old Courts, Wigan, 2022) How to Get Rid of Your Gag Reflex (Lion and Unicorn, London, 2021) I’m selling the skirt I was raped in on Depop (Live Theatre, 2021).

Bethany McHugh - Director

Bethany is a theatremaker, director, performer, and facilitator. Born in New Jersey, Bethany spent ten years in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and now calls London home. She holds a dual degree in English and Theatre from Carleton College and a masters in Collaborative Theatre Making from Rose Bruford. She is also a proud alumna of the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center.

Bethany works with artists of all disciplines, fusing her love of music, storytelling, movement, and language to create emotionally resonant stories. She believes deeply that theatre can inspire radical empathy and change in audiences, participants, and makers alike. Recent directing credits include: If It Was a Party, Why Was There So Much Blood (Rose Bruford), How To Fix It (Minnesota Fringe) and assistant directing credits include: Into the Sea We Go (Ugly Duck), Hamlet (Wayward Theatre Company).

Cast & Creatives:

Charlotte         Romana Meyrat

Kae         Hannah Mullaney

Assistant Director         Constance Des Marais

Movement Director & Choreographer Emily Charlotte Jones

Intimacy Coordinator         Katie Burke

Lighting Designer         Carey Chomsoonthorn

Illustrator Sally Mullaney

Photos: Jennifer Kehl

Tickets:

https://www.newcastlefringe.co.uk/tangerines 

Preview: Quiz at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Is That Your Final Answer?

 

Quiz

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 October 2023

Further casting has been announced for James Graham’s thrilling and provocative drama, Quiz coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal in October 2023.

Joining Rory Bremner, Britain’s top satirical impressionist and renowned comedian who stars as Chris Tarrant, will be TV favourites Charley Webb, Lewis Reeves and Mark Benton.

Recognised to millions for her role as Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale, Charley was nominated at the 2014 British Soap Awards for Best Female Dramatic Performance. Since leaving the soap in 2021, she has appeared in Better for the BBC and will be seen in The Long Shadow which will air in September on ITV. Trading the drama of the Dingle family and stepping into the scandal of the Ingrams, Charley will take on the role of wife and accomplice, Diana Ingram.

Lewis Reeves starred in the hugely popular black comedy-drama I May Destroy You which was nominated for nine Emmys in 2021, and has recently appeared alongside Keeley Hawes in the Sky science fiction series The Midwich Cuckoos. He is best known for his role as DC Jake Collier in the ITV drama Unforgotten, for which he appeared in four series of the show. Quiz will be Lewis’ first UK tour and will see him in the hot seat, called for duty as ‘The Coughing Major’ Charles Ingram.

A beloved TV and stage star, Mark Benton recently appeared on stages up and down the country in Ramps on the Moon’s Village Idiots, and other critically acclaimed touring productions including Glengarry Glen Ross and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. He has also been a regular on our TV screens since the early 90s, and best known for roles including Eddie in Early Doors, Howard in Northern Lights, Martin Pond in Barbara and Daniel ‘Chalky’ Chalk in Waterloo Road.

Most recently he can be seen as one of the titular characters in the BBC One’s Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators. He will be swapping his police badge and taking up the gavel as, Judge Rivlin along with other roles, in the upcoming tour of Quiz.

Completing the main cast will be Leo Wringer, who has had a prolific career on stage spanning over four decades, comedian and actress Sukh Ojla, whose recent screen credits include the streaming phenomenon Bridgerton and Marc Antolin whose stage career has seen him take on West End musicals and plays, most notably Little Shop Of Horrors at Regent’s Park Theatre, for which he was Olivier nominated.

The production explores the real-life story of Charles Ingram, aka the Coughing Major, who conned the world’s most popular TV quiz show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire out of £1,000,000. Or did he?

September 2001: The nation is gripped by a scandal that remains, to this day, a mystery. In an outrageously audacious heist, Charles Ingram, aka the Coughing Major, and his accomplices duped the world’s most popular TV quiz show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, out of £1,000,000. Or did they? And if they did cheat, how did they really do it?

Uncovering new evidence, it’s time to ask you, the audience, to put fingers on keypads and answer the ultimate 50/50: guilty or not guilty?

Tickets:

Quiz plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 October 2023. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Jowheretogo Podcast- The Northeast Culture Show :

Previews and reviews of live music, comedy, theatre & more in Northeast England. New music, old music and a bit of what we fancy! Find out what's on in Northeast England: With Jo ; Northeast Music Guide , and Steve : Northeast Theatre Guide

Available now on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1NklmSYzgi6TL9Kaay5ztW?si=937e8672cbb94320

Preview: I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical at Sunderland Empire

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Stock Aitken Waterman announce full casting for I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical. Kylie Minogue announced to digitally appear in the show coming to Sunderland Empire in April 2024

 

I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical

Sunderland Empire 

Monday 22 – Saturday 27 April 2024

Tickets: Https://Tinyurl.Com/Ishouldbesoluckysund 

 

Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, show creator Debbie Isitt and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions are delighted to announce full casting for I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical. The team also announce that Kylie Minogue will digitally appear throughout the show as a specially created character unique to the musical. The World Premiere of the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical will open at the Manchester Opera House on Thursday 2 November 2023 before embarking on a UK tour. 

 

Stock Aitken Waterman said "Stock Aitken Waterman are thrilled to be part of this wonderful new adventure. To see our songs take on a new life in the world of musical theatre and working on a collaboration with Debbie Isitt and her talented team is so exciting and very special." 

Kylie Minogue said; “I’m thrilled to announce that I will be joining Stock Aitken Waterman in presenting the new musical, 'I Should Be So Lucky'!  It is the music that inspired a generation (plus my first five albums!) so to have all the SAW hits in this original story will make for a compelling, funny and heartfelt show.  Let’s enjoy the magic all over again!”

 

Bringing together the West End’s finest talent, the full cast of the musical includes Kayla Carter (The Color Purple, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) as Bonnie, Jamie Chapman (Nativity! The Musical, The Mousetrap) as Spencer, Jemma Churchill (Guys and Dolls, Nativity! THe Musical) as Ivy, Matthew Croke (Wicked, Aladdin) as Nadeem, Jessica Daley (Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables) as Britney, Gary Davis (Annie, Oklahoma!) as Big Mike, Melissa Jacques (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mamma Mia!) as Shelley, Scott Paige (The Great British Bake Off Musical, Made in Dagenham) as Michael, Billy Roberts (Rock of Ages, Titanic The Musical) as Nathan, Giovanni Spanò (Jesus Christ Superstar, Bat Out of Hell) as Ash, Lucie-Mae Sumner (Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls) as Ella and Anna Unwin (Aspects of Love) as Olivia. The cast is completed by Tegan Bannister, Ralph Bogard, Elliot Broadfoot, Emma Crossley, Kade Ferraiolo, Sydney Isitt-Ager, Joe Kelly, Aidan Nightingale, James Willoughby Moore, Lauren Woolf and Louie Wood.

 

THE WEDDING’S OFF, BUT THE HONEYMOON IS ON! Head from the aisle to the isles in the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical featuring the soundtrack of a generation with music from pop royalty including Kylie Minogue (I Should Be So Lucky), Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up), Jason Donovan (Too Many Broken Hearts) and Bananarama (Love In The First Degree). I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical features no less than 10 Number 1 singles and over 25 songs from the Hit Factory whose music defined an era. Ella and Nathan, a young couple, hopelessly in love and about to take the biggest step of their lives – marriage. Until it doesn’t go quite to plan. Will they be together forever, or will he make her cry and say goodbye?

 

I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical is written and directed by Debbie Isitt (the hit Nativity! franchise), choreographed by Jason Gilkison (Creative Director of Strictly Come Dancing and Eurovision 2023), with orchestrations and musical direction by George Dyer, set and costume design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Ben Harrison, casting by Anne Vosser and production management by Simon Marlow. It is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions.

On the web:

www.soluckymusical.com, 

@SoLuckyMusical

 

Tickets:

I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical will hit Sunderland Empire’s stage from Monday 22 – Saturday 27 April 2024. Tickets are available online now at https://tinyurl.com/IShouldbesoLuckySund *

*A £3.65 transaction fee applies to online bookings.

Jowheretogo Podcast- The Northeast Culture Show :

Previews and reviews of live music, comedy, theatre & more in Northeast England. New music, old music and a bit of what we fancy! Find out what's on in Northeast England: With Jo ; Northeast Music Guide , and Steve : Northeast Theatre Guide

Available now on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1NklmSYzgi6TL9Kaay5ztW?si=937e8672cbb94320