Preview: The Olive Boy at South Shields Customs House

Smash Hit Sell Out Edinburgh Fringe Show The Olive Boy Comes To South Shields For One Night Only.

 

The Olive Boy

South Shields Customs House

Thursday 16^th May 2024

The “brilliant and thought provoking” masterpiece The Olive Boy, written and performed by upcoming star Ollie Maddigan, will be performed at The Customs House South in May.

Let’s set the scene…You're 15 years old, struggling through school and coming to terms with the early stages of adolescence. Things are tricky when you're a teenager. You get dealt yet another devastating blow. But this time, it's worse. Your mum's passed away suddenly, and you’ve now got to move in with your, until that point, absent father. Now what? In a hopeless attempt to stay sane, you decide to pursue a girlfriend, but, shock, that doesn’t go to plan either. Surrounded by a great deal of olives, come on the journey of grief and hope through early adulthood.

Based on Ollie Maddigan’s real life story, The Olive Boy is a crude, but compelling comedy written and performed by Ollie Maddigan himself. Initially introduced at the Hope Theatre in 2021, the show quickly gained attention during its three-night run as part of the Camden Fringe and then in 2022 as part of its month-long sell out run at The Edinburgh Fringe. Renowned for its gripping narrative and Ollie’s remarkable onstage presence, The Olive Boy has received praise from both theatregoers and critics.

The Olive Boy explores the various facets of love and relationships, from awkward sexual encounters with a first love to family life and the challenges and complexities that arise within them. The Olive Boy delves into the search for identity and the profound transformations that individuals undergo as they navigate life's challenges and revelations.

Obviously, there is a large element of grief that is explored through the production; How do you cope with the loss of a loved one? Can you? Is there a coping mechanism that helps fill a sudden void in your life? The whole audience will go on a journey of self-discovery with The Olive Boy as we examine identity, society, and expectations. All sounds quite heavy, doesn’t it? Well, we can promise that with Ollie’s beautiful delivery, the darkness is wonderfully paired with breaths of fresh air and laughter.

Tickets:

The Olive Boy is at The Customs House on Thursday 16th May. Tickets are priced from £10 and available online at www.customshouse.co.uk, in person from the box office, or call: 0191 454 1234.

 

Preview: Rambert: Death Trap at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 Rambert Dance Company Return To Newcastle

 

Rambert: Death Trap

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Wednesday 24 & Thursday 25 April 2024

Rambert dancers in Death Trap
Photo - Camilla Greenwell

Following the popular success of their previous visits to Newcastle Theatre Royal, Rambert Dance Company returns to the stage this Spring with Death Trap, a brilliant evening of dance devised by Ben Duke (of Lost Dog).

Rambert dancer Naya Lovell in Ben Duke's Goat
Photo - Camilla Greenwell

Death Trap will conclude its European tour in which it visited a total of 10 theatres including a visit to Paris’ Théâtre de la Ville, at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Rambert dancers in Ben Duke's Cerebus
 Photo - Camilla Greenwell 

Bringing together Goat (2017) and Cerberus (2022), Death Trap continues Rambert’s focus on storytelling and characters, and features awe inspiring performances by their diverse company of dancers, with live music by an on-stage band.

Rambert dancers Jonathan Wade, Naya Lovell and Angélique Blasco
in Ben Duke's Death Trap (Cerberus)
Photo - Camilla Greenwell 

Death Trap is infused with Ben Duke’s irresistible, stylish and accessible sense of dance theatre, is darkly funny, and packed with originality.

Rambert dancers Jonathan Wade and Angélique Blasco
in Ben Duke's Death Trap (Cerberus)
Photo - Camilla Greenwell

In Cerberus, first performed in 2022, we enter a world where dance is literally a matter of life or death. An ingenious adaptation of the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, it is a bittersweet musing on myth and mortality, complete with funeral couture. Goat is inspired by the spirit of Nina Simone, with iconic songs including Feelings, Feeling Good and Ain’t Got No / I Got, Life.

Rambert dancers Joseph Kudra Archie White Simone Damberg Würtz and
 Conor Kerrigan in Ben Duke's Death Trap (Cerberus) 
Photo - Camilla Greenwell

Both pieces have been recreated for this tour by Ben Duke and Rambert dancers Adél Bálint, Angélique Blasco, Simone Damberg Würtz, Max Day, Conor Kerrigan, Joseph Kudra, Naya Lovell, Musa Motha, Aishwarya Raut, Antonello Sangirardi, Alex Soulliere, Dylan Tedaldi, Jonathan Wade, Archie White and Seren Williams.

Rambert in Ben Duke's Death Trap (Goat)
Photo - Camilla Greenwell

Helen Shute, CEO and Executive Producer of Rambert said: “We’re thrilled to take Rambert back on the road and this new evening in collaboration with Ben Duke is a great opportunity to connect with new and returning audiences across the country and beyond.”

Rambert in Ben Duke's Death Trap (Goat)
Photo -Camilla Greenwell

And of this new collaboration with Rambert, Choreographer Ben Duke says: “The work I make is always inspired by and made with the performers and it is a privilege to find myself in a room with these exceptional artists. Their diversity of background means that they bring such a richness of experience into the space, and it is their talent and generosity that really make this work.” 

Tickets:

Rambert: Death Trap plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Wednesday 24 & Thursday 25 April 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

 

REVIEW: The Wizard of Oz at Newcastle Theatre Royal

The Wizard of Oz

Newcastle Theatre Royal 

Until Sunday 21 April 2024

This brash and breezy reboot brings some high energy glitz to the family favourite whilst the terrific cast bring all the heart and humour of the original, cleverly delivering a show that should delight both new audiences and traditionalists alike.

I’m very familiar with this show, both in its original incarnation and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation, but this is the first time I have seen Lloyd-Webber’s version. Understandably, given the age of the show, this makes a much bigger departure from the original. The changes include insertion of new numbers by Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice, for instance, to flesh out the role of the Wicked Witch of the West and to add more of a big finish to the show, the original having a quiet sort of wind-down to the end that may be a little understated for modern audiences.

These songs stand out in their pop sensibilities amongst the gentler songs of Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg and they vary in their effectiveness, though I enjoyed the Red Shoes Blues, delivered very effectively by The Vivienne, stylishly statuesque and having a great time as the witch. Also, Already Home, though oddly reminiscent of an Abba song, delivers the required power to the finale.

Overall, though, this is an affectionate adaptation, keeping the spirit and much of the text of the original, though there are a few comic lines tailored to modern audiences. It is imaginatively staged, with Colin Richmond’s minimal but effective scenery augmented by Alex Clarke’s colourful video. Scene changes were slickly delivered by the talented ensemble, a comparatively small team who worked like trojans and delivered Shay Barclay’s engaging choreography with panache.

As to the principals, Aviva Tulley had just the right blend of spirit and sweetness for Dorothy, with real vocal power. Benjamin Yates, in the dual role of Hunk and the scarecrow, was excellent. Loose-limbed and athletic, he was charm personified, acting, singing and dancing with equal skill and doing a great job of keeping everything together in his pivotal role.

Femi Akinfolarin was a funny and affecting Tin Man, with some great body-popping moves as he gradually emerged from his rusted state. This seemed like one of the most effective modernisations, presumably resulting from the original casting of Ashley Banjo in the role, though I don’t know if Banjo could have matched Akinfolarin’s acting and singing chops.

In the role of the Cowardly Lion, Nic Greenshields was a delight. Towering over the other characters and solidly built, he naturally had great presence, but his characterisation was terrific. I can personally testify that the role is one of the most rewarding in musical theatre and Greenshields made the most of it. He didn’t miss a gag, verbal or visual, and sang splendidly. I was disappointed that he didn’t get the opportunity to sing King of The Forest but that was probably about balancing the three characters more evenly.

Emily Bull was a perky and strong-voiced Glinda, zipping about on a pink scooter that looked straight out of the Barbie movie, as well as a sympathetic Aunt Em. David Burrows gave solid support as a weary Uncle Henry and a chirpy Ozian major domo.

Touring productions usually need a famous name to get bums on seats and sometimes they turn out to be the weak link. Not this time. Allan Stewart, who you may remember as a comedy impressionist on TV, has had a solid career in musicals and gave a first-rate performance as the bumbling Wizard, all chuckles and warmth. The biggest name, The Vivienne, drag race legend and Dancing on Ice finalist, showed she is a musical theatre performer of real ability and, needless to say, she looked amazing!

So, if some of the musical interjections weren’t to my taste and if the heavily miked ensemble numbers, clearly augmented by vocal tracks, were a bit loud and brassy, these are small gripes. This is a warm-hearted, slick, funny and thoroughly enjoyable show that delivers everything a family audience could want. All credit to the director, Nikolai Foster - and this outstanding cast.

Review: Jonathan Cash

Tickets:

The Wizard of Oz plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tuesday 16 – Sunday 21 April 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

News: Ambassador Theatre Group Becomes ATG Entertainment

 Ambassador Theatre Group Becomes ATG Entertainment, underpinned by a new proposition: “Passion Behind Performance”

Ambassador Theatre Group, a leading live entertainment organisation, and operator of both the Sunderland Empire and the Stockton Globe in the North East, today announced that it is rebranding as ATG Entertainment. The transformation is accompanied by a refreshed logo, design language and brand proposition: “Passion Behind Performance”.

“Now is the right time to change our name to ATG Entertainment, modernise our look and strengthen our brand proposition,” said Ted Stimpson, CEO of ATG Entertainment. “Over the past few years, we have grown quickly and, with 64 venues and over 11,500 people across Europe and North America, we are pleased to unify the Group with a brand that reflects the breadth of our business today. We are all deeply committed to supporting our Producers as they put on incredible productions that excite, move and touch our audiences and I believe this is perfectly captured with our new brand proposition, “Passion Behind Performance.”

The new name, refreshed logo and design language reflect the Company’s evolution from theatre operator and capture the increasing variety of its content across music, comedy and events. The brand proposition, “Passion Behind Performance”, powerfully underscores the Group’s ongoing purpose, commitment, and dedication to support and enable producers and promoters to stage shows that entertain over 18 million people each year.

Kaiser Chiefs at Stockton Globe
Photo: Lloyd Stranaghan

Stimpson added: “We are proud of our strong heritage and foundations that have been built over 30 years. The shows created with our producers for theatregoers by the Jujamcyn team on Broadway, and the unforgettable entertainment brought by Mehr-BB to our European audiences, have been transformational to the One Company we are today.”

Preview: Cluedo 2 at Darlington Hippodrome

Strictly Champion Ellie Leach to Star in Cluedo 2 at Darlington Hippodrome

 

Cluedo 2

Darlington Hippodrome

Tuesday 8 - Saturday 12 October 2024

 

Ellie Leach is to star in the world premier UK tour production of Cluedo 2 which will be coming to Darlington Hippodrome in October.

Starring Casualty’s Jason Durr as Colonel Mustard and Ellie Leach – the reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion – as Miss Scarlett, Cluedo 2 is based on the classic Hasbro board game, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Ellie won the hearts of the nation as she waltzed her way to victory (with dance partner Vito) to win the Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball Trophy in December. She is also known to millions of viewers as Faye Windass in Coronation Street. During her 13 years on the soap, Ellie was involved in various memorable storylines and nominated for numerous acting awards.

Ellie Leach - Photo: Danielle Baguley

West End actor and TV favourite Jason Durr was most recently seen as David Hide in BBC One’s Casualty, (a role he played for seven years from 2016), audiences will also recognise Jason from his numerous other roles, including the motorbike riding policeman Mike Bradley from ITV’s hugely popular series, Heartbeat.

Ellie Leach said: “I’ve really enjoyed bringing Miss Scarlett to life on stage. It’s so much fun to perform this iconic character and to see audiences of all ages having such a good time at every show, so I’m really thrilled to be extending the tour.”

Jason Durr said: “I’m delighted to be continuing as Colonel Mustard in Cludeo 2. The audience reaction during our first few weeks of performances has been fantastic and I can’t wait to bring this hilarious whodunnit to many more audiences around the UK.”

The cast is completed by Jack Bennett (Wadsworth), Hannah Boyce (Mrs Peacock), Dawn Buckland (Mrs White), Liam Horrigan (Mr Black), Edward Howells (Professor Plum), Tiwai Muza (PC Silver) and Gabriel Paul (Reverend Green) with Kara Alberts-Turner, Audrey Anderson and Henry Lawes.

Following the huge success of the critically acclaimed original play, Cluedo is back on stage with a brand new, original comedy mystery, set in the swinging 60’s. Written by one of the UK’s most successful TV and stage writing duos, BAFTA Award winning writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, (Birds of a Feather, Goodnight Sweetheart and Dreamboats and Petticoats) and directed by Mark Bell (The Play That Goes Wrong, A Comedy About a Bank Robbery), who will bring the action of this hilarious whodunnit to life.

As the bodies pile up, our colourful characters - The Honourable Mrs Emerald Peacock, Colonel Eugene Mustard, ‘Professor’ Alex Plum, Miss Annabel Scarlett, ‘The Reverend’ Hal Green and the housekeeper Mrs White - move from room to room, trying to escape the murderer and survive the night. Cluedo 2, will keep audiences guessing right up to the final moments, and budding detectives of all ages, from 8 to 80 and beyond, can watch for the clues and unravel the secrets, as they try to work out whodunnit… with what… and where!

 Tickets:

Cluedo 2 runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 October. For more information or to book visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01325 405405.

Preview: The Wizard of Oz at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 THE VIVIENNE ON BECOMING THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST

The Wizard of Oz

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 16 – Sunday 21 April 2024.

 

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing on Ice finalist, The Vivienne will play The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz when it visits Newcastle Theatre Royal this month, we caught up with her to find out more about getting into character for her first theatre role...

What can audiences expect when they come see this version of The Wizard of Oz?

It's the most iconic story ever told, I think, and this version is definitely very true to the original movie, starring the amazing Judy Garland, that we all know and love. This version is beautiful, with the costumes, the numbers, the original songs from the film and the new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber. It’s produced by Newcastle's own Michael Harrison, and we're also being directed by Nikolai Foster, so we're in the most amazing hands. It's a treat for everyone.

How would you describe your version of The Wicked Witch of the West?

She's glamorous; a Bette Davis, Joan Crawford-esque kind of character. She's fabulous, a strong woman and very misunderstood, but Dorothy's a very strong character too. The costumes are out of this world, they’re created by Rachael Canning, and I tell her it's like The Wicked Witch of the West is going to The Met Gala!

Is this your first stage acting role? Have you found it challenging?

I've acted on TV before, but this is my first theatre role. I pinch myself every day. It's probably been the best experience of my life so far. Just the rehearsal process alone was wonderful - being surrounded by the most amazing, talented and creative people, and for them to welcome me with open arms I feel very blessed. I keep feeling like I'm the one that's ended up in Oz and that I'm going to wake up in Kansas once more and realise it was all a dream. Those iconic lines like 'I'm melting' and 'Fly, my pretties' are screamed into the abyss though, and it's challenging to find the places in my voice where that’s not going to kill me every night!

How do you channel your inner witch?

I've been watching some of my favourite witches throughout the years, like Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus, and I kind of borrow from them. Along with Bette, I'm borrowing from Angelica Houston in The Witches, Meryl Streep in Death Becomes Her, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest. I've made a concoction of all of them, along with the original Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz film, of course. I actually have a tattoo of her on my leg.

What are you enjoying most about taking The Wizard of Oz around the country?

I love touring. I tour a lot and it's the camaraderie between the cast that I really love. It's like you make a new family every six months once you start a new project, it's about making those bonds as well as getting to put on an amazing show and put smiles on people's faces. Backstage is always so much fun and you can't beat getting to travel around the country. You can't match it. I'm so, so lucky.

Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We're Off To See the Wizard - with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - this spectacular production will be a magical experience for all the family.

Join The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West, along with Dorothy, Toto and their friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old Land of Oz. There’s no place like Newcastle Theatre Royal when The Wizard of Oz lands for its weeklong run!

Tickets:

The Wizard of Oz plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tuesday 16 – Sunday 21 April 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Preview: Wor Bella at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 Local Women’s Football Hero Bella Reay Remembered

 

Wor Bella

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 April 2024

 

The incredible story of women’s football during WW1 will be brought to life on the Newcastle Theatre Royal stage later this,  in a heartfelt play penned by local writer Ed Waugh, whose other works include Hadaway Harry and Carrying David.

The North East of England was the home of women's football during World War One. Like the rest of the country, women's football teams were formed to raise money for wounded soldiers, widows and orphans.

After men's conscription was introduced in 1916 and over one million women entered the factories to save the war effort - hundreds of women's football teams emerged, and thousands turned out to watch matches.

The Munitionettes Cup was unique to the North East and the top team in the region was Blyth Spartans Ladies (Northumberland dock workers), who defeated Bolckow Vaughan (a steel works from Middlesbrough) at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, in May 1918, in front of 22,000 people. 

Blyth's hero of the team was Bella Reay, who scored 130 goals in 33 matches and was the ‘Alan Shearer’ of her day. Now her story is being brought to life on stage at Newcastle Theatre Royal. 

A one-woman show, starring Catherine Dryden and directed by Russell Floyd, Wor Bella is about WW1 women's football through the eyes of Bella and the spontaneous rise, and tragic fall, of these heroic football teams who would attract in excess of 4,000 people to their charity matches.

Chief executive of Newcastle Theatre Royal, Marianne Locatori said: "We are delighted to welcome Ed back to the theatre with Wor Bella. Following the success of Hadaway Harry a few years ago, we are proud to host another North East drama; it is wonderfully inspirational and fully deserves the accolades it has received. We are sure that our audiences will be captivated by the story, and we are proud to once again, be putting North East talent onto our stage.”

Wor Bella marks a return to Newcastle Theatre Royal for Ed Waugh, whose regional classic Hadaway Harry proved popular with audiences in 2017.

A total of 53,000 spectators attended the women’s football match on Boxing Day in 1920 and the Football Association feared women's football would detract from men's football which they controlled.

Supporting workers in industrial battles was seen as political and as women's football teams raised money for destitute families during the Miners’ Strike at the time, on December 5, 1921, the FA banned women's football.

The women's game remained banned in England until 1971.

According to FIFA more than 29 million women and girls now play football worldwide, bringing with it the quest for greater skills, professionalism, struggles against sexism and the battle for equal pay.

 

Tickets:

Wor Bella plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 April 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.