Review: Hairspray at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Big Hair and Big Numbers

Hairspray

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Until Saturday 18^th April 2015

The West End Operatic Society have brought the musical, which is based upon the 1988 John Water’s film, to life at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House in a glitzy production.

The story centres on Tracy Turnblad, who is a big fan of a music and dancing show called The Corny Collins Show. It’s a tv programme featuring all of the cool kids and playing the cool music of the time. An opening occurs in the cast when one of the dancers becomes pregnant and so Tracy goes with her best mate Penny to the auditions. They face the racist producer of the show Velma Von Tussle who is neither keen on Tracy’s plump figure or her views on racial integration.  Set in 1962 Baltimore, the show makes more than a passing nod to some of the attitudes of the time towards race. This is typified in that the sponsor of the tv programme only allow “negro day” once a month on the show.  The musical then follows Tracy and her friends as they fight for an integrated show. Add to that deeper storyline the tussle between Tracy and Velma’s daughter Amber to win the talent show and become Miss Teenage Hairspray of 1962.

The story needs a strong central character with a powerful singing voice and the role is filled by the more than capable Aniella Lucia. Her love interest Link Larkin was also more than capable at singing too.  This Martyn Knight directed show also calls for Tracy’s parents to be lovable and engaging and in Andrew Fearon and Paul Outterside they have the perfect odd couple.

Hannah Elliott, in her role as Velma, is the perfect foil for Tracy without being an unloveable character that the audience would hate.  Her mother is performed well by Leanne Harrison who stops gracefully short of a wicked witch routine and the show benefits tremendously as a result.

The show features a large cast of clean cut lads and pretty girls who sing and dance without breaking a sweat.  The ensemble seem to really enjoy themselves on stage and that helps to make their characters connect with the audience.  They include sweet Bridget Grant as the occasionally gobby Little Inez who is younger sister to the outstanding Seaweed, played by Quentin Whitaker.

The distinctive and pleasing features of the show included the talented 10 piece band led by musical director Liam Gilbert and the bold set design which took full advantage of the venues fly system. It is great to see the Tyne Theatre being used for the purpose for which it was built and it would be great to see more theatre upon its stage.

Hairspray is a delightful and entertaining musical which celebrates difference and diversity in our society and acknowledges the perseverance and determination of those involved. Great songs, performances and positive attitude by those on stage make it a pleasure to watch.

Review: Stephen Oliver 

On The Web:

Twitter: twitter.com/WestEndOperatic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestEndOperaticSociety

Tickets:

Monday 13^th – Saturday 18^thApril 2015

Performances at 7pm with a 2pm Matinee of Thursday 16^th & Saturday 18^th

Tickets are priced from £9 - £16 (plus booking fees when booking online and over the phone)

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House Box Office is open 10am-3:30pm Monday to Friday and event days

Booking and Information Line: 0844 2491 000 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday)

Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Local Music News: 

#‎HotOffThePressEP by Peculiar Disco Moves is just part of an exciting 2015

Read all about it: JoWhereToGo PDM Blog Post

Preview: The Tiger Who Came to Tea Relaxed Performance at Newcastle Theatre Royal

IT’S TEA-TIME FOR THEATRE’S LATEST RELAXED PERFORMANCE.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Relaxed Performance

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Fri 3 July at 4pm

Newcastle Theatre Royal says it is responding to overwhelming feedback from parents of local children with autism and other sensory conditions, by offering a Relaxed Performance of upcoming children’s show The Tiger Who Came to Tea, outside of school hours.

The Theatre recently became the first in the UK to be awarded the Autism Access Award by the National Autistic Society, in recognition of its work with autistic audience members through the specially adapted relaxed performances.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Photo: Alastair Muir

The shows, which have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels and which include toned down lighting and special effects have been met with an overwhelming response from audiences, particularly parents of children with special needs.

Louise Relton’s son is autistic and has attended Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Relaxed Performances of their record-breaking Pantomime and the recent tour of Shrek The Musical. She said: “In the past I tried to take my son to a regular theatre performance but he was unable to manage. The Relaxed Performances at Newcastle Theatre Royal have introduced him into a whole new world in a magical place and for that I can’t thank their Relaxed Performance team enough.”

All of Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Relaxed Performances so far have been held during the school day and the Relaxed Performance of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, on Friday 3 July, will be held at 4pm. Director of Operations at Newcastle Theatre Royal, Dawn Taylor, explained: “Our Relaxed Performances are extremely popular and exceptionally well received but we have had a lot of feedback that the mid-afternoon slot means that local parents find it difficult to attend as a family and the parents of those children who don’t attend a school where a trip is organised, are unable to bring their child out of school for the performance.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Photo: Robert Workman

“By offering The Tiger Who Came to TeaRelaxed Performance at 4pm, we hope that even more people who could benefit from attending a Relaxed Performance will be able to enjoy the experience of live theatre in this supportive setting. We still hope that schools will book to bring their children with extra needs to see the show as part of an out-of-hours school trip.”

Tickets:

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Relaxed Performance plays on Fri 3 July at 4pm, tickets are £8.50. For more information visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk or call Group Bookings on 08448 11 21 22.

Review: Palace of Varieties at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

The Palace of Varieties

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

11^th April 2015.

Newcastle’s newest venue is intended to be a leading part of the fringe scene in the city. It is ideally situated to take risks with its programming and enable artists to develop their shows.  Chris Stewart plans to take The Palace of Varieties to Edinburgh and this was an opportunity to see how his plans unfold in front of a live audience.

The evening began in the capable hands of Kirsten Luckins who gave us a ‘button box’ selection of her fine work. Brilliant delivery help bring out the emotion behind her verse. A tour of topics from second hand shops through the Trouble with Compassionto writers block. The set finished too quickly with a response to Tony Harrison’s controversial 1985 poem V.

John-Clovis Morden was billed as a ‘born fighter and Teesside legend’. The Republic is a Socratic dialogue, written by Plato around 380 BC, concerning the definition of justice. John-Clovis tried to engage the audience into a debate about the definition of justice. The nature of emerging theatre is that some ideas work out on certain nights with some audiences and then fall flat on another evening with a different crowd.

Middlesbrough Empire was built as a music hall in 1897 and has hosted a variety of performers from Charlie Chaplin to modern-day bands. Chris Stewart has used the venue, in its many forms from its original use to its modern function as a night club, as inspiration for The Palace Of Varieties. Starting with drinking with fans of heavy metal acts such as Sepultura Chris describes his own personal journey with a venue he described as a place one went to as there were no other options. He gave a  lengthy look at how a girl called Zoe is chatted up and viewed by her fellow revellers. Some interesting highlights included his crossword introduction and drawing parallels with how primary school playgrounds are a microcosm of life. The enduring image of the show is Chris dancing a Tango with a chain of rain macs representing various relationships that Zoe had.  Some ideas in the show need some polishing but Chris’s engaging personality should see him have a successful time when he take The Palace of Varieties to Edinburgh is the summer.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for 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:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SideBurnedPoet

Preview: The Fifteen Streets at Whitley Bay Playhouse

Whitley Bay Theatre Company presents

Catherine Cookson – The Fifteen Streets

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Wednesday 28^th – Saturday 31^stOctober 2015

Playhouse is delighted to announce that Catherine Cookson’s, The Fifteen Streets comes to us this autumn.

South Shields author, Dame Catherine Cookson was one of the world's most beloved writers. Her books have sold millions of copies, and her characters and their stories have captured the imaginations of readers around the globe.

Whitley Bay Theatre Company is excited to bring the iconic story to Playhouse. John O'Brien lives in a world where surviving is a continual struggle. He works long hours at the docks to help support his parents' large family. Many other families in the Fifteen Streets have already given up and descended into a dismal state of grinding poverty, but the O’Brien’s continue to strive for a world they are only rarely allowed to glimpse. Then John O'Brien meets Mary Llewellyn, a beautiful young teacher who belongs to that other world. What begins as a casual conversation over tea quickly blossoms into a rare love that should have been perfect. Fate steps in, however, when John is accused of fathering the child of a local girl, and Mary's parents forbid her to see him. The couple begins to realize that the gulf of the Fifteen Streets between them is a chasm they could never bridge -- or might they still find a way?

If you’re a Catherine Cookson fan or just an old romantic, then this show is one you must not miss.

Tickets

Tickets on sale now are priced at £12 Early bird until 24^th September, £14 after. 
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 of Northern Stage in May 2015

Preview of Northern Stage in May 2015

Nigel Barrett as Cyrano - Photo: Robert Day

Cyrano de Bergerac

Wed 29 Apr - Sat 16 May, 7.30pm, Sat Matinee 2, 9 & 16 May, 2pm, Mon Straight From Work 11 May, 6pm

£24, £19.50 & £14.50 / Students & U21s £12

Nigel Barrett as Cyrano- with NORTH ensemble

Photo: Robert Day

Cyrano de Bergerac: a poet and a soldier, blessed with being brilliant at everything, cursed by having the biggest and ugliest nose in all of France. This swaggering epic fills the stage with passion, bravado, joy and heartache. A new Northern Stage / Royal & Derngate production directed by Lorne Campbell and written by Edmond Rostand, based on Anthony Burgess’ translation.

Read the Jowheretogo Preview

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/Cyrano-de-Bergerac

National Theatre Connections

Tues 28 April – Sat 2 May, 7pm

£5

New plays performed by young people from across the North East from ten writers commissioned by the National Theatre.

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/national-theatre-connections-2015

First in 3

Thu 7 May, 7.30pm

 £5

Our popular scratch night showcasing local theatre-makers’ upcoming work

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/first-in-3-Oct

Big Red Bath

Photo: Shaun Armstrong, Mubsta Photography

Big Red Bath

Thu 7 - Sat 9 May, 7 May - 1.30pm & 3.30pm, 8 & 9 May - 10.30pm & 1.30pm

£8.50 adults, £6.50 children

A quirky, vibrant and humorous adaptation for 2-5 year olds of Julia Jarman’s popular children’s picture book.

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/Big%20Red%20Bath

Greg Wohead - The Ted Bundy Project

Photo: Alex Brenner

The Ted Bundy Project

Tues 12 – Wed 13 May, 8pm

£10 / £8 concs

Texan writer and performer uses death row confession tapes of serial killer Ted Bundy to make a new performance about morbid curiosity. Recommended age 16+

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/The-Ted-Bundy-Project

  

Where the Bear Sleeps

Wed 13 May, 8pm

£9 / £7 concs

Merging myth, epic and fairytale, storyteller Nick Hennessy delivers us from Northern Stage to the snow-swathed, Finnish far-North.

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/where-the-bear-sleeps

Phoenix Dance Theatre

Phoenix Dance Theatre: Shadows

Thu 28 May, 7.30pm

 £24, £19.50 & £14.50 / Students & U21s £12

An exhilarating mixed programme including a double bill by renowned choreographer, Christopher Bruce CBE.

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/Phoenix%20Dance%20Theatre

Sean Campion and Scott Turnbull

in Gods Are Fallen All Safety Gone

by Greyscale - Photo by Idil Sukan

Gods are Fallen, All Safety Gone

Thu 4 - Sat 6 Jun, 8pm

£10 / £8 concs

Intimate and funny, an investigation into what happens when we discover that our parents are flawed human beings, and that at some point, sooner than we think, they are suddenly going to disappear from our lives.

Read the Jowheretogo Preview 

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/gods-are-fallen-all-safety-gone

The Six O' Clock News

Fri 3 Jul, 7.45pm

 £10 / £8 concs

Whatever the headlines that day, Daniel Bye and a team of specially-selected artists will digest and respond to them for your viewing pleasure, creating an evening of urgently topic contemporary performance about the big issues of today.

www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/the-six-o-clock-news

Tickets:

Box Office:  0191 230 5151

Website: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/

Preview: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas at Newcastle Theatre Royal

HEARTWRENCHING WARTIME TALE MAKES NEWCASTLE DEBUT

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 May 2015

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a world stage premiere of the bestselling novel by John Boyne, is set to make its Newcastle debut at the Theatre Royal in May.  Be prepared to be stirred, stunned and heartbroken.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is an emotive tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys. Set during World War II, the story is seen through the eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and devastating consequences.

John Boyne’s 2006 novel has sold millions of copies around the world and has appeared on many bestseller lists including the New York Times where it reached number one. It was made into a Miramax feature film which was released in 2008.

This play is produced by The Children’s Touring Partnership, which is led by independent producer Fiery Angel and a consortium of major regional theatres. The Partnership has previously toured hit shows Goodnight Mister Tom(which won the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family) and Swallows and Amazons. 

Marianne Oldham plays Mother. Marianne recently appeared in The Musketeers for BBC One; Foyle’s War for ITV1 and was a lead regular role in The Crimson Field for BBC One. Her most recent film credit is Absolutely Anything, directed by Terry Jones and starring alongside Kate Beckinsale. 

Phil Cheadle stars as Father.  Phil has extensive stage credits, including a local appearance in Blue Remembered Hills at Northern Stage.  His TV credits include Crimson Fields; New Worlds; Silent Witness and Inspector Lynley to name but a few, and he has appeared in films John Carter; Comes A Bright Day and To The Sea.

The role of Bruno during the Newcastle Theatre Royal run will be played by Jabez Cheeseman, and Colby Mulgrew will play Shmuel, both 9 years old.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Edward Snape for the Children’s Touring Partnership commented, ‘The Children's Touring Partnership aims to produce and tour innovative, ambitious and engaging large scale theatrical productions for children and families. After two years of development we are very excited by this new commission which will bring this extraordinary story to life on stage for the first time’.

As the book is a Key Stage 3 level school text for 11 - 14 year olds, there will be an extensive education programme attached to this production and an additional matinee performance to accommodate school parties.

Born in Dublin, John Boyne has published nine novels for adults, including his most recent, A History of Loneliness (2014).  As well as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas,  John has written three other novels for younger readers: Noah Barleywater Runs Away (2010), The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket (2012) and Stay Where You Are And Then Leave (2013).

The production has been adapted for the stage by Angus Jackson, Associate Director of Chichester Festival Theatre. His Chichester credits include Neville’s Island (now playing in the West End) and King Lear (also New York), The Browning Version (also West End), Goodnight Mr Tom (also national tour), and Bingo (also Young Vic). For the National Theatre he directed Rocket to the Moon, The Power of Yes, Fix Up and Elmina’s Kitchen (also tour and West End). His film of Elmina’s Kitchen won him a BAFTA Best New Director nomination.

The director is Joe Murphy, the Artistic Director of nabokov, a new writing company which is dedicated to making work in response to immediately relevant social and political themes.  Joe’s 2010 production Bunny won the Scotsman Fringe First Award following its premiere in Edinburgh and went on to tour the UK.

Design is by Robert Innes Hopkins, who renews his collaboration with Angus Jackson following several hit productions at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Lighting design is by Malcolm Rippeth, an Associate Artist of Kneehigh where his credits include Brief Encounter, which was a sell-out success at Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2009.

The composer is Stephen Warbeck whose credits include the film Shakespeare in Love for which he won an Academy Award.

On The Web:

Website: www.theboyinthestripedpyjamas.com

Tickets:

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 19 – Sat 23 May 2015 (Evenings at 7pm, Matinees on Wed, Thu, Sat 2pm). Recommended age 11+ Tickets are from £13.50 (pay less online) and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk