News: Frantic Assembly Teacher Training Workshops at Sunderland Empire

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CHANCE FOR TEACHERS TO GET FRANTIC

AT SUNDERLAND EMPIRE

Frantic Assembly Teacher Training Workshops

Sunderland Empire

Monday 21 September 2015

Sunderland Empire’s Creative Learning team recently secured funding from Arts Council England for Get Curious! The project of autism friendly learning in Sunderland linked to and complemented the arrival of the National Theatres production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in August.

The Get Curious! project has now delivered a very successful programme of Autism Friendly learning this summer with arts venues and partners across Sunderland. The overall aim of the summer programme was to kick start further longer term engagement in theatre and the arts and the project now moves onto the next stage to support learning and development. Creative professionals and teachers will be given the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge inspired by the production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time which will be offered on the English GCSE National Curriculum from this September.

Frantic Assembly Teacher Training Workshops will take place on Monday 21 September 2015 (4pm-6pm) at Sunderland Empire with limited places at a cost of £30 per Teacher.The workshop will be delivered by the renowned Frantic Assembly, a physical theatre company with a world-wide reputation. The company devised the spectacular physical theatre within the production and will share some of their tricks and insights within the training session.

The National Theatre’s acclaimed Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a Tony Award winning play which visited Sunderland this summer, centres around the story of Christopher Boone, a young person who experiences the world differently. The audience are invited into his world by creative elements of the play such as the sophisticated lighting and sound, as well as the imaginative and clever use of movement which helps tell the story, devised by Frantic Assembly.

Hollie Coxon, Creative Learning Manager, Sunderland Empire said: “We’re thrilled that Frantic Assembly are joining us to deliversuch an incredible workshop. Frantic Assembly are a company I felt inspired by when training, and to be able bring such a high profile and exciting company to share their insights as part of the Get Curious! Project is a great opportunity.”

Frantic Assembly’s unique approach to creating physical material involves a highly energetic and creative session which is suitable for teachers and practitioners working with young people, who have an interest in exploring physical theatre techniques. 

Steve Kirkham - Frantic Asembly

Inga Hirst, Frantic Assembly’s Learn and Train Manager said: “We are really excited to be visiting Sunderland for the first time to work with local teachers and practitioners and hope our workshop gives them all of the tools they need to create and teach their own material.”

The workshop will be delivered by Steve Kirkham who has worked with Frantic Assembly for 18 years, he was most recently as Associate Movement Director on the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on the West End. Through the workshop, participants will experience the processes used to create Frantic Assembly’s award-winning shows and find out how to develop key skills crucial to the performer/director. There will be the opportunity to learn new and exciting approaches to devising work, alongside finding ways of creating choreography for groups of all abilities.

Frantic Assembly - teacher training workshop video: https://youtu.be/PvgoF6mU49A

Places on the workshop are limited, to discuss further or to book a place contact Sunderland Empire’s Creative Learning on 0191 5661056 or sunderlandeducation@theambassadors.com

Preview: Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company at Darlington Civic Theatre

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 ON TOUR WITH GILBERT & SULLIVAN

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Darlington Civic Theatre

Tuesday 15^th to Saturday 19^th September 2015

The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company brings three classic Savoy Operas to Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 September.

The National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company has embarked on its first major national tour with three brand new productions from Britain’s most famous theatrical partnership. It is the most ambitious professional light opera company tour since the late 1970’s and features three of the best known Gilbert and Sullivan works – The Mikado, The Gondoliers and HMS Pinafore.

Audiences will enjoy the wit and magic of Gilbert and Sullivan performed by many of the country’s leading exponents of the world famous Savoy operas – artistes renowned for their work in these quintessentially British masterpieces.

This year’s programme is directed by John Savournin, recently described as one of the finest G&S actor/directors of the present day. He has assembled an outstanding cast of G&S specialists which includes the experience of Richard Gauntlett, Bruce Graham, Oliver White, and Sylvia Clarke, working alongside the stars of tomorrow including Claire Lees, Amy J Payne, Elinor Moran, Robin Bailey and Kevin Greenlaw. The thirty five strong cast will be supported by the highly acclaimed National Festival Orchestra and the company’s resident conductor, David Steadman.

Ian Smith, Chairman and founder of the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company is proud and excited of its achievements and growing reputation. “What we offer our audiences are the best Gilbert & Sullivan productions they will see; they are faithful to the original foundations laid down by Gilbert himself; high quality acting and singing; young, enthusiastic and talented chorus; colourful costumes and sets and a fantastic orchestra. And the great thing is these are not just our words but the endorsement of national and regional press, theatre managers and, equally important, theatre goers.”

Tickets:

The Mikado – Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 September, 7.30pm

HMS Pinafore – Thursday 17 September, 2pm & 7.30pm

The Gondoliers – Friday 18 September, 7.30pm & Saturday 19 September 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tickets* are £19 to £32 

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

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

 

Review: The Sound of Music at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Dog Fashion Disco tickets: http://rftk.bigcartel.com/

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NEWCASTLE IS ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC    

The Sound of Music

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Until Saturday 12^th September 2015

With classic hits from Edelweiss to My Favourite Things via Do-Re-Mi, this is a popular musical with something for everyone to enjoy.

The Sound of Music is, of course, the multiple Tony Award–winning musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse dates back to 1959.  Premiered just before Hammerstein died, it would be the famous writing partnership’s final musical. For its source it uses the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. It remains at the core of our collective childhoods thanks to the 1965 movie with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. Of course, any production of the original musical is now closely compared with the film.

The 2015 tour features the brilliant singing talents of Danielle Hope as the young Austrian postulant, who is training to be a nun. Danielle is fabulous as Maria and sounds very similar to Julie Andrews. From the opening lines of that first song The Sound of Music the production is in very safe capable hands.

The story begins in Nonnberg Abbey, which is where Maria is training and her record is being discussed by Sisters Berthe (Jessica Shearman), Sophia (Katie Shearman), Margaretta (Zoë Ann Bown) and Mother Abbess (Jan Hartley). The nun’s did a marvellous job of the classic song Maria.

The decision is then taken to let Maria go off to be the governess for the von Trapp family until September. At this point the fabulous set design turns into the von Trapp’s house and Gary McCann has created a versatile space for the fun and frolics that take place there. Maria is introduced to the Von Trapp’s seven children by their dad, Captain von Trapp (Steven Houghton). The seven children are absolutely delightful. They are both well disciplined and clearly enjoying it – an attitude which serves the show well.

The quality of the songs for this show matches the performances given by a strong cast. Eldest daughter Liesl (Grace Chapman) fits in with Danielle Hope and Rolf (Luke Gruber) well on Sixteen Going On Seventeen. Jan Hartley, in her role as Mother Abbess, finishes the first act with a cracking rendition of Climb Ev’ry Mountain.

As entertaining as the show is, perhaps the first half is a little longer than it needs be. My Favorite Things seemed to pop up with every moment of mild peril. That said, director Martin Connor draws some great performances from the cast, especially from the von Trapp children.

This production of The Sound of Music is underpinned by great songs and a talented cast that makes for a very entertaining evening’s entertainment.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide Preview from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Read the original preview - LINK:

OnlineTrailer link

Tickets:

The Sound of Music is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 1^stuntil Saturday 12^th September 2015, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees on Wed 2pm (2 Sept only), Thu 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. 

Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online), children £5 off all performances (restrictions apply). Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (all calls are charged at 7p a minute plus your phone company’s access charge, calls from mobiles may vary, please contact your operator for details) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Psychostick tickets: http://rftk.bigcartel.com/

www.facebook.com/Simmathesinger

Preview: Grow Up Grandad at Stockton ARC

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Steel speaks about world premiere of new play at ARC

Grow Up Grandad

Stockton ARC

Friday 4^thto Saturday 12^th September 2015.

Teesside’s leading playwright Gordon Steel is preparing for the world premiere of his first play produced under his new theatre company.

STEELWORKS is Teesside’s first producing professional theatre company and its inaugural production Grow Up Grandadwill run at ARC from Friday 4 September to Saturday 12 September.

The play is Steel’s first venture into producing and he is proud to be premiering it in Teesside and commented: “I’ve always been proud of where I come from and I’ve never hidden the fact I’m from Teesside. I’m very proud of it. I love where I come from. And when you go to write, you write about what you know and I know this area so I try to write about it.

“Producing Grow Up Grandad takes me back to my Stockton Youth Theatre days because in those days we would produce it very much on an amateur basis but with professional standards. It has come full circle just the expectations and the stakes are higher. In those days I was producing the work of others but now the added pressure is it’s my own work – hoping people will like it. Inevitably, whenever I ask people to come and see a play their response is, “Is it any good?” or worse, the statement, “It had better be good!”’

Gordon who is born and bred in Teesside has mentored hundreds of the region’s aspiring actors whilst at Stockton Youth Theatre and many have gone on to be well recognised faces of the TV screen and stage including; Jill Halfpenny, Daniel Casey, Mark Benton and Simeon Truby who is the star of Steel’s new play.

Stockton born Truby will star as ‘Grandad’ and local school girls Eliza Dobson and Rose Allen will both share the role of grandaughter Poppy. Actress Liz Carney (Emmerdale, The Royal) will star in the role of Margret.

Both heart-breaking and humorous, Grow Up Grandad is an intergenerational story that deals with love and loss, hope and sadness, as the relationship between a young girl and her grandad is thrust together and torn apart. 

Grow Up Grandadhas been written and directed by Gordon and has been produced in conjunction with ARC with funding from Arts Council England.

Currently based at ARC in Stockton, it is intended that STEELWORKS will become Teesside’s resident theatre company producing plays regularly and providing an opportunity for talented actors and creatives to work in their own town.

Tickets and Further Information

On The Web: http://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/drama-and-spoken-word/grow-up-grandad

 

Review: Priscilla Queen Of The Desert at Sunderland Empire

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 A Fabulous Road Trip

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert

SunderlandEmpire

Monday 31^st August – Saturday 5^th September 2015

Based upon the 1994 film of the same name, Priscilla is a stunning musical filled full of popular songs.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Photo: Paul Coltas

Tick (Duncan James) is a drag queen who lip syncs along to songs in a club in Sydney, Australia.  A phone call from his wife Marion (Naomi Slights) points out that his son is missing him and perhaps he should visit him. As the family live in Alice Springs, in central Australia, Tick will have to go on a road trip. Marion also needs an act to entertain people at her business and so the trip will solve that problem too.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Photo: Paul Coltas

Tick asks the young carefree Adam (Adam Baily) and Bernadette, who is longer in the tooth, (Simon Green) along to help him with the performance. They buy a bus and name it Priscilla and set off for a six day journey to Alice Springs. At the stop offs they plan to rehearse the new show.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Photo: Paul Coltas

There are some key differences between the film and this Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott penned musical is that the bulk of the singing in the film is mimed to the original recordings of the songs. In the musical either the songs are sung live directly or mimed as others sing. To help create this lip-syncing effect with have 3 amazing divas who descend onto the stage to support. The wonderful voices of Lisa-Marie Holmes, Laura Mansell and Catherine Mort really add to the power of the performances.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Photo: Paul Coltas

The live band under musical director Matthew J Loughran did not put a note wrong as the music added life to the story. From Downtown to I Will Survive via Don’t Leave Me This Way and Always On My Mind, the classic hits keep coming.

The costumes are as flamboyant as they are stunning and the lead characters are given very little time at times to change their dresses. The wardrobe department must be working overtime behind the scenes.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Photo: Paul Coltas

The real winners are the wonderful personalities of the 3 singers on the road trip. Simon Green and Adam Bailey pull of the often dry humour with very funny results. Duncan James has moved from singing in Blue to musical star very easily. The early appearance of his naked top half made for loud approval from the audience. That aside, he did deliver the concerns of a father missing his son well.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Photo: Paul Coltas

The second half is meant to feature problems with Priscilla the bus, but she literally broke down resulting in a pause in the proceedings as she was one girl that didn’t want to have fun.  There followed a quick recovery by the cast when it did restart as mechanic Bob (Philip Childs) was offered a lift back home.

Priscilla is a gorgeous, bright and loud production with a dry sense of humour. It is thoroughly entertaining and full of great songs.  

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview here. 

On The Web:

Website: www.priscillathemusical.com/uk-tour/home  

Twitter:https://twitter.com/priscillabus 

Tickets:

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Photo: Paul Coltas

In person at the Box Office on High Street West

Box Office: 0844 871 3022*

Groups 10+: 0844 871 3042

Online: www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland  

Booking fee applies to telephone and online sales

Tour Dates

2015

Monday 31 August – Saturday 5 September

SunderlandEmpire www.atgtickets.com/sunderland

Monday 14 September – Saturday 19 September

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton www.mayflower.org.uk

Monday 21 September – Saturday 26 September

Regent Theatre Stoke www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre

Monday 2 November – Saturday 7 November

Theatre Royal, Brighton - www.atgtickets.com/shows/calamity-jane/theatre-royal-brighton

2016

Monday 14 March – Saturday 19 March

Congress Theatre, Eastbourne - www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

Monday 21 March – Saturday 26 March

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury - http://www.marlowetheatre.com/

Tuesday 29 March – Saturday 2 April

Kings Theatre, Glasgow www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre

Monday 4 April – Saturday 9 April

Royal & Derngate, Northampton www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Monday 11 April – Saturday 16 April

Torquay Princess Theatre www.atgtickets.com/torquay

News: Newcastle-based poet Scott Tyrrell wins BBC Poetry Slam

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Newcastle-based poet Scott Tyrrell wins BBC Poetry Slam

South Shields-born Scott Tyrrell, a Stand-Up Poet and Graphic Designer, has just won the BBC Edinburgh Fringe Poetry Slam Grand Final. The BBC Slam is now the most diverse and most coveted Poetry Slam in the UK, with the widest national and regional representation of UK Poetry.

This year alone the competition featured a World champion, a European champion, 7 national champions and the Roundhouse champion. The competition has been running over the festival in a series of heats to decide which poets would make the final four competitors, who battled it out on Saturday night in a packed BBC Festival tent. The event was streamed live on BBC Arts via the iPlayer. The Final featured excellent established performance poets Dan Simpson, Paula Varjack, Toby Campion and of course, Scott Tyrrell. The event was put together by Spoken Word artist and Slam host, Sophia Walker – herself a previous BBC Slam winner.

The Grand Final featured three rounds; in the first each poet had just 3 minutes to wow the judges (who comprised of five esteemed figures from the UK Spoken Word and poetry publishing scene). The judges scored the poets from 0-10 on performance, writing and audience response. In the second round the lowest scoring poet was dropped and the three remaining poets battled it out again, with another 3 minute poem. In the final round Scott and Toby Campion went head to head.

It was close but Scott pipped it by just 0.3 of a point.

Scott is multiple poetry slam winner, award-winning comedian and graphic designer. He has been writing and performing poetry for 15 years and was a founding member of the legendary Tyneside poetry troupe, the Poetry Vandals. He has represented Newcastle/Gateshead in three major national Poetry Slams and won. He lives and works in Newcastle with his wife, stepdaughter and son.

This has been a great year for Scott - winning both The Great Northern Slam at Northern Stage earlier in the year and the UK Anti-Slam Championship at The Roundhouse in London. (The Anti-Slam is a tongue-in-cheek national competition in which established spoken word artists battle it out to be the worst poet in the UK). So Scott is now technically one of the best and worst performance poets in Britain! Scott was also official Blogger for the poetry tent at Glastonbury this year. 

The Full 2015 BBC Poetry Slam on BBC iPlayer:

The UK Spoken Word scene has exploded over the last decade, with vibrant scenes across the whole of the UK including Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Bristol, York and Newcastle, and is growing into a formidable poetry scene. The likes of Kate Tempest (Mercury Prize winner) and huge talents Hollie McNish, Dizraeli and Luke Wright and Kate Fox have been among those leading the charge to establish Spoken Word as an art form that’s here to stay in the UK.

Young poets from all over Britain and Ireland are finding an outlet for their talents as writers and performers, particularly in Slam competitions – an idea which started in Chicago decades ago and has become an international approach to inject real energy and competition into what has been traditionally a very bookish art form. Anything to do with Spoken Word goes with Slam. So comedy, rap, drama, beat poetry and storytelling are all allowed - and encouraged - which is why slams nearly always feature a diverse range of literary talent.

Slammers are wanted for an event in Newcastle in November – see http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/news-great-northern-slam-slammers-wanted.html