News: Exciting Spring Season Comes To Newcastle's Northern Stage

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Exciting Spring Season Comes To 

Newcastle's Northern Stage

The spring season at Northern Stage features more home-grown productions than ever before alongside new work from some of the country’s most exciting and innovative theatre companies.

A dark and stylish new stage adaptation of the classic British crime drama made famous by the 1971 film starring Michael Caine, Get Carter opens at Northern Stage (12 Feb - 5 March) before a national tour. Set in 1960s Newcastle, Torben Betts’ adaptation of the novel Jack’s Return Home by Ted Lewis is a hard and un-compromising look at a city’s underworld gang culture and a gripping noir thriller, directed by Northern Stage Artistic Director Lorne Campbell.

The creative team includes set design by Leo Warner/59 Productions - the team responsible for video at Danny Boyle’s London 2012 Opening Ceremony, as well as productions at The Royal Opera House, The National Theatre, The Royal Court, The Young Vic, English National Opera and The Metropolitan Opera in New York to name but a few. And 2015 Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Nadine Shah will record original music as well as new arrangements of songs by iconic 1960s Newcastle band The Animals.

A strong, largely native North East cast includes Kevin Wathen (Billy Elliott, Victoria Theatre) as Jack Carter, Victoria Elliott (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Northern Stage), Michael Hodgson (Catch-22, Northern Stage), Donald McBride (The Pitmen Painters, Live), Amy Cameron (A Dolls’ House, Royal Exchange), Benjamin Cawley (Dr Who, BBC) and percussionist Martin Douglas (The Baghdaddies and The Unthanks) will perform live on drums in the role of Frank, Jack’s dead brother, an amateur Jazz drummer throughout his life.

A new fast-paced adaptation of George Orwell’s much-loved classic, Animal Farm (3-5 March) by NORTH participants - our intensive training programme giving aspiring early-career actors professional development opportunities - will be directed by Northern Stage Associate Director Mark Calvert.

Former Northern Stage Artistic Director Erica Whyman OBE directs the nation’s favourite Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (16-26 March), featuring 18 professional Royal Shakespeare Company actors with local amateur groups The Castle Players (Barnard Castle) and The People’s Theatre (Newcastle) as the Mechanicals.

Blanche McIntyre directs a new production of Michael Frayn’s multi-award winning farce Noises Off (11-28 May) in a Northern Stage, Nottingham Playhouse and Nuffield, Southampton co-production.

Julie

Northern Stage Resident Director Rebecca Frecknall directs Zinnie Harris’ update of August Strindberg’s masterpiece, Miss Julie; Julie (3-18 June) places the story of passion, compulsion, love and hate in today’s world.

Opening Skinner’s Box

And after the success of The Tempest in September 2015, Improbable return for another co-production, bringing their inimitable style to a brand new show opening at Northern Stage. Based on Lauren Slater’s fascinating and controversial book, Opening Skinner’s Box (22-30 April) is a whistle-stop tour of the scientific quest to make sense of what we are and who we are, told through ten great psychological experiments and the stories of the people who created them, co-directed by Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson.

Visiting companies include new writing from John Godber in an epic new comic play; Shafted (12-16 April) traces what happens to miner Harry and his wife Dot in the thirty years after the miners' strike. Work from visiting companies includes a revival of Presumption (3-5 Feb) to mark Third Angel’s 20th anniversary. And West Yorkshire Playhouse present Blake Remixed by Testament (9-10 March) - a celebration of the greatest counter-cultural voices in British history fusing music and storytelling with a live DJ and interactive video.

Need a Little Help- Photo: Kamal Prasher

 

For families with children aged 7 and over, the second of balletLORENT’s fairytale trilogy, Snow White (16-18 April), written by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy returns after a sold-out premiere in October 2015. While for younger children aged 3-7, Need a Little Help (5-6 April) is a moving and uplifting show based on the experience of young carers from Tangled Feet and Half Moon. And every first Saturday of the month, Chris Bostock, The Storyteller, captivates children aged 4-8 with tales of discovery and dreaming, with plenty of participation thrown in.

Richard Alston Dance Company - Photo: Chris Nash

For dance fans, one of Britain’s most inspiring and influential dance companies return to Newcastle with a triple bill of internationally influenced work - Richard Alston Dance Company (4-5 May).

Our Stage 3 programme goes from strength to strength with an eclectic mix of theatre, music, comedy, spoken word, poetry and scratch nights including The Preston Bill (8-9 March) from Andy Smith and Fuel, the popular Great Northern Slam (7 April) and a comic and poignant new play from milt-award winning playwright Hassan Addulrazzak, Love, Bombs and Apples (10-11 May).

The ongoing collaboration with Northumbria University final year BA (hons) Performance, Scriptwriting and Drama students sees new productions of Mother Courage and her Children by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Lee Hall and directed by Fiona MacPherson, and In the Middle of the West, written and directed by Steve Gilroy. And NT Connections (25-30 April) includes a show from our very own Young Company alongside schools from across the North East as this exciting annual festival of theatre by young people for young people celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Russell Kane

Plus, live comedy from some of the UK’s best stand-ups - Mark Thomas (21 April), Russell Kane (12 March) and Romesh Ranganathan (6 May).

Tickets:

For full details or to book tickets online see www.northernstage.co.uk. 

Preview: FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY AT SUNDERLAND EMPIRE

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FOR ONENIGHT ONLY

AT SUNDERLANDEMPIRE THIS JANUARY

A host of one night spectaculars are set to hit the Sunderland Empire stage to help banish those January blues with performances from ‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story’ (11 January) ‘ABBA MANIA’ (16 January) and ‘One Night of Elvis’ (23 January).

Has it really been 50 years since the most successful Folk/Rock duo of all time recorded their first no1 hit single 'The Sound of Silence'? Following it’s West End success at the ‘Leicester Square Theatre’, London in February 2015, ‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story' is currently the biggest and the most successful No 1 touring theatre show celebrating the lives and career of Folk/Rock sensation Simon and Garfunkel.

Featuring seasoned West End, award-winning leading man Dean Elliott (Buddy Holly in 'Buddy - The Musical') and a full cast of talented actor- musicians, 'The Simon and Garfunkel Story' takes you back through the 'Groovy' times of the 1960s. It tells the story of both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel from their humble beginnings as Rock ‘n’ Roll duo 'Tom and Jerry', right through their massive success, dramatic break-up and finishing with a stunning recreation of the 1981 Central Park reformation concert.

Using a huge projection screen, the show features 1960’s photos and film footage whilst a full live band perform all their hits including 'Mrs Robinson', 'Cecilia', 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', 'Homeward Bound', 'Sound of Silence' and many more!

Take a chance on ABBA MANIA in 2016 and you won’t be disappointed as the world’s number one touring ABBAtribute concert returns to Sunderland Empire for one night only on Saturday 16 January 2016.

ABBA MANIA formed in 1999 and the show has been selling out theatres and concert halls internationally ever since. This show has toured the world in its quest to bring the music of the Swedish ‘Supergroup’ to their millions of fans, old and new!  In 2007 it grossed over Aus $1 million at the box office in Sydney, Australia. The show has ventured to France, Denmark, Belgium, Spain, South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore, USA, Australia and South Korea as well as touring the UK extensively.

Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid, collectively known as ABBA, dominated the charts for nearly ten years and enjoyed nine UK number 1 hits. At their height they became Sweden’s highest export earners, amazingly, outselling Volvo cars. Sadly, in the early eighties, they decided to go their separate ways, but their music lives on.  ‘ABBA Gold’ was continuously in the Album Charts throughout the nineties and is one of the biggest selling albums ever.

ABBA’s timeless songs were written to be enjoyed live and ABBA MANIA gives you exactly that.  Two hours of uplifting, dance inducing and sometimes heart-breaking songs, fully live with fantastic staging, lighting and effects. The show recreates ABBA’s sound not only perfectly, but respectfully too. 

ABBA MANIA is not only for life long ABBA fans but the new generation of fans, who never had the opportunity to see ‘ABBA’ live. Hits include ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘The Winner Takes it All’, ‘Super Trouper’, ‘Fernando’, ‘Take A Chance On Me’ and many more that continue to fill dance floors worldwide. 

One Night of Elvis returns with a brand new show for 2016, Europe’s most successful Elvis Presley tribute artist - Lee Memphis King, presents the ultimate tribute to The King, celebrating the unrivalled career of this musical legend. Lee Memphis King recreates the essence of Elvis Presley: The ’68 Comeback Special and The ‘Vegas’ Years with consummate ease and an almost unbelievable combination of stunningly accurate vocals and incredible passion in every performance.

Over the last 8 years as Lee has toured his ‘One Night of Elvis’  has played to over a million fans and has headlined and sold out some of the most prestigious venues across the UK and Europe.  In this latest production, Lee Memphis King portrays Elvis Presley at his peak from the iconic ‘Comeback Special’ to the Vegas Years. Resplendent in the most authentic costumes from Elvis’s performances and backed by a world class orchestra and large screen projection, prepare to be taken back in time to see Elvis the way it was.

The first half of the show opens with a tribute to the most iconic TV Music production in music history The '68 Comeback Special'. Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel are all recreated in the most authentic reproduction of the TV Special. The first half closes with an incredible rendition of 'If I Can Dream'.

The second half of the show is dedicated entirely to the 'Vegas Years' when Elvis would perform in Las Vegas and tour throughout the US and Canada - the definitive record of these performances are contained in his films 'Elvis - That's the Way It Is', 'Elvis On Tour' the 'Aloha from Hawaii' concert and 'Elvis in Concert'

Lee Memphis King recreates it all with stunning authenticity - the voice and equally important for Lee, the passion and energy that Elvis put into his songs. Pure entertainment and Pure Presley.

Booking Information:

Tickets on sale now and available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your standard network charge. Booking fees may apply to telephone and online bookings.

News: NEW THEATRE ROYAL SEASON 2016

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NEWTHEATRE ROYAL SEASON GOES OFF WITH A CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG!

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

The Father 18-23 April ‘16

Tom 3 – 7 May ‘16

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour 12-16 July ‘16

The Commitments 6-11 Feb ‘17

Fresh from winning the ‘Most Welcoming Theatre in the UK’ award in October, Newcastle Theatre Royal has announced a sizzling new season for Spring/Summer 2016, full of delights for all tastes and ages.

The season features musical film classic, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1 - 12 Jun ‘16) which will have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, intrigue and exuberance, but this isn’t the only musical extravaganza instore…

A brand new musical TOM. A Story of Tom Jones, The Musical is set to make its North East debut 3-7 May. An inspirational show full of Tom’s greatest hits, it takes audiences back in time to the working men’s clubs of the ‘60s where the legend of Tom Jones was born: a Valleys boy with a heart-stopping voice. Welsh West End star Kit Orton appears in the title role.

In July, the producers of the sell-out smash hit Puttin’ on the Ritzreturn with the dazzling song and dance extravaganza That’s Entertainment (5-9 July) celebrating the biggest hits of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s.  The show includes sumptuous music by Lerner and Loewe, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter and features glorious costumes and an award-winning cast of singers and dancers.

Back again in August due to popular demand is the international multi-award winning musical, Chicago (1-13 August). Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s this world-famous show tells the sordid tale of a nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell block of sin, and features one of the sexiest, sassiest scores ever written.

February 2017 brings soul-celebration The Commitments (6-11 Feb 2017) to the Theatre Royal, direct from a phenomenally successful, record breaking two year run in London’s West End.  The musical has been adapted from the novel by Booker prize winning author Roddy Doyle himself and is directed by the award-winning Jamie Lloyd. Like the novel and the film, this tale of a talented group of working class Dubliners is full of heart and features over 20 soul classics performed live on stage including: Night Train, Try A Little Tenderness, River Deep, Mountain High, In The Midnight Hour and many more.

Another hit from the West End, this time for drama lovers, is The Father (18-23 April 2016), the winner of France’s highest theatrical honour - the 2014 Moliere Award -and the most acclaimed new play of the decade.  It tells the tragic tale of eighty year old Andre who has Alzheimer’s disease and whose life is starting to spiral out of control.  In Christopher Hampton’s crisp and witty translation it has dazzled audiences across the country and received an unprecedented ten five star reviews from major national critics. Tony Award nominee Kenneth Cranham reprises his indelible performance for this tour direct from the West Award.

A wonderfully uplifting family drama for May is the Olivier award-winning Goodnight Mister Tom (17-21 May)starring David Troughton (The Archers). A magical stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian’s heart-warming tale, set during the dangerous build up to the Second World War, the story follows young William Beech who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and forges a remarkable friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley. Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and commended for the Carnegie Medal, Goodnight Mister Tom is now also a world-wide literary favourite and a BAFTA award-winning TV film.

From one country idyll to another, and the first ever stage adaptation of ITV’s popular Sunday evening 60s police drama, Heartbeat visits in late May (23 – 28 May).Heartbeat ran for 18 years from 1992 to 2010 with audiences regularly exceeding 10 million viewers and constantly being in the top five TV programmes across all channels. This new stage production features all the show’s favourite characters, video footage,  an original script  and even members of the original TV cast, and perfectly recreates the show live on stage.

June sees the return of an old favourite - the Olivier Award winning comedy adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller, The 39 Steps(27 June – 2 July), this time on its 10th Anniversary Tour. Featuring only four actors playing a staggering 130 characters in 100 minutes, the show follows  handsome hero Richard Hannay on his incredible adventures as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women! This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thriller is set to be as fast-paced and thrilling as ever.

Following its sell-out success at Live Theatre, Lee Hall’s hit play Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour (12-16 July) makes its Theatre Royal debut in the summer. Adapted from Alan Warner's brilliant novel about six girls on the cusp of change, the play tells a tale of love, lust, pregnancy and death – which all spiral out of control in a single day. Warner's blisteringly funny dialogue - a tribute to being young, lost and out of control, ends in fireworks (literally).

Comedy fans will delight in two hit shows arriving in the Summer – national trinket, author, TV and Radio star Julian Clary is bringing ‘The Joy of Mincing’ on Sunday 15 May, a celebration of 30 years as a camp comedian and Julian at his filthy best, live and unplugged.

June then sees the return of those fabulous Grumpy Old Women (Sun 26 June) – back at the Theatre Royal after a critically acclaimed, total sell-out and extremely grumpy tour in spring  2015 and ready once again to  knock some sense into the nation!  Perrier Award-winning comedian, writer and original star of the show Jenny Eclair will be joined by fellow recruits Susie Blake (Handbagged, Coronation Street) and actress and singer Kate Robbins (Where The Heart Is).

A rare treat for North East audiences, one of the world’s most celebrated dance companies Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT2) will visit in the Spring (26-27 April).  Featuring a corps of 18 young international dancers aged 18-23, the company offers a unique blend of breathtaking dance, awe-inspiring skill and unparalleled creativity and promises to thrill and entertain with its sheer exuberance and astonishing athleticism.

A perennial favourite with Theatre Royal audiences - Scottish Ballet follows hot on NDT2’s heels, bringing its World Premiere of Swan Lake from 11-14 May. Set to enchant a whole new generation with an imaginative re-telling of the timeless tale, this new production is choreographed by the award-winning British

dance maker David Dawson - one of the most innovative choreographers in classical ballet today. This will be the company’s first tour of the ballet in over 20 years and is set to once again astonish with ethereal sets and costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

Another favourite, this time with our younger audiences, Peppa Pig is back in Newcastle in July with her brand new live stage show, Peppa Pig’s Surprise (27-28 July)! Peppa is playing outside with her friends on a sunny day, and Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig have got a surprise for her and George! A charming, colourful new show with new songs and new life size puppets, perfect for pre-schoolers.

He’s impossible to categorise, and equally impossible to forget, the multi-award winning acknowledged ‘master of psychological illusion’ Derren Brown is back in the summer with his most provocative show yet, Derren Brown: Miracle (20-25 June).  Derren is one of the world’s most renowned live performers; a dark manipulator of magic and mind control, a miracle man of our modern times.  This new show delivers an evening of mind-altering genius full of extraordinary and unbelievable events – showmanship at its very best.

And there are plenty of great shows to suit all tastes already on sale in our current season with family-favourite musicals Hairspray (19 - 30 Jan ‘16),

Guys & Dolls(22 Mar - 2 Apr), The Mikado (15 - 18 June) and Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins (8 Sept – 29 Oct). 

Lovers of mystery and intrigue will revel in Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning West End production of J.B. Priestley’s classic thriller, An Inspector Calls (9-13 Feb) and No.1 best-selling author PeterJames’ critically acclaimed stage hit – The Perfect Murder (22-27 Feb).

For dance fans, Rambert (2-4 Feb), Stomp (15-20 Feb) and the return of Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty (5-16 April) will offer a feast for the senses, while drama enthusiasts can delight in Regent’s Park Theatre’s adaptation of William Goulding’s cut-throat tale of young society run wild Lord of the Flies (8-12 March 2016) and Alan Bennett’s Olivier-award winning comedy Single Spies (15-19 March).   

The Opera North Spring season features three hit productions: Mozart’s romantic Cosi Fan Tutte (2 & 4 March), Donizetti’s sunny L’Elisir D’amore (3 March) and Girodano’s tragic Andrea Chenier (5 March).

The Theatre Royal’s annual pantomime still reigns as the region’s favourite and with over 90,000 tickets sold for this year’s extravaganza Dick Whittington (running until 17 Jan ‘16) it’s breaking all records once again.

Tickets:

Tickets for all new shows in the Spring / Summer ‘16 season can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).

News: Durham Gala unveils jam-packed line up in 2016

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Durham Gala unveils jam-packed line up in 2016

A pop icon, top comedians, and new work by The Gruffalo's creators will take to the stage as part of the Gala Theatre's spring season.

Lulu, Chris Ramsey, Rob Delaney, and Mark Steel will all tread the boards alongside the likes of Stig of the Dump, Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch, and the Northern Ballet in a star-studded line up from January to April.

Robin Byers, our service manager for place and experience, said: "We always aspire to bring the people of Durham the finest in theatre, comedy, music and film. Our spring programme is no exception, with highlights including performances from the internationally-renowned Lulu and Northern Stage's adaptation of Get Carter.

Get Carter

"As well as live performance, we're also continuing to showcase the best in British theatre courtesy of the National Theatre, and are delighted to bring world-class art exhibitions to our screens for the first time with the new Exhibition on Screen series. 

"There's plenty to keep our loyal customers entertained whilst welcoming new audiences to Gala too."

Tortoise & The Hare

The season kicks off on Saturday 9 January with The Rat Pack Spectacular, before the Northern Ballet look to follow up its sell-out Three Little Pigs and Elves & The Shoemaker shows with the Tortoise & The Hare on Wednesday, 3 February.

Gretchen Peters

Nashville-based singer song-writer Gretchen Peters brings her 20th anniversary tour to Gala on Thursday 4 February, then playwright John Godber's new comedy Shafted!will trace what happened to a couple from Yorkshire thirty years after the miner's strike on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 February.

After the phenomenal success of last year's The Phantom Of The Opera, the Gala Theatre Stage School return with an evening of song and dance in GTSS Goes To The Movies on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February.

Ian McCulloch

And Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch completes a stellar week with his performance of stripped down versions of the Merseyside band's classic tracks, as well as his own solo songs, on Saturday 20 February.

Rob Delaney

March brings laughter in the shape US comedian Rob Delaney, the star and co-creator of hit Channel 4 show Catastrophe, on Thursday 10 March.

And there'll be plenty to Shout about as Lulustops by the Gala as part of her latest tour on Tuesday 15 March.

Chris Ramsey

The comedy returns on Friday March 25 as North East stand up and former Hebburn star Chris Ramsey takes to the stage, closely followed by Have I Got News For You regular Mark Steel on Thursday 31 March.

In between the funny men Gala has Easter weekend covered with a stage adaptation of the classic children's novel Stig Of The Dump on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March.

The family fun continues on Thursday 31 March, with the latest show from The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales.

While a gritty crime drama, bringing to life the hard and uncompromising world of 1960s Newcastle, a city rife with crime, sex, gambling and violence, will see Northern Stage following in the footsteps of Michael Caine for an adaptation of Get Carter.

Rounding out the season, the Gala welcomes another heart-warming play packed with humour and great sixties songs in Tom Kelly's Baby Love from Friday 22 to Monday 25 April, and an evening of folk music courtesy of local lads The Young'uns on Saturday 30 April.

As well as the performers on stage, the theatre will also have a number of special events on its cinema screen.

NT Live returns with broadcasts of the National Theatre's productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuseson Thursday 28 January and Shakespeare's As You Like It on Monday 29 February.

Then, coming to the venue for the first time, Exhibition On Screen will bring films of art from The National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and beyond to the heart of Durham.

Exhibitions on show will include the works of Goya, on Monday 22 February; Renoir, on Monday 14 March; and Monet and Matisse, on Monday 18 April.

Tickets:
Tickets for all of these events and more can be bought by calling the Gala Box Office on 03000 266 600, visiting the venue in person or online at www.galadurham.co.uk