Preview: The Season Ticket at Newcastle Northern Stage

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The Season Ticket

NewcastleNorthern Stage

Friday 23^rd September – Saturday 8^th October 2016

Today Northern Stage held open auditions to find North East talent to star in their new stage adaptation of Purely Belter.  Young actors from all over the North East took a short break from auditions for a kick about on the main stage with writer Lee Mattinson and director Katie Posner.

Photo: North News & Pictures

The Season Ticket is an update on the story that inspired hit British film Purely Belter (FilmFour). Directed by Pilot Theatre’s Associate Director Katie Posner and adapted from Jonathan Tulloch’s novel by Lee Mattinson, it’s a story of friendship, family and football that follows two young lads from the wrong side of the tracks as they try to raise enough money to buy a season ticket for their beloved Newcastle United.

Photo: North News & Pictures

As part of Northern Stage’s commitment to developing and supporting young talent in the region, open auditions for two young North East actors for the lead roles are being held in Newcastle in June. Director Katie Posner explains, “This open workshop audition process is a fantastic opportunity to seek out the extraordinary talent that exists in the North East. I am very much looking forward to uncovering and discovering young actors who are entering the industry and giving them an opportunity to audition for a major role in a well known and loved story.”

Photo: North News & Pictures

Working with Northern Stage for the first time, award-winning writer Lee Mattinson will adapt Jonathan Tulloch’s novel for the stage. Lee’s previous work includes Me and Cilla for BBC Radio 3, Coronation Street for ITV and for stage Snap (Young Vic), Gary Lineker is Gay (Paines Plough), Chalet Lines (Bush Theatre/Live Theatre).

Lee said: “Working on The Season Ticket has been as much of a rollercoaster as a football season and the first time I’ve adapted a novel for the stage.  With a text so rich in landscape and character, the struggle was deciding what to leave out, whilst making it a piece of theatre in and of itself. 

Photo: North News & Pictures

“The novel crackles with such heartfelt dialogue and hopeful determination that Gerry and Sewell’s world was already an incredibly tactile one, an environment that it was a gift to disappear into.  I’m a huge fan of its previous incarnation, Purely Belter and, hopefully, the play is not only a re-telling of this Geordie institution but also a fresh take on what it means to belong in 2016.”

Photo: North News & Pictures

Lorne Campbell, Artistic Director, Northern Stage said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the multi-award winning Pilot Theatre on a new version of Jonathan Tulloch’s brilliant story by the hugely talented Newcastle-based writer Lee Mattinson. This tale of two lads from the wrong side of the tracks is a funny, human and moving story about the possibility, strength and imagination of young men too often written off by society.”

Photo: North News & Pictures

Full casting will be announced next month. The Season Ticket will go on a national tour after opening at Northern Stage in September including York Theatre Royal, Theatre Royal Winchester and Dundee Rep.

Tickets:

For more information or to book tickets visit www.northernstage.co.uk or call 0191 230 5151.

Preview: The Savage at Newcastle Live Theatre

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Cast announced for World Premiere of The Savage

A Live Theatre Production: World Premiere

The Savage

Newcastle Live Theatre

Thursday 30^th June to Saturday 23^rd July 2016

Written by David Almond
Directed by Max Roberts
Associate Director Jamie Jackson
Designed by Alison Ashton
Original music by Beth Brennan

Choreography by Lee Proud

Audio Visuals by NOVAK

The cast have been confirmed for the World Premiere of The Savageadapted by Carnegie Medal-winning author David Almond from his illustrated novel, and start rehearsals at Live Theatre. The Savage is David’s first full length commission for Live Theatre where its World Premiere between Thursday 30^th June to Saturday 23^rd July 2016.

Dean Bone

Dean Bone, a regular at Live Theatre takes on the lead role of central character Blue. Dean has performed in Live Theatre in Rendezvous, Write Stuff and The Heights and has also appeared in Vera (ITV), The Dumping Ground and Wolfblood (BBC).

Adam Welsh

Other cast members Adam Welsh, Dani Arlington and Kate Okellomake their debut appearances at Live Theatre. Adam Welsh originally from Spennymoor performed in War Horse at the National Theatre and previously appeared in Skellig – the Opera, also written by David Almond at Sage Gateshead. Dani Arlington from Teesside starred in the film Soulboy, and has appeared extensively on stage. Kate Okello, originally from Gosforth is a recent graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.  

Dani Arlington

Max Roberts, Artistic Director said: “In order to realise David's beautiful adaptation of his own novel we decided to recruit an ensemble of young actors, all originally from the North East who can all act, sing and dance. Their energy, talent and charisma will deliver David's compelling narrative and music and movement as well as stunning visual effects will create a magical and engaging theatrical experience that will appeal to all ages.”

Kate Okello

The Savage is an uplifting contemporary fable about creation and renewal, wildness and civilisation. It shows the importance of creativity in finding consolation, redemption and fulfilment in the world around us. The novel is popular for reading in schools and also used discuss behaviour with young people.

David Almond, said: “It's a real thrill to be working with the great Live Theatre, to bring this story to vivid life in Newcastle, right on the banks of the river. Tyneside is my literary heartland. It's where my stories, my dreams and my language come from, and it's where the strange, scary, tender savage was born."

Max Roberts

Max Roberts, Artistic Director, Live Theatre added: "It's great to have a writer of David's quality and reputation writing for Live Theatre. I'm very much looking forward to bringing David’s play to fruition moulding his rich lyrical writing with music and beautiful settings that will appeal to a wide age range of audience.”

In the play, Blue Baker wants to write a story. After the death of his dad and to escape the unwanted attention of Hopper, the neighbourhood bully, Blue imagines a ‘truely wild’ character - full of anger, adventure and thoughts of revenge. Life is dark and complicated and so is Blue’s story. Helped by his friend Elaine, his mum and baby sister Jess, he tries to discover where life starts and the story ends.

The Savage has been commissioned to coincide with the launch of Live Tales, Live Theatre’s new writing centre for children. This new strand of Live Theatre’s education programme is an extension of its successful playwriting initiatives for young people. Live Tales will offer creative story writing sessions to pupils aged 7-12 from September 2016.

Max Roberts explains: “David’s enthusiasm and support for Live Theatre has been enormous. We have commissioned The Savageto mark the opening of Live Tales, our new children’s writing centre, of which David is a champion.”

David Almond

A series of events accompany the play including two free talks for audiences. In Live Tales Introduction, David Almond will discuss the importance of children’s writing and creativity, with Christina Castling from Live Theatre’s Education & Participation team, and discuss the plans for children’s writing centre Live Tales, of which he is a champion, following the 2pm performance of the play on Saturday 9 July. In a Meet the Writer Event David Almond and Director Max Roberts discuss the making of the play, and transforming the story for the stage, after the 7.30pm show on Tuesday 12 July. David will also be available for book-signing after this talk. Both events are free but booking is essential. 

David will also lead a Wild Writing Workshop between 11.30am and 1pm on Saturday 16 April, at Live Theatre. Participants will be encouraged to lose their writing inhibitions and explore their imagination to discover their inner wild writer. The Wild Writing Workshop costs £10, £6 concs and is suitable for young people age 9+ and adults.

Free 90 minute Telling Tales Workshop are available for educational groups visiting daytime performances of the Savage at 2pm on Wednesday 6 July, 10.30pm on Tuesday 12 July, 1.30pm at Tuesday 19 July (also a captioned performance) and 10.30pm on Thursday 21 July (which is also designated as a relaxed performance for young people with special educational needs). Workshops have limited places and must be booked in advance.

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: LINK

Tickets:
The Savage is a family friendly play suitable for ages 9+ and is at Live Theatre, Newcastlefrom Thursday 30 June to Saturday 23 July. Tickets for The Savage cost £22-£10 full price, £16-£12 over 60s concessions and £15-£6 for other concessions. For more information or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232.

Preview: Mr Corvan's Music Hall at Whitley Bay Playhouse

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Mr Corvan's Music Hall

Whitley Bay Playhouse
Saturday 3^rd June 2017

  

Mr Corvan's Music Hall  is a fantastic new musical play, written by top North East playwright Ed Waugh (co-writer Dirty Dusting, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham, Amazing Grace) whose latest solo play Hadaway Harry transfers to Newcastle Theatre Royal in February 2017.

Ned's story is both exhilarating and tragic. The first professional Geordie singer/songwriter, Ned was born in 1827 (died 1865) - a contemporary of Geordie Ridley (Blaydon Races) and Joe Wilson (Keep Your Feet Still Geordie, Hinny).

His most famous song Cullercoats Fish Lass has been recorded numerous times by modern artists and he wrote and performed songs at benefit gigs in support of striking Shields seamen in 1851.

Married at Christ Churchin North Shields, Ned lived for a time in Clive Street(beside what is now the Ferry Landing).

Ned toured the region performing songs that had resonance with working class people then and today: Rise in Small Coals (the energy companies putting up their prices to increase profits); Toon Improvement Bill (he didn't rate local representatives); Sword Dancers Lament (the depressed economy); Astrilly (workers emigrating to Australia, hoping for a better life).

He also championed women (Factory Lass), celebrated local rowing hero Bob Chambers (Chambers and White), chronicled local events (Fire on the Quay) and took the mickey (Gannin to be a Keelman, the Pitman and the Kippered Herring, Swaggering at the Races).

Ned died of tuberculosis of the larynx aged only 37, but he left a brilliant legacy of at least 120 songs and was celebrated from Scotlandto Yorkshirefor his comedy lyrics, characters and virtuoso violin playing.

Starring Chris Connel (Pitman Painters - West End and Broadway; A funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham).

Directed by Russell Floyd (TV's EastEnders and The Bill, and director of Hadaway Harry).

Mr Corvan's Music Hall is a production in association with Gala Theatre, Durham, and sponsored by Sunday for Sammy and the Arts Council.

Tickets:
Mr Corvan's Music Hall comes to Whitley Bay Playhouse on Saturday 3rd June 2017 with shows at 2.30 pm & 7.30 pm. Tickets costing £15 are available now.

Tickets are available from the 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.

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Sunderland Empire

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A Fabulous Welcome For Joe

Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with the Really Useful Group presents

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 4^th June 2016

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Tim Rice

Bill Kenwright directs a tight production of the popular biblical musical which had a packed Sunderland Empire on its feet in celebration. Local lad Joe McElderry has opportunity to show he is a class act, whilst Lucy Kay and Emilianos Stamatakis also shine with their vocal ability. Add memorable songs into the mix and you have an audience that leaves feeling very happy.

Joseph was one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first collaborations with lyricist Tim Rice. The story follows the tale in the first book of the bible, Genesis, about Jacob (Henry Metcalfe) who had many sons. His favourite son is Joseph (Joe McElderry) for whom he buys a magnificent coat. His jealous brothers decide that Joseph has to go. Initially they plan to kill him, but in the end they sell him as a slave. The brothers inform their father that poor Joseph is dead when, in fact, he is heading off to Egypt.  The story then follows Joseph as he tries to make the most of the situation.

Unlike some musicals, the story comes from the lyrics rather than spoken parts between the songs. The bulk of this comes from the very capable Lucy Kay as the narrator. The former Britain’s Got Talent finalist has a number one classical album under her belt. Her vocal skill was simply stunning. Her powerful and yet controlled voice for a real highlight of the show.

Joe McElderrry is a big attraction in his own right.  Joseph gives him a vehicle to show both his vocal talent, in songs like Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do, and his acting skills.  The popular lad didn’t put a foot wrong as he entertained his many fans.

The other stat vocal contribution came from the King himself as Emilianos Stamatakis described his dream to Joseph in the style of Elvis Presley. Here lies the success of the musical and helps explain why it still attracts large audiences after 40 years – the show doesn’t take itself too seriously.  Numerous laughs are scattered throughout the production.

Designer Sean Cavanagh has created a set which has 2 set of stairs and enable the audience to have a good view of over 30 members of the  young Joseph Choir provided by Northern Star Theatre Arts. This well behaved group added an angelic quality to the songs that they performed in.

Underpinning the whole show is a tight live band, under musical director Kelvin Towse, and a supporting cast of brothers and handmaidens.

Is the musical too cheesy or dated for 2016? Was the set drawn out to make the show, at 125 minutes, longer than it needed to be? Perhaps so, but some of us like our dated cheese!

Joseph is an entertaining family show which will make an ideal half term treat. Joe McElderry and Lucy Kay are both strong vocalists with warm personalities that the audiences love. The show concludes with a Joseph Megamix that had the audience up dancing at the end.

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.

Read the North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/preview-joseph-at-sunderland-empire.html

Tickets:

Tickets available from the Box Office on High Street West, via the ticket centre 0844 871 3022* or www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland *calls cost 7p per minute plus standard network charges. Booking and transaction fees may apply to telephone and online bookings.