Preview: Jack and the Beanstalk at Whitley Bay Playhouse

 Whitley Bay Pantomime Society presents

Jack and the Beanstalk

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Tuesday 10th - Sunday 15th January 2017

7 pm (Tuesday to Saturday) & 2:15 pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Join Whitley Bay Pantomime Society at the Playhouse in January 2017 for another battle of good against evil in what promises to be one giant spectacular of a show! Come along and play your part in helping Jack and friends pit their wits against Giant Blunderbore.

Meet the usual calibre of outrageous characters and enjoy the warm and spellbinding combination of comedy, romance, song and dance that had last year's Cinderella audiences craving more!

Tickets

Tickets costing £12, £45 Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) 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: Beauty & the Beast at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

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Double Trouble For Geordie Panto

Beauty & the Beast

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Until Friday 30^th December 2016

The traditional Geordie pantomime has twice the fun this year with two panto dames and two daft sons to cheer with, and two baddies to boo. The Tyne Theatre crowd was given plenty of chance to interact with the wonderful cast.

First on stage was Emily Swan, as the glamorous Belle, who showed off her vocal talent. She was supported with help of the dancers and live musicians Michael Watson and Doug Morgan. The first impression is that the set and costumes look great, the dancing is energetic and singing is good. It feels like the canny pantos I was taken to in the 70s – and that’s not a bad thing as I have many fond memories of those shows.

Bob Stott

There is real experience in the panto dame department. Maxie Peters is not only Lottie Stottie, but also the director and writer of the show. Lottie’s sister Dottie Stottie is performed by Bob Stott. Between them there are literally decades of experience and this is apparent as they respond to one another as a double act. The jokes may be old but they’re golden too.

Each dame has a son who is not the sharpest pencil in the case. Norman Stottie is played by the really engaging Charlie Richmond who has little difficulty in getting the younger members of the crowd on side. Here’s the thing about the Tyne Theatre panto – it is the Newcastle panto that attracts the younger families, and Maxie Peter’s writing reflects that with jokes that you’re not worried about your young ones hearing. Returning from last year’s panto, Lewis Denny completes group as Le Fou Stottie and he has his share of the laughs too.

No panto is complete without someone to boo and disagree with. This show has the evil landlady Cruella La Poo Poo and her son, who wants to marry Belle against her wishes, Gaston La Poo Poo.  Needless to say the surname is a source for numerous jokes. Jayne Mackenzie regularly whips up the audience for another round of “oh yes, I will” whilst Gary Walsh poses as the egocentric and deluded son.

The cast is completed with James Hedley as the Beast/Prince Sid, Kevin O’Keefe as Belle’s father Maurice Meringue and Sarah Challoner and Sarah-Jane White as Tamara and Tutu. The ensemble has no weak links and James produces a real highlight with his solo number in the second half.

The show has four sets of youngsters dancing and this afternoon’s group did not put a foot wrong.

Beauty And The Beast is a classic family-friendly panto that knows its audience well. From Charlie and Lewis throwing sweets to the crowd through to their general silliness, the kids in the audience are engaged. The show is glamorous too. In short there’s plenty of jokes, plenty of fun and, of course, the 12 days of Christmas (the first one we’ve witnessed so far this year). This year’s show has all of the ingredients for a family show.

Review by Stephen Oliver

Read the original NETG preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/preview-beauty-beast-at-newcastle-tyne.html

Tickets:

Stalls & Grand Circle: Adults £22, Concessions £20. Upper Circle: Adults £16, Concessions £14. Boxes £132, groups get 1 ticket free for every 10 booked. (plus booking fees when booking online and over the phone)

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

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

Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Stop press:

The pantomime fun returns to the Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House in 2017 with:

·      

 The Wizard of Oz, the Easter Panto with Bobby Davro and Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh & Pudsey from 15^thto 16^th April 2017 – tickets & details: http://tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/events/the-wizard-of-oz-easter-panto/

·        Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs which sees the return of Charlie Richmond as Muddles 8^th – 31^st December  - tickets & details: http://tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/events/snow-white-the-seven-dwarfs/

 

News: THE MANY FACES OF DARLINGTON’S HIPPODROME

THE MANY FACES OF DARLINGTON’S HIPPODROME

Darlington Civic Theatre will be hosting a talk exploring the rich heritage of the theatre on Thursday 15^th December at 7pmin The Pease Suite, The Dolphin Centre, Darlington.

Darlington Civic Theatre is hosting a special, illustrated talk exploring the rich heritage of the theatre, some of the key architectural and design features, as well as the challenge of preserving and restoring the building throughout its redevelopment.

Before the work started - Photo: Stephen Oliver

The evening will feature guest speakers David Wilmore, lead heritage consultant from Theatresearch and Sean McNicholas, on site Operations Manager from the Civic Theatre’s restoration building contractors, Willmott Dixon, who will share their own experiences in restoring the theatre and embracing its Edwardian heritage.

The evening will also include a question and answer session with the speakers.

The Changing Face of Darlington’s Hippodrome will be the first of a wide variety of public talks and lectures over 2017, leading up to the reopening of the theatre.

Tickets:

Tickets are priced at £2.50

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

All proceeds to go directly to the Civic Theatre’s restoration fund. Darlington Civic Theatre Foundation,

Registered Charity Number 147625.

 

Preview: Jack and the Beanstalk at Newcastle People’s Theatre

 WATCH OUT, THERE’S A GIANT ABOUT!

The People’s Theatre Christmas Panto

Jack and the Beanstalk

by Philip Meeks

Newcastle People’s Theatre

Saturday 10^th – Sunday 18^th December 2016

If you’ve been wondering what all of the recent building work at People’s Theatre is for, all can now be revealed …

They have had to get our theatre enlarged for the hugegiant who’s taking up residence here for their Christmas Panto! Now the scaffolding’s gone and we’ve got a massive magic beanstalk inside.

“Magic beans, Jack?

Now, what are we supposed to do with those?!”

Who’d be a mother? You send your son out to the shops and he comes back with a handful of magic beans!

Yes, it’s the festive season once more and our Jack And The Beanstalk explodes onto the stage in a colourful, all-singing, all-dancing spectacular.

We’ve got a lavishly costumed wisecracking Dame Nelly (played once again by People’s Theatre favourite Steve Robertson), her cheeky, chirpy lad Jack, and a whole host of friends to take you on a thrilling trip up the beanstalk!

Joe Robson as Jack. Photo: Paula Smart

This fun-filled and hilarious take on the classic tale is written by award-winning playwright Philip Meeks, who is himself a professional pantomime dame of many years standing.

Like the beanstalk, The People’s Panto has grown and grown in scale and popularity over recent years and shows sell out quicker and quicker. Book soon to avoid disappointment - some performances are full-to-bursting already.

And if you’re looking ahead to the new year, we’ve got Agatha Christie whodunit The Unexpected Guest to chase away the January blues and Greek tragedy Antigone in February. Tickets are on sale now – they’d made the ideal Christmas present for a theatre-loving friend or relative.

Tickets:

Dates & Times:  Saturday 10 – 2pm & 7pm

                             Sunday 11 – 1pm & 6pm

                             Monday 10 – no performance

                             Tuesday 11 to Friday 16 – 7pm

                             Saturday 17 – 2pm & 7pm

                             Sunday 18 – 2pm

The People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF

Tickets:     £14 adults / £11.50 concessions & children

Box Office: 0191 265 5020 and www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

Preview: Santa’s Naughty Elf at South Shields Customs House

Christmas Panto for Little Ones is a Big Success

Santa’s Naughty Elf

South ShieldsCustoms House

Saturday 3^rd – Saturday 24^th December 2016

Santa’s Naughty Elf is back and it’s bigger than ever. After a record-breaking year last Christmas, Elfluent the Elf is returning in a new adventure.

Craig Richardson as Elfredo & Wayne Miller as Elfluent

Santa’s Naughty Elf and the Frozen Christmas runs at The Customs House from Saturday 3rd December until Christmas Eve. An additional five shows have had to be added to the under sevens panto to cope with demand.

Wayne Miller, the show’s writer and director, who also plays Elfluent the Elf, said: “As always I’m loving the chance to return to such a loved character. Santa’s Naughty Elf is an important part of people’s Christmas, which is something that means a great deal to me. We are working hard to bring our loyal audiences the best show we can possibly can.”

Hazel Pude at Fairy Snowflakes

Elfluent is back to being the naughtiest elf in the North Pole. Trying to get out of making any toys, he finds Fairy Snowflakes spell book to cast a spell that will do all the work for him. Only he casts the wrong spell, freezing everything in the workshop!

He must find the only Elf who can withstand such freezing temperatures to help get Christmas back on track. Will he find Snowy The Elf and be able to get all the toys ready for Santa on Christmas Eve? Come find out in this frozen adventure!

Steven Stobbs as Snowy the Elf

Wayne has cast a whole bunch of familiar faces in the show alongside him including Customs House panto regular Craig Richardson, as Elfredo, Made in Tyne and Wear’s Hazel Pude as Fairy Snowflakes and Steven Stobbs, returning to Santa’s Naughty Elf as Snowy the Elf.

Craig said: “It’s nice to be returning to the cast of Santa’s Naughty Elf, it is always so much fun to be part of and there is nothing quite like bringing magic and laughter to children of all ages in my home town at Christmas time.  I am always proud to be part of a Customs House show, said Steven, “Even more so when its one like this, that is so interactive for the audiences. We make them feel part of it, like they are with us through the whole adventure side by side.”

Wayne Miller as Elfluent

Hazel added: “Santa’s Naughty Elf is a great way to introduce young children to theatre in the North East and it is a joy to be able to spread magic to those young and old.  The cast are all so strong and I can’t wait to get started. It is certainly a show not to be missed. If you go to see anything this Christmas, this is the one to see.”

The cast are now ready for their first show.

Wayneadded: “We are having a blast in rehearsals, this cast are at the top of their game. I’m so pleased to have them returning to the show and bringing so much talent for all at The Customs House to see.”

Tickets:

Tickets for Santa’s Naughty Elf and the Frozen Christmas are £10 and include a special gift from Santa Claus. For tickets call the box office on 0191 454 1234 or visit www.customshouse.co.uk.

Preview: Aladdin at Whickham Pantodrome

LOOK WHO IS FLYING INTO GATESHEAD

Aladdin

Whickham Pantodrome

Thursday 15^th – Saturday 24^th December 2016

Gateshead’s biggest pantomime is returning to the Pantodrome this Christmas. NS Pantomimes are once again behind the exciting high-flying adventure, Aladdin which is hoped to top last year’s recording breaking production in the specially constructed theatre venue in Whickham, Gateshead. The theatre setup is being created within a sports venue in which will allow over 9,000 local residents, schools and groups to enjoy festive entertainment on their doorstep this December. The richest pantomime of them all will run from Thursday 15^th December until Christmas Eve with a number of scheduled performances for public and schools.

Daniel Mawston as Widow Twankey

The show is being produced by local lad Jamie Owen Gray who recently produced a new live stand up show for Boulevard’s hostess with mostest Miss Rory – One Woman which played to a sell out audience at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in September. He is also the brains behind an exciting adult pantomime concept which will be staged in the North East in January.  Jamie explains “We’re going new and different with Aladdin this year! Everyone does the same old story over and over again - it’s good to keep tradition there but with this I’m adding in some extra surprises along the way – we’ve sacked off the traditional laundry…the Twankey’s run a different kind of business which fits with the plot perfectly and is messy! Oh and Metro Radio’s Alan Robson is going from Night Owls to Arabian Nights providing the voice for a very special character which is exciting! ”

Sean Gray as Wishee Washee

Jamie is creating the show in collaboration with local writer and composer Thomas Whalley. Thomas, trained at Associated Studios in London, and his recent theatre credits on London’s West Endinclude She Loves Me at the Landor Theatre and Carnival of Dreams at Fairfield Halls. Tom will be putting pen to paper writing this year’s story which takes us on an exciting new adventure from Peking to Egypt. Tom stresses "Panto is in my blood, my grandma used to produce pantomimes back in the good old days! I relocated to London last year but I am delighted to be able to be writing this years show. It’s great writing for your home town - Geordies have their own sense of humour which is different to anywhere else in the country so it’s great having an amazing local cast of performers and dancers who we know will deliver and the audience will love."

The panto project will once again involve the construction of a full size stage and auditorium within a building which is currently a number of indoor sports courts.  Jamie states “We‘ve done it once, it was difficult, I‘m not going to lie but second time round it’s always easier- we can’t just turn up to the theatre with our set and costume rails and do the show - everything has to be constructed from scratch. It’s difficult to envisage what a show will look like in an empty space, but it’s exciting. Normally I’d go into a theatre auditorium and sit and look at the stage for hours but with this it’s all drawings on paper. I have a fantastic team behind me so I have no doubt that this years show will be our best yet”

Jacob Anderton as Aladdin

Aladdin will be an exciting new version of the well loved story with side splitting humour, stunning sets and a range of beautiful costumes created especially for the show. Jamie adds “The public are going crazy for pantomime here, it’s unbelievable the amount of excitement it is creating between young and old - Gateshead doesn’t have it’s own large theatre so it’s amazing to be able to offer an affordable family show so close to home that will have the same production standards as some city centre venues”.

Tickets: Tickets for Aladdin are on sale now and are available online at www.niceswan.com or by calling the booking line 0333 666 3366 or for local/group/school sales call 07741 477660. From £10.50. Group and school discounts available. 

Review: Jack & The Beanstalk at South Shields Customs House

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Panto is Going For Gold in Tyneside

Jack & The Beanstalk

South Shields Customs House

Until Saturday 7^th January 2017

The Little Panto With A Big Heart is a highlight of our reviewing calendar. It is full of big laughs and has a real feeling of community. It is growing in stature and should no longer consider itself to be a poor relation to the region’s bigger shows. Jack & The Beanstalk is another cracker for the South Tyneside venue.

The show begins with some introductions: we have a glamorous Fairy Arachis (Eleanor Chaganis) representing good and wonderfully flamboyant Fleshcreep (Steven Lee Hamilton), who is the giant’s servant, representing evil. Holding the show together once again is superb Ray Spencer MBE, who also directs and co-wrote the show with Graeme Thompson, as Dame Trott. Unlike some shows, this one involves its audience whenever possible.

Dame Trott is in debt and owes rent to her landlord, the Mayor of Cooksonville (Gareth Hunter). Her son, Jack (Luke Maddison) is in love with the Mayor’s daughter Eloise (Natasha Haws). Her other son, Arbuthnot (David John Hopper), is as daft as a brush and he often gets the wrong end of the stick. Dame Trott decides the only solution to their financial situation is to sell their cow called, in this version, Doddington the cow. Fleshcreep has other ideas for the people of Cooksonville as he has to keep his master, the Giant (voiced by Jason Cook), happy.

Scattered through the show are numerous songs which seemed different to the usual platter and they’re well sung.  Musical director Dave Bintley has produced a tight soundtrack.

The show looks glamorous. The set and costumes, from Matt Fox and Paul Shriek, are all bright and creative.  Adding to the glamour are the great dancers from the South Tyneside Dace Workshop.    

At the centre of the action is Dame Trott. Ray Spencer knows how to control both the action on stage and the audience watching it. His ability to handle each situation as it arises is unique.  The one liners flow but nothing feels harsh or nasty. He is the consummate professional.

This is a great ensemble piece. There are no weak links in the cast as they work hard for each other and the audience.

The record ticket sales suggest a large number who saw last year’s show have booked again. They will not be disappointed as the Customs House panto goes from strength to strength. It isn’t afraid to talk to the audience, if fact there is active encouragement of a reaction. From calls of “its behind you” to the community singing towards the end, there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to feel a part of the show.

This is a well paced show full of comedic one liners, slapstick humour and a talented cast. Once again this is the panto that delivers all that it promises.

Review by Stephen Oliver

Tickets:
Jack and the Beanstalk is on from November 29, 2016to January 7, 2017.
Tickets start from £9.75 and are available from the box office on 0191 454 1234 or by visiting www.customshouse.co.uk.