Preview: Mavis Sparkle at Washington Arts Centre

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Mavis Sparkle

Washington Arts Centre

Friday 24^th February 2017

Reach for the stars and join internationally renowned M6 Theatre Company as they bring Mavis Sparkle, their magical production of wonder and discovery, to Arts Centre Washington on Friday 24^th February.

From the team behind the acclaimed One Little Word and Whatever the Weather, this cosmic show features an exciting mix of illusion, captivating performance and animation and has been created especially for children aged 4+ and their families.

With her cleaning trolley full of secrets and surprises, Mavis is moving ever closer to making her dreams come true. All she needs is a little help from her cheeky cuckoo clock, mischievous mop bucket and Spike the hedgehog, to journey north and see nature’s biggest light show with her own eyes.

The show’s writers, Dot Wood and Gilly Baskeyfield expand: “Alongside children's stories of princes and princesses, superheroes and villains, there are also wonderful, magical stories of everyday characters with special qualities, dreams and adventures.  M6’s Mavis Sparkle is a story full of laughter, transformation and joy.  Mavis reminds us that if we dust beneath the surface, we might find there’s magic in the most unexpected places!”

The show is underscored by an original soundtrack composed by Tayo Akinbode who has worked with numerous companies including the RSC, the National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe.

M6 Theatre Company, founded in 1977 and based in Rochdale, is acknowledged as one of Britain’s leading touring theatre companies specialising in creating and delivering high quality theatre for young audiences. Their 2016 production of Whatever the Weather (in association with Polka Theatre) won an Off West End Theatre Award for the Best Production for Young People 0-7 Years.

Tickets:

Tickets for Mavis Sparkle cost £6.50 / £22 (family, admits 4) and are available from the Arts Centre Washington box office on 0191 561 3455 or visit www.artscentrewashington.co.uk.  

Preview: Geordie The Musical at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

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Award Winning Geordie Musical Returns

Geordie The Musical
Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Wednesday 11th - Saturday 14th October 2017

Tyne Theatre & Opera House are thrilled to announce that the magnificent Customs House production Geordie The Musical will tread the boards of the theatre in October 2017. The show was awarded the Proud to be in the North East Award from the North East Theatre Guide in 2015 LINK to news

Read our review of the original production: Review LINK 

Original 2015 production photo

Based on an idea by Andy Bogle, Geordie The Musical is a heart-warming story of North East life featuring traditional Geordie songs. 

Step back to 1890 as The Customs House and Tyne Theatre & Opera House combine traditional Northumbrian songs and music with the award-winning storytelling skills of Tom Kelly. 

Original 2015 production photo

On the banks of the River Tyne, Bella, James and their daughter Maggie run The Wheatsheaf, a traditional, popular drinking house where folks from near and far enjoy a pint and a sing song. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome, unless you rock the boat, then you’ll be out on your ear... A celebration of our heritage, our history, our home.

Original 2015 production photo

Geordie The Musical is part of Tyne Theatre & Opera House's special programme of events to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Grade 1 listed Victorian Opera House in 2017. The Customs House production joins the previously-announced Little Shop of Horrors (Preview: Preview LINK)  presented by Tyne Theatre Productions (Thursday 9th - Saturday 11th March) and The Greatest Show on the Tyne collaboration with Geordie magician Chris Cross (Friday 6th October). With more events to be announced in the coming months, 2017 will be a magical year for Tyne Theatre & Opera House!

Original 2015 production photo

Theatre Director Joanne Johnson says: “Tyne Theatre & Opera House are incredibly proud to work with our friends at Customs House to be able to bring this hugely successful local production to our theatre.  As we celebrate our heritage and history in our 150th year, it's incredibly fitting that part of our 150th Anniversary programme will feature this wonderful celebration of North East heritage."

Reviews:

‘Superb, well produced, proud and heart-warming.’ North East Theatre Guide
 
**** - The Chronicle

 ‘Powerful, passionate, emotive and inspiring… this is the kind of show that makes you proud to be from the North East.’ The Shields Gazette

‘It’s impossible to stop your chest swelling with northern pride while watching this musical. And if you’re not northern, you’ll probably wish you were.’ The Sunderland Echo 

Tickets:

Tickets on sale from Friday 6th January at 10am.

Tickets: £18 full price, £16 concessions & limited view

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 and online bookling: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Preview: And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon at South Shields Customs House

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Star of this Year’s Panto Gets Her Own Show

…And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon

South Shields Customs House

Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th February 2017

Doddington The Cow, star of this year’s Customs House pantomime, will take centre stage in her own show this year.

The loveable dancing cow, who is currently stealing the show in Jack and the Beanstalk, will star in …And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon during February Half Term.

David John Hopper as Arbuthnot,

Doddington the Cow and

Luke Maddison as Jack

And she’ll be joined on stage by Luke Maddison and David John Hopper who will reprise their panto roles as Jack and Arbuthnot.

Customs House executive director Ray Spencer, who has written the show, said: “When we saw Doddington for the first time we knew we had to bring her back for the February Half Term show. It’s the fourth year in a row we’ve done it following on from The Girl and the Unicorn, The Three Little Pig and The Rabbit’s Tail and we know this one will be another success.

“Doddington has been such a hit with our audiences and we’re sure the little ones will love this specially-written show and we’re thrilled we’ve managed to get Luke and David back for the show.”

…And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon is aimed at under sevens and follows Doddington and her dream of flying to the moon and back. Will she get her wish? Find out from Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th February.

The show will include lots of songs you know and some you don’t and you can meet the cast and pose for photographs after the show.

Doddington has been sponsored by Doddington Dairy, which supplies the theatre with ice cream, and she even has her own soft toy which can be bought for the special price of just £4 when booking tickets for the show.

Tickets

Tickets are £7.50 and are available from the box office in person, by calling 0191 454 1234 or by visiting www.customshouse.co.uk.

Jack and the Beanstalk, sponsored by Hays Travel, runs until Saturday (7^th January).  Read the NETG review at: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/review-jack-beanstalk-at-south-shields.html

 

Review: Heaven Eyes on tour

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Théâtre Sans Frontières announces

its national tour of Heaven Eyes

by David Almond

Hexham-based theatre company, Théâtre Sans Frontières, will be making a national tour of its production Heaven Eyes to UK venues during February and March 2017.

Adapted for the stage by internationally acclaimed children’s author, David Almond (Skellig, A Song for Ella Grey, The Savage (NETG Review)), Heaven Eyes is a poetic and gritty story about young people trying to find their way in the world. After running away from their care home, three youngsters, Erin, January and Mouse sail downriver on a makeshift raft. Washed up on the mudflats, they meet a strange girl, Heaven Eyes, and a man she calls Grampa, who wields an axe and digs for treasures in the mud. As Erinbefriends Heaven Eyes and tensions begin to rise within the group, January’s suspicions about the old man grow. What is the secret he’s hiding?

“Almond’s eerie tale is an astonishing piece of writing”

The Guardian

The first tour of Heaven Eyes took place in autumn 2014. During rehearsals for that tour, TSF worked closely with David Almond, collaborating fully on interpretation and any text or scene changes. Following its tour to venues in northern England and Scotland, the show was recommended by the British Theatre Guide as one of the Best Family Shows in the North-East of 2014.

“So wonderful to see the story recreated and brought to life again”
David Almond in rehearsals with TSF

Reprising their roles from the 2014 tour are: TSF regular Paddy Burton, Joint Artistic Director Sarah Kemp; Maria Lindh from Sweden; and Tyneside actors, Natalie Ann Jamieson and Lawrence Neale. Joining them for the first time is Newcastle-based actor William Davies. The show is directed by joint artistic directors John Cobb and Sarah Kemp. The set and costumes are designed by Alison Ashton (Canary Gold, Les Aventures de Lapin) and the music is composed by Ken Patterson (Les Aventures de Lapin, Round the World in 80 Minutes).

The production, suitable for everyone aged 9 years and over, opens at Arts Centre Washington on 8 February and then tours nationally until the end of March.

TSF is grateful for the support received to tour this production from: Arts Council England, Active Northumberland, the Ernest Cook Trust and Tynedale Lions.

On The Web:

Website www.tsf.org.uk

Heaven Eyes - tour schedule 2017

8 Feb, 7pm & 9 Feb, 10.30am             Arts Centre Washington                     0191 561 3455

http://www.artscentrewashington.co.uk/production-details.aspx?id=902

10 Feb, 7pm                                        StamfordArts Centre                          01780 763203

https://www.stamfordartscentre.com/whats-on/all-shows/thtre-sans-frontires-presents-heaven-eyes/

12 Feb, 5pm & 13 Feb, 2pm& 6pm    Greenwich Theatre, London               020 88587755

http://www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2051:heaven-eyes&catid=7:playingnow&Itemid=1

16 Feb, 1pm & 7pm                            The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham      0121 359 9444

http://www.oldreptheatre.co.uk/heaven-eyes.html

18 Feb,2pm & 6.30pm                         Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds            0113 3760318

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/carriageworks/Pages/Event.aspx?s=5874

21 Feb, 7pm                                        The Dukes, Lancaster                          01524 598500

http://dukes-lancaster.org/?event=heaven-eyes&event_date=2017-02-21

23 Feb, 7.30pm & 24 Feb, 10.30am     The Brewhouse, Taunton                     01823 283244

https://www.thebrewhouse.net/event/heaven-eyes/

2 March, 1pm                                     Square Chapel, Halifax                      01422 349422

http://www.squarechapel.co.uk

4 March, 7pm                                     Mumford Theatre, Cambridge           01223 352932

http://www.anglia.ac.uk/arts-law-and-social-sciences/mumford-theatre/heaven-eyes

6 March, 7.30pm                                 Theatre Royal Winchester                   01962 840440

http://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/heaven-eyes/

8 March, 7pm                                     The Gulbenkian, Canterbury              01227 769075

https://uk.patronbase.com/_Gulbenkian/Sections/Choose?prod_id=CD1&perf_id=1

10 March, 7pm                                   Hawth Studio, Crawley                      01293 553636

https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth/show/dc35f063-289a-e611-80dc-8b0a68fb3724/heaven-eyes

14 March, 7pm & 15 March, 1.15pm   People's TheatreNewcastle               0191 265 5020

https://www.peoplestheatre.co.uk/whats-on/heaven-eyes-by-david-almond

17 March, 1pm & 7pm                        Alnwick Playhouse                              01665 510785

https://www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk/event/1259

18 March, 2.30pm                               Arc, Stockton-on-Tees                         01642 525199

http://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/family/heaven-eyes

22 March, 7pm & 23 March, 10am     Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham     01434 652477

http://www.queenshall.co.uk/events/heaven-eyes

25 March, 7pm                                    The Maltings, Berwick                          01289 330999

https://m.maltingsberwick.co.uk/events/id/3167

Preview: Jack and the Beanstalk at Newcastle Times Square

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DENISE WELCH TO HEADLINE TIMES SQUARE PANTO

Jack and the Beanstalk

Newcastle Times Square Pantodrome

Monday 11^th – Saturday 30^thDecember 2017

Denise Welch to play Mother Nature in a new GIANT pantomime adventure sprouting up in Newcastle’s Times Square in 2017. An enchanting tale of rags to riches, fearsome giants, castles in the clouds and the odd golden egg thrown in for good measure, Jack and the Beanstalk will dazzle North East audiences with larger than life sets, costumes and traditional panto magic.

Times Square in Newcastle has played host to numerous events in recent years including the annual visit from the Ladyboys of Bangkok, outdoor concerts by Fatboy Slim, and most recently the Oktoberfest.  But next Christmas, the city centre location will host the first pantomime and will be transformed into a magical land taking North East audiences on an all new theatre experience.

The new Pantodrome venue will be specially constructed alongside the Ice Rink at Life and offer a star studded Christmas spectacular.

Geordie favourite, Denise Welch – best known for her roles in soaps Coronation Street, Emmerdale and regular panellist on ITV lunchtime chat show Loose Women will take on the role of Mother Nature and provide the magic in toon over the festive period.

With further star casting to be announced, Jack and the Beanstalk will have a three week run next Christmas with a number of public and school performances scheduled between Monday 11^th – Saturday 30^th December.

Local lad, Jamie Owen Gray, Managing Director of NS Pantomimes and Producer of Jack and the Beanstalk said, “I’m thrilled to be bringing this exciting new show to my hometown next year.  I think Geordie audiences are ready for something fresh and different and this will provide a whole new adventure for young and old. We’re following a similar concept to In the Night Garden UK Tour”.

“I’m delighted to have Denise on board – Geordies love a good pantomime and Newcastle audiences are different to any other in the country, they have a particular sense of humour. We write and create productions specifically to the town and cast that we are working with.  I think Denise will be the perfect Geordie fairy character to bring our story to life with that special Northern twist”.

“I’ve loved seeing pantomimes since I was a child, I’ve always visited the local shows five and six times per season, each time I notice something else. I’ve learned so much over the years watching shows, paying attention to detail as well as the audiences and how they react to the productions. My inspiration comes from all over the world; I am always thinking of the next unique costume or gag. When you work in this industry – Christmas is an all year round thing and your brain never switches off”.

Jack and the Beanstalk follows the story of young lad Jack, his brother Simple Simon and their mother Dame Trott – they haven’t a penny to their name and are forced to sell the family cow at Market. Mother Nature lends a helping hand when the Giant’s henchman fools Jack into selling the cow for a bag of beans and takes her off to Cloudland.

“I love the story of Jack – it’s really traditional and I want to keep it that way – but with panto these days you need to make them more dynamic to keep up with the times, newer jokes, lots of local references – people expect outstanding costumes and effects too and that’s what we intend to do with this. Nice and traditional local story but with amazing production standards – our beanstalks been designed already – it’s so quirky I love it!

Tickets:

Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk go on general public sale Friday 16^th December from timessquarepanto.com/tickets or calling 0333 666 3366 from only £18.00.