News: This week at the Sunderland Empire

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE AT SUNDERLANDEMPIRE

This week Sunderland Empire have a host of spectaculars gracing the stage from award winning tributes, opulent opera to comedy with home-grown talent, but don’t delay they are only here for one night!

First up A Country Night in Nashville (Saturday 4 March) recreates the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of Country Music. Prepare to be transported on a musical journey through the history of Country, featuring songs from its biggest stars both past and present.  

Hits from Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly to the Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson to Kacey Musgraves, are showcased by the amazing vocals of Dominic Halpin, Shelly Quarmby and their fabulous backing band, the Hurricanes. With songs including Ring Of Fire, Crazy, Sweet Home Alabama, Don’t Rock The Jukebox, Need you Now, 9-5, Don’t Worry Baby to name just a few.

Local lad and everybody's favourite randomist Ross Noble is back and set to fill the Sunderland Empire with laughter when Brain Dump hits the stage (Wednesday 8 March). As always Ross has lots of stuff backing up in his head and it's time to let it all out.  Famed for his super quick freewheeling style and highly imaginative flights of fancy, a Ross Noble show is always an unmissable event. 

Ross Noble started in comedy 25 years ago, at the age of 15, and has established a loyal audience as one of the world’s best live stand-ups. Come and be part of this truly unique live experience and join Ross as audience and performer come together for a massive Brain Dump.

Next up is Mercury: The Ultimate Queen Tribute (Thursday 9 March). Winners of the National Tribute Awards 2013, Mercury have firmly established themselves as one of the world’s most authentic tributes to Queen. The show includes fantastic and authentic performances of the most popular Queen hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio GaGa, We Are The Champions, We Will Rock You and many more.

Music fans are then invited to the biggest party of the year as the unstoppable Magic of Motown (Friday 10 March) steams into town. Seen by over a 1 million people all over the world and recently performed for the Royal Variety Performance 2016. Prepare yourself for 40 back-to-back classic Motown hits, glittering costume changes, dazzling dance moves and outstanding musicianship in this explosive concert experience.

Celebrate the sound of a generation as the timeless music of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and many more are sensationally recreated for you by an exceptionally talented cast and band.

The week ends with a double bill of opulent opera when Ellen Kent returns with La Bohème (Saturday 11 March). One of the most romantic operas ever written, it tells the tragic tale of the doomed, consumptive Mimi and her love for a penniless writer.

Directed by Ellen Kent, this brand new production is traditionally staged with international soloists, highly-praised chorus and full orchestra. This classic tale of Parisian love and loss features many famous arias including Your Tiny Hand is Frozen, They Call Me Mimi and Musetta’s Waltz. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

The following evening Opera & Ballet International proudly presents an Ellen Kent production Verdi Nabucco (Sunday 12 March) with the famous chorus of the Hebrew slaves. Verdi’s haunting and melodic chorus of the Hebrew slaves, Va Pensiero, follows the plight of the Hebrews as they are forced from their homeland into exile by the Babylonian King Nabucco. This powerful tale is laced with revenge, destruction and jealousy.

A spectacular traditionally-staged production featuring magnificent sets and costumes with amazing lighting and stage effects which includes the burning down of Soloman’s temple. Nabucco promises to be an evening to remember.

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 up to 7p per minute plus standard network charges. Booking and transaction fees may apply to telephone and online bookings.

REVIEW: Trajectory at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

AVON Special Online Offer - Spend £25 and get 50p delivery.

Weblink: https://www.avon.uk.com/

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuide and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide. Read about JoWhereToGo and its PR and photography services here.

A Fine Farewell

Coracle Productions in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre, with support from Arts Council England present

Trajectory – a double bill

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Until Saturday 4^th March 2017

Life After by Arabella Arnott

Bricks & Mortar by Steve Byron

As the centre of Newcastle’s fringe theatre scene, Alphabetti Theatre, is about to enter its final week in the current basement venue, it is host to a double bill of new plays.  Whilst there’s a big difference in the two plays, they do work well together and make it worth a trip to Newcastle’s “best kept secret venue”.

The first production was Life After which looks at a couple of adults who friends but are not in a relationship. When Sophie died a year ago, it left a big gap in both partner Simon’s and sister Helen’s life. The story starts in the living room of Helen’s house.

Neither Helen or Simon currently have a partner, and Helen is looking for work so they discuss making plans to change that. Simon eventually suggests speed dating and this sets in motion a look into some of the complications of the dating scene in later life.

Writer Arabella Arnott appears as Helen, who is keen for change and Carl Kennedy is Simon who is not always as keen on Helen’s games. Under Director Matt Jamie, the two actors hold your attention as each detail of the past year is revealed. 

The hour long tale has a number of scenes and costume changes and this does affect the pace a little.  Without giving any spoilers away, the tale does reach a suitable conclusion. This sense of closure and the quality of the acting make this a fascinating watch.

After the interval the living room set was modified into the council house belonging to Mary in Steve Byron’s play Bricks & Mortar.  Paula Penman is both enigmatic and funny as the widow who gives a running commentary, as she peers through her window blinds, looking at the events outside. This was the house she had shared with her husband and son. The two men in her life have both died and so the council feel it is time to reallocate the large building to a bigger family. Mary, on the other hand, has other ideas.

The play, directed by Gary Kitching, has great pace and a sense of humour as Mary considers her options in the face of bureaucratic opposition. The poor council official that has paid Mary a visit is played by the equally as wonderful David John Hopper. His reaction to being offered tea or a bacon sandwich is a delight.  This particular story is just a short one, at about 20 minutes, but this double act gave the audience plenty of chances to laugh.

Alphabetti has enabled shows like these two to have a platform to be seen without a trip to Edinburgh Fringe.  The room was nearly full on the Thursday evening when we saw the show and this confirms there is an appetite to experience quality new writing like that on stage tonight.  Having followed Alphabetti since its days above a pub, we hope the new Alphabetti venue opens as soon after the closure of the current one.

Review by Stephen Oliver.

On The Web:

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/398882903789501/

Twitter: @coracleNE @alphabetti

Web: www.coracleproductions.com

Read the original NETG preview: LINK

Tickets:

When: Wednesday 1^st – Saturday 4^th March 2017

Where: Alphabetti Theatre, The Basement, 18 New Bridge Street West, NE1 8AW

Tickets £8/£6. https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/164165

REVIEW: Hansel and Gretel at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuide and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide. Read about JoWhereToGo and its PR and photography services here.

A Superb Introduction To Opera

Opera North: Hansel and Gretel

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Wednesday 1^st - Saturday 4^thMarch 2017 

Music by Engelbert Humperdinck

Text by Adelheid Wette, after the tale by Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm

English Translation by David Pountney

Director: Edward Dick

Conductor: Christoph Altstaedt

Set Designer: Giles Cadle

Costume Designer: Christina Cunningham

Lighting Designer: Mathew Haskins

Video Designer: Ian William Galloway

Choreographer: Gary Clarke

Theatre Royal favourites Opera North are in town this week with their ‘fairy-tale season’ featuring Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden, Rossini’s Cinderellaand this evening’s spectacular Hansel and Gretel. There has been a deliberate attempt to make the show accessible to younger audiences and Engelbert Humperdinck’s tale succeeds in this respect. Opera North are to be congratulated for trying to secure an audience for the future.

The three shows use modern technology, such as video, in order to give a show, first performed in its original version in 1893, a 21^st century vibe. Having said that, whilst they have made the narrative relevant, the show is still faithful to its source material and normal opera conventions. 

We are big fans of live music in theatrical performances hence you can imagine how please we were to see the Opera North orchestra were tuning up upon our arrival. The orchestra pit had been extended by removing all of the seats in front of the 2 boxes at the front of the auditorium. This large musical ensemble was able to fill the room with the sounds from the fabulous score. Indeed, it was a pleasure to hear the overture for the first 8 minutes.

Hansel and Gretel is about a poor family that is struggling to make ends meet. They lack food and need both of the children to work in order to raise enough funds to buy food. After a commotion the last bit of food is wasted and so they are sent to the woods to collect strawberries. This journey is one in which not everything is as it first seems. Typical for a traditional Grimm Brother’s fairy tale – this is a story with a message which is still entirely relevant in 2017.

The cast for this evening’s performance had no weak links. Katie Bray and Fflur Wyn were a delight as Hansel and Gretel respectively. Their soaring voices were more than capable of being heard over the orchestra. Even though the show is in English, the text is displayed on 2 screens at each side of the stage. This is another step that will help newcomers to the art form.

Susan Bullock had just the right amount of menace as the Witch. The singing tonight was delightful. In addition to Bullock’s fine voice we had Stephen Gadd as Peter, Rachel J Mosley as the Sandman and Amy Freston as the Dew Fairy. They were supported by a group of wonderful children in the final scene who all sang, acted and danced to give the production a suitable finale.

The technology amounted to more than the set and the lighting. Hansel and Gretel had a video camera at their disposal which was then projected onto the back of the set. This not only helped improve the view of some of the action but also set up an atmosphere of its own. Indeed some of the close ups of their faces and the journey through the forest combined give that part of the show a real Blair-Witch feel.

The combination of a relevant story, great acting and singing, a wonderful orchestra, and a running time around two hours with the interval, make this a fine introduction to an art form you made not have considered before. Our 13 year old was very impressed and he said it was “brilliant!” Hansel and Gretel is an enjoyable start of Opera North’s fairy tale season. 

Review by Stephen Oliver. 
Photos: Richard Hubert Smith.

Read the North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/preview-opera-north-at-newcastle.html

Tickets:

Hansel and Gretel appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal Wed 1 & Sat 4 Mar at 7.00pm, Cinderella on Thu 2 Mar at 7pm and Sat 4 Mar at 2.00pm and The Snow Maiden for one performance only on Fri 3 Mar at 7.00pm.  Tickets are available from £18.50 can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).

 

AVON Special Online Offer - Spend £25 and get 50p delivery.

Weblink: https://www.avon.uk.com/

REVIEW: Leaving at Newcastle Northern Stage

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuide and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide. Read about JoWhereToGo and its PR and photography services here.

A Production That Shows There Is Hope

CURIOUS MONKEY in association with NORTHERN STAGE

Leaving

By Paddy Campbell

Newcastle Northern Stage

Until Saturday 4^th March 2017

Director Amy Golding

Designer Katherina Radeva

Composition & Sound Design Roma Yagnik

Lighting Design Simon Cole

Photo: Mark Slater

Cast

Jackie Lye

Rosie Stancliffe

Kate Okello

Luke Maddison

Matt Howdon

Photo: Mark Slater

The care system is an important and complex issue for society. Writer Paddy Campbell, who has worked in the care system himself, has written a passionate piece that gives a 360^o view of the current way in which we deal with children in care. By using interviews, that both he and director Amy Golding conducted with those involved, he has constructed some theatre that exposes the audience to the issues.

Photo: Mark Slater

The method used to deliver the show is verbatim theatre. In other words, each line delivered by the actors was said in actual interview.  In order to ensure the um’s and ah’s, as well as the pauses and repetitions are preserved, each actor has a pair of headphones through which the interview is relayed as they speak it. The hope is that this ‘recorded delivery’, as the programme notes inform us the technique is called, ensures the speech patterns are true to the original person. This results in the first girl’s story being delivered rapidly whilst some of the older care workers have their words spoken in a slow drawl.

Photo: Mark Slater

The overall effect is that the show is a cross between a t.v. documentary and a reconstruction, with theatrical dance elements thrown in. The audience are also supplied with headphones, although these only have sound during those more theatrical moments such as the recreation of a child’s case meeting.

Photo: Mark Slater

Back to the tale being told… As a result of the interviews, we get to hear about 10 young people who have been through the care system as well as 9 adults who are behind it. From the kids there are tales about settling in and dealing with the adults. The adults range from the care workers and their managers through to other agencies such as teachers and an MP. It is startling how big the discrepancy is between the official interpretation of what should be happening on the ground and the description of what does actually happen.

Photo: Mark Slater

The production is called Leavingand there is a focus on that moment when a child leaves the care system, how they are prepared and the barriers facing their integration into the bigger, unsupported, world. This is when, in my opinion, the audience is exposed to the more shocking revelations. Theatre is more than entertainment and, just like a great documentary on TV, you can find yourself chewing over the issues long after the show finishes. In this respect it is a moving piece.

Photo: Mark Slater

The cast of five keep changing roles and they often have a box with a name nearby in order to let you know whose story they are presenting. They work hard to convey the personality behind the voice.

Photo: Mark Slater

In conclusion I am split in two by the show. The actual content is well worth hearing; the actors are passionate and the subject matter leaves an impression upon you. Certainly Leavingis worth seeing. However, I have an issue with the headphones, especially the ones given to the audience. Whilst we, in the audience, are supposed to share in the recorded delivery verbatimexperience, I couldn’t help thinking that the experience would be improved by simply playing that sound feed through the theatre speakers. Others may disagree.

Photo: Mark Slater

The kid’s recollections of their experience in the care system should be heard. The production is certainly worth going to see as the cast show there is a human spirit, even in the darkest moments of one’s life. But be ready to leave disappointed at the treatment of our most vulnerable citizens by the system.

Review by Stephen Oliver.

Tour Details & Tickets:

NORTHERN STAGE

THU 23 FEBRUARY - SAT 4 MARCH 8pm

Tickets: £15.50 / £13.50 concessions

Box office 0191 230 5151

http://www.northernstage.co.uk

Photo: Mark Slater

THE EGG -THEATRE ROYAL BATH

MON 13 MARCH 7pm

Tickets: £8.50 / £7.50 children

Box Office: 01225 823409

http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk

THE BIKE SHED THEATRE EXETER

WED 15 MARCH - SAT 18 MARCH 7.30pm

Tickets: £12 / £10 concessions

Box Office: 01392 434169

https://www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk