News: NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL NEW SEASON

LID IS LIFTED ON NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL NEW SEASON

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Ballet British Columbia 13-14 March ‘18

Sherlock Holmes 8-12 May ‘18

Dusty the Musical 17-21 July ‘18

Kinky Boots 29 Oct–10 Nov ‘18

Newcastle Theatre Royal truly has launched its Spring/Summer ’18 season– a theatrical treasure chest of riches featuring breath-taking dance, thought-provoking drama, feel-good musicals and family shows aplenty.

The Grade 1 listed Theatre will be bursting at the seams next year as it welcomes no less than five big musicals, including  Evita (22-26 May), Hairspray (25-30 June), Dusty the Musical (17-21 July), Calendar Girls (18-29 Sep) and Kinky Boots (29 Oct – 10 Nov).

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hit show Evita returns to Newcastle in May, starring Madalena Alberto (Les Misérables) and Gian Marco Schiaretti (Tarzan). Telling the story of Eva Peron – wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron – Evita follows Eva’s journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary iconic status and features some of the most famous songs in musical theatre. 

Returning for one week only after a sell-out visit in Spring 2016, West End and Broadway hit Hairspray lands 25-30 June. Set in 1962, Hairspray tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, who’s on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. This is a feel-good show with the ultimate dance-in-your-seat and singalong soundtrack.

Dusty the Musical (17-21 July) is a landmark new show based on the authorised biography

of Dusty Springfield, featuring many of her blazingly soulful pop hits, including I Only Want

to Be with You, Son of a Preacher Man and You Don't Have to Say You Love Me.

With a fiercely funny and emotionally charged script from BAFTA and Olivier nominated writer

Jonathan Harvey, Dusty celebrates the extraordinary and vivacious woman with the iconic voice.

Calendar Girls the Musical (18-29 Sep), by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, is the award winning musical comedy based on the true story of a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extraordinary. Straight from the West End, this is a glorious new production with an all-star cast.

But perhaps the most anticipated of the season is Kinky Boots (29 Oct – 10 Nov), winner of every major Best Musical award, including the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.  Featuring songs by Grammy and Tony winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein this dazzling show is a joyous story of Brit grit, taking audiences from the factory floor of Northampton to the catwalks of Milan!

Dance fans will delight in three big names this season, starting with the breathtaking Ballet British Columbia (13-14 Mar).  Making its Theatre Royal debut, Canada’s leading national dance company present an exhilarating evening of dance by three internationally celebrated female choreographers. Recognised for their fresh creativity, this 18-strong company of dancers will astound UK audiences with their unique blend of cool, classical elegance, contemporary flair and extraordinary skill.

Returning in May due to phenomenal demand is international Irish dance sensation Spirit of the Dance (16-19) on its record-breaking 20 year anniversary tour. One of the world’s most successful dance shows, Spirit of the Dance showcases the heart-pounding rhythms of Irish dance as well as sensual Flamenco and red hot salsa.  Not one dancer steps out of line as their thunderous feet perform in this thrilling and explosive production.

Another big name to return this season is Stomp (13-18 Aug), the unstoppable smash-hit but fresher, faster and funnier than ever! Combining dance, comedy and music into a theatrical experience like no other Stomp takes familiar objects like newspapers, bins, plastics bags and even the kitchen sink and uses them to create a universal language of rhythm and movement that’s playful, thrilling and exploding with energy.

For drama lovers we are proud to present one riveting new show and one old favourite.   Sherlock Holmes – The Final Curtain (8-12 May) is a gripping new stage show with an all-star cast including Robert Powell and Liza Goddard in celebration of the world’s greatest detective. Holmes lives in retirement on the South Coast and is concerned in his advancing years he may be an easy target for his enemies. So when a new case presents itself Holmes is determined to kill two birds with one stone - solve the mystery and confront his own demons.

Following its sell-out success in January, the multi award-winning West End smash hit comedy drama The Play that Goes Wrong returns 2-7 July.  The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are

putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong...

does! As the accident prone thesps battle on against all the odds to reach their final curtain

call, hilarious results ensue!  Now playing on Broadway and enjoying its 4th year in the

West End, the show has secured rave reviews and won a host of celebrity endorsements along the way.

Another comedy treat, back once again to warm the hearts of their loyal fans are the incorrigibly Grumpy Old Women (20 May).  Fed up with flogging their guts out and always having to be in charge, the GOW have put their knobbly old feet up in glorious retirement.  Free at last to practise their extreme colouring-in, ukulele orchestra and novelty fudge-making!  But, with the world in a bigger mess than ever before, they will need to unleash their superpowers as only three old Grumpies know how!  Stars Jenny Eclair, Dillie Keane and Lizzie Roper.

Also sure to be a sell-out is the official world premiere of ITV’s smash hit comedy Benidorm (7-15 Sep), which opens at Newcastle Theatre Royal prior to a major national tour.  Produced by iconic Newcastle born West End producer Michael Harrison (The Bodyguard; Young Frankenstein) the show features everyone’s favourite stars from the Solana Hotel live on stage for the very first time.

Two great new shows for our smaller customers complete the new season – a brand new live stage show from the Youtube sensation Little Baby Bum (10-11 July) invites pre-schoolers to step into the magical and colourful world of Nursery Rhymes, while August sees the return of everyone’s favourite piggy in Peppa Pig’s Adventure (22-23 Aug) where we welcome back Peppa and friends as they embark on a camping trip full of games, laughter and live music!

Tickets

Tickets for all new shows in the Spring / Summer ‘18 season go on sale to the general public at 9am on Fri 10 November 2017 and 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).

Friends of the Theatre Royal can book new season shows online and through the box office from Mon 6 November 2017 and receive discounted tickets as well as other benefits – visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk/support/become-a-friend for more information.

News: Sunderland Community Participation Opportunity

Community Participation Opportunity

Kelly-Abbott Dance Theatre will be presenting their show Launch Day on Wednesday 15^th November at Sunderland College Theatre for Sunderland Stages. They have also received Arts Council Funding to tour Launch Day nationally next Spring 2018.

Community Participation Opportunity! Kelly-Abbott Dance Theatre are seeking 10 participants (male/female 18yrs+) to form a community cast to perform onstage with their professional dancers in Launch Day as part of Sunderland Stages on Wednesday 15th November! 

NO DANCE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY - JUST LOTS OF PASSION, A LOVE OF THEATRE, ART AND NEW EXPERIENCES!

So if you fancy a try at treading the boards and getting into the character of a ‘gadgie’ or shipyard worker then come to:

Taster Workshop (10-1pm) Sunday 12^th November at Sunderland College Theatre. Please email kristinkellyabbott@gmail.com to register.

Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/200896880452932/?ti=icl

REVIEW: Charge at Newcastle Dance City

Motionhouse: Charge

Newcastle Dance City

Until Saturday 3^rd November 2017

Photo: Dan Tucker

Conceived and directed by Kevin Finnan

Choreography: Kevin Finnan, with additional material from the company

Film: Logela Multimedia

Set design and creation: Simon Dormon and Oblique Furniture

Original score: Sophy Smith and Tim Dickinson

Lighting design: Natasha Chivers

Performers:

Junior Cunningham (Rehearsal Director), Chris Knight, Martina Knight, Daniel Massarella, Luka Owen, Alasdair Stewart, Naomi Tadevossian, Rebecca Williams

 

Photo: Dan Tucker

Photo: Dan Tucker

The fact that the shows that Motionhouse are performing in Newcastle are totally sold out ahead of their short run, shows that there is an appetite for contemporary dance in the region. Their latest show Charge is a lively exploration of the biological side of life. Dance and acrobatics combine to create the periodic miracle.

Photo: Dan Tucker

Charge is the third element of Kevin Finnan’s ‘Earth Trilogy’, developing on themes explored in Scattered (2009) and Broken (2013) about our relationship with water and the Earth. There has been a deliberate fusion between the creative arts and science. In putting the show together, creator Kevin Finnan has worked alongside Professor Dame Frances Ashcroft and her team at Oxford University. Finnan’s idea of the human body as an electrical system tied in with Ashcroft’s concept of ion channels. These ion channels are responsible for the heart beating, taste, desire, fear, thought and even the flick of the sperm’s tale.

Photo: Dan Tucker

The performance area has a number of video screens upon which each scene is set. By not making the screens a flat wall it is able to interact occasionally with the performance from time to time. From apparently sticking to the screens through to jumping down a shoot and reappearing elsewhere, it adds to the overall performance. One really memorable section had the dancers swimming around as sperm and one literally dives into the screen image of the ovum head first, at the point of fertilisation.

Photo: Dan Tucker

The choreography is visually full of action. The 6 performers interpret the story through both intense movement. The energy that they have makes it a high wattage show.  The level of trust that they must have for one another as they fling themselves backwards or leap off the top of the set is tremendous. Frequently they don’t all do they same thing and it is the use of two speeds of action simultaneous that helps convey the kinetic processes. The aerial work helped fill the space and create an extra dimension to the performance.

Photo: Dan Tucker

The soundtrack varies from a pulsating beat through to almost hypnotic trance. The music matches both the action from the dancers and the scenes on the screens. There was always a danger that the visuals behind the action could be more of a distraction rather than complimentary to it. Despite being visually arresting - my eyes stayed on the performers rather than the background such was their vibrancy.

Photo: Dan Tucker

The lighting was used to good effect. The strobe effect in the middle of the action involved very short blasts of light froze the action in mid-jump burning an action shot on my retinas. 

Photo: Dan Tucker

The 70 minute performance combined visuals with ensemble from both dance and circus backgrounds. Adding the scientific element of breaking down life into a series of electrical impulses elevated an entertaining show into a significant event. We look forward to seeing Motionhouse next time they come to the North East.

Review by Stephen Oliver

On The Web (including tour dates and booking details) https://www.motionhouse.co.uk/tour-dates

REVIEW: Instructions For Border Crossing at Newcastle Northern Stage

Facing Our Problems

Instructions For Border Crossing

Newcastle Northern Stage

Until Friday 3^rd November 2017

Written and performed by Daniel Bye

Directed by Alex Swift

Design by Hannah Sibai

Lighting design by Katharine Williams

Sound design by Mariam Rezaei

Dramaturgy by Sarah Punshon

Produced by Annabel Turpin at ARC

Some shows are actually quite hard to review. This is one such show as we don’t want to give too much away. That would spoil the surprise. Should you go and see it? Definitely. Will it entertain? Indeed it will, unless you get upset by swearing. Do you have to get involved? No, but you’ll probably enjoy it more if you do. Did it deserve all of the great press it got at Edinburgh Fringe? In our opinion, it did. So like the news that comes on before Match Of The Day, this might be a good time to book tickets, though, as always, we will try not to give any spoilers.

Two things are taking place during Daniel Bye’s latest show. A story is being told and a conversation is happening with the audience. We know he is a great storyteller after Error 404 and he creates thought provoking theatre after How To Occupy An Oil Rig so we had high hopes for this show. 

The story is about a 12 year old girl who has got rid of her British passport but she is trying to cause havoc at the border by smuggling herself back into the country.  What are the rules for the staff at border control? How easy is it to get into this country? Is it easy to move across borders when you’re on the fringes of society?

The conversations take place at a table in which a game of Jenga is taking place. Members of the audience are invited up to try and push a few bricks out and share their thoughts before supporting the performance of the next instalment of the story. The first volunteer had the job of illuminating the Jenga tower with a torch so it looked like a police helicopter searchlight scanning a tower block. That is just the first part of the ingenious way in which the story ties in with the action on stage.

The tale ends with the credits being read out like a Radio 4 play and, at times, the rest of the show feels like a recording of a radio play. Sound effects and imaginative use of descriptive language during the storytelling all adds up to support the feel of the show.

The audience participation, which is entirely voluntary but Daniel is such a nice chap it’d be difficult to turn him down, makes this a very engaging experience. We are told that the instructions for the play are based upon the work of a lesser known playwright called Edward Shorter. At first Shorter seems to have been obsessed with creating a lot of border scenes for plays. Then the penny drops about the origins of this hitherto unknown master of the creative arts.

The design includes a retractable tape barrier - such as those used of the queues in airports. There are sound effects for the tapes being adjusted to let people on and off the stage. That leads to an actual barrier in the room and that is, if you think about it, a significant element in the narrative. The music and sound effects also build the tension during the story.

One again, Daniel Bye shows that the simple art of storytelling can lead to a wonderful theatrical performance. His warmth fills the room even if the subject matter is sometimes dark or unpleasant. The packed stage 3 audience played their role too in making tonight’s show a highly engaging celebration of the human spirit. Now I want to get the Jenga out and have a game.

Review by Stephen Oliver

On The Web:

Website: http://www.danielbye.co.uk/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/danielbye

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielbyetheatremaker/

Tickets.

Box Office:  0191 230 5151

Website: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/

The show is on a UK Tour with dates in Norwich, Warwick and Sheffield remaining. Details:

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Thur 9 & Fri 10 Nov 2017
www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
02476 524524

Norwich Arts Centre
Wed 22 Nov 2017
www.norwichartscentre.co.uk
01603 660352

Crucible Studio, Sheffield
Thur 30 Nov 2017
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
0114 249 6000

Preview: Border Tales at ARC, Stockton

Luca Silvestrini’s Protein presents:

Border Tales

ARC, Stockton Arts Centre

Tuesday 21^st November 2017 

Protein’s satirical and poignant exploration of multicultural life tours the UK following a critically-acclaimed, sell-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Conceived and Directed by Luca Silvestrini 

★★★★★   “Funny, thought-provoking and consistently entertaining” Scotsman

Awarding-winning dance company Protein peel back the stereotypes about multicultural Britain by sharing dialogue compiled from the performers’ own experiences in a show that has only become more relevant following the Brexit vote and the triggering of Article 50. 

Following a critically-acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was nominated for the Carol Tambor Award, the show now tours the UK.

With wit, movement and live music, Luca Silvestrini’s Border Tales rejects the false dichotomy of immigrant outsiders and bigoted natives, preferring to view Britain through the eyes of its international cast.

Border Tales - Photo: Jane Hobson

Border Tales was developed from research conducted with migrants and refugees across Europe, Palestine, India and the UK, including participants from Islington Refugee Centre in a project hosted at The Place where Silvestrini is a Work Place artist. The show has had a sold-out run at The Place, a UK Tour in 2014, appearances at Greenwich Dances 2015, where the company is resident, and was broadcast on BBC World Service as part of their Identity season in 2016. After a sell-out run at Summerhall for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of The Place’s dance showcase, Border Tales tours to venues across the South and Midlands of England in November, including a week at The Place, London.

Luca Silvestrini, Artistic Director of Protein says: "The desire to bring back this piece of work created in 2013 comes primarily from the moment we are living in. Back then, we were only at the start of a world crisis; four years down the line a lot has happened, resulting in a more divisive and intolerant co-existence. I feel it is important to bring back these simple yet relevant tales of migration and identity, to both remember the past and to reflect about today. This year's restaging of Border Tales is not only a desire to make sure that more people can see it, but it is primarily a necessity to provoke and increase our capacity to talk and share stories of migration."

Protein will tour an adapted version of their show May Contain Food to rural audiences next spring, following a successful tour in autumn last year. This is with the National Rural Touring Forum’s Rural Touring Dance Initiative. Alongside the return of Border Tales, they are also preparing to make a new version of their celebrated (In)visible Dancing recently seen as part of Hull 2017 UK City of Culture in June 2017.

Formed in 1997 and currently one of the most distinctive voices in British dance theatre, Protein uses a blend of original choreography, humour and music to entertain and provoke audiences. The company’s idiosyncratic dance theatre work provoked by the everyday include B for Body, a Place Prize Finalist in 2006, and the award-winning LOL (lots of love), which has toured extensively since its 2011 debut, winning acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Artistic Director Luca Silvestrini's desire to connect theatrical experience with real life stories results in witty shows, both on- and off-stage, that reflect the absurdity in everyday situations and experiences. Born in Jesi, Italy, Silvestrini trained at Bologna University and Laban, he has worked on a number of large-scale cross-generational and participatory events, including the world record-breaking Big Dance Class, East London (which won a Visit London Gold Award) and Big World Dance 2010. He has won a Jerwood Choreography Award, a Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award and The Place Prize 2006 Audience Award, and was one of the first recipients of a Rayne Fellowship for Choreographers (2006). Protein was awarded the Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Best Independent Dance Company 2011, and was nominated again in 2016. Protein is Associate Company with People Dancing, Resident Company at Greenwich Dance, Partner with Yorkshire Dance and ARC Stockton, and Luca Silvestrini is a Work Place Artist at The Place, London.

On The Web:

@proteindance

#bordertales

www.proteindance.co.uk

Running Time: 80 minutes

Suitable for ages 12+

Cast & Creatives:

Conceived and Directed by Luca Silvestrini      

Performed by:

Temitope Ajose Cutting

Salah El Brogy

Andy Gardiner

Kenny Wing Tao Ho

Stephen Moynihan

Yuyu Rau

and by musician Anthar Kharana

Devised by the original cast with Eryck Brahmania, Stuart Waters, Femi Oyewole and Jodie Honeybourne

Music composed by Andy Pink

Lighting design Jackie Shemesh

Costume Stylist Valentina Golfieri

Assistant to Director Valentina Golfieri, Kip Johnson

Tickets

Tuesday 21^st November 2017  ARC, Stockton Arts Centre Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1LL 7pm  Pay What You Decide. 

Box Office: www.arconline.co.uk | 01642 525 199 

News: Applications are open for dancers to take part in Step Up and Dance 2018.

PERFORMERS SOUGHT FOR STEP UP AND DANCE 2018

Applications are open for dancers to take part in Step Up and Dance 2018.

The 10^th annual community dance performance for groups from North and South Tyneside will be held at The Customs House on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.

Dancers from Harton Academy in South Shields
performing in Step Up and Dance 2017.

There are 10 spots available in the showcase event, which is part of the regional dance festival Pulse, managed by Dance City in Newcastle. The Customs House is a partner in Pulse, alongside Arts Centre Washington, Tin Arts in Durham, Arc Stockton and Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham.

Two groups from each venue will be selected to perform at the regional Pulse event at Dance City on March 17, 2018.

Pulse, in turn, is part of the national youth dance festival U Dance and one group will be chosen to represent the region in Suffolk in July 2018.

Inaudible performing in Step Up and Dance 2017.

Daniel Clifford, learning and participation offer at The Customs House, said: “It is a great opportunity for local people to dance on a professional stage and share their work with friends and family, other dancers and the wider community.”

Dancers of all ages and abilities in any form of dance are welcome to apply to take part in Step Up and Dance 2018.

Groups should be no bigger than 20 people and performances should be up to seven minutes long, with an emphasis on new and original choreography set to an interesting soundtrack.

Stephenson Rockettes from George Stephenson High in
North Shields performing in Step Up and Dance 2017.

Daniel added: “It doesn’t matter if it is two kids who have got together and want to do a bit of breakdance, or if it is a dance school. Step Up and Dance 2018 is about showing off what North and South Tyneside has to offer in dance.”

Groups have until Sunday, November 26 to apply. For more information, contact Daniel on (0191) 427 8193 or e-mail daniel@customshouse.co.uk.