Preview: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: The Official Series 3 Tour

 A D V E R T I S E M E N T

 

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK:

The Official Series 3 Tour

Dates Announced For Autumn 2022 Ruturn

 

Newcastle, O2 City Hall - Wednesday 7th September 2022

Stockton Globe – Saturday Oct 15th 2022

 

Drag Royalty will sashay* across the UK next autumn for The Series Three Tour of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

Visiting theatres and arenas across England, Scotland and Wales, expect a night of endless extravaganza as ALL 12 queens from Series Three of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK werk their way across the country.

And audiences in Stockton can witness the Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent of their favourite queens LIVE on stage as the tour includes a date in Newcastle in September and at the Globe on October 15.

Tickets go on general sale at 10am Friday November 26.

Acclaimed for their amazing production values, expect the unexpected in this glittering tour which will include Series Three finalists Kitty Scott-Claus, Krystal Versace, Vanity Milan and Ella Vaday.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: The Series 3 Tour is presented by Werq The World producers Voss Events and the media company behind Drag Race, World of Wonder, in cooperation with Live Nation and Cuffe and Taylor, and follows the sold out The Official Series 2 Tour which is taking place throughout February next year.

Ben Hatton, Director of Theatre Touring for Cuffe and Taylor, said: “We are delighted to already be announcing RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: The Series 3 Tour before we have even taken Series 2 on the road.

“Such was the demand for sales for the first tour when we announced it earlier this year that we have decided to get everything in place for the Series 3 tour now.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is an exciting show and we can’t wait to witness what will undoubtedly be many incredible and outrageous nights of live entertainment in venues across the UK.”

*See the dictionary according to RuPaul, in Notes to Editors under Dragtionary

 

Tickets (on sale from Friday 26th November at 10am): 

Newcastle, O2 City Hall - Wednesday 7th September 2022 - ONLINE TICKET LINK: https://ticketmaster-uk.tm7559.net/ZdLn4g 

 

Stockton Globe – Saturday Oct 15th 2022 - ONLINE TICKET LINK https://prf.hn/l/7aNakqg

Preview: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 Mirror, Mirror On The Wall – Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Panto Is The Fairest Of Them All!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 23 November 2021 – Sunday 9 January 2022

The count-down has begun! There’s less than a week to go until Newcastle Theatre Royal opens its magical panto – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - which will run for seven weeks from Tuesday 23 November 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022.

After a year away panto, legends Danny Adams and Clive Webb return this year to play Danny, The Court Jester and Oddjob along with Chris Hayward as the Queen Dragonella.

The long-time favourites will be joined by X Factor star Joe McElderry as The Man in Mirror and this year’s cast also sees the return of Danny & Mick’s Mick Potts with musical theatre star Carole Stennett making her Newcastle Theatre Royal panto debut as the Spirit of Pantomime

They are joined by Steve Arnott as Mrs Nelly Nightnurse, Wayne Smith as the Prince and Kirsty Ingram as Snow White. The seven dwarfs will be played by Jamie John, Scott English, Fergus Rattigan, Simeon Dyer, Andrew Martin, Josh Bennett and Blake Lisle.

Featuring a brand-new script and epic sets, the panto will be full of fun, laughter and surprises that audiences have come to love and expect from a Newcastle Theatre Royal pantomime and more.  Spectacular choreography, glittering sets, breath-taking special effects and a wonderful musical score form the backdrop to a tale full of adventure and hilarious slap-stick.

Newcastle Theatre Royal pantomimes are widely thought to be among the best in the UK due to the exceptional combination of father and son team Clive and Danny - for whom Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will mark their sixteenth Theatre Royal panto appearance with West End producer and Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes (and Newcastle’s own) Michael Harrison, who produces and directs the show.

Tickets:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will play Tuesday 23 November 2021 – Sunday 9 January 2022. Tickets are on sale now with prices starting from £14.50 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or by calling 0191 232 7010.

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Preview: Waitress at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 

Chelsea Halfpenny to star in smash-hit musical Waitress at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 

Waitress 

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 March 2022

Local TV favourite Chelsea Halfpenny will play the role of Jenna in the smash hit romantic musical comedy Waitress when the diner opens its doors at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Chelsea Halfpenny began her career in the popular children’s television series Byker Grove. She appeared as ‘Amy Wyatt’ in Emmerdale for three years and ‘Alice Munroe’ in Casualty, a part she played for four years. Chelsea recently made her West End debut as ‘Judy Bernly’ in 9 to 5 The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This beautiful musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Tickets:

Waitress plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 8 – Sat 12 Mar 2022. Tickets are priced from £15.00 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Preview: GAZE at Newcastle Northern Stage

S L Page presents:

GAZE

Newcastle Northern Stage

Thursday 25th November 2021

 

Written by S L Page

Directed by Tilly Branson

Performed by Kitty Randle, Esme Sears, Christina Berriman Dawson & Alex Tahnée

From disabled writer S.L.Page, GAZE is a new play about women’s voices, and the stories that we inherit and carry with us.

Brought to you by an all-women team, GAZE spans time periods from the 1890’s until now, where we follow two women on their journeys to discovering their identities. Alice Guy Blaché, the first real-life female filmmaker, is desperate for artistic freedom as her film career is burgeoning in the late 19th century, but faces countless barriers and betrayal. Rose, a modern-day film student, is grappling with her mental health in her battle to find a sense of purpose in her life.

Although worlds and centuries apart, together these women rebel against the difficulties that women have always come up against; through their love of film they fight to access the power, the autonomy and the creative freedom that we all deserve.

One of S.L.Page’s passions is film and film history, and whilst embarking on research in 2017 she came across Alice Guy Blaché. To her surprise, she had never heard of Alice, despite the fact that Alice was the first woman to direct a film, and the first person to direct a film with a narrative (The Fairy of the Cabbages, 1896). GAZE is a response to the fact that most people have never heard of this remarkable woman; it exists to spread the word of Alice’s untold story. Steeped in film history, feminism and addressing mental health, the play is inspired by an ambition to write about women that might otherwise be left out of the traditional history books.

GAZE has been supported through three periods of research and development by Arts Council England and S.L.Page is currently being supported by Northern Stage’s Beyond Programme. This time has been spent working with Director of Development Karen Traynor to develop the script, engaging with a dramaturg, sound designer, and testing out ideas to live and digital audiences.

GAZE is a funny, poignant and timely comment on what has changed for women across time, but - more importantly – what hasn’t.

Cast & Creatives:

Writer          S.L.Page

Director      Tilly Branson

Assistant Director          Hope Thain

Producer    Chloe Stott

Cast  Kitty Randle

          Esme Sears

          Christina Berriman Dawson

          Alex Tahnée

Set & Costume Designer       Eleanor Field

Production Manager & Sound/Lighting Designer        Louise Gregory

Filmmaker  Rachel Bunce

Director of Development        Karen Traynor

 

Tickets:

Date: Thursday 25^th November 2021

Times: 2.00pm & 7.00pm

Running time: approximately 70 mins, no interval

Ticket Prices: £10

Venue: Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 7RH

Tickets available online from https://www.northernstage.co.uk/event/gaze or from the box office: 0191 230 5151.

Both performances will be relaxed and BSL interpreted.

There will be a talk about unknown women from film history at 4.00pm which is free for ticket holders.

Preview: The Offing at Newcastle’s Live Theatre

The Offing – From page to the Live Theatre stage with a hauntingly beautiful score.

The Offing

Newcastle’s Live Theatre

Wednesday 3 to Saturday 27 November 2021

The sensitive new adaptation of Durham writer Benjamin Myers’ best-selling novel The Offing travels from Scarborough to Newcastle’s Live Theatre on 3 November, following a superb sell-out opening at Stephen Joseph Theatre. The show runs from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 27 November and music lovers are in for a real treat thanks to the ethereal, seaside and folk music vibe of the soundtrack created by sound designer and composer Ana Silvera and a trio of talented folk and jazz musicians, Rob Harbron, Aidan O’Rourke and Jasper Hoiby.

This unforgettable story captured the hearts and minds of readers on its publication in 2019 when it was featured on the BBC Radio 2 Book Club . Adapted by playwright Janice Okoh with additional material and direction from Paul Robinson the stage show brings all the vibrant colour and life of this loved novel to life.

Set in a Britain reeling from the Second World War the play stars North East actor James Gladdon as 16 year old Robert Appleyard who sets off on an adventure from his Durham home to head South where he hopes to find work. His travels however come to a stop on the clifftops at Robin Hood’s Bay where a chance encounter with the bohemian and eccentric Dulcie Piper, played by Cate Hamer, changes his path forever. Dulcie awakens Robert, culturally, sensually and intellectually, introducing him to the joys of art and literature, of good food and wine. But is this coastal escape as idyllic as it seems? Ingvild Lakou portrays the mysterious but troubled Romy, a presence who floats in and out of the action.

London-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ana Silvera is the composer and sound designer for The Offing. Ana’s original score features songs drawing on folk music from the North East and the soundtrack is also inspired by the landscape and sea. Rob Harbron (Leveret) on concertina, Aidan O’Rourke (Lau) on fiddle and Danish jazz musician Jasper Hoiby on double bass, perform alongside Ana on the recorded music for the show. Folky vocals and instrumentals work in harmony with the sound of seagulls and waves lapping.

Paul Robinson, director of The Offing said: “I first came across The Offing when I heard Benjamin Myers talking to Jo Whiley on the BBC Radio 2 Book Club. I knew it would be perfect for the stage – wise and lyrically beautiful. Ana Silvera our composer and sound designer is a brilliant recording artist in her own right, and has introduced us to three wonderful musicians.”

Tickets:

Tickets for this mesmerising coming-of-age stage play are on sale now at www.live.org.uk. Live Theatre is committed to keeping audiences safe with measures in place to minimise the risk of Covid-19 including a number of socially distanced performances of The Offing on Wednesday 10 November at 7.30pm and Thursday 11 November at 2pm.

Preview: Festive season begins at Bishop Auckland Town Hall

Festive season begins at Bishop Auckland Town Hall

Dazzling divas, a Christmas adventure and a tale involving some magic beans will entertain audiences from this month, as a town hall announces its line-up of festive shows.

For the first time since before the coronavirus pandemic and its refurbishment, Bishop Auckland Town Hall will be showing four exciting festive performances in the run up to Christmas.

To kick off the festive season, the town hall will give the stage over to a troupe of dynamic drag queens in Queenz, for one night only on Saturday 27 November. Featuring five vocal powerhouses armed with killer choreography and iconic pop anthems from the likes of The Spice Girls, Lady GaGa, Shakira and Britney Spears, people can dance the night away while celebrating everything divas, drag queens and death drops. Whether booking as a Christmas party or a night out with friends, audiences can make a full night of it with pre-show food and a post-show DJ set included in the ticket price of £20.

For younger audiences and their grown-ups, from Tuesday 30 November the town hall will be showing a brand-new production, The Nutcracker Re-Miced. Set in the clock tower of Durham Castle, three mice Spike, Cookie and Molly are preparing for Christmas when they become involved in a mysterious quest. With the help of an intriguing toy which has been left behind at Durham Station, the mice become entwined in a festive adventure to save Christmas for a young girl. In a twist on the classic Nutcracker story and the Hickory Dickory Dock nursery rhyme, young audiences aged three and over can enjoy this sparkling new, music-filled production full of adventure and excitement.

The Nutcracker Re-Miced will be shown at Bishop Auckland Town Hall at various times from 30 November to 5 December, with a British Sign Language performance on 1 December at 1.30pm and a relaxed performance on 4 December at 10.30am.

On Monday 13 December, audiences can enjoy an evening of comedy as Hillary Bites Club presents Aidan Goatley’s 12 Nights of Christmas. Laugh along with Aidan as he shares what has shaped his love of the festive season, with anecdotes such as the tale of his Gran and a 32lb Turkey. Tickets for the Christmassy comedy evening are £8 advance, or £10 on the door.

And, to finish off the Christmas festivities, Bishop Auckland Town Hall will present three days of pantomime fun with their production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Produced by TaleGate Theatre Productions, join hero Jack and his mother, Dame Trott, as they climb a beanstalk and defeat a terrible giant to save their best friend, Daisy the Cow. Packed with songs, slapstick, silliness, and all the fairy tale magic of traditional pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk is set to be the town hall’s funniest and most spectacular pantomime ever.

The panto will be shown for three days on Friday 17 December, Saturday 18 December and Sunday 19 December.  Tickets are £10 or £8 concession, and family tickets are priced at £32 for two adults and two children.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are really excited to be able to offer such variety of Christmas shows for all ages at Bishop Auckland Town Hall. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and refurbishment works, two of our festive seasons have been very much missed and we are so looking forward to their return. Our Christmas programme is just one of many events that take place at Bishop Auckland Town Hall throughout the year, from art exhibitions and galleries to music and performances. We have a large and varied cultural offer right across all of our venues in County Durham, supporting our county in its bid for UK City of Culture 2025.”

 

Tickets:

For more information about Bishop Auckland Town Hall’s Christmas programme, or to book tickets online, visit www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk  

To book tickets over the phone, visitors can call the Gala Theatre’s box office on 03000 266600

Customers should also contact Gala Theatre or Empire Consett directly by phone if they have any special access requirements or require a personal assistant place.

 

Preview: Fatal Attraction at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 

Trio Of Coronation Street Favourites Headline Fatal Attraction Cast

Fatal Attraction

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 January 2022.

Three of TV’s most popular faces are set to star in a new production of Fatal Attraction, based on the classic Paramount Pictures Corporation film and playing Newcastle Theatre Royal Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 January 2022.

Kym Marsh will perform the iconic role of Alex Forrest, Oliver Farnworth her lover, Dan Gallagher and Susie Amy his wife, Beth.

Kym Marsh is an actress and well-loved star of the British music and television scene. The former singer was part of the hugely successful noughties pop band Hear'Say, who had two UK number one singles and a UK number one album. A treasured star of UK television also, Marsh played the role of Michelle Connor in ITV's Coronation Street for 13 years, winning many awards including the coveted Best Female Dramatic Performance in 2017.

Earlier this year she appeared in Kay Mellor's long running BBC comedy-drama The Syndicate and has been presenting BBC One's hit day-time show Morning Live. The award-winning actress now returns to the stage as the Alex Forrest in the UK tour of Fatal Attraction.

Oliver Farnworth was last seen by Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences in the gripping thriller The Girl On The Train alongside Samantha Womack and he is widely recognised for his TV roles in Endeavour Vi, Coronation Street, Mr. Selfridge, Doctors Xiv, The Royal and Hollyoaks.

Since becoming a household name in Footballer's Wives, Susie Amy taken on various parts including the lead role in the American miniseries La Femme Musketeer, which also starred Gerard Depardieu and Nastassja Kinski, and a lead role in ITV's Echo Beach and Moving Wallpaper with Ben Miller. Other Television includes: Hollyoaks, Plus One, My Family, Coronation Street, New Street Law, Hotel Babylon, Death In Paradise, The Royal, Sam's Game, Holby City, Casualty, Dark Realm and Sirens.

The cast will also include John Macaulay as Jimmy, Troy Glasgow as O’Rourke and Emma Laird Craig as understudy Beth / Alex.

Fatal Attraction is the latest grip-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller from the producers of the celebrated tours of Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight and Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train. Fatal Attraction is written by James Dearden, who based the stage play on his Oscar-nominated screenplay, which in turn was adapted from his 1980 short film, Diversion. This brand-new production is directed by Loveday Ingram and features set and costume design by Morgan Large, lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Carolyn Downing. Paul Englishby is the show’s composer and Fatal Attraction has been cast by Anne Vosser.

One of the most iconic films of the era, Fatal Attraction was one of 1987’s highest grossing US Box Office release, securing six major Oscar nominations at the following year’s Academy Awards, including: Best Actress for Glenn Close’s mesmerising depiction of urbane sophisticate Alex Forrest, Best Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Best Writing Adapted Screenplay (James Dearden), Best Director (Adrian Lyne), Best Editing, and Best Picture. Michael Douglas - at the peak of his Hollywood powers - was omitted from the list only as he was nominated elsewhere in the Best Actor category for his role as Gordon ‘greed is good’ Gecko in Wall Street, which he went on to win. Fatal Attraction’s success was such that the film inspired a generation of psychosexual thrillers in the years that followed.

Tipped to be provocative and gripping in equal measures, Fatal Attraction is a tale of seduction and suspense that asks the question; what happens when desire becomes deadly?

Fatal Attraction is co-produced with Gavin Kalin Productions.

Photos: Matthew Power

Tickets:

Fatal Attraction plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 Janu 2022. Tickets are priced from £15.00 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.