News: Tyne Theatre & Opera House launch new website

 

Tyne Theatre & Opera House launch new website

Exciting news comes as the Tyne Theatre and Opera House launch a brand-new website making it even easier to browse their vast range of shows offering ‘something for everyone.’

The new website has been created for the Theatre by local web developers Jigsaw Digital, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. As a charity and local independent venue, the Jigsaw designers kindly offered their skills and time for free to help the Tyne Theatre and Opera House get their new site designed and launched.

Theatre Director Joanne Johnson said “We are so pleased to be launching our new website meaning that our audiences can see what’s coming soon and find out more about our venue easily. We are incredibly grateful to have been able to work with Jigsaw Digital on this project, their team are so talented, friendly, and easy to work with and have allowed us to bring our vision of a new website, that best reflects our venue, to life. We would recommend their services to anyone looking for help with improving or creating a website.”

The new website has been designed to enhance and optimise user experience, ensuring audiences’ online experience is as positive as their in-person visits. As well as browsing the Theatre’s outstanding programme of comedy, music, theatre, variety, family shows and more, visitors can now view a selection of recommended nearby spots to eat, drink, and stay– all guaranteed to add a sense of occasion to their visit.

Operating a Grade I listed venue sustainably is not without its constant and ever evolving challenges, and would not be possible without the support of its audiences. Visitors to the site will also learn more about the ways they can support the Theatre’s Preservation Trust by donating, joining their Friends’ Club, Naming a Seat, or by taking a Theatre Tour!

Ian Glasson, Director at Jigsaw Digital said “As long-time supporters of Tyne Theatre & Opera House, we had no hesitation in offering our services to the team at the Theatre in bringing a new lease of life to their existing website. It was a pleasure working on the project with a very knowledgeable and professional Theatre team and look forward to assisting again on any digital projects that may arise. We would also like to congratulate them on their recent National Lottery Heritage Fund grant ensuring an even brighter future for the historic venue.”

Recently, the Tyne Theatre and Opera House announced that they have been granted an award of £242,000 by National Lottery Heritage Fund. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the money will fund a 12-month project to help the Theatre develop a number of key elements within its proposed restoration of the Grade I listed building.

As part of the work the theatre will be engaging with the community to fully restore its Victorian stage machinery, as well as develop a performance calendar database by researching all the performances that took place between 1867-1919. The project also involves investigating the options for restoring the original “Grand Salon” which was built as an extension to the theatre in 1892.

Michael Wilmot, Chairman of the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust said, “This grant is the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey to restore the theatre back to its former glory and in doing so creating a building unlike any other the theatre in the British Isles.”

Check out the new Tyne Theatre website here: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

 

Find out more about the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant here: https://www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/tyne-theatre-opera-house-receives-national-lottery-heritage-fund-grant

Preview: Muff Said at Newcastle Live Theatre

Your Aunt Fanny’s brand new comedy sketch show, Muff Said, takes on the Fringe. 

Your Aunt Fanny Presents

Muff Said

Newcastle Live Theatre Friday 22 July 2022

Edinburgh Assembly Rooms - Front Room 4-27th August 2022

Muff Said is Your Aunt Fanny’s latest offering, a comedy sketch show that vividly captures a night out on the town with your wildest, oldest, filthiest friend.

Your Aunt Fanny is an all womxn collective made up of 7 incredibly talented artists from the North East of England; Matilda Neill, Katie Powell, Izzy Sorby, Jackie Edwards, Brogan Gilbert, Lydia Brickland and Emma Crowley-Bennett. They write, produce, direct and perform all their own shows.

Established in 2018, Your Aunt Fanny’s writing style is fresh and resilient in a way that feels authentic and empowering. Their debut show Minge Unhinged toured nationally to repeatedly sold out audiences with dates at Wandsworth Fringe, Vault Festival, The Tron, Alphabetti Theatre and the Stand Newcastle. Since then, Your Aunt Fanny have received commissions from Channel 4 to produce comedy shorts, Live Theatre to write and perform a Christmas show and created their own podcast, Match Made in 7, all of which received incredible reviews and had audiences begging for more.

Originally planned for 2020, Muff Said is their latest sketch show, finally being brought to audiences across the country, sharing with the world Your Aunt Fanny’s most up to date character work and word play that has only gotten more hilarious and fiery over the pandemic. Still driven by their desire to create scenes that people relate to (as well as retaining an iconic North East voice), Muff Said is a growth in Your Aunt Fanny’s craft, utilising audio, film and distinct design. It is an ambitious sketch show, with recurring settings, characters that develop throughout, and stand out gags that punctuate the show with force.

Tickets: 

Newcastle: https://www.live.org.uk/whats-on/edinburgh-previews-muff-said

Edinburgh: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/your-aunt-fanny-muff-said

REVIEW: A Shoddy Detective & The Art of Deception at Blyth St Cuthberts

A Shoddy Detective & The Art of Deception

Blyth St Cuthberts Church Hall

Saturday 9 July 2002

Before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe 5-13 August 2022

Update: 2025 Tour

3rd May 2025 - Blyth Phoenix Theatre

6-8 May 2025 - Billingham Forum

3-4 June 2025 - Hull Truck

★★★★

Blyth lad Mitch Donaldson wanted to bring his show to his hometown after a sell out run at Camden Fringe and, judging by the reception, I'm sure that he is glad that he did. The show is a slapstick comedy whodunnit that borrows heavily from the likes of Blackadder, Tommy Cooper and Victoria Wood. The farce had the Blyth audience laughing throughout.

Lord Raeburn (Mitch Donaldson) opens the show by welcoming everyone to his charity auction. Before the proceedings begin he wants to show off his latest art acquisition but as it is unveiled - shock and horror spreads as it has been stolen.  Fortunately bumbling detective Brian Taylor (Luke Rose) is on hand to start an investigation. He is joined by American crook Dusty WIllis (Jordan Stratton) at his bosses insistence. 

Taylor and Willis interview the various staff and guests that were present. Each one is played by Mitch Donaldson and the master of the accents Becky Bartram thanks to many quick costume changes.

This show is a physical one for the hard working cast. There are fights and tray bashing punctuating the investigation. But most of the comedy comes from the script. A lot of effort has gone into making sure that every opportunity for a pun or absurd statement has been taken. The show does stick to the narrative and the plot ends with a pleasing finish.

This cast will only get tighter as the run goes on. The show succeeded in making my family laugh and it was a good night's entertainment. It deserves to do well in Edinburgh.

Website: https://www.shoddytheatre.co.uk/ 

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Ross Day Photography

Tickets for 2025 tour: https://www.shoddytheatre.co.uk/tour-dates

REVIEW: Mamma Mia at Sunderland Empire

"We danced, we jived and we had the time of our lives!"

Mamma Mia 

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 5 - Saturday 16 July 2022

Ticket: MAMMA MIA TICKET LINK*

You’d be hard pushed to have never heard of Mamma Mia the musical. Originally a Broadway show that got the big screen treatment with huge stars taking on the roles. Both the film and stage show are loosely based on a 1968 film called Bouna Sera, Mrs Campbell. Featuring music by global hit sensations ABBA. Having played in the West End for 23 years and seen by over 65 million people in more than 450 cities, Mamma Mia truly is a global phenomenon. Having said all of that it would be easy to assume the show would be tired. That is not the case!

Featuring over 20 of ABBA’s most recognisable hits, a huge cast and ensemble this feels as fresh as a brand new show. On a tiny Greek island a wedding is about to take place! I won’t bore you with the story because you probably already know it and truth be told it doesn’t really matter. Mamma Mia is a rollercoaster of music, lights and pure joy. This is theatre that was made to be enjoyed. Sure there are touching moments but ultimately you’ll have a smile on your face for the majority of the show.

It’s hard to pick out cast members in what feels very much like an ensemble show with a cast who look as though they’re having just as much fun as the audience and that really is infectious. There is a lot of comedy which had the packed out empire audience in hysterics and then when Donna (Sara Poyzer) belted out ‘The Winner Takes it All’ you could hear a pin drop. The character of Bill Austin, one of the potential fathers, is played by Phil Corbitt and his Geordie character had the audience lapping it up, ‘Take a Chance on Me’ with Rosie (Nicky Swift) was a particular favourite for me. Much of the truly side splitting humour came from Pepper (James Willoughby Moore) who’s physicality as an actor was awe inspiring, I couldn’t take my eyes off him everytime he was on stage. His number, ‘Does Your Mother Know’ with Tanya (Helen Anker) had us laughing the entire time and the two had great chemistry throughout the show.

I must commend Mamma Mia for creating so many empowering roles for leading women which is very refreshing to see.

What appears at first as a very minimal stage set is soon used to it’s absolutely potential with brilliant lighting and giving way to huge choreographed numbers with the entire cast which were an absolute feast for the eyes.

Mamma Mia is a triumph and really is a very enjoyable night at the theatre. It’s camp, it’s loud, it’s bright and it is so unashamedly fun! The cast were shining like the sun. We were all smiling and having fun and the show really does feel like a number one!

It’s no wonder the entire audience gave the show a standing ovation and everyone carried on dancing until the very last note of the show was played.

Review: Stephen Sullivan

Photos: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Tickets:

Mamma Mia will hit Sunderland Empire’s stage from Tuesday 5 July - Sat 16 July 2022. Tickets priced from just £13* are available from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 7615* or online at MAMMA MIA TICKET LINK*

*A £3.65 transaction fee applies to telephone and online bookings. Calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your standard network charge.

Preview: ‘Craft Your Christmas with Sara Davies’ at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

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Sara Davies ‘Queen Of Crafting’ Announces Debut UK Tour

Phil McIntyre Live presents

‘Craft Your Christmas with Sara Davies’

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Friday 2 December 2022

Tickets: https://tidd.ly/3ONmtxk 

Sara Davies, Queen of Crafting, is launching her debut UK tour bringing every possible tip and solution to create the perfectly styled Christmas.

‘Craft Your Christmas with Sara Davies’ begins in Reading on 19 November and then arrives on Tyneside on the 2nd December

An estimated two in three women take part in some craft hobby, making it one of the fastest growing trends of recent times. 

From gifts to garlands, cards to crackers, wrapping paper to mantlepiece decorations, Sara will show audiences how to craft their own Christmas with a range of practical demonstrations, lots of top tips and a healthy slice of her down-to-earth know how. 

Interactive, creative, and fun this is an evening night for friends to share ideas and whether it's making your home look warm and inviting for the season, about pimping up your door, mantlepiece, tree, table, or making perfect cards and gifts or wrapping presents.

Sara Davies says: “It goes without saying how much I love crafting but crafting for Christmas is simply the best time for crafting. I’m going to share all the little hacks and shortcuts to achieve that perfect look for the perfect crafty Christmas. Sharing this with your friends, will make a great night out and hopefully you’ll leave having had a ton of fun, feeling excited about having a home-made personalised Christmas.” 

Sara Davies 

Business has always run in her blood, with Sara taking inspiration from her parents' decorating shop to build her own empire. It all started with The Enveloper - a bespoke envelope maker she designed at the age of 21 while at university, which became an instant hit with the crafting crowd. This soon evolved into Sara's current Crafting Companion business, which sells all types of creative materials and boasts an average turnover of £34million!

Sara's company has over 200 employees across UK and California-based headquarters, and even gained her an MBE for services to the economy in 2016. Her superb success story made her an obvious choice to take a coveted spot on Dragon's Den, becoming the show's youngest ever female investor in 2019. To date she's made over £1.1million of investments on the show, giving new businesses the boost they need.

Tickets:

Tickets are now available from our affiliates Eventim UK: https://tidd.ly/3ONmtxk

Preview: Priscilla Queen Of The Desert at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

 

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Astravaganza Entertainment Are Set To Bring 'Priscilla' Back To Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre

 

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert

Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House

Wednesday 27th - Sunday 30^th July 2022

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/PriscillaAtTheTyne

 

Based on the 1994 Australian movie The Adventures of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, the show is being produced by 'Astravaganza Entertainment' at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House this July.

Astravaganza’s Managing Director and the show’s Producer, Liam Glendinning said: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted that our production of Priscilla which was previously staged at the venue in February 2017 to sell out crowds is coming back to delight audiences this July.

“It will be the return of an exciting and spectacular production which will capture the imagination of our audiences, as it has done everywhere the show has played. Combined with sumptuous scenery, dazzling costumes and an array of local talent including Schooch’s David Ducasse as Mitzi/Tick, Pat Clutcher as Bernadette and Amandah Hart as Adam/Felicia.”

This feel-good show follows the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who contract to perform a drag show in a resort in Alice Springs in the Australian desert.

They hop aboard a battered old bus, which they nickname Priscilla, and cross the desert searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could ever dream of.

With a hit parade of dancefloor classics including Go West, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Hotstuff, I Will Survive and Boogie Wonderland, the show is the ultimate party night for all.

The cast will perform an excerpt from the show at the Northern Pride festival on Sunday 24^th July ahead of the show hitting the stage of the Tyne Theatre from Wednesday 27th to Sunday 30^th July, 2022 -  2.30pm and 7.30pm Wednesday & Thursday; 5.00pm and 8.30pm on Friday & Saturday.

Tickets:

Tickets can be obtained from https://tinyurl.com/PriscillaAtTheTyne

Preview: Shrek The Musical at Darlington Hippodrome

 

North East theatre company set their sights on a Swamp

Shrek The Musical

Darlington Hippodrome

Wednesday 26 October - Saturday 5 November 2022

Following the glitz and glamour of their most recent production, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, north east based theatre company DarlingtonOS has set their sights on a dark and damp swamp for their next blockbuster musical – Shrek!

Julian Cound, Chairman of DarlingtonOS told us the company is so excited to be able to present this musical having been delayed for two years due to the covid pandemic. He said:

“We were to have presented Shrek back in October 2020, but due to the extended closure of theatres worldwide from March 2020 this much anticipated production was put on the back-burner. But now we are finally in rehearsals and it’s all systems go for this family favourite blockbuster of a musical to make its way on to the stage.”

“Since theatres were able to re-open post-covid back in June 2021, DarlingtonOS has presented a socially distanced concert which involved video footage merged with live performers, a full-scale songs from the shows musical extravaganza and, most recently, Priscilla Queen of the Desert which played to over 5000 people.”

“It is clear that local audiences are aching to see live theatre and we are only too happy to offer what audiences want. Shrek The Musical is the perfect opportunity for families to experience live theatre together – kids love the show on one level and, much like pantomime, adults love the show on a completely different level.”

“Audiences will experience the DreamWorks animated movie adapted for the stage with all the main characters they love including Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and, of course, the love-struck, fire-breathing dragon as well as a host of fairytale characters including Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, Peter Pan, The Big Bad Wolf, and the Three Blind Mice who all come together to tell the story of acceptance, pointing out that everyone may be different but they all have a story to tell.” 

L to R – Katie Blythe, Ben Connor, Leighton Taylor Jones (kneeling), 

Nicholas Fletcher-Holmes, George Hurley, Rhiannon Walker

A cast of 41 local performers has been announced with Nicholas Fletcher-Holmes playing the title role of Shrek and Ben Connor as his side-kick Donkey. Claire Willmer takes on the role of Princess Fiona and Leighton Taylor-Jones has the knee-numbing task of playing Lord Farquaad. George Hurley plays Pinocchio with Katie Blythe doubling as Sugar Plum Fairy and ‘Gingy’ - The Gingerbread Man. Shrek would not be complete without a fire breathing dragon, this role is to be played by Rhiannon Walker.

Tickets:

Shrek The Musical runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 26 October to Saturday 5 November. Tickets are available now from www.darlingtonos.org.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 244659.