Preview: Kin at Newcastle Northern Stage

Gecko’s new production Kin is coming to Newcastle

Kin

Newcastle Northern Stage

Wednesday 1 - Saturday 4 March 2023

Photo: Richard Haughton

Award-winning internationally acclaimed physical theatre company Gecko goes live with their new touring production Kin, including four performances at Northern Stage in Newcastle from 1-4 March 2023.

Photo: Mark Sepple

Gecko’s new show presents a provocative story of desperation and compassion, inspired by the epic journey from Yemen to Palestine that Artistic Director Amit Lahav’s grandmother Leah made with her family in 1932 to escape persecution. At a time when the re-birth of community and acceptance seem vital to our survival, our international devising performers bring their own experiences of migration, racism, empathy, and home to this poetically intoxicating performance.

Photo: Mark Sepple

Gecko’s Artistic Director Amit Lahav said: “Every production that I create starts with a personal reflection combined with a current wider societal issue. In 2017, I visited my grandmother in Israel where we talked about her journey from Yemen to Palestine to escape persecution, as well as my family’s history more broadly. Kin was ultimately inspired by the desire to delve deeper into the complex mix of migration stories that make up who I am. Migration is a facet of human existence – we all have migration stories whether we’re aware of them or whether they’re more distant, and that excites me because we have the potential to encourage a profoundly positive, celebratory voyage towards empathy. We exist both where we’ve come from and where we’re going; this is what I wanted to explore through the creation of Kin.”

Photo: Mark Sepple

Commissioned by the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre said: “I’ve been following Gecko’s work for a number of years and have a growing admiration for their dynamic and fearless approach to story in motion. Allied to this their commitment to internationalism, with completely integrated educational work, as well as their deeply embedded UK wide touring ethos, is hugely impressive. Their presence at the National Theatre is overdue, and we look forward very much to them being with us.”

Photo: John Ferguson

Gecko will be touring including Northern Stage in Newcastle from 1-4 March and the debut at the National Theatre in autumn 2023.

Show running time 90 minutes

Age guidance 14+

Creatives

Created by: Amit Lahav

Collaborating with:

Designer: Rhys Jarman

Lighting: Chris Swain

Sound: Mark Melville

With original music by Dave Price

Devising Performers:  Madeleine Fairminer, Vanessa Guevara Flores, Saju Hari, Wai Shan Vivian Luk, Miguel Hernando Torres Umba, Mario Patrón, Ryen Perkins-Gangnes, Kenny Wing Tao Ho.

Producer: Rosalind Wynn

Assistant Director: Andres Velasquez

Company Stage Manager: Alyssa Watts

Technical Stage Manager: Jake Channon

Design Associate: Blythe Brett

Costume Supervisors: Gayle Playford, Becky-Dee Trevenen

Lighting Associate: Lucy Adams

Sound Engineer: Sharon Tsang

Photo: Mark Sepple

For Gecko:

Artistic Director: Amit Lahav

Executive Producer: Rosalind Wynn

Associate Director: Helen Baggett

Creative Engagement Producer: Paul Smethurst

Finance Manager: Andy Brumwell

Head of Operations & Development: Steve Allman

Producing Assistant: Malachy Luckie

Tickets: https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/kin/ 

Box Office: 0191 230 5151

Preview: Person Spec at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Offering audiences full corporate control, Person Spec comes to Alphabetti Theatre

Person Spec 

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Tuesday 28 February– Saturday 18 March 2023

This is not a normal theatre show. It is a job interview. And you are the panel.

Disguised as a corporate recruitment event, Person Spec is a participatory performance piece that invites audience members to be an active and essential part of a looming first job interview. Person Spec is created by Forest Sounds Theatre, a company that strives to push the boundaries between audience and actor, exploring how we treat others, and how we treat ourselves. Fostering the feeling of the unknown, this bold and experimental company will be returning to Alphabetti Theatre as part of the Newcastle venue’s Spring Season.

Our interviewee is Marion, an unemployed woman in her twenties whose second language is English. She is on the precipice of a whole new life and this interview is a huge opportunity for her. 

Structured around a series of interview tasks, Person Spec will enable the audience to facilitate and rate her performance. However, as the interview progresses it becomes apparent that these tasks aren’t intended merely for Marion, but are a part of something a lot more sinister. Whether the candidate succeeds or not is down to the audience and Zantion Recruitment has every faith in them.

After writer and founder of Forest Sounds Andy Owen Cook was made redundant twice in one year and graduated into a global recession, the idea of Person Spec was born. Forest Sounds Theatre was established in 2015 as a Resident Company at Theatre Deli in Sheffield and has since performed at places such as Wardrobe Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The production was curated by an interdisciplinary team of creatives from the UK, Spain, Portugal and China, with essential input from non-professional participants with experience of precarious labour. The structure and setup of the show reverse the traditional role of the audience, positioning them as the experts and authorities in the room. Person Spec reveals the troubling implications when audience participation is laid bare.

Writer Andy Owen Cook comments, I started writing this show in-between job applications after I was made redundant twice in one year. It’s about feeling redundant, and fighting against that. You have to. I come from Sheffield, which has suffered under the effects of austerity for the whole of my adult life, on top of multi-generational unemployment. You see the effects everywhere. Person Spec is about finding a way through all this. There has to be more to us than our LinkedIn profiles would have us believe. I hope so because my LinkedIn profile sucks.

Person Spec was curated with support from Alphabetti Theatre, New Diorama Theatre and Camden People’s Theatre, The Writing Squad, and Arts Council England.

Tickets: 

Pay What You Feel (28th February – 4 th March)

£3-£15 (7th March – 18th March)

https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/person-spec

Running Time 75 mins

Age Restrictions 16+

Content Warnings This performance may contain themes and language that some audiences may find upsetting and distressing for more information please contact the theatre.

Access Captioned performance (Wednesday, 8th of March)

Audio Described performance (Wednesday, 15th of March)

Relaxed performances each Saturday matinee.

Cast& Creatives:

Writer Andy Owen Cook (he/him)

Director Alfie Heffer (he/him)

Producer Belisa Branças (she/her)

Performer Inés Collado (she/her)

Dramaturg Olga Hernandez (she/her)

Graphic Designer Jingyi Yu (she/her)

Sound Designer/ Composer Cameron Naylor (they/them)

Stage/Technical Manager Frances Allison (she/her)

Video Artist Peter Martin (he/him)

Video Editor Aaron Mears (they/them)

Digital Developer Michael Cook (they/them)

Preview: Demon Dentist at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 

Book Your Half Term Appointment With Fun!

Demon Dentist 

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 February 2023.

David Walliam’s best-selling children’s book – Demon Dentist – will be brought to life at Newcastle Theatre Royal bringing half term fun to younger audiences.

Young fans will be very familiar with the popular story. Join Alfie and Gabz on this fabulous adventure, as they investigate the strange events happening in their home town! Children are leaving their teeth for the tooth fairy and waking up to find odd things under their pillows! 

Alfie and Gabz are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery - but no-one could have dreamt what they’ll discover, when they come face to face with the demon dentist herself in this hilarious and thrilling story!

Demon Dentist is from the West End producers of David Walliams' Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, which were both nominated for an Olivier Award.

Photos: Mark Douet

Tickets:

Demon Dentist plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal Wednesday 22 - Saturday 25 February 2023 playing evenings at 6.30pm (Wed, Fri & Sat) and matinees 11am (Thu) and 2.30pm (Wed, Fri & Sat).Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or by calling 0191 232 7010.

REVIEW: The Bodyguard a Sunderland Empire

   A d v e r t i s e m e n t

The Bodyguard 

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 18 February 2023

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/SundBODYGUARD *

A musical based upon the 1992 hit movie, packed full of classic Whitney Houston hits and starring former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton, The Bodyguard rolled into the iconic Wearside venue this week.

Ayden Callaghan 'Frank Farmer' and Melody Thornton 'Rachel Marron'.
Photo Paul Coltas and Matt Crockett

The story used in the musical follows that of the film - and compared to some recent adaptations, it fits the stage setting well. The book by Alexander Dinelaris has enough action to keeps ones attention, add in the regular slices of classic music and it is easy to see why the show is so popular and has already nearly sold out it's one week run in Sunderland. 

Melody Thornton appears as Rachel Marron - a pop superstar that has sold over 25 million records as well as winning numerous Grammy Awards and having two Oscar nominations. The show starts with her in full show mode. The ensemble of dancers don't put a foot wrong as they support her, sometimes literally, around the stage. The lighting and pyro effects helping turn this corner of Sunderland into an arena style occasion. 

Photo: Matt Crockett

Unfortunately someone has got in to her dressing room, stolen a dress and left a worrying note. Rachel's manager decides to hire a bodyguard to supplement their existing security Tony (Graham Elwell). The jobs also involves keeping her 10 year old son Fletcher safe - a role performed wonderfully by the very confident Iesa Miller on this evening's show.

Ayden Callaghan, who lists Emmerdale and Hollyoaks amongst his television credits, has the role of bodyguard Frank Farmer, who  accepts the challenge after walking into the Marron's house without any proper challenge. 

The story then follows the pop star as they prepare to make an appearance in the Oscars despite the fact that their stalker (Marios Nicolaides) is becoming increasing confident and calculated in his interactions.

The audience is also introduced to Rachel's sister Nicki (Emily-Mae) who also sings, but does so in small clubs. There is clearly some siblings friction as success was only bestowed upon one of them.

For this production to work, in addition to tight direction from Thea Sharrock and great choreography from Karen Bruce, there needs to be great singing performances. I may be controversial in this - but I always feel that a singer is better off owning a cover rather than trying to replicate a popular version. In other words Melody Thornton has a great night by singing the songs as she finds them rather than replicating the singles we grow up with. Thus some songs are performed with more soul and a different quality to the Houston originals.  This level of agency makes her performance more authentic. Of course when she gets the finale hit, Thornton lets rip with I Will Always Love You and this does not disappoint.

Mention should also be given to Emily-Mae's contribution to the singing too as she is a fine singer. Likewise the live band under musical director  Sam Hall backed the live singing really well.

Now, sometimes when you get big names from the worlds of television and pop to stick on the poster you end up with a show that is less than satisfying as a stage show. Fortunately, in this case Ayden Callaghan and Melody Thornton had sufficient chemistry on stage together. The rest of the ensemble cast and dancers were important in bringing the film to life.

I have not mentioned any spoilers here - needless to say that the lighting and sound were utilised to good effect to get a reaction from the audience.

The Bodyguard did not disappoint. As a musical adaptation it works and I enjoyed it.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Tickets:

The Bodyguard will hit Sunderland Empire’s stage from Monday 13 February – Saturday 18 February 2023. Tickets are available from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 7615* or online at https://tinyurl.com/SundBODYGUARD *

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

Preview: Love It If We Beat Them at Newcastle Live Theatre

KNOCKOUT CAST ANNOUNCED FOR LOVE IT IF WE BEAT THEM, A WINNING NEW PLAY ABOUT FOOTBALL, POLITICS AND THE LABOUR OF LOVE. 

Love It If We Beat Them

Newcastle Live Theatre

Thursday 2 - Saturday 25 March 2023

Newcastle's Live Theatre have announce the cast of Love It If We Beat Them, a new play by Rob Ward (Gypsy Queen) about Labour, Love and the Beautiful Game which runs at the Quayside venue from Thursday 2 to Saturday 25 March 2023. Directed by Bex Bowsher, Rob Ward’s play is brought to life by David Nellist, Jessica Johnson, Dean Bone and Eve Tucker. 

David Nellist plays Len, an ex-miner and local Labour activist whose political rise could only be outshone by his beloved NUFC winning the league. Dave’s theatre credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time (NT/West End), War Horse (NT), Billy Elliott (West End), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare Globe), Nicholas Nickelby (West End) and Pitman Painters (New Vic Theatre). TV credits include Sherlock (BBC), A Confession (BBC) and Archie(BBC). 

Jessica Johnson takes on the role of Jean, the passionate charity worker and wife of Len, who has turned her pain into action. Jessica’s theatre credits include Educating Rita (Number 1 UK tour), Goth Weekend (Stephen Joseph Theatre/Live Theatre), The Sorcerers Apprentice (Northern Stage). Television credits include Danny and Mick (CBBC), Coronation Street (ITV), Hospital People (BBC), Wire In The Blood (ITV) and The Hunt for Raol Moat. 

Dean Bone joins the cast as Michael, a down on his luck miner struggling to find work or hope in the rapidly changing world around him. A former member of Live Youth Theatre his Live Theatre credits include The Savage, The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes and The Red Lion for which he won a Journal best newcomer award. Film and TV credits include Dead Canny (BBC), The Dumping Ground (BBC) and Vera (ITV).

Eve Tucker plays Victoria, the Labour party’s newest star and contender for the newly available North East seat. Eve is an exciting talent working in both stage and TV. A UCLAN graduate, Eve has recently worked with Theatre Company ‘Wrongsemble’ on A Town Called Christmas and has just finished filming with Coronation Street (ITV). 

The opening production of Live Theatre’s milestone 50th birthday year, Love It If We Beat Them is a political drama that explores a time of significant change in the identity of the North East and perfectly captures a moment in recent history that defines who we are today. Set against the backdrop of the infamous Premier League season when Newcastle United almost won under the management of Kevin Keegan and Tony Blair’s New Labour were gathering pace. 

Hope is in the air but loyalties are tested and tensions reach fever pitch as the winning team will be decided in an explosive head-to-head challenge.

Writer Rob Ward said: “This play is a celebration of Newcastle; the people, the history and, of course, the football team. It’s about passion, hope and desire. This play is for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned theatre goer or have never set foot in an auditorium before. I’m hugely honoured that Love It If We Beat Them is launching Live’s 50th anniversary season.” 

Bex Bowsher, Director and RTYDS Assistant Director (Live Theatre and Northern Stage) added: “I am excited to be bringing this play to Live Theatre's stage. It's a privilege to be asked to direct the opening play for Live's fiftieth birthday. Love it If We Beat them perfectly combines the truthful telling of North East stories, that Live is renowned for, with ambitious visions for the region’s future. It is not often that a play can perfectly capture a moment in history that holds significance in today’s world whilst also giving hope for a warmer future.”

Tickets

A must see for fans of Newcastle United and those who remember the politically exciting days of 1996, tickets for Love It If We Beat Them are on sale now from www.live.org.uk and Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.

REVIEW: My Fair Lady at The Sunderland Empire Theatre

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My Fair Lady

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 11 February 2023

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/MYfairLADYtickets* 

 

Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion has been a perennial favourite since its debut on Broadway stage in 1956. The tale of the cockney flower girl taught to speak properly by the boisterous and bullying phonetics professor in a will they-won’t they semi-romance has captivated audiences all over the world. However, people might be forgiven for wondering if its elements of misogyny and social stereotyping might render it unwatchable by a modern audience, or to be viewed only as a period piece.  Bartlett Sher’s spectacular 2018 production for The Lincoln Center Theater in New York, currently touring the UK, takes account of society’s changing attitudes and adds a cinematic flow that brings the piece up fresh for a new generation of theatregoers.

My Fair Lady sits high in the pantheon of musicals, considered by many to be one of the finest shows ever written. Alan Jay Lerner’s book and lyrics took the best of Shaw’s writing and, with Loewe’s timeless melodies introduced a sparkling score, full of eternally popular songs like I could have danced all night, On the Street where you live, I’m getting married in the morning, etc.

In reimagining the show, Sher has taken a scalpel to the script, rather than a sledge hammer, excising short lines here and there and inserting small sections from Pygmalion where they help to illuminate the characters. Other changes are in the playing, serving to redress the balance somewhat between Eliza and Higgins. The ending is also not the same but I will not spoil it here.

The magnificent sets by Michael Yeargan deserve special mention. Covent Garden is imposingly conjured. Higgins’ house is a huge revolving construction that allows characters to move from one room to another, delivering an exceptional flow and making light of preconceived ideas of the inflexibility of stage sets. For a touring production it is a spectacular achievement.

 

The large musical numbers are exuberantly choreographed by Christopher Gattelli and delivered with great attack and skill by a terrific ensemble.

More than most shows, My Fair Lady’s original performances are iconic. Rex Harrison’s brusque Higgins was immortalised in the film version alongside the waifish, captivating Audrey Hepburn, though her singing was dubbed by the ubiquitous and versatile Marni Nixon, also responsible for Natalie Wood’s vocals in West Side Story and Deborah Kerr’s in The King And I. Devotees of the cast albums know that Julie Andrews created the role and it is her voice most people hear when they imagine the songs. Stanley Holloway also recreated his imposing stage performance as Eliza’s father, the eloquent reprobate, Alfred P Doolittle.

From this, it’s clear that any new cast has big shoes to fill. In the main, people should rest assured that this cast are up to the task. Charlotte Kennedy as Eliza, gives an assured performance, delivering the right mix of feistiness and vulnerability. Her Eliza is not as overawed by Higgins as in some previous productions and she is delightfully raucous in her early scenes at Higgins’ house. She has good comic delivery and her gaffes in the Ascot scene are very funny indeed. She also shows the ability to mimic which Higgins mentions in the script more than I have seen previously. Vocally, she has no difficulty with the range of the part and, if she lacks the mellifluous tones of a Julie Andrews, she nonetheless gives the songs full value, to the delight of the press night audience.

Emmerdale’s John Middleton is likeable and amusing as Colonel Pickering, Higgins’ friend and colleague. The estimable Lesley Garrett has very little to do as Mrs. Pearce, Higgins’ housekeeper, but she brings authority to the part.

Heather Jackson is a soigneé and authoritative Mrs Higgins, wearing Catherine Zuber’s beautiful costumes with great aplomb.

Eastenders’ Adam Woodyatt is a likeable Doolittle but his light voice and his understated performance seem somewhat slight for this larger than life character, who is relied upon to bring the down-to-earth fun to this otherwise rather cerebral and wordy show.

Tom Liggins is refreshingly energetic as Freddy, Eliza’s would-be beau. The role is underwritten and the actor needs to bring a lot to it themselves. His rendition of the signature ballad, On the Street Where You live is engagingly acted and beautifully sung.

The highlight of this production, however, is Michael D Xavier’s extraordinary performance as Henry Higgins. Eschewing Shaw’s and Harrison’s insistence that Higgins was not really changed by Eliza, this production clearly shows that he is shaken to his roots by his inability to process his feelings for her.

Xavier meets Shaw’s description of an appetising bachelor of about 40. Tall, handsome and imposing, he is confident, bordering on arrogance, in his teaching and his views on society. Nonetheless, he is seen as a misogynistic mother’s boy, petulant and irascible. Xavier gives rein to his considerable comic talents without ever undermining the stature of the role. There are hints of Hugh Grant and even John Cleese but these are subtle and nuanced. His rich baritone voice adds to the musical numbers without ever overpowering them and his rendition of the climactic I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face is as accomplished a portrayal of someone falling apart before your eyes as you are likely to see. One hesitates to describe a performance as definitive but, for me, he sets a new standard for the role.

(If you will forgive me a personal note, at this point I should probably declare an interest. I’ve appeared in 6 productions of this show over the years and played Higgins 3 times so I count myself as rather difficult to please.)

To sum up, this is a terrific production that will stay long in the memory, and one against which all future productions will be measured. I urge you to go and see it. Magnificently staged, persuasively performed and exceptionally entertaining, it brought this hardened theatregoer joyously to his feet.

Review: Jonathan Cash

Photos: Marc Bremner

 

Tickets:

My Fair Lady will grace Sunderland Empire’s stage from 1 – 11 February 2023. Tickets are available from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 7615* or online at https://tinyurl.com/MYfairLADYtickets* 

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

 

Preview: Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 

Mischief Return To Cause More Mayhem At Newcastle Theatre Royal

 

Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 February 2023

 

Following a ‘disastrous’ sold out run at Edinburgh Fringe, Mischief will be making a popular – and most likely calamitous - return to Newcastle Theatre Royal.

The Olivier award-winning comedy favourites will bring Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle to the North East on Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 February 2023 as part of the hilarious production’s first ever UK tour.

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the writing (and performing) trio best known for The Play That Goes Wrong and BBC TV’s The Goes Wrong Show, Mind Mangler has been developed into a two-act touring show as a result of a phenomenal audience response at the world’s largest arts and media festival in 2022.

Starring Henry Lewis as the ‘Mind Mangler’ and Jonathan Sayer as his ‘Stooge’, Mind Mangler is based on a character originally created in Magic Goes Wrong by Penn Jillette, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields & Teller.

Join the ‘Mind Mangler’ as he returns to the stage following a disappointing two-night run at the Luton Holiday Inn conference centre, suite 2b. His new solo spectacular is predicted to spiral into chaos as he attempts to read your mind...

Mischief comedies have proven to be firm Newcastle Theatre Royal audience favourites with The Play That Goes Wrong, Magic Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Comedy About A Bank Robbery all playing to packed out houses in recent years.

 

Photos: Pamela Raith Photography

Tickets

Mind Mangler plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Thu 16 – Sat 18 Feb 2023. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or by calling 0191 232 7010.