News: Closure of The Exchange Theatre in North Shields

 Closure of The Exchange Theatre in North Shields

 

The Exchange Theatre charity, theatre and cafe bar will be closing on Monday 17th April 2023.

The venue has been instructed by North Tyneside Council, who own the building, that they have appointed a preferred provider to be a new long-term leaseholder for the Saville Exchange building. This decision means that the charity that has been operating in the building for seven years has no option but to close. 

Despite negotiations with the new provider, The Exchange Theatre is unable to use the theatre auditorium or other spaces to provide a programme of creative and cultural activities.

Over the last seven years they have welcomed hundreds of artists, singers, musicians and theatre companies for various productions, events and exhibitions. From Lindisfarne to Robson Green, the theatre has been a unique venue, providing a space for culture within North Tyneside championing accessibility within the arts. 

The Exchange Theatre is inviting people to share their memories of the venue to help create a digital scrapbook that can be kept and shared. More information can be found on the website. 

They are also hosting a goodbye party on Saturday 15th April. This will be a celebration of the achievements over the last seven years complete with open mic of spoken word, poetry and music.  

In addition there will be a sale of items including costumes, stage and technical equipment, furniture and art.

Preview: To Be A Young Man at Newcastle Live Theatre

Nadine Shah to star on stage at Live Theatre Newcastle in her own play marking ten years since the release of her debut album. 

Live Encounters: Nadine Shah Thursday 6 April 2023 

To Be A Young Man Thursday 4 - Saturday 20 May 2023

One of the most original voices in contemporary music, Nadine Shah has turned her hand to playwriting in a theatrical collaboration with writer Jackie Thompson (The Girl is Mime) that takes a deep dive into the themes of her astonishing debut Love Your Dum And Mad. Named after one of the album's signature tunes, To Be A Young Man will run at Live Theatre Newcastle from Thursday 4 – Saturday 20 May 2023, before heading to the Brighton Festival (24 May) and London’s Southbank (26 May). 

The acclaimed Newcastle venue, Live Theatre, approached South Tyneside born Shah as part of its own 50th anniversary celebrations to create a theatrical response to her first album. The resulting play is inspired by a young man who was central to the album’s conception who took his own life. Taking this as a starting point, Shah and her co-writer Jackie Thompson have created a stunning theatrical work in which four disparate characters meet at the wake of a friend. Inspired by the themes and ideas of the album, and haunted by the ghost of its music, To Be A Young Man is a rare example of one art form beautifully reshaping itself into another. 

Nadine Shah - Photo: Sasa Savic

Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Jack McNamara said: “When I first approached Nadine with the notion of finding a theatrical form for her album, I had no idea what direction it would take nor how personal it would become. The idea grew and grew and Nadine paired up with the writer Jackie Thompson, a close friend who really understood her world and work. Together they have gone so deep into where this amazing album came from and found its narrative so naturally. It’s a rare privilege to watch an artist go back to that very first creative expression and find a new life for it through a different lens. And having Nadine in the production as well completes the whole picture perfectly, bringing it right into the present tense. It will be a very exciting thing to witness and be part of.“

Nadine Shah added: “I’ve been an admirer of Live Theatre for years and for years I’ve been desperate to find some opportunity to make something with my friend, the writer Jackie Thompson. This seemed a no brainer and the perfect chance to collaborate with this brilliant place and my incredibly talented friend. It’s a total honour. Acting doesn’t come easy to me but sadistically I enjoy the challenge.”

Nadine Shah - Photo: Sasa Savic

A Live Theatre at 50 production, and the second premiere of the 50th Birthday season, To Be A Young Man will be directed by Jack McNamara and will star Nadine Shah with remaining cast to be announced very soon. Mercury Prize nominated singer songwriter Nadine made her acting debut at Northern Stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in October 2022. 

Live Theatre is also delighted to announce that Nadine will take part in an extremely rare Q&A, at a Live Theatre 50th Birthday Live Encounter on Thursday 6 April. Shah will talk about creativity, formative influences and To Be A Young Man. 

Tickets:

A Live Theatre production in association with Brighton Festival, To Be A Young Man opens on Thursday 4 May with tickets priced from £6 to £28 available from www.live.org.uk or Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.

REVIEW: Lasagne at Newcastle Live Theatre

Lasagne

Newcastle Live Theatre

Until Saturday 11 March 2023

and then on tour

The Open Clasp Theatre Company return with yet another strong theatrical experience that is based upon the real stories of women in the North East. Upholding their usual high standards for storytelling, they continue to highlight the issues that others may shy away from. They set the gold standard for showing what a powerful tool theatre can be. Without casting any judgement on the two worlds that are presented, writer Catrina McHugh raises awareness on a number of issues.

Sally (Beth Crame) has moved in near neighbour Jane (Zoe Lambert). Jane lets on in the street and tries to be friendly - thought she misheard Sally's name and keeps referring to her as Ally. Trying to do the good neighbourly thing, Jane cooks, and delivers a lasagne. Sally is clearly not used to such neighbourly behaviour and is not entirely sure how to take the gesture.

On the evening Jane heads for bed, only to be kept awake by the music from the party at Sally's place. Jane decides to head to her shed in order to make some furniture - as this appears to be one of her hobbies. When a couple of friends leave, we are given a disturbing dual account from both ladies - one endures domestic violence from their partner, the other examines a worryingly lump in her breast.

The first national covid lockdown then begins and the two neighbours continue to interact. Memories come back about the oddities of social distancing and the lack of toilet roll.

The two actors, under director Laura Lindow, are able to present both their own individual story and that of their mutual co-existence as neighbours. By working with members of Pause North East, who are part of a national charity who support women who have had their children taken into care, the story evaluates the collapse of social care too. It has had image issues and struggles to recruit - and over the hour of the show - you get to see a tiny slither of the bigger picture.

In order to tour, this set is kept relatively simple, however, along with the lighting, it is extremely effective in presenting the overlapping lives of two characters. The sound that has been composed by Roma Yagnik is never intrusive but it lays down the foundation, particularly in the more disturbing parts of the performance.

The production works because you believe in Sally and Jane. Strong acting by Beth Crame and Zoe Lambert ensures that you feel that this is really their stories rather than an amalgam of number of real case studies that have been shared with the theatre group. There is a real depth to the work, and the show deserves to be seen by a much wider audience.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Von Fox Promotions

Cast & Creatives

Cast: Sally Beth Crame Jane Zoe Lambert

Writer Catrina McHugh MBE 

Director Laura Lindow 

Set & Costume Designer Verity Quinn 

Lighting Designer Sherry Coenen 

Composer & Sound Designer Roma Yagnik 

Senior Creative Producer Carly McConnell 

Production/Stage Manager Rachel Glover 

Project Co-ordinator (on tour) Colette Conlin 

Co-created with women from Pause, North East

Tour and Tickets:

Tour dates

Alongside community centres, professional settings, prisons and universities, Lasagna will tour to:

• Live Theatre, Newcastle (8-11 March)

• Tuned In, Redcar (13 March)

• Gala Theatre, Durham (16 March)

• The Forum, Darlington (20 March)

• The Black Cherry, Bournemouth (22 March)

• Blue Elephant Theatre , London (23 March)

• West End Women and Girls Centre, Newcastle (28-29 March)

More dates and venues to be confirmed, for information and tickets visit www.openclasp.org.uk/lasagna

 

 

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

Love It If We Beat Them

Newcastle Live Theatre

Thursday 2 - Saturday 25 March 2023

Live Theatre is celebrating 50 years of championing new writing in the North East. It has been of hotbed of both fledgeling writers and actors over the years. Their latest play follows their proud tradition as it holds up a mirror at the region, its people and their culture.

1996 is still a massive year for many older people of Newcastle. It is a year of folklore for the younger people. In addition to Tony Blair's Labour being a government in waiting, it was also the year that Newcastle United nearly did it. Many of us of a certain vintage will remember seeing "King" Kevin Keegan wearing his Adidas top getting excited about the prospect of the last few matches of the 1995/96 season. He knew that not only would he love it - so would the Toon Army who followed him.

Thus Rob Ward's play starts in this era of Newcastle history. Dean Bone had been a lone figure at the pool table as the audience took their seats. He appears as Michael, a lad struggling to find work. A man willing to commute to Doncaster in order to get work as a miner. As the show begins he is joined by David Nellist as Len - a local politician who is very left of Blair. A union man and a councillor, Len sees the recent death of their MP as an opportunity to seek election to Parliament. He assumes the full support of those around him and that includes Michael.

At the funeral of the deceased MP Michael drops the news of Len's intended political move to Len's wife Jean, performed by the ever versatile Jessica Johnson. 

But this is mid 90s New Labour. Tony Blair's party were happily parachuting candidates into safe seats and this is no different as Victoria Hetherington has arrived on the scene. Born originally in Wallsend, she has spent much of her life in Manchester - which is as good as "down south" as far as Len is concerned.

The story then examines the humour, the heartbreak and relationships of the four characters. In the foreground are both the by-election and the rollercoaster that is the football season. The progress for the election between the candidates is handled well by both writer Rob Ward and director Bex Bowsher. Events are taking place but they are not overexplained. The exposition is kept to the minimum and the audience given the credit of intelligence.

Using a pair of microphones, the cast give radio highlights of the football matches, though I don't recall David Batty passing the ball forwards.

But there is also the personal story. Jessica Johnson is able to swing from brassy wife in public to having issues in private so well. Likewise David Nellist is able to resent the stubborn Len who doesn't suffer fools lightly. Dean Bone captures that sheer lack of hope that generation X had at the time for a decent job and all of the security that comes with it. 

Eve Tucker presents election candidate Victoria as bold as brass. The character is no wallflower which acts as a nice counterpoint to Len's traditional views.

A major aspect that first strikes you when you arrive in the venue is the set design. The traditional stage has been ripped out and a 90s bar has been installed around the edge - with those blackboards that many pubs had at the time - and a pool table in the centre. Designer Alison Ashton has taken advantage of the space's flexibility. The choice of colours to light it up by Lighting Designer Anna Reddyhoff bringing back memories of the popular bars in the 90s.

A great tight, talented ensemble bring a lively script to life. With clear parallels to the current political battles - and a near miss by the football team - make this a relevant play in 2023. This is a classic Live Theatre production and we are lucky to have the Quayside venue on our doorstep.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Von Fox Productions

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.

Preview: Shrek the Musical at Sunderland Empire

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Casting Announced For Shrek 

Shrek The Musical

Sunderland Empire 

6-10 February 2024

• Principal casting announced for Srek the Musical UK and Ireland tour.
• Antony Lawrence will play Shrek, Joanne Clifton will play Fiona, James Gillan will play Lord Faquaad and Brandon Lee Sears will play Donkey in the brand-new touring production of ‘Shrek the Musical’.
• Directed and choreographed by Nick Winston and co-directed by Sam Holmes, the Shrektackular production will paint the town green this summer, opening in Plymouth on 21 July 2023 and touring through to April 2024.
• Visiting Sunderland Empire on 6-10 February 2024

Producers Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale are delighted to announce a Shrektacular principal cast line-up including Antony Lawrence (Shrek), Joanne Clifton (Princess Fiona), James Gillan (Lord Farquaad) and Brandon Lee Sears (Donkey) in the brand-new production of Shrek the Musical. Visiting Sunderland Empire on 6-10 February 2024, on the smash hit musical’s tour through to April 2024 to a total of 31 venues. 

Antony Lawrence (Shrek) recently played Scar in The Lion King (International Tour) as well as performed in Mary Poppins (National Tour), Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre/RSC) and We Will Rock You (International Arena Tour).

Best known for her time on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, after winning the World Professional Showdance Champion and the European Professional Ballroom Championship, Joanne Clifton (Fiona) joined the iconic TV show as a professional dancer. During her time on the show she won the Christmas Special with McFly’s Harry Judd and went on to win the glitterball trophy as the 2016 champion with her partner Ore Oduba.  On stage Joanne Clifton was most recently seen in Windfall (Southwark Playhouse) and The Addams Family (UK Tour). 

Olivier Award-nominee James Gillan (Lord Farquaad) most recently created the role of Tray in Everybody’s talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue) – a role he stayed with through the show’s entire West End run. He also performed in Everybody’s talking About Jamie at the Ahmanson Theatre in LA for its six-week run.

Brandon Lee Sears (Donkey) most recently played the role of Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls (UK tour).  His previous theatre credits include the original West End productions of Be More Chill (Shaftesbury), Come From Away (Phoenix); Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Motown the Musical (Shaftesbury); and On the Town (Regents Park).

On 27 February 2023, the cast of Shrek the Musical will perform at BBC Big Night of the Musicals at Manchester’s AO Arena. The programme will be shown in a special 90-minute presentation on BBC One and on BBC Radio 2 in the spring.

From the producers of Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Shrek the Musical brings together a new creative team to re-image this award-winning Broadway and West End hit show for a new audience, featuring all the classic characters from the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film and the iconic songs and story from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s original musical.

The team joining forces to re-create the bright and beautiful world of Shrek the Musical includes acclaimed director and choreographer Nick Winston (Bonnie and Clyde, Arts Theatre; Beauty and the Beast, UK tour), co-director Sam Holmes (Club Tropicana the Musical), who returns to the swamp having played Lord Farquaad in the previous UK tour. He is joined by Set and costume design will be by Philip Witcomb (Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick Theatre); Jack & The Beanstalk, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham). Further creative team includes Ben Cracknel (Lighting), Jim Arnold (Casting) and Ben Harrison (Sound).

Based on the Oscar winning DreamWorks film, the Broadway and West End smash hit Shrek the Musical is a fun filled and hilarious musical comedy with a cast of vibrant characters and a ‘shrektackular’ score.

Featuring the beloved Princess Fiona, the evil Lord Farquaad, a host of magical fairy-tale characters and fabulous songs including the smash hit 'I'm a Believer’, Shrek the Musical is a ‘musical extravaganza for big kids and little kids alike’.

Come join the adventure as Shrek and Donkey endeavour to complete their quest, finding unexpected friendships and surprising romance along the way.

Tickets:

Shrek the Musical will hit Sunderland Empire’s stage from 6 – 10 February 2024. Tickets are available online at SHREK TICKET LINK

*A £3.65 transaction fee applies to online bookings.

REVIEW: Unexpected Twist at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Unexpected Twist

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Until Sat 4 Mar 2023

Michael Rosen has taken the Charles Dickens classic tale and drawn an analogy with the modern day in this adaption by Roy Williams. By drawing parallels between 1836 workhouse Victorian Britain and the role of children in gang culture and drug distribution he flags up the relevance of the original story. It is a poignant comparison that will add to the cultural capital of the many youngsters who have witnessed the show this week.

I was pleased to be invited to review this situation. It is a musical - but nothing has been recycled from the Lionel Bart material. The richness of the original text has led to a new tale - though the original source material is referred to.

The set designer Frankie Bradshaw offers 3 areas for the performers. A classroom is surrounded by lockers, the tops of the lockers creating a second space. The whole set is surrounded by the wall bars that one found in the school gym. There are occasions when the modern day action is on the lower level whilst the Dickens characters are on the middle level. The wall bars give the musicians a chance to work with the performance.

(L-R) Drew Hylton, Rosie Hilal, James Meteyard,
Liyah Summers, Polly Lister 

The show begins with two performers announcing that everything we hear will produced by the mouths of the performers. There then follows a demonstration of the beatbox talents. Including the sound of a mobile phone ring tone as they point out such devices should be switched off.

(L-R) Alex Hardie, Liyah Summers, Alexander Lobo Moreno, .
Nadine Rose Johnson, Kate Donnachie 

So we have two stories to consider - the Dickens original and the modern day story about childhood poverty. Most actors are covering roles in both worlds thanks to many quick costume changes. For example Drew Hylton is both Shona, a new girl at school whose father is struggling as a single parent on benefits and as Oliver.  There are often parallels in character: James Meteyard is both Bill Sykes and Pops, an older gang leader at the centre of criminality. The two characters that are firmly kept in the present are Dad (Thomas Vernal) who is trying his best as a father struggling with the system and teacher Miss Cavani (Rosie Hilal) who has an obsession with the book Oliver Twist and tries to point out the stories relevance in the modern world.

(L-R) Liyah Summers, Nadine Rose Johnson,
Alex Hardie, Kate Donnachie

The Victorian story will be familiar to most readers and Michael Rosen has clever twisted it around a dark tale of poverty in modern Britain - a rich country that has a significant proportion of children living in poverty.

As far as the modern story goes, the official blurb says " Shona and her class are studying the book, Oliver Twist. She’s the new girl in school and is finding it hard to stay out of trouble – much like Oliver himself! When she’s given a new phone by a stranger, she begins to suspect there’s something unusual about the new boys she’s met."

Alexander Lobo Moreno and Cast of Unexpected Twist 

A real stand out element of this production - which makes it both braver than most shows that appear at the Theatre Royal and makes it more successful with a wider range of audiences - is the original music by rising R&B star Yaya Bey and BAC Beatbox Academy’s Conrad Murray. These songs are supplemented, according to the programme, with verses written by the member of the cast who leads in that song. The live performance and relevant lyrics really freshen up a story that deserves a bigger audience. I suspect that the show will become dated if it doesn't evolve with the times, but, right now, it is absolutely relevant to the modern narrative. Special mention to the beatboxer who was keeping the beat going whist taking a kicking on stage.

In order to get the music working, sound designer Leigh Davies has had their work cut out and succeeds in getting the balance right between spoken and musical parts. The lighting design, from Rory Beaton, too turns an effective set into a versatile platform for 2 simultaneous stories as it segues the two worlds together.

Drew Hylton and Thomas Vernal 

Very much a play for today - the tale of Desree (Kate Donnachie), Gazz (Alex Hardie), Shona, Rosie (Nadine Rose Johnson), Tino (Alexander Lobo Moreno) and Rasheda (Liyah Summers) trying to make their way in the world, whilst adults such as their parents, teachers and Nan (Polly Lister) try to cope with their problems too, is  vibrant piece of theatre. A great script and music, combined with brave direction from James Dacre, and a wonderful cast made this a memorable night at the theatre. It is a real shame that it is on such a short run here in Newcastle.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Manuel Harlan

Tickets: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/unexpected-twist-2/ 

The show then goes on tour to: Kingston, Nottingham, Norwich, Coventry, Cheltenham, Salford, Malvern, Wolverhampton, Blackpool, Oxford and Leicester - details can be found on the shows website: https://unexpectedtwistonstage.co.uk/#booktickets

REVIEW: The Ocean at the End of the Lane at Sunderland Empire

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 4 March 2023

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

The National Theatre return to the region with a fine slice of Neil Gaiman dark fantasy. It is wonderful to see a show that will engage with teens that are often forgotten in theatre shows. It has plenty to entertain mature audiences too. A lot of thought has gone into staging this magnificent show. I had heard wholly positive reviews by those who had seen it and I fully understand why they gushed their praise.

Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock) and Trevor Fox (Dad) 
Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

But here comes a problem, dear reader. Normally at this point I come up with a pithy synopsis of how the first 20 minutes sent up the next 2 hours of action. The trouble is this is going to be vague as much of the initial plot unfolds in the final third of the show…and I don't do spoilers.

Millie Hikasa (Lettie) and Keir Ogilvy (Boy) 
Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

So here goes the plot. Someone turns up at his Dad's funeral. They are unnamed throughout the script. They meet up with an elderly neighbour who remembers him, and his father.

Aimee McGolderick (cover Sis), Charlie Brooks (Ursula), Trevor Fox (Dad)
Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The story then moves back to the early 80s. The lad (Keir Oglivy) is now a boy, living with his Dad (Trevor Fox) and sister (Laurie Ogden), making his own entertainment by reading books.He meets up with the daughter of his neighbour, Lettie Hempstock (Millie Hikasa) and the strike up a friendship. She describes the pond at the end of the lane as an ocean. In one incident he removes a worm from his hand. He goes back to meet her family that consists of mother Ginnie (Kemi-Bo Jacobs) and grandmother Old Mr Hempstock (Finty Williams). When he returns home his dad has introduced a new lady to look after them, Ursula (Charlie Brooks). He takes an instant dislike to her.

Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

At this point some may say the story goes down a dark Roald Dahl route. More Tales of the Unexpected than the kids stuff. For me the ensembles stagecraft and puppetry brought back memories of Terry Gilliam's movie The Fisher King in terms of flavour and execution. As one of my favourite movies this is high praise indeed.

Charlie Brooks (Ursula) and Keir Ogilvy (Boy) 
Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Sticking fantasy elements on stage is a challenge. Creating a story on stage about children for an adult audience is a challenge (Blue Remembered Hills, anyone?). Somehow, this production pulls it off with the sound, lighting, movement- in fact just the whole feel if the show.

Domonic Ramsden, Keir Oglivy (Boy), Aimee McGolderick and Millie Hikasa (Lettie)
Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The cast are largely 2 groups, the up front characters who have to deal with, at times, a lot of exposition this they do with aplomb. There is also an ensemble, dressed in black, who are very much responsible for the feel of the show. They move, dance with and manipulate the props around the central action. The success of the show is as much down to how they meld into the background when necessary.

Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock)
Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

I had many questions at the interval and my patience paid off. This is different. I can see why people go back to see it again. I know I want to.

Not for young kids, the recommendation is 12+ and I would stick with that.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Tickets:

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane will open at Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 28 February – Saturday 4 March 2023. Tickets are available from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 7615* or online at https://tinyurl.com/NatTheatreSunderlandTix* 

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