Preview: Bangers at Newcastle Live Theatre

Special Offer for Live Theatre show BANGERS this week

Bangers

Newcastle Live Theatre 

Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 March 2025

Written by Danusia Samal, 

Directed by Vicky Moran, 

Original music by Duramaney Kamara

SH Productions is bringing Danusia Samal’s acclaimed garage/R&B gig theatre show Bangers to Newcastle as part of the show’s first ever tour. The North East Theatre Guide has a special offer on tickets - scroll down to the end to find out!

An exhilarating night of original music, lyrical storytelling, and pure UK garage vibes, Bangers explores how the bangers we grew up listening to shape who we are today. Featuring original tracks inspired by early noughties and present-day R&B and garage, Bangers follows the highs and lows of two strangers struggling with their own pasts, while hurtling towards the future.

The cast is Chaya Gupta (whose credits include ETT’s Abigails Party) as Aria, and Kaine Lawrence (Olivier Award-nominated for his performance in For Black Boys…) as Clef. They join Duramaney Kamara (who also composed the original music and sound designs the production) returning to the role of DJ.

Danusia Samal, playwright, says: “I’m so excited that Bangers is coming to Newcastle. Garage music is as British as a Sunday roast and each city on our tour has its own distinct musical identity to be celebrated. I’m looking forward to Live Theatre audiences connecting with the sounds, the culture, and the themes that this show explores. With some brand-new cast and creative team members, I can’t wait to sit with this audience and share with the experience of this fresh interpretation of Bangers 2025.”

Danusia Samal is a playwright, screenwriter, actor and musician from London. Her writing includes plays Busking It (inspired by her 10 years as a street busker) and Theatre503 International Playwriting Award-winner Out of Sorts, with screenwriting credits including Gangs of London (Sky) and Bodies (Netflix). As an actor, she has performed with theatre companies from Clean Break to the RSC, and on-screen in series including The Great and Ghost in the Shell.

Vicky Moran joins the creative team to direct the touring production, remixing the show with support from Chris Sonnex (Artistic Director, Cardboard Citizens), who co-created and directed the original production.

The original production of Bangers premiered at Soho Theatre in 2022, followed by an incredibly successful 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and a run at the Arcola Theatre.

Photos: Alex Brenner

Tickets:

Venue: Live Theatre, Newcastle

Dates: Tuesday 11 - Thursday 13 March 2025

Box office: www.live.org.uk

Special Offer: Offer code BANGERS25 will give a 25% discount!

Preview: The Lightning Thief at Newcastle Theatre Royal

DEMIGODS ASSEMBLE: THE LIGHTNING THIEF WILL VISIT NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

The Lightning Thief 

Newcastle Theatre Royal 

Wednesday 27 - Sunday 31 August 2025

Get ready, demigods! The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is set to visit Newcastle Theatre Royal this summer, bringing the hit stage adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling novel to life.

When New York City teenager Percy Jackson discovers that he is the half-blood son of the Greek god, Poseidon, his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he could possibly have imagined.

Based on the beloved book series (with over 180 million copies sold worldwide), Percy Jackson’s story has been adapted into both films and a major hit TV series for Disney+. The musical first premiered off-Broadway in 2014 to rave reviews and went on to have two US tours and a 16-week limited run on Broadway in 2019. Since November 2024, The Lightning Thief has been making waves with London audiences and received critical acclaim.

The future of the world hangs in the balance as Percy and his friends embark on an epic adventure that will have audiences on the edge of their seat. With newly discovered powers he is unable to control, an unwanted destiny and a whole textbook’s worth of mythical monsters on his trail, Percy must learn what it means to be a hero.

This dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling The Lightning Thief has a book by Joe Tracz (Be More Chill), music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki (Monstersongs) and is directed and choreographed by Lizzi Gee (Groundhog Day).

Paul Taylor-Mills the show’s producer said: “We’re thrilled to bring Percy Jackson’s epic journey to more UK audiences following the success we’ve had in London. This show is full of energy, humour, and heart—whether you're a long-time fan or new to the world of Camp Half-Blood, you’re in for an unforgettable adventure.”

Photos: Manuel Harlan

Tickets:

The Lightning Thief plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Wednesday 27 - Sunday 31 August 2025. Tickets are on sale soon and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Booking dates:

Friends Plus: Tuesday 11 March 10am

Friends: Wednesday 12 March 10am

Flexi Priority Pass, Groups and Schools: Thursday 13 March 10am

Public: Friday 14 March 10am

News: SUNDERLAND EMPIRE HOST NETFLIX & NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE WORKSHOPS FOR N.E. YOUTH

 SUNDERLAND EMPIRE HOST NETFLIX & NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE WORKSHOPS FOR N.E. YOUTH 

Ignite Participants and Lewis Atkinson,
Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central

Last week, young people aged 16-25 benefited from free workshops and visits exploring behind-camera roles in the UK’s film and TV industry at Sunderland Empire, Theatre Space North East, Pride Media Centre and Live Theatre.

Lewis Atkinson, Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central, made a special visit to the workshop to meet the young participants and learn more about their aspirations for Film & TV careers.

Ignite Participants and Lewis Atkinson,
Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central

The workshops are part of Netflix and NYT’s IGNITE Your Creativity programme, helping break down barriers for young people from the North and North East.

The scheme follows research conducted by Netflix and NYT which found that the majority (89%) of working-class parents don’t want their child to pursue a creative career.

As part of Netflix and National Youth Theatre’s IGNITE Your Creativity partnership, young people aged 16-25 from across the North East have been benefiting from free workshops and visits exploring behind-camera roles in the UK’s film and TV industry.

Ignite Participants and Lewis Atkinson,
Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central

Culminating in a week-long course, the final workshop took place at Sunderland Empire led by Anna Robinson, a Newcastle-based designer and theatre maker who has worked with Northern Stage, Live Theatre and Theatre Royal Newcastle.

To mark the occasion, Lewis Atkinson, Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central, made a special visit to the workshop to meet the young participants and learn more about their aspirations for Film & TV careers.

The workshops are part of Netflix and NYT’s IGNITE Your Creativity programme, helping break down barriers for young people from the North who want to work in film and TV.

IGNITE aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and connections to build networks and confidence. It offers free practical workshops that explore the wide range of creative roles available, including information on starting salaries and progression to counter the narrative that creative careers are poorly paid and unstable. IGNITE also connects young people with set and backstage visits, work experience opportunities and industry experts. IGNITE has already hosted 33 workshops in the West Midlands working with over 700 young people and 17 workshops in Dagenham in east London working with 455 young people. In the first year of the partnership, over 1,100 young people were reached in South Wales, West Yorkshire and Sunderland.

Ignite Participants and Lewis Atkinson,
Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central

The scheme follows research conducted by Netflix and NYT earlier this year which found that the majority (89%) of working-class parents don’t want their child to pursue a creative career. Parents favour ‘traditional’ careers in law, finance, medicine and technology for their children because they offer good career progression (60%), good pay (58%) and a stable career path (56%).

Research shows that these ‘traditional’ professions are better at attracting more diverse talent, with only 8% of people working in film, TV and radio identifying as working class.[1]

The problem is further highlighted by young people (16-25) already working in the creative industry. One in four (26%) of them said their parents, guardians or carers are unsupportive of their creative endeavours. Close to three quarters (73%) say their parents view their career as a waste of their education.

Paul Roseby, CEO and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre said: “We’re grateful to our friends at Netflix for giving us a chance to empower young talent as we strive to redress the imbalance of access for young underserved and working-class creatives. The stats speak for themselves, but many of the young people we aim to work with can’t. IGNITE gives people a practical first step into a rewarding career in the creative industries.”

Anna Mallett, Vice President, Production, EMEA and the UK, Netflix said: “In order to get the best of British talent, we need to make sure we're breaking down barriers to entering the industry. Netflix is delighted that our IGNITE Your Creativity partnership with the National Youth Theatre is reaching more young people across the North East, equipping young, aspiring creatives with the tools and networks to make their mark in the creative industries."

Lewis Atkinson, Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central, said: "It's an absolute privilege to be here today at the Sunderland Empire to support the IGNITE Your Creativity programme and to see first-hand the incredible opportunities it provides to young people in Sunderland and the wider North East. These workshops are not only helping to break down barriers but are also opening up new pathways into the film and TV industry for those who might not have previously considered it as a career.

“It’s vital that we equip our young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to succeed, and I’m excited to see the next generation of creative talent flourish here in our own community."

Young participant Christy Robinson said: “I have learnt tons, going into this experience I didn’t know what to expect. I find the most useful education is from other departments. Having a knowledge of how a full production runs and listening to how others work has taught me tons. Being able to meet so many creatives in my area has been so rewarding and encouraging, it makes the experience of being an emerging creative in the North East feel so much more accessible. I have met wonderful people and continued to learn more about the resources available to me in the North East.”

Established in 1956 as the world’s first youth theatre, NYT produces ambitious theatrical productions in local communities, on leading global stages, on screen and in unusual spaces across the UK and beyond.

Free audition submissions are now open to join NYT including in person auditions in Newcastle on 8 March - more information can be found at nyt.org.uk.

Actor Hugh Bonneville, supporter of the national Open Auditions programme and NYT Patron said: "The chance for young people to explore their creative talents is essential for their development. For some, taking part in drama can inspire a career in the creative industries; for all, it provides invaluable skills, building confidence in communication and self-expression.

“I'm delighted to endorse Netflix and National Youth Theatre’s IGNITE Your Creativity partnership to build young people's skills and networks and to support National Youth Theatre's Open Auditions initiative to give young talent in specially selected areas of the country where access to drama is under threat the chance to audition for the National Youth Theatre for free. Becoming a member of the NYT changed my life and I’m delighted to be playing my part in giving the next generation a similar opportunity."

National Youth Theatre is a creative home for young storytelling talent. Inclusion is at NYT’s heart and its members come from a wide range of backgrounds and all around the UK. Global stars who started their journey with the charity include Ed Sheeran, Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rosamund Pike, Adeel Akhtar, Florence Pugh, Regé-Jean Page,  Olly Alexander, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Zawe Ashton, Paapa Essiedu and many more.

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films, and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching, as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

Preview: Dragons at Newcastle Theatre Royal

LEADING SOUTH KOREAN CHOREOGRAPHER BRINGS DRAGONS TO NEWCASTLE

Dragons 

Newcastle Theatre Royal 

Friday 14 - Saturday 15 March 2025

From K-pop to Korean film, South Korean culture is being embraced by people worldwide. Now iconic choreographer Eun-Me Ahn is hoping a tour of her work Dragons which is visiting Newcastle Theatre Royal nextweek will spark the imaginations of UK audiences for Korean contemporary dance.

Eun-Me Ahn, 61, has been a dance trailblazer at home and abroad for decades. Eun-Me Ahn Company, which she founded in 1988, is one of the leading South Korean contemporary troupes, playing theatres and festivals around the world including the FIFA World Cup in South Korea in 2002.

Her show Dragons was a hit with audiences in London and Salford in 2023 and Eun-Me believes the world has finally woken up to the powerhouse which is South Korean culture.

“The Korean people have a special kind of talent, really truly,” she says. “We combine historical background with personal vision. Education is very important. People studied dance and music and history. At the same time, we accepted modernity and new ideas of politics and economics. And we did that in a very positive way, importing ideas from the West, from Europe and America, but also keeping our own culture and traditions. It was very natural for us to mix them together.”

This blend of past and present is captured in Dragons where Eun-Me wanted to draw on one of Asia’s most significant and iconic creatures.

“The dragon is a very symbolic creature. Everybody knows it and we have many, many stories about the dragons. But the dragon in Asia has many sides. Sometimes it is very good, sometimes the dragon has humour, sometimes it is a brave hero and sometimes it becomes very bad.”

In the show, the traditional heritage of these mythical beasts is combined with cutting-edge technology to create a stunning kaleidoscope of past and present. Dragons features a cast of seven dancers live on stage – who interface with six guest performers who appear as holograms. These six young dancers come from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan and South Korea and five of them were born around the year 2000, a Year of the Dragon.

The idea of combining holograms and stage performance was first sparked by having to use technology to communicate during Covid-19 lockdowns. Eun-Me and her team spent months directing and filming the six dancers and the development of the piece was painstaking.

“This process took a long time because we had to do it one-by-one,” Eun-Me says. “We had to teach them the movement using cell phones and sometimes we couldn’t even see their whole bodies. But we never gave up. And when we made the final show, I saw it in the theatre and I just shouted ‘wow’. It was unbelievable, we had made a beautiful moment.” 

Renowned as an exceptionally charismatic performer, Eun-Me takes to the stage as one of the dancers in Dragons. She has also designed the spectacular costumes and overseen the creation of the dazzling sets. “This show will give audiences lots of new ideas. Visually it’s sparkling and shiny. Dragons is a dance of miracles.”

Photos: Sukmu Yun

Tickets:

Dragons plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Friday 14 - Saturday 15 March 2025. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

News: New Season at Live

NEW TALENT GRABS THE WHEEL FOR LIVE THEATRE’S SPRING AND SUMMER SEASON

Live Theatre, Newcastle has announced the premiering productions and visiting shows which will take to the Quayside theatre’s stage this Spring and Summer. The packed six months of shows is all about new and radical talent, from Ishy Din’s knockout play Champion to the North East Playwriting Award Winner Dogs On The Metro by Emilie Robson via the Unearthed Festival and some of the most exciting national companies on tour.

Round one is acclaimed North East writer Ishy Din’s hard hitting new play, Champion from Thursday 13 February to Saturday 8 March. Set around the great boxer’s now legendary 1977 visit to the North East, this searing family drama shows the impact that such a major event had on a mixed race family in South Shields. Questions of identity, community and what each of us is fighting for are stirred up in a hard-hitting story that sees the lives of two brothers turned upside down! Champion stars Jack Robertson, Christina Berriman Dawson and Daniel Zareie.

The second Live Theatre premiere production is Dogs On The Metro by North East Playwriting Award winner Emilie Robson. Playing from Thursday 1 to Saturday 17 May, this is a love letter to friendship, lost youth, naivety and our beloved local transport system. This electrifying new play with razor sharp writing, follows Jen and Dean over a series of days, months and years as they travel back and forth on the network, reflecting on their competing and conflicting versions of the same pivotal events that changed their lives forever!

New for 2025 is Unearthed Festival, a celebration of North East creativity and bold new theatre for a better world. Featuring fresh talent, daring collaborations, dynamic workshops and creative performances from our vibrant community of artists. Ignite your own creative spark from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 31 May.

The season line-up includes a dazzling array of visiting theatre companies. March has a bumper crop of shows including: Rupture inspired by true life experiences of prison from Open Clasp Theatre Company; the exhilarating and lyrical Bangers from SH Productions; Elysium Theatre Company’s gripping and powerful thriller The Moth by Paul Herzberg; babirye bukilwa’s visceral and moving …blackbird hour; Arc Stockton round off March with urgent disabled women-led theatre Unruly by Vici Wreford Sinnott.

In April, Tiata Fahodzi present Everywhere: Triple Bill, three new plays by British-African writers driven by a provocation about what we do in what spaces matter. Penguin presented by Hamzeh Al Hussien and Amy Golding returns to Live Theatre, as part of a UK tour. This hit production recounts Hamzeh’s extraordinary true story and is filled with humour and beauty.

BOOK OF CROW - Photo: Ronnie Goodyer

It’s a jam-packed June with Emmerson and Ward Productions’ funny and poignant show Buff and Max Emmerson Productions’ Rum, a darkly humorous new play wrestling with mental health in the building trade. Carole W Productions and Gala Durham co-production The Bench by former BBC reporter Jeff Brown is a heartwarming tale of love, loss and football. Book Of Crow presented by New Writing North and Live Theatre is a dramatic poetry reading with live music by The Shining Levels. Actress and comedian Josie Lawrence will create an unique and exciting play right in front of audiences in What Next? and Bet’n Lev Theatre take myths and legends and joyfully reimagine queer history in Remythed.

Expect stunning performances from the LGBTQ+ scene when the House of Live bring their cabaret A Night At The Movies and a celebration of trans-led theatre and discussions with Trans Performance Now.

Kicking off July is cosmic drag and cabaret inspired by Doctor Who, The Gallifrey Cabaret. Awkward Productions are back with award winning celebration of the people’s princess – Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story – combining drag, audience interaction, puppetry and lots of queer joy!

Geez A Break Productions tell a hilarious story of the realities of gang culture in 90s Glasgow in When We Were Young followed by a true story of a family caught up in the 90’s recession from Worklight Theatre, It’s The Economy, Stupid!.

Rounding of the Spring and Summer season is Ordinary Decent Criminal presented by Paines Plough, Live Theatre, Ellie Keel Productions in association with Synergy Theatre Project. The production stars renowned political comedian Mark Thomas as Frankie a recovering addict who enters the brave new world of a liberal prison experiment.

Jack McNamara said: “From the  debut performance of North East actor Daniel Zareie in Champion to Emilie Robson’s award winning premiere of Dogs on The Metro, this first six months at Live Theatre is all about stunning new talent from our region. This is cemented by our new Unearthed Festival which will be packed to the brim with new work and artist opportunities to be announced very soon.” 

“It’s a hard time for our sector and an ugly time for us all on a global level. It feels more important than ever to pack our programme with the glorious diverse voices that make our world the vibrant and kind place we want it to be.

We are as thrilled to bring back Hamzeh Al Hussien’s hit show Penguin as we are to host the Trans Performance Now Festival. These are voices and experiences that matter and Live’s stage will always be theirs to call home.” 

Tickets:

Many nights of thrilling and groundbreaking theatre await! To find out more and secure seats for these standout shows go to https://www.live.org.uk/whats-on 

Preview: Kim’s Convenience at Darlington Hippodrome

ON-STAGE FATHER AND DAUGHTER REUNITE FOR KIM’S CONVENIENCE COMING TO DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Kim’s Convenience 

Darlington Hippodrome 

Tuesday 24 - Saturday 28 June 2025

As Kim’s Convenience prepares to hit the road on a full UK tour, a reunion is set to bring even more heart to this beloved production which stops off in Darlington in June.

Joining James Yi (Kim’s Convenience, Netflix; The Interview) in his role of the loveable yet stubborn patriarch Appa will be Caroline Donica, once again as his on-stage daughter Janet. Marking their UK debut, the pair’s return as the leading father and daughter duo brings an authentic chemistry to this much-loved story of family, tradition, and generational change.

James Yi

Caroline Donica

Presented by Adam Blanshay Productions and Park Theatre, this family drama will tour with this special reunion at its heart and give wider audiences the chance to catch the evolving, comedic, and often tense relationship between Appa and Janet. Yi and Donica’s on-stage dynamic, honed from their previous run of the production across the pond at Georgia’s Aurora Theatre in 2023, captures the push and pull between first-generation immigrant values and the ambitions of the next generation, a theme prominent within Ins Choi’s award-winning play.

Candace Leung

Yi and Donica will be joined by Candace Leung (Spent, BBC; Criminal Minds, CBS) as Umma, Daniel Phung (Blade Runner 2099, Amazon; Rain Dogs, HBO/BBC; My Neighbour Totoro, RSC) as Jung, and Andrew Gichigi (Kim’s Convenience, Riverside Studios; Anansi Boys, Amazon) as Alex. 

Daniel Phung

Uplifting and poignant, Kim’s Convenience’s intricate Canadian-Korean family relationships offers a universal perspective on generational divides, identity, and belonging. While rooted in the immigrant experience, the play’s themes resonate far beyond any one culture, capturing the tensions and tenderness between parents and children as they navigate the balance between tradition, modernity, and personal ambition. Through humour and heart, Kim’s Convenience sheds light on the shared human experience of family, making it a story that speaks to audiences from all backgrounds.

Andrew Gichigi 

Caroline Donica comments, I am beyond excited to join this incredible team for my UK theatrical debut performance in Kim's Convenience. I can't wait to bring Janet Kim to life alongside such a talented group of artists in a story with universal themes of family, growth, and cultural identity. 

This is going to be an unforgettable experience!

Winner of The Stage’s 2025 inaugural Campaign of the Year award and originally debuting at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2011 – where it won Best New Play and the Patron’s Pick – the play continues to champion East and Southeast Asian representation on stage and on screen. Inspiring the globally loved CBC and Netflix series of the same name, which saw 5 seasons and featured James Yi, the story’s captivating themes of identity, family, and intergenerational conflict has resonated with audiences across cultures and adaptations. This UK tour offers audiences nationwide the chance to experience the warmth, wit, and emotional power of Kim’s Convenience.

Tickets:

Kim’s Convenience runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 June. For full details or to book visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01325 405405.