Awesome New Season at Northern Stage
After presenting some of the best theatre the north has to offer at the Edinburgh Fringe over the summer, autumn at Northern Stage looks set to go off with a bang…
Northern Stage is the North East’s premier producing theatre and regarded as one of the top ten producing theatres in the country. Opening their season is David Ireland’s new play, I Promise You Sex & Violence (5-20 September), directed by Northern Stage’s Artistic Director Lorne Campbell. The title pulls no punches, Ireland says, “It’s a romantic comedy about a love triangle between a racist, a misogynist and a homophobe. It has the potential to offend everyone in every possible way. And yet my intention was not to offend. So how have I ended up writing such a play? I'm not sure myself. But I grew up in Belfast in the 70s and 80s so violence, political extremism, tribalism, intolerance and sexual repression are themes that I've always found compelling."
Lorne adds, “It’s very, very funny and it’s very, very offensive. David Ireland is one of Britain’s most exciting dramatists and I think this play is his best yet. What is so exciting about his writing is that in the middle of all of this carnage, of all of this extremity, this is a thoughtful, moral and humane play. It’s about how and why we love, about the kindness, understanding and profound tolerance that are absolute necessities for any civilised society.”
Quite literally hot off the heels of our season opener comes a brand new production of Tennessee Williams’ sultry classic, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (12-27 September). Northern Stage Executive Director, Susan Coffer says, “We’re particularly excited to be working with Royal & Derngate and the Royal Exchange on a brand new production of Tennessee Williams’ classic. Director James Dacre’s dramatic new staging and electrifying original music by MOJO and Q Award-winning band White Lies make this a must-see in our autumn season.”
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| Director James Dacre |
“Written on the eve of the sexual and civil rights revolution, this is truly one of America’s greatest plays. I’m thrilled that Royal & Derngate, Northern Stage and the Royal Exchange – all as intimate and as grand as the story itself – are working together for the first time to stage Tennessee Williams’ incendiary masterpiece.” James Dacre, Director
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| Institute |
“We’re delighted to present a bold mix of our own fresh productions alongside the very best in local, regional and national theatre for Autumn 2014. In October we’re looking forward to welcoming back one of the country’s most inventive and physically exhilarating theatre companies – Gecko with its new production Institute about what it means to care.
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| Afrovibes: Biko's Quest. Photo: Jazzart Dance Theatre |
And I’m particularly excited about Afrovibes in November – a collection of shows, new commissions and special events from South Africa, marking the 20th anniversary of the abolition of apartheid. I’d recommend not just seeing the performances, but also checking out the Township café in Stage 3 here at Northern Stage for a South African culinary experience!” Northern Stage Executive Director, Susan Coffer
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| Antigone |
Other highlights include a new version of Sophocles’ classic Antigone (7-11 October), written by Roy Williams and directed by Marcus Romer. A dynamic fusion of hip-hop and martial arts in a Manga-inspired double bill from Boy Blue, The Five & The Prophecy of Prana (21-22 October).
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| Boy Blue - the Prophecy of the Prana |
And a new all-female adaptation of The Gamblers (30 October – 1 November) from Greyscale and Dundee Rep, in association with Stellar Quines and Northern Stage.
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| Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play |
Plus, comedy, spoken word, scratch nights and a whole week of family entertainment during October half term including Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play (28 – 30 October). Radikal Words (12 November) is a jam-packed night of spoken word with former slam UK champion, Joelle Taylor and James McKay plus Jo Colley, Jeff Price and Vinny Boy McHugh and music from Ditte Elly.
Another jam-packed night of spoken word with headliner Joelle Taylor, former UK slam champion, playwright, novelist and Poet in Residence at the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition in Buckingham Palace last year. James McKay performs his own published verse and recitation classics usually heard in warehouse parties and medieval churches. Other acts include Jo Colley and Vinny Boy. - See more at: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/radikal-words#sthash.kVldGGpX.dpuf
Another jam-packed night of spoken word with headliner Joelle Taylor, former UK slam champion, playwright, novelist and Poet in Residence at the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition in Buckingham Palace last year. James McKay performs his own published verse and recitation classics usually heard in warehouse parties and medieval churches. Other acts include Jo Colley and Vinny Boy. - See more at: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/radikal-words#sthash.kVldGGpX.dpuf
Another jam-packed night of spoken word with headliner Joelle Taylor, former UK slam champion, playwright, novelist and Poet in Residence at the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition in Buckingham Palace last year. James McKay performs his own published verse and recitation classics usually heard in warehouse parties and medieval churches. Other acts include Jo Colley and Vinny Boy. - See more at: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/radikal-words#sthash.kVldGGpX.dpuf
Another jam-packed night of spoken word with headliner Joelle Taylor, former UK slam champion, playwright, novelist and Poet in Residence at the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition in Buckingham Palace last year. James McKay performs his own published verse and recitation classics usually heard in warehouse parties and medieval churches. Other acts include Jo Colley and Vinny Boy. - See more at: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/radikal-words#sthash.kVldGGpX.dpuf
Another jam-packed night of spoken word with headliner Joelle Taylor, former UK slam champion, playwright, novelist and Poet in Residence at the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition in Buckingham Palace last year. James McKay performs his own published verse and recitation classics usually heard in warehouse parties and medieval churches. Other acts include Jo Colley and Vinny Boy. - See more at: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/radikal-words#sthash.kVldGGpX.dpuf
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| Radikal Words |
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| The Suggestibles’ Impro Pantso |
Finally, the season ends with two Northern Stage shows for the festive period: Lorne Campbell directs a new production of Get Santa! (1-27 December) for kids over 7 and their families - “This beautifully unlikely play has heart to match its humour… the most properly Christmassy show of the season” The Times. And for under 6s, The Christmas Grump (15 November – 3 January 2015) is inspired by Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, written by Susan Mulholland with music by Katie Doherty.
On The Web:
Box Office: 0191 230 5151
Special Offers: Multibuy applies to most of the shows – see the website for full details.
Booking to see more than one show dramatically reduces the cost of your tickets. Sit in top-price seats without needing to shell out top-price cash. All you need to do is book your shows in one transaction.
2 shows: £14 per ticket SAVE up to £20
3 shows: £13 per ticket SAVE up to £36
4 shows: £10 per ticket SAVE up to £56
5+ shows: £9 per ticket SAVE up to £75
3+First Night: Buy 3 or more tickets for the first night on many shows and get 50% off (excluding concessions tickets). See the show page on the Northern Stage website for details – the links are given below.
The Show In Detail.
I Promise You Sex and Violence
5-20 Sep, 8pm
£14.50 / £12 concessions
A brutally funny and frankly pretty offensive new play written by David Ireland and directed by Lorne Campbell, I Promise You Sex and Violence is a romantic comedy about three broken people, who don’t know what they are or how to behave. Strictly 18+
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
12-27 Sept, 7.30pm, plus Tues 16 6pm, Sat 20 & 27 2pm
No performances Sundays & Mondays
£24, £19.50 & £14.50
Stifling heat and bourbon- soaked confrontations in a brand new production of this Pulitzer prize-winning play. A Northern Stage, Royal & Derngate and Royal Exchange co-production, directed by James Dacre.
Choir
16-17 Sept, 7.45pm
£8 / £6 concessions
A deliciously dark peek past the fixed, white smiles of a community choir where old meet young, good meet bad, and there’s a man with a musical behind his eyes.
When We Embraced
30 Sept – 1 Oct, 7pm
£10 / £8 concessions/ £15 for two shows when bought with Dead to Me
Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe, Tom Walton’s playful and charming show intertwines stories and moments of humanness and a magical interlude.
Dead to Me
30 Sept – 3 Oct, 8.15pm
£10 / £8 concessions / £15 for two shows when bought with When We Embraced
A disturbingly funny story about a man and his troubled relationship with a psychic and her spirit guide from the Suggestibles’ Gary Kitching, in association with Greyscale.
Institute 1-3 Oct, 7.30pm
£24, £19.50 & £14.50
Critically acclaimed physical theatre company Gecko returns to Northern Stage with an intimate, funny and empowering exploration of what it means to care
Antigone
7-11 Oct, Tues, Thur & Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2pm & 7.30pm, Wed 6pm
£24, £19.50 & £14.50
Acclaimed playwright, Roy Williams brings Sophocles’ classic tale up-to-date. A timeless story about loyalty and truth, about how we make meaning out of life and death and what in the end really does matter.
First in 3
16 Oct, 7.30pm
£5
Showcasing the best new writing, comedy, theatre, dance, music and everything in between.
The Five & The Prophecy of Prana
21-22 Oct, 7.30pm
£24, £19.50 & £14.50
Dazzling visuals frame a dynamic fusion of hip-hop and martial arts in this explosive tribute to manga – Japan’s popular graphic novel form.
Mark Watson: Flaws
24 Oct, 8pm
£16
Winner of five major comedy awards and star of TV and radio, Flaws is Watson’s darkest, most personal show yet. Also his funniest.
Open Stages Performance
25 Oct, 3pm
£3
Our littlest performers take to our biggest stage and show us they’ve got more than enough talent to fill it.
Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play
28-30 Oct, 10am, 1pm & 3.30pm
£12.50 adult / £9.50 child
A magical journey through the seasons, as Charlie and Lola discover that everything is different and not the same. Puppets, live action and music bring to life the much-loved books and the popular BBC TV Series.
Young People’s First in 3
29 Oct, 7pm
£5
Come and see what creative ideas young theatre-makers have bubbling in their heads during October half term.
The Gamblers
30 Oct – 1 Nov, 7.30pm
£14.50 / £12 concessions
In the world of The Gamblers there is no mercy. You play well or you lose everything. This new all-female version is a story of women who gamble, hustle, cheat, drink, swear, sing and dance. And never apologise for it.
Afrovibes: Rainbow Scars
6 Nov, 6.30pm
£14.50
Nelson Mandela encouraged South Africans to reach out and touch each other’s lives: white middle class Ellen Robinson and her family adopted a three year old black child. Now, fourteen years later she’s coming to term with her life in a changing South Africa.
Afrovibes: Biko’s Quest
7-8 Nov, 7.30pm
£24, £19.50 & £14.50
Biko’s Quest takes the audience on a poignant and emotional journey through danced storytelling. “Powerful, thought- provoking, moving and unforgettable” Cape Times
Radikal Words
12 Nov, 7.30pm
£8.50
A jam-packed night of spoken word with former slam UK champion, Joelle Taylor and James McKay. Plus Jo Colley, Jeff Price and Vinny Boy McHugh and music from Ditte Elly.
The Christmas Grump
15 Nov – 3 Jan, see Northern Stage website for times
£12.50 adult / £9.50 child / Under 1s £1
A Christmas show for children aged 6 and under and their families, inspired by Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. An original story by Susan Mulholland, directed by Mark Calvert, designed by Andrew Stephenson and music by Katie Doherty.
Get Santa!
1-27 Dec, see Northern Stage website for times
£24, £19.50 & £14.50 / Family ticket £60
A jolly Christmas play full of songs, slapstick, puppetry and fun for children aged 7 and over and their families. “This beautifully unlikely play has heart to match its humour… the most properly Christmassy show of the season” The Times
The Suggestibles’ Impro Pantso
18 Dec, 8pm
£17
The legendary Suggestibles improvised comedy troupe are back to wreak hilarious havoc on the Get Santa! set.
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