Preview: Unspoken at Newcastle Theatre Royal

UNSPOKEN STORIES TOLD IN ROYAL REMEMBRANCE DAY PERFORMANCE

Unspoken

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Sunday 12^th November 2017

Newcastle Theatre Royal will debut a very special performance this Remembrance Sunday, 12 November. Created by the UK’s military community Unspoken is based on real-life stories and is the heart-breaking tale of lives shattered and changed forever by war.

The one-off production will be the culmination of a five week theatre project run by the Bravo 22 Company, The Royal British Legion's recovery through the arts programme, and is being delivered in partnership with the Newcastle Theatre Royal and The Drive Project.

The cast includes veterans who’ve suffered life-changing injures as well as family members with a loved one in the forces. Writer Gary Kitching has based the script on their real life memories and experiences and created a rare theatrical work, a hilariously heart-wrenching tale of love, loss, loneliness and hope.

Kitching, who has 20 years’ acting experience, including projects with young offenders said: “It’s their stories and if I can write something they are proud to perform then my job is done. It’s their ability to get on and deal with whatever is thrown at them, and their ability to find humour in the darkest places. I think they will surprise, entertain and move a lot of people.”

 

Ray Winstone, Bravo 22 Company Ambassador, met with the Unspoken cast on location last week to give them some acting tips ahead of their Remembrance Sunday performance.

Left to right: Dave Griffin, Graham Limb, Gary Kitching (writer), Tip Cullen, Luke Delahunty, Ian Rudge, Jono Farrelly, Jez Scarratt, Ray Winstone, Mick Carroll, Larraie Smith, Kim Hoffmann (Producer), Simon Graham, Alice Driver (The Drive Project) & Matt Wightman

Unspoken follows in the footsteps of several hugely successful theatre and art projects that Bravo 22 company has run over the past six years. Its debut, The Two Worlds of Charlie F, received standing ovations throughout its West End run in 2012 and went on to tour the UK and Canada, including a critically acclaimed visit to Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2014. Furthermore, in December last year, 30 members of Newcastle’s Armed Forces community performed and produced sell-out show Wor Stories at the Theatre, another breathtaking production based on real life experiences.

Bravo 22 Company was created by Alice Driver in partnership with The Royal British Legion, the Ministry of Defence and the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2011 to help improve self-awareness, confidence, self-esteem and motivation in order to aid personnel with individual paths to recovery. 

Directing the show will be Newcastle Theatre Royal Artistic Director Phil Hoffmann.

Phil said: “For the last two years, the Learning Department has been working in partnership with The Drive Project and The Royal British Legion (RBL) to deliver projects for Wounded, Injured and Sick Service Personnel, veterans and their families. Last year we delivered Wor Stories - a regional project with participants from the NE, but in January we began working on Unspoken - a much larger project.”

Most of the cast of Unspoken have taken part in previous Bravo 22 Company projects and one of the stars is former Royal Marine Tip Cullen.  After 30 years as a commando Tip left the army in 2015.  His first acting break came in Bravo 22’s Boots at the Door in Plymouth in 2015, but he has since gone on to appear in various Hollywood films including Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’ and Kingsmen 2. He’ll join this Bravo 22 cast fresh from filming in Canada.

Alice Driver, Founder and Managing Director for The Drive Project, commented; “The Bravo 22 Company journey has been incredible to oversee.  Six years on from our first performance and around 230 people have been through this process. Reuniting cast members from all over the country for this performance is really special for me. What makes this type of theatre unique is not only what the audience gets out of seeing a show based on real life experiences but also how the cast grow in confidence, form new friendships and use the stage as a platform for their voice”

Unspoken was commissioned to support RBL’s national campaign of Remembrance, moving into 2018 which marks 100 years since the end of WWI.

As such, Newcastle Theatre Royal will be used as a focus for the regional Remembrance campaign which will feed into the national campaign. As well as having official RBL poppy sellers outside the theatre in the run up to the production on the 12 November, a major new art installation will be positioned on the Theatre’s terrace between 25 October - 13 November. Created by award-winning artist Mark Humphrey the sculpture features a 3m tall ‘Centenary Soldier’ standing on a plinth of limestone sourced from the Somme.  The figure is inspired by the iconic ‘Unknown Soldier’ in Paris and will provide a centre point for the city’s Remembrance activities.

Unspoken is also one of the cultural highlights of Newcastle Freedom City 2017, a city-wide programme commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King being awarded an honorary degree by Newcastle University.

Tickets:

Unspoken is at Newcastle Theatre Royal for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Sunday 12 November 2017 at 7pm. Tickets are from £10 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

REVIEW: What Once Was Ours at Newcastle Northern Stage

Finding Your Identity

Zest Theatre and Half Moon co-production

What Once Was Ours

Juice Festival at Newcastle Northern Stage

Friday 27^th October 2017

A series of interviews with 215 young people aged between 14-18 from four different communities led to the creation of What Once Was Ours. This including a number from Newcastle & Gateshead who discussed the experiences of living in Britain. The show looks at the difficulties of living in a country in which fear about one’s neighbours isn’t uncommon.

The show was performed as part of the region’s Juice Festival and the organisers had brought together a group of 10 people aged 14-25 to produce a response to What Once Was Ours. They had seen the show last week in Sunderland and then met 3 days ago to create a series of situational drama that looked at the issues as they saw it. The fact that 10 people who had never previously met could create half an hours theatre in just 3 days whilst working with Zest Theatre’s Toby Ealden is impressive in itself.

The response looks at racism, homophobia, fear of teenagers and the struggle of identity. The audience watch two performers outside in a scene about racism and exclusion which used the colour of their shirts as the area of contention. It was effectively a silent production as they were outside and it worked as a piece of physical theatre. Later in the show they were unable to join us inside as the door was locked - a clever analogy for troubles abroad that we are aware of but some of us don’t want the victims joining us in our country.

The action then moved to a tight space representing a lift. It is unusual to be so close to the rest of the audience, everyone was packed in like a rush hour commuter train. The two actors had a loud conversation about a third person called Brian and it looked at attitudes towards homophobia and the labels that we give people.

It was a relief to then move to the art corridor which was doubling as a Metro train. The remaining members of the young troupe then addressed issues of racism and prejudice against young people. Based upon a real event in which a young person was verbally abused on a bus when reading a book about Noble Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, the audience empathised with the difficulties she faced. Someone objected to the book and screamed “Why are you reading a book about a terrorist?” and soon the bus was chanting abuse at her.

Next we are asked to consider if we are too quick to make assumptions about young people we meet on public transport. Perhaps they are working in the community trying to make a difference and it is too easy to assume they are up to no good. There was humorous moments too as it finishes with the annoyance of sitting next to someone who is eating on the train providing light relief.

As a curtain raiser to the main event, the team of 10 did really well and the audience were getting used to becoming a part of the action as we entered Stage 3 for the main event.

The What Once Was Ours set consisted of a number of large foam bocks and the audience was asked to sit on and around the set and the action took place around us. This was 360^o theatre indeed.  Callum (Jaz Hutchins) appears on the set asking for directions from the audience. He finds the house that he is looking for and Katie (Pippa Beckwith) is at home. They share the same father and Callum wants to speak to him however his Dad is in Spain. Over a cup of tea of lot of issues are discussed. Families are often strange and full of problems and it is no different here.

Issues of childhood, racism and abandonment are chewed over and even a game of twister takes place in an emotionally charged show. Between the scenes recordings of the original interviews are played through the speakers that are around the set. They often make for uncomfortable hearing as the experiences of young people living in post-Brexit vote Britain are delivered in such a straight fashion. This surround sound design by Guy Connelly helped make the space feel small and intimate

The lighting design by Phil Clarke included 4 tall poles that were able to flash in sync with the voice recordings played thus taking the place of the original speakers in the group. 

There are some lighter moments in the show that bring some welcome relief. There are also those troubling moments in the script. The ex-pat living in Spain who didn’t realise a vote for leave could ultimately mean they have to leave their Spanish retirement place or the mother who thinks tea is a British drink.

Pippa Beckwith and Jaz Hutchins skilfully interact with the set and each other even though the members of the audience are dotted around the stage. Director Toby Ealden gets a lively performance out of the two talented actors:  we see there is a relationship but it is under historic strain.

The elements of prejudice in Katie’s family are brought out into the open without much comment from Callum and that leaves it for the audience to make their own mind up. In this respect What Once Was Ours is an important piece about the British society that we live in today. The well produced show was both entertaining and thought provoking. It is a shame it wasn’t in town for a longer run.

Review by Stephen Oliver.

Photos by Phil Crow

Details of the remaining dates of the UK tour: https://zesttheatre.com/whatonce

On The Web:

https://zesttheatre.com/

https://twitter.com/zesttheatre

https://twitter.com/HalfMoonTheatre

 

Preview: Turin Brakes at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Turin Brakes  

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Sunday 11^th March 2018

Tyne Theatre & Opera House are thrilled to announce that Turin Brakes will be performing at the theatre on Sunday 11^th March 2018 as part of their ‘Invisible Storm’ tour, in support of their new album of the same name.

After an impressive 17 years together, seven studio albums and over a million records sold worldwide, they might be excused a bit of downtime. But no, the estimable London 4-piece Turin Brakes have announced their eighth studio album ‘Invisible Storm’ coming in January 2018 on Cooking Vinyl, followed by a major UK tour.

2016 saw them back lighting up the airwaves with national radio playlisting for three singles from critically acclaimed album ‘Lost Property’ coupled with a packed schedule of touring. Yet all along the way new material kept bubbling through. New songs kept popping up in sound-checks. Light-bulb moments materialised in midnight sessions in hotel rooms or in any spare moments found.

The band - founder members and former primary school friends Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, along with longtime bandmates Rob Allum and Eddie Myer - quickly decided to catch that wave. Completed by producer Ali Staton they all returned to their favourite bolthole - Rockfield Studios in the Monmouth Valley, where they could absorb the vibes left hanging in the air by a long line of musical mavericks, sit down at the piano where Freddie recorded ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and let the music take shape, revealing the next stage in the journey.

Invisible Storm is big-picture music played on a small screen, refracted through lyrics that embrace the personal and the universal, without offering the comfort of easy answers. Formed in Balham South London, Turin Brakes released their Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album The Optimist in 2001 followed by Ether Song in 2003 which featured the top 5 hit single Pain Killer (Summer Rain). One of the finest indie bands of the last decade with 7 top 40 hits to their name Turin Brakes are a band that’s weathered many Invisible Storms, that are sure of who they are and what they’ve set out to do, and know that there’s always a story left to tell…

Tickets now on sale priced at £22.50.

Tickets will be available online from our affiliate Eventim UK Tickets: ONLINE TICKET LINK

Or from the theatre Box Office - open 10am-3:30pm Monday to Friday and event days

Booking and Information Line: 0844 2491 000 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday)

Preview: Robinson Crusoe at Durham Gala

Head out on the high seas for Gala’s pirate pantomime

Robinson Crusoe

Durham Gala

Thursday 23^rd November 2017 to Saturday 6^th January 2018

Tickets are selling fast for the Gala Theatre’s latest pantomime – the swashbuckling tale of Robinson Crusoe.

The team behind Gala’s biggest-selling pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk, which saw over 33,000 people flock to 69 performances in 2016/17, are returning to put on this year’s show.

Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley are again on board to write, direct and star in the pantomime, which takes place from Thursday 23^rd November 2017 to Saturday 6^th January 2018.

“This will be my tenth year playing the baddie at the Gala and my third year writing and directing with Paul,” said Neil, who plays Captain Horatio Blackheart.

“We loved the idea of writing a piratical adventure this year so both thought Robinson Crusoe was a good bet.  

“We've got mermaids, tropical parrots and hopefully a new twist on Man Friday – the set looks amazing and this year we have a wonderful special effects team working alongside us, so all aboard and bring on the pirates!

“The Durham audiences have been marvellous to Paul and I and we welcome them all back with open arms, big smiles and lots of boos!”

Gateshead-born Jamie Brown, who played the leading role in this year’s Mr Corvan’s Music Hall, will take on the role of Robinson as he sets off an adventure to find the fabled Pearl of Wisdom.

He will be joined on his quest by his brother Billy Bob, played by Paul, his mother Dame Connie Crusoe (Paul Dunn) as well as the feisty Polly Perkins – played by Sunderland actress Lauren Waine.

Along the way they will meet goddess of the sea Aqua Marina, played by Jayne Mackenzie, as they try to reach safer shores.

“This is my 15th panto year at the Gala and the last three have been the most fun. We've seen audience figures grow year on year and have gained a loyal following,” said Neil’s fellow director Paul.

“We've been excited to share the stage with great performers from Gala Theatre Stage School and look forward to creating more shows together. 

“This year’s show is the biggest we've attempted and we are thrilled to be heading out on the high seas.”

Robin Byers, Durham County Council’s manager for the Gala Theatre, said: “Gala’s pantomime is something we are hugely proud of. This will be the tenth year of producing our own pantomime, and we think we’ve developed the show into one of the best in the region. Using actors and characters that our audiences love, the right amount of local flavour, and traditional stories told in a hilarious way, we are delighted that our audience return year after year in greater numbers. The feedback we get is overwhelmingly positive, and as long as people are enjoying what we do, we’ll keep on enjoying making the shows”.

Tickets:

Tickets cost between £6 and £17 with family tickets also available.

A BSL interpreted performance will take place on Sunday, 10 December, while a relaxed performance for people with autism and their families will take place on Thursday, 14 December.

For tickets visit www.galadurham.co.uk or call the box office on 03000 266 600.

REVIEW: Walter at Newcastle Alphabetti

Walter

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Tuesday 24th - Saturday 28th October &

Wednesday 1st - Friday 3rd November 2017

Written by Steve Byron

Directed by Ali Pritchard

Samantha Phyllis Morris and Emma Crowley-Bennett appear as Walter the pigeon, and the variety of creatures that he meets, in his World War 1 adventure for ages 8+.

Alphabetti Theatre are running Walter alongside Wilfredwhich is for a more mature audience. Both plays portray the horrors of war to their respective audience. Whilst Wilfredcan show the emotional effects of mechanised war to its adult audience Walter needs to find a suitable vehicle to explain what happened without scaring the kids unnecessarily. Wilfred would be suitable for GCSE History students and older whereas Walteris for the Horrible Historiesaudience. By focussing the events through the eyes of a pigeon, writer Steve Byron has nicely side stepped some of the potential issues without the story losing any of the potency.

Walter is a Newcastle pigeon that has won a number of awards racing back to his pigeon loft. When war is called his owner, Bob, takes Walter across to France to work on communications between the trenches. He gets to meet General Haig’s falcon Sir Lancelot Proud-Beak and experiences truffles thanks to Claude the pig.

Rather than having human victims of war, the various pigeons in the loft show the signs of the regular battles. This proves to be a clever touch which kept the younger members of the audience engaged. Samantha Phyllis Morris and Emma Crowley-Bennett both are really engaging with the young crowd. The pigeon was learning about the war as the story progressed and this helped ensure anyone in the audience not familiar with the nature of the conflict were not kept in the dark. Ali Prichard’s direction involves the birds flying occasionally through the audience which helped break the fourth wall. Whilst there were bangs and flashes the children in the audience seemed happy.

This was a history lesson that was neither dull nor patronising. Walter is a successful show in that it informed, educated and entertained the audience. By programming the show, Alphabetti has also given families a chance to share the theatre experience without breaking the bank.

Review by Stephen Oliver.

Tickets:

Walter

Tuesday 24^thOctober – Saturday 28^th October at 4.00pm.

Wednesday 1^st– Friday 3^rd November at 6.00pm.

Age recommendation 8+

Running time: 45 minutes BOOK ONLINE NOW 

Wilfred

Tuesday 24^thOctober – Saturday 28^th October at 7.30pm.

Wednesday 1^st– Friday 3^rd November at 7.30pm.

Age recommendation 16+

Running time: 55 minutes BOOK ONLINE NOW

Tickets £8.00/£6.00 concessions                             

Get £2.00 off if you book both shows

Theatre website: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/whats-on-menu/coming-up

Preview: Crazy For you at Sunderland Empire

CLAIRE SWEENEY JOINS THE CAST OF

CRAZY FOR YOU

WITH TOM CHAMBERS & CHARLOTTE WAKEFIELD

Crazy For You

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 24^th - Saturday 28^th April 2018

Jamie Wilson and Gavin Kalin are delighted to announce that Claire Sweeney will take over the role of ‘Irene’ in the national tour of the Watermill Theatre’s acclaimed production of CRAZY FOR YOU. Claire joins Tom Chambers who plays ‘Bobby’ and Charlotte Wakefield who plays ‘Polly’ from the 16 January 2018 at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, with a date at Sunderland Empire (24-28 April 2018).

Claire Sweeney has a television and theatre career which spans over 20 years. She is probably best known for playing the role of ‘Lindsey Corkhill’ in “Brookside”.  Other television credits include “Clocking Off” and “Merseybeat” along with a presenting role on “60 Minute Makeover” and a panellist on ITV’s “Loose Women”. Claire’s West End roles include ‘Roxie Hart’ in “Chicago” and ‘Miss Adelaide” in “Guys and Dolls”. Claire previously played the title role in “Educating Rita” at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory and prior to that, played ‘Paulette’ in the UK tour of the award winning “Legally Blonde”. She most recently appeared as ‘Baroness Bomburst’ in the National Tour of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.

Tom Chambers created the role of Jerry Travers in the West End musical “Top Hat”, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. In 2008 he won the 6^th season of “Strictly Come Dancing”. He can currently be seen in the hit BBC drama “Casualty” and his other TV credits include “Holby City” and “Waterloo Road”. His recent stage credits include “Private Lives” and “White Christmas” in the West End.

Charlotte Wakefield made her West End debut as ‘Wendla’ in “Spring Awakening”, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award. She played ‘Maria’ in the critically acclaimed production of “The Sound of Music” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre receiving nominations for Best Actress in a Musical at both the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards. Her other theatre credits include ‘Sophie’ in “Mamma Mia!” in the West End, ‘Truly Scrumptious’ in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and Laurey in “Oklahoma!”, both on national tour.

The cast is completed by Arthur Boan, Daniel Bolton, Hollie Cassar, Neil Ditt, Kate-Anne Fenton, Cristopher Fry, Stacey Ghent, Matthew James Hinchliffe, Kieran Kuypers,  Kate Milner-Evans, Emma Jane Morton, Kate Robson-Stuart, Ned Rudkins-Stow, Seren Sandham-Davies, Mark Sangster and Abi Casson Thompson.

High energy, high kicking and gloriously glamorous, CRAZY FOR YOU is the ultimate feel-good musical with a fabulous score from the Gershwin brothers’ songbook. Mistaken identities, plot twists, heartbreak, happiness and a wealth of memorable tunes, including I Got Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Embraceable You, all feature in this exhilarating celebration of the great Broadway musicals.

CRAZY FOR YOU is directed by The Watermill’s Artistic Director, Paul Hart, with musical arrangements by Catherine Jayes (The Color Purple, Broadway). It is choreographed by Nathan M. Wright (High Society, Old Vic) and is designed by Diego Pitarch (The Addams Family). Lighting design is by Howard Hudson (In the Heights) with sound design by Tom Marshall (Legally Blonde).

CRAZY FOR YOU has Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, Book by Ken Ludwig, co-conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent. It is inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. CRAZY FOR YOU was originally produced on Broadway by Roger Horchow and Elizabeth Williams. Original Broadway Choreography by Susan Stroman. 

 Tickets are now on sale.

Tickets available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online from our affiliate ATGtickets*

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your plus your phone company's access charge. Booking and transaction fees may apply.

Group Bookings: 0330 1027531

Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge.

 

REVIEW: Wilfred at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Wilfred

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Tuesday 24th - Saturday 28th October &

Wednesday 1st - Friday 3rd November 2017

Wilfred is in a field hospital during the Great War. Married with twin boys, the young corporal has the additional responsibility of choosing the men who will go on special missions.  This new drama examines the effects of a mechanised war on the young combatants.

We are in a four year period marking the 100^th anniversary of World War One. It was regarded by some as the forgotten war. Compared to WW2 and Vietnam a limited number of films and dramas looked at this particular conflict. In 2014 we had a small number of revivals of shows about the period and the likes of Accrington Pals and Birdsongwere fairly tame treatments when compared to, say, the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan. As time has gone on, new writing has re-examined the period and the results are productions which are more visceral, have greater urgency and poignancy. Wilfred is another example of writing which is respectful to the fallen and their sacrifice but also willing to share the horror.

Wilfred is dedicated to Alfred Kitching, who is writer Gary Kitching’s great grandfather. Alfred was killed in combat on The Spring offensive in 1918. Gary has produced a fine script which looks at the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but also leaves some room for the humour that is also the part of the human condition.

Jack Lloyd appears as Corporal Wilfred and he gives a very physical performance of the turmoil that Wilfred faced. The nightmares didn’t necessarily stop when he woke up. Megan Robson completes the cast as Nurse Syrup, the caring provider of clean sheets and sweet cups of tea.  The role of a nurse included that of being a good listener and much of the evening’s humour came from Wilfred’s attempt at poetry. The change in the political landscape is also hinted at as the Nurse’s reason for training is given as Pankhurst’s call to support the fighting forces.  She asks about the soldier’s feelings about Suffrage, he doesn’t really give a reply.

Director Paula Penman keeps a tight, intelligent, reign on the pace of the piece. There are moments of quiet reflection in the dialogue and there are moments of intense action.  The show is another fine example of the great work that now gets a platform thanks to Alphabetti’s programming policy. Running just under an hour, this show would work well if it was to go to Edinburgh Fringe.

Wilfred is a gripping examination of a young soldier’s stay in hospital. Torn between his roles as a family man and a leader of a fighting group he also has to face his own personal demons. Jack Lloyd and Megan Robson give a great performance.

Review by Stephen Oliver

Wilfred appears in a double bill with Walter, which is suitable for ages 8+  See the Preview for details: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/preview-walter-wilfred-at-newcastle.html

Tickets:

Walter

Tuesday 24^thOctober – Saturday 28^th October at 4.00pm.

Wednesday 1^st– Friday 3^rd November at 6.00pm.

Age recommendation 8+

Running time: 45 minutes BOOK ONLINE NOW 

Wilfred

Tuesday 24^thOctober – Saturday 28^th October at 7.30pm.

Wednesday 1^st– Friday 3^rd November at 7.30pm.

Age recommendation 16+

Running time: 55 minutes BOOK ONLINE NOW

Tickets £8.00/£6.00 concessions                             

Get £2.00 off if you book both shows

Theatre website: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/whats-on-menu/coming-up