Preview: Snow White at Newcastle NE6 Suite

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

Newcastle NE6 Suite

Friday 1^st - Friday 15^th December 2017

Snow White has been specially written for the NE6 Suite in Walker. This will be a family affair starring Janine Allan as the Fairy, her sister Danielle Mendes as Producer and performing as The Magic Mirror and the Prince’s Mother Danielle's son. Anton Sasha Mendes will be playing one of the Dwarfs and Andrea Allen, Janine and Danielle's mum, is helping behind the scenes.

Jess Johnson will also appear

The family from Jarrow Tyne and Wear have joined forces to perform and spend valuable family time together. The panto is dedicated to Dora Averill, Mother, best friend, nana and nannie.Janine said “this is for Grandma Doris, she would have loved to see us all together.”

Janine is a London actress well known in Tyneside for her roles at the Customs House in South Shields. Janine  is looking forward to coming back home for the run of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She trained at Newcastle College and Cumbria Institute of the Arts. Stage credits include Sylvia in Stepping Out, Lizzie in A Piece of Cake and Edith in Noel Cowards Blithe Spirit. TV credits include Miss Bowman in Tracy Beaker, The Interceptor and Byker Grove. Film credits include Marie in Artificial Eyes production of In Our Name.

Danielle Louise Mendes trained at Salford University studying Media Performance with Peter Kay and Car Share’s Sian Gibson and then graduated from Sunderland University with BA Hons. She was a dancer at the Tyne Theatre from an early age performing in numerous productions.

Danielle owned her own Recruitment Agency for 7 years, before launching her own production company Mendes Management Ltd and The Vintage Scene. Providing entertainment throughout the country and in the Channel Islands, Danielle has produced many shows and this Christmas as well as Snow White, Danielle is co – producing the Wizard of Oz in Jersey and managing The Cosmopolitan Show in Jersey starring our very own Director David Dale. David a well known actor and director in the West End, has performed in 22 pantomimes and written 4. Joining  the Allens on stage Ruby Barker playing the role of Snow White. Ruby is well known for the hit teen fantasy drama series 'Wolfblood'CBBC's 

Craig Richardson takes on the role as Muddles. Craig from South Shields started acting at the age of 12 performing at the Pier Pavilion in South Shields.

Dale Jewitt is Prince Charming, Born and raised in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Dale is a multi-skilled performer and actor. He has written and arranged songs as musical director for the increasingly popular Plays in the Parks with Theatre Space North East including; Romeo

The dwarfs are from Tyneside schools. Choreography by Karen McKenzie Whitfield from Attic Studios in Jarrow

Tickets:

Ticket details are found on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/snowwhitene6/ or call the box office on 07766335055

REVIEW: Lauren Pattison at Newcastle Alphabetti

Lauren Pattison - Lady Muck

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Thursday 23^rd November 2017

Photo: Andy Hollingworth

Lauren Pattison’s funny tales of life living as a young North Eastern comic living in London performed to sold out crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. She paid a visit to Newcastle’s fringe venue to show why she was nominated as the Best Newcomer.

Lauren graduated with a first class bachelors degree and a masters degree and wanted to make it as a female stand up comic. Recognising that opportunities for success were limited in her native Newcastle she decided to up sticks and head to London. Sure, she was going to pay far more rent for a much smaller room and have to share the house with total strangers, but that was worth leaving behind a long term boyfriend. After all, long term relationships can work, cant they?

Her set looks at the sacrifices needed to make a successful career in entertainment work. This includes the other work that one has to do to pay the bills, living away from the natural support network and being in a middle class world full of southerners with different values. Lauren mixes sharp wit with great observational skills. This isn’t an hour with a female Peter Kay though. Rather than generalities, the audience are taken through a very personal journey and it is that genuine emotional attachment that sets Lauren apart from a number of her peers. She isn’t trying to be funny, she is funny.

Photo: Andy Hollingworth

Lauren has a fast style of delivery and she covers a lot in the hour. In her amazing sparkling boots (I want a pair!) she isn’t afraid to swear but she doesn’t, in my mind, get offensive. Certainly she is no more offensive than virtually any other comic.  She is a champion of both her northern and working class roots. She doesn’t apologise for what she has been through or where she has come from. And why should she? There are poignant moments to her story too. The pressure on image that young people are put through in an age of easy access social media is stark.   

This was a homecoming gig and a number of people in the room knew her - including a number of her old school teachers. You can see why they talk so highly of her and why they want to continue to support her as she launches into her career. Let’s make no mistake, Lauren has what it takes to make regular appearances on tv.

The sold out crowd at Alphabetti continued to applaud long after the house lights came back on. We had witnessed the start of a very promising, and hopefully long, career in comedy.

Review by Stephen Oliver

Tickets:

Lady Muck returns for one final Newcastle date at The Stand Comedy Club on Sunday 28^th January 2018. Support comes from Ross Smith. Details can be found here: http://www.thestand.co.uk/show/29560/lauren_pattison_lady_muck 

Preview: Robin Hood at North Shields Exchange

Panto comes to North Shields!

Robin Hood The Pantomime
North Shields Exchange
Friday 22^nd - Sunday 31^st December 2017

Who can stop the evil Sheriff of Nottingham? Not only does he make the local villagers’ lives a misery with his endless taxes, he’s now taken the beautiful Maid Marian off to his castle to become his new wife. And he didn’t even ask her for permission!

Can Widow Scarlet and her lovable son, Will, rescue poor Maid Marian from Nottingham Castle? Perhaps, if they can enlist the help of that legendary outlaw, Robin Hood…

Join Robin and his friends in an all-new pantomime adventure from Pantomime Magic. There’ll be singing and dancing, slapstick, romance, and laughs aplenty in this fun-packed show for all the family.

Dates:
Fri 22nd Dec 7pm
Sat 23rd Dec 2pm & 7pm
Sun 24th Dec 2pm
Wed 27th Dec 7pm
Thur 28th Dec 2pm
Fri 29th Dec 7pm
Sat 30th Dec 2pm & 7pm
Sun 31st Dec 2pm

Tickets
Prices: Children £8    Adults £10    Family of 4 £30
www.ticketsource.co.uk/theexchange

Booking No: 0191 258 4111

Preview: Welcome to Paradise at Arts Centre Washington

Welcome to Paradise

Arts Centre Washington

Thursday 30^th November 2017

Welcome to Paradise is the brand new show from controversial Gaulier trained performers A Ship of Fools Theatre Company that comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 30 November

A rollercoaster of audience interactive clowning that tap dances back and forth over the lines of decency to shock and horrify the audience.   This playful, hilarious and anarchic Bouffon comedy explodes traditional images of Christmas, greed and consumerism.

Two likeable trickster tramps toy with the audience creating an exciting and thrilling atmosphere and shower the audience with sweets, toys and gifts. Then just as they think they understand the world they are in, the Captain and Raoul shift gears and confront them with a hard truth of Christmas, that

of Santa’s sweatshop “elves”. That’s when the fun really begins the as the audience face the reality of the awful horror that our consumer choices have on the people who support our privileged way of life.

“Master’s of their craft” Porl Cooper - Slung Low

“The cleverest, darkest funniest comedy I think I’ve ever seen” Jonny Unknown

“Exciting, thrilling, challenging and ultimately very human.” Adam Pownall Lincoln Drill Hall

“Light, fun and nasty in all the right places.” Michael Burgos, Award winning theatre maker

Their work has been likened to Python, Dr Brown, Red Bastard, and League of Gentlemen with the awkward laughter of Ricky Gervais with a flavour of Chris Morris’ jam.
 

Whilst other company’s use theatre to point the finger at bastard politicians, heads of business the “patriarchy” and the “elite”, Ship of Fools want to remind the audience that there is a bastard in all of us too.

This can really push a lot of peoples buttons and create a strong reaction in an audience, after all who really likes to be reminded that they are a bastard too?

Tickets:
Welcome to Paradise comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 30^th November.  Tickets are from £6 and are available from www.artscentrewashington.co.uk or by calling 0191 561 3455

REVIEW: Paint Your Wagon at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

Gold Rush Comes To Newcastle

Paint Your Wagon

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Until Saturday 25^th November 2017 

Tickets:

Tickets are available from the Tyne Theatre box office or online: Tickets from our afilliate Eventim UK

Photo: Signature Times Photography

Paint Your Wagon is a classic American musical with libretto and lyrics by Alan J. Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. First performed on Broadway in 1951, it seems to be a rare production and it is the 1969 film starring Lee Marvin, Jean Seberg and Clint Eastwood that has kept songs such as Wanderin’ Star in the public eye. This week the show arrives in Newcastle and is a charming evening out.

Photo: Signature Times Photography

Photo: Signature Times Photography

The show opens with the discovery somewhere in California of gold as Ben Rumson (Alan Davison) is burying a friend. He claims the land and sets up a new town of Rumson with his daughter Jennifer (Hannah Elliott). The story then follows the progress of a town full of gold prospectors. The issues of living in a male dominated society and the lack of a formal education are addressed in the story. There is also a sub-plot involving polygamy and religious tolerance. Bearing in mind the script is from 1951, some of the ways in which the female characters are addressed by the men is probably more in keeping with the 1853 setting rather than 2017 sensibilities.

Photo: Signature Times Photography

The book is full of humour and this leads to a light-hearted story about some pretty tough times. There was a sterling effort from the cast which features some really strong singing voices. Hannah Elliott had an early chance to shine with What’s Going On Here. Michael Skoyles, likewise came across confidently with Carino Mio.

Photo: Signature Times Photography

Alan Davison has a real rich quality to his voice which first came to the fore in the lament I Still See Elisa. However it was during Wandrin’ Star that you had a chance to really appreciate the fabulous tone as he owned the classic hit.

Photo: Signature Times Photography

Photo: Carliol Photography

Director Jonathan Cash has made intelligent decisions to get the most out of the source material and allow the cast to shine.  Choreographer Jenn Rouse has created some intricate dance routines, in particular in the final scene of the first act. The dancers pulled off these with aplomb. The costumes from Lorraine Skeen and her team looked the part and help set the scene.

Photo: Signature Times Photography

Photo: Signature Times Photography

High quality live musical bands are often a feature at this theatre as they take full advantage of the natural acoustics. The live band filled the Opera House with a fine sound and Musical Director Andrew Soulsby kept the music in sync with the action on stage.

Photo: Signature Times Photography

Paint Your Wagon is a good evening’s entertainment with some great singing and dancing from a talented ensemble.

Review by Stephen Oliver.

Tickets

Tickets are available from the Tyne Theatre box office or online: Tickets from our afilliate Eventim UK

  

REVIEW: Strictly Musicals 2 at Darlington Hippodrome

The Hippodrome Returns

Strictly Musicals 2

Darlington Hippodrome

Until Saturday 25^th November 2017

The Darlington Civic closed in order to undergo a major £12.7 million refit. The work is now complete and the venue has reopened as the Hippodrome. Strictly Musicals 2 is the opening show and it is fitting that the show, from the Darlington Operatic Society, is a complete sell out. This shows there is a demand for high quality theatre in Darlington.

Firstly a few words about the theatre. It feels very different as you enter the building, partly because you now go in through the other side of the building. But partly because they have effectively added a new building to the side that used to have a restaurant and the box office. There are now of number of bars on each level and various galleries to enjoy as you wait for the auditorium to open. It has a modern and clean feel which is contrast to the historic wonder of the interior of the actual auditorium itself.

The venue didn’t appear to be suffering any first night nerves and things were running smoothly. I hope there will be a few more signs going up. It wasn’t obvious where the box office was nor was there much signage on the upper levels to explain the direction to the seats from the main stairs/lifts.  I also actually missed the super fast hand dryers that were in the old building. Sad but true - these are minor quibbles and I was very impressed with the new parts of the building.

Once inside we have new seating. I was in the dress circle and found the seat comfy for the 3 hours that I was sat in it and the leg room was sufficient. Not all recent theatre refurbs have installed comfy seating so that was a definite plus. I had a look at the stalls and I noticed the aisles have moved to the very edge of the room so more seats are centrally located in front of the stage.  The red décor has gone and the auditorium has a historic yet fresh look about it.

On to the show. The first act had medleys from Top Hat, Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You and Joseph plus an additional 9 songs making for a long run before the interval. The individual songs were a eclectic mix from the likes of Ghost, Starlight Express, Wicked and Jersey Boys. Highlights were definitely the Phantom medley and Hard Candy Christmas from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. It was clear from the off that the show was going to feature a very tight band under musical director Steven Hood and some great choreography from Joanne Hand. The company too are incredibly talented and often made the songs their own.

The second act, for me was a little tighter. Opening with a Mamma Mia medley, it had popular hits from Miss Saigon and Chess. Highlights included Luke Oldfield leading the chorus on the fabulous Run Freedom Run (lets hope one day Darlington gets to see the full musical); Julian Cound and Sam Morrison’s duet Same Umbrella in the Rain from Little Women and the fabulous Seasons of Love from Rent. The second half also featured some less well known musicals too.

The show had a costume change for each song so clearly the changing rooms were being put to the test too.

The evening featured a large number of really talented singers and dancers supported by a band which had real quality. Perhaps the evening would have been tighter if it had been a little bit shorter and a couple of the more obscure songs had been cut out from each act.  That aside, the evening was enjoyable and it is a fine start for the theatre. I look forward to returning to the venue again soon for the panto.

Review by Stephen Oliver.

On The Web:

https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/

Preview: Melva at Prudhoe

PRUDHOE HARDWARE STORE BECOMES POP-UP THEATRE FOR CHRISTMAS 2017

Melva 

Prudhoe Front St Theatre

Saturday 16th December 2017 to Saturday 6th January 2018

This Christmas, a shop unit on Prudhoe High Street will be temporarily transformed into Front Street Theatre, a fully-equipped studio theatre, and become home to a family Christmas theatre production, Melva, from mid-December to January 2018.

McGee’s Hardware Store, a mainstay of Prudhoe town centre for decades, has moved into other premises along the street, leaving the old store at 10 Front Street vacant. But not for long, as Prudhoe-based theatre company, Mortal Fools take over the space from mid-November to convert it for their latest production, Melva.  It’s no small task to turn the building around either; Mortal Fools will employ a team of around 20 volunteers and professionals to clean, paint and transform the shop into a suitable theatre space.

Following this transformation, which is estimated to take several weeks, the creative team for Melva will not only perform in the new space but rehearse in it too, giving the performers a chance to get used to the building weeks before it sees its first public visitors.

Mortal Fools are no strangers to transforming community venues into theatre spaces. This happens regularly as part of their flourishing youth theatre programme, Tyne Valley Youth Theatre (TVYT), which runs regular theatre sessions for children and young people aged 5-19 in Tynedale. This project will also offer TVYT groups the chance to perform their own original pieces at Front Street Theatre during the run.

Melva is a boisterous, Roald Dahl inspired story of one girl’s adventure to find out what she’s really capable of. It’s particularly aimed at children aged 7-11 and promises to be a very different type of Christmas show.

Arts Council England has contributed £15,000 to support the exciting project, which will allow over 500 children to see brand-new professional theatre in the heart of the Tyne Valley.

As Artistic Director Kiz Crosbie says, “It’s a privilege to bring Melva to the newly-created venue in Prudhoe this Christmas. The support from the local community has been fantastic and we hope this production will create excitement and a new audience for slightly alternative Christmas shows in the North East for future years.” 

Melva, the first Christmas production for Mortal Fools, also marks a strong commitment from the company to developing new and emerging theatre artists. For writer Danielle Burn (27), this will be her first full professional play which she has been supported to write by the Mortal Fools team.

“Mortal Fools don’t just talk the talk when it comes to supporting emerging artists, they prove they genuinely care, encourage and support. It took under a second for Kiz to reply to an email of mine about an idea for a play, something along the lines of 'we would love to produce it’. It became real and from that moment my first attempt at a children’s play was taken seriously.”

Melva director, Anna Ryder (24), has worked with Mortal Fools on theatre projects and activities for adults and this will be her first family theatre production. She’s increasingly grateful for the opportunities provided by the company.

'Mortal Fools have been a wonderful support since I joined the company earlier this year. They have allowed me the time and freedom to develop as a director and artist. You can come with an idea, big or small, and the team will be working hard to make it happen, no boundaries, no problems. Their get-go attitude is inspiring'.

Mortal Fools is a theatre company (and registered charity) who use dynamic theatre and drama to support people of all ages to build more fulfilling and positive lives. They are based in Prudhoe, Northumberland and work region-wide in schools, youth theatre and professional theatre settings. 

On The Web:

www.mortalfools.org.uk

Tickets:

Melva runs from 16 December 2017 to 6 January 2018. Tickets are now available from http://www.mortalfools.org.uk/melva, or for a discounted rate for Prudhoe Residents from Prudhoe Library.