News: Rachael Stirling & Alec Newman Star in Love In The Lockdown - Online

 

Rachael Stirling & Alec Newman Star in

Love In The Lockdown

Online

Thursday 4 March to Sunday 23 May 2021

 

By Clare Norburn

Directed by Nicholas Renton

 

Leading actors of the stage and screen Rachael Stirling and Alec Newman are set to star in a new topical online play with music, due to be released in nine episodes on YouTube next month from 4 March to 23 May 2021. 

The drama, directed by Nicholas Renton (BAFTA-nominated Mrs Gaskell’s Wives and Daughters, Musketeers, A Room With A View, Lewis, Silent Witness), follows medieval musician Emilia (Stirling) and playwright Giovanni (Newman) in the early stages of an intense relationship, which starts with awkward early Zoom dates just before lockdown. Each short episode will be streamed in real time on the anniversary of some of the key points in Lockdown 1.0. Comedian, Impressionist and Actor Jon Culshaw has a cameo as the voice of Boris Johnson in episode 3.

Rachael Stirling -Photo: Mike Blackett

Over 3 months, the separated lovers get closer. They also work on a project together, inspired by The Decameron by Boccaccio, a “14th Century box set” of 100 stories told by young people to while away their quarantine during the Black Death in Florence in 1348. Giovanni reimagines this work, drawing out parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, while Emilia and her ensemble, played by real medieval music group The Telling, plan the music.

However, their relationship ultimately gets tested and the challenges they face lead them on a soul-searching journey to discover their artistic truth. 

The drama is written by playwright and soprano Clare Norburn, with music performed by Norburn’s music ensemble The Telling, who are renowned for their concertplays which immerse audiences in a world where music and theatre collide.

Rachael Stirling comments: “Clare’s beautiful piece dramatises a lockdown experience of a live musician with the generous, funny and painful insight of her first-hand experience. She has written a drama for every creative who was told to retrain.”

 

Alec Newman - Photo: Stuart McClymont

Norburn was Inspired to write this play following her own experience of navigating a relationship long-distance during lockdown, the playwright says of the storyline: “I realised recently that I have written a kind of “La La Land in a pandemic” in that it follows an intense relationship between lovers from two different artistic worlds, music and drama, and how they ultimately learn through the relationship what their artistic truth is. Love in the Lockdown also charts the devastating effect the pandemic is having on those working in the Arts, with Emilia forced to stack shelves in order to pay her rent.”

Love in the Lockdown will be directed and filmed entirely over Zoom and by actors and musicians on their phones and recording devices. Each episode will be released on YouTube in real time, a year on from the point in 2020. The series can also be viewed in its entirety from 23 – 31 May.

Details:

Love In the Lockdown will be free to watch.

4 March – 23 May.  The series can also be viewed in its entirety from 23 – 31 May.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/thetellingmusic

 

Episode 1: Thursday 4^th March 2021, 2pm

Episode 2: Friday 5^th March 2021, 6pm

Episode 3: Tuesday 23^rd March 2021, 8pm

Episode 4: Wednesday 24^th March 2021, 5.15pm

Episode 5: Thursday 15^th April 2021, 5pm

Episode 6: Wednesday 5^th May 2021, 10am

Episode 7: Thursday 13^th May 2021, 6pm

Episode 8: Saturday 15^th May 2021, 11am

Episode 9: Sunday 23^rd May 2021, 7pm

 

Cast

Emilia                                                              Rachael Stirling

Giovanni                                                          Alec Newman

Venetia                                                            Leila Mimmack

Voice of Boris Johnson                                   Jon Culshaw

News announcer/Giovanni’s Mum                 Suzanne Ahmet

Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Teresa Banham

Chantelle                                                         Anna Demetriou

Esme                                                               Patience Tomlinson

Emilia’s ensemble:                                          The Telling

Clare Norburn, voice

Ariane Prüssner, voice, medieval harp, percussion

Joy Smith, harps and percussion

Jorge Jimenez, Vielle (early violin)

 

Creative And Production Team

Writer                                                              Clare Norburn

Director                                                           Nicholas Renton

Music arranged & performed by                     The Telling

Producer                                                         Clare Norburn

Production Assistant & Editor                         Stephanie Williams

Preview: John Scott Delusions online

 

John Scott's Show on Mental Health

Re-written & Streaming to your Home

Delusions (Rebooted) @  Online Via Felt Nowt Comedy 

Friday 5th March 2021

6.30 - 7.30 pm

 

In 2017 award winning comedian John Scott came out of the closet and wrote a new solo show about his life as someone with an acute mental health condition.

At that point he had been a comedian for 18 years and this was the first time he had ever gone through any kind of disclosure. He was genuinely frightened by the idea of what he was doing. Prior to even having performed a solitary word of the show, he ended up discussing his experiences on a very prominent BBC Radio Show. A lot of people that knew him heard this interview and their reactions genuinely surprised him. First, he was surprised that nobody knew of his struggles, he’d kept it that well-hidden. Secondly, he was surprised at how positive and supportive everybody was.

Since writing the show he has worked with mental health groups, spoke at conferences, and become a vocal voice in the pursuit of reducing stigma around mental health.  

His show Delusions examines diagnosis and how becoming a comedian actually made the professionals change their minds as to how they had diagnosed him. It also, as it typical of John, takes a hard look at the current world and considers just how much those in power are responsible for our poor wellbeing. You can trust he’ll have a few things to say about a certain pandemic and those responsible for choosing how we deal with it. 

This is another show from local comedy promoters Felt Nowt Productions who are the only comedy company run by comedians for comedians and is dedicated to presenting the best quality stand-up comedy to venues throughout the North East and Cumbria.

Felt Nowt are a Community Interest Company which means all of their profits are put back into the business to help them to provide community outreach and events that benefit our communities.

 

Edinburgh Evening News.

“Always plays a blinder. Never hits a dry patch. People were literally in tears of laughter.”

 

The Observer

“Among the top 5 comics emerging from Scotland.”

 

The Skinny

“A genuinely gifted comedian.”

 

100% Biker

“Possibly the funniest Scotsman alive.”

 

Suitable for 16 +

Tickets:  £5.00 per household from https://feltnowt.co.uk/events/19/ 

Preview: The Serial Killer Next Door with Emma Kenny at Newcastle Tyne Theatre

The Serial Killer Next Door with Emma Kenny

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Thursday 9^th September 2021

 

Tickets are now on sale from our affiliate Eventim UK: https://tinyurl.com/1ea72s26 #Ad

Notable psychological therapist and crime commentator, Emma Kenny, will discuss the mind and motives of some of the most notorious serial killers in this fascinating show. Emma Kenny has presented over 70 Crime shows (including Britain’s Darkest Taboos, Lady Killers, and The Killer in My Family) analysing some of the most heinous crimes both here in the UK and the States, exploring what makes a killer, and why some people can be born into seemingly normal families, brought up without fear, or abuse, yet still choose a murderous path.

Emma will take the audience on a journey, looking at what ingredients of possibility lead to body counts by killers like Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Paul Knowles. Looking at questions such as; what creates a serial killer, and could anything have prevented their potential being activated, or were they simply born to kill? How, and why do they select their victim, and is there anything anyone can do to protect themselves from such a sinister predator?

Tickets:

Tickets are now on sale from our affiliate Eventim UK: https://tinyurl.com/1ea72s26 #Ad

Preview: By The Waters of Liverpool at Darlington Hippodrome

 

Liverpool Play Returns To The Stage

 

Helen Forrester’s play By The Waters of Liverpool is coming to Darlington Hippodrome in September.

 

By The Waters of Liverpool

Darlington Hippodrome

Wednesday 15^th - Thursday 16^th September 2021

 

The acclaimed stage production of Helen Forrester’s By The Waters Of Liverpool was cut short last March after just three venues into a seventeen venue tour; but now producers have announced the continuation of their UK tour in Autumn 2021.

 

Sian Reeves and Mark Moraghan as Mother and Father

Writer and Co-producer Rob Fennah said: “When we launched By The Waters Of Liverpool last year the response was so overwhelming we were determined not to let the pandemic get the better of us. We have a mantra when things get tough, ‘don’t give up – don’t give in!’

 

“By The Waters is not only returning to the stage in September, it is going to be bigger, bolder and more glorious than ever.”

 

Co-producer Bill Elms added: “With the vaccine roll-out going so well, we can now see the light at the end of a dark tunnel for the theatre industry and we just hope people will feel safe enough to come back in their droves; embracing theatre and live performance more than ever before.”

 

Roy Carruthers, Lucy Dixon and Mark Moraghan

The stellar cast featured star names from stage and screen, including Sian Reeves, Mark Moraghan, Parry Glasspool, Lucy Dixon, Eric Potts, Lynn Francis, Danny O’Brien, Roy Carruthers, and Chloe McDonald.

 

By The Waters Of Liverpool is set in the 1930s after Helen’s father went bankrupt during the Depression. Her family were forced to leave behind the nannies, servants and comfortable middle-class life in the South West of England. The Forrester’s chose Liverpool to rebuild their shattered lives, but they were in for a terrible shock. Taken out of school to look after her young siblings, Helen is treated as an unpaid slave. So begins a bitter fight with her parents for the right to go out to work and make her own way in life. But by 1939 and with Britain on the verge of war, Helen now aged 20, has still never been kissed by a man. But things start looking up for her when she meets a tall strong seaman and falls in love.

 

Photos: Anthony Robling

 

Tickets:

By The Waters of Liverpool runs at Darlington Hippodrome on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 September. For full details or to book please visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk.

Preview: Most Free from Ellen Hathaway Dance Company -Online Stream

Most Free - Ellen Hathaway Dance Company

Online Stream

From Friday 2^nd April 2021

 

Ellen Hathaway Dance Company releases their first ever feature length dance documentary ‘Most Free’, created over the past 10 months throughout the global pandemic.

The global pandemic meant original plans for EHDC were put on hold as communities all over the world were challenged with isolation, segregation & distancing. This only motivated Ellen Hathaway’s research more & so plans were adapted to investigate into how a community can integrate & connect with the foundations of understanding & compassion even through a pandemic. This inspired the making of a documentary based on bringing people together through dance.

Dominic Coffey

Commissioned by Dance City & Arts Council England, Ellen was able to fund and direct her first feature length documentary exploring kinaesthetic empathy; a tool that Ellen believes is key to building a more compassionate, integrated & connected community.

‘Most Free’

This 45 minute dance documentary follows our Artistic Director Ellen Hathaway on her investigation into dance & community with interviews from a resettled Syrian family living in Blackpool, Lancashire’s Refugee Integration Officer, local & international dance artists & our diverse general public.

Joseph Delaney, Co-Director, explained “It has been incredible watching Ellen put this together behind the scenes. Her sheer drive and determination has been inspirational. I have met some amazing people with incredible stories that just need to be heard. I cherish my new friendship with Mahmoud and Nareen with their three beautiful children. During filming I was treated to a Syrian meal; I have never felt more welcomed into a home and into a culture. I look forward to the day I get to dine with them again. Thank you, Ellen, for opening my eyes and more importantly my ears.”

UK Dance Artist Stéphanie Bentley added “I am of dual heritage; English and French and I am one of the dancers in Most Free. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of dance as a medium to nurture individuals and connect people. Ellen’s work embodies this perfectly and raises awareness on very current, real happenings in the U.K. and around the world.

Ellen has an exceptional ability; she really sees people and understands them. For me, being part of Most Free has been an eye opening and culturally significant experience. I feel privileged to have met and heard the stories of different artists and people from Syria and Lebanon.

I learnt so much during the creative process and filming of Most Free. It was also a very heart-warming experience having my mum with me as part of the process. Being inspired and driven by her words and my connection to them whilst creating movement felt very special.

The way in which Ellen devised this film and the journey she took us on as dancers within it had a very coherent and collaborative feel. I have been in creation processes where I felt that the ideas did not link enough to the dancing itself. Creating the movement for Most Free was an entirely different experience. Ellen’s research, creative tasks, the interviews she conducted, along with the involvement of all the wonderful people in this work; who I was lucky enough to speak to or listen to daily during the process, ensured that everything I was dancing came from an honest place that I felt connected to.

I believe in honesty in dance. Real stories translated through movement when a dancer is really able to feel them and as a result embody them. The stories in Most Free are stories that need to be heard and it is crucial that people listen. I would like to thank Ellen for giving me the chance to be part of something so valuable and memorable. This is a film about humanity, and I would urge everyone to watch it.”

Lebanese Dance Artist reflected upon the process “I hope to see Ellen’s film gain the recognition and popularity it deserves. Dance is such an inspiring art form for people from all walks of life. In the current worldwide climate, I think it’s important to remind people to continue doing what they love, despite life’s hardships. I believe the film displays the solidarity of the human race and how we all have such unique but related experiences. Ellen did an excellent job with this film, I can’t wait for people to see all her hard work, effort and creativity! It was truly an honour being a part of it.”

Ellen Hathaway Dance Company is an emerging contemporary dance company based in the North East working to integrate communities through dance. EHDC works with local communities, refugees & asylum seekers and local & international collaborators to produce community dance projects and professional performances of high cultural significance.

EHDC advocates diversity and cultural exchange and advances the notion that dance can heal.

Benedicta Valentina

One of the UK dancers, Dominic Coffey, observed “People need to help people. We all need to help each other It’s not hard to be kind. You never know what someone is going through. It’s not always good times. Times can be hard! A smile can help When I was on the phone to Mahmood it was so nice to talk to someone involved in this project! And it’s because of this project that I had the chance to speak to him and hear about all his amazing music. It was really nice to speak about my own family in this project and about their culture. Waffa’s positivity is something that will stay with me.”

Creatives:

Directed by Ellen Hathaway

Produced by Moving Art Management

Cast:

Benedicta Valentina, Nareen Orfali, Chafika Gutknecht, Nourhan Sheikh Badr Eddin, Dominic Coffey, Rebecca Joy Novel, Ellen Hathaway, Ryan Woods, Fabienne Bentley, Shilan Sheik Badr Eddin, Fidan Sheikh Badr Eddin, Stéphanie Bentley, Joseph Delaney, Wafa Bouty, Mahmoud Sheikh Badr Eddin, Zeina Yaghi 

Photos: Joseph Delaney

 

Online:

Website: https://ellenhathawaydancecompany.co.uk

Facebook: @ellenhathawaydancecompany

Instagram: @ellenhathawaydancecompany

Tickets:

‘Most Free’ will premiere at 7pm on Friday 2nd April 2021 at

www.Ellenhathawaydancecompany.co.uk

Purchase tickets from Eventbrite here: https://mostfreepremiere2021.eventbrite.co.uk/

Tickets are pay-as-you-feel with a minimum donation of £1.

News: Fall In Love All Over Again At Darlington Hippodrome

 

Fall In Love All Over Again At Darlington Hippodrome

 

Treat the one you love to a memorable theatre experience to look forward to this Valentine’s Day.

Whether it’s a musical theatre hit, an intimate drama or side-splitting comedy, Darlington Hippodrome has something for that special someone in your life this Valentine’s Day.

What's Love Got To Do With It

Music lovers are in for a treat with many fabulous nights to look forward to, celebrating the music of some of the greatest stars including Lionel Richie, Bon Jovi, The Temptations, Carole King and Tina Turner.

If your idea of a great date night is an evening of laughter, some of the biggest names in comedy are coming to Darlington including Carl Hutchinson, Al Murray, Jason Manford and Chris Ramsey. For those who want to let their hair down and make it a night to remember then how about spending it with the Dreamboys or maybe The Ladyboys of Bangkok – whichever you choose you are guaranteed to go home with a huge grin on your face.

Jason Manford

If snuggling up with a good book at home rocks your boat then choose from one of several livestream events with best-selling authors, comedians and personalities direct to your living room.

Chris Ramsey

We all know that love is endless, and so are theatre tokens. These can be spent not only on tickets for shows but also on any other Darlington Hippodrome product such as packages, programmes, and courses. Our vouchers can be purchased online and are delivered directly via email (just in case you need to buy something in a hurry!).

Councillor Andy Keir said “You may not be able to go out on a date this Valentine’s Day but you can still give the one you love a night to look forward to with the great gift of theatre. Darlington Hippodrome has a marvellous selection of shows on offer including music, dance, comedy and drama. Now is a great time to start making plans for some spectacular nights out.”

 

For full details or to book please visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk.

Preview: Waiting in the Wings - Online from Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House

 

West End Stars come to the Tyne Theatre for live-streamed performance.

 

Waiting in the Wings

Online from Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House

Saturday 27^th February 2021

 

The Tyne Theatre and Opera House have announced a new live-streamed show, ‘Waiting in the Wings’, featuring stars of West End Musicals, streaming live from the Tyne Theatre stage on Saturday 27^th February 2021.  

Live performances of hits from musical theatre favourites will come from 6 London West End performers, streaming from the Tyne Theatre and Opera House stage, directly to your homes. A must-see for all musical theatre lovers and those wanting to support the struggling industry after a difficult year.

Performers include; Jenna Boyd (Come From Away UK), Danny Whitehead (Raoul in Phantom of the Opera, London), Jacqueline Hughes (Elphaba – Wicked International Tour), Manon Taris (Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Cosette in Les Miserables, Paris), Joseph Claus (Phantom of the Opera, London, 25th & 30th Concert) and Kris Manuel (Phantom of the Opera, London). The Musical Director for the show is Antoine Mérand (Phantom, Cats, Beauty & The Beast).

Theatre Director, Joanne Johnson, has said “We’re really excited to be able to offer this live-streamed show for our musical theatre loving audience. As one of the industries most affected by restrictions over the last year, live shows have been truly missed by performers and audiences alike. We can’t wait to welcome these incredible West End Stars to our stage for some live Saturday evening entertainment.”

Tickets for Waiting In The Wings are now on sale and can be purchased from the Tyne Theatre and Opera House website. Your ticket will give you access to the stream to enjoy alone or with your household, and profits will go towards supporting the Tyne Theatre, out of work industry professionals and the local entertainment industry.

Waiting in the Wings show is sponsored by West End Prep – Elite Musical Theatre Training.

Booking & streaming details and more information for Waiting in the Wings: http://bit.ly/TYNEwitw