Crusoe prepares to open in Newcastle
November 26, 2008
Over the next few weeks pantomimes will be opening all over the country but few, if any, can have the anticipation factor of this year’s Newcastle Theatre Royal production of Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates.
Once again written and directed by Michael Harrison, the MD of Qdos Pantomimes, the production promises to be larger and more spectacular than his preceding shows at the Theatre Royal, all of which have been box office record breakers. It all started four years ago when brought Clive Webb and Danny Adams to the Theatre Royal in Cinderella. Along with Jill Halfpenny they returned the following year with Jack and the Beanstalk, which was followed by last year’s record breaking show Aladdin.
It is true to say that over the years the audiences have taken Clive and Danny to their hearts and the Theatre Royal box office is already busy selling tickets for next year’s show, when the boys will be returning in a new version of Cinderella, once again written and directed by Michael.
North East audiences have grown to know the pantomimes are great family entertainment and additions such as 3D and the Darleks are there to support the main show and even without them there is still a brilliant show underneath.
This year Michael is taking us on a high seas adventure with Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates and Whatsonstage North East has followed Michael from when he starting to write the script and cast the show, through to introducing Titan the Robot to Newcastle shoppers.
Now the sets have arrived and the cast are well in to rehearsals we took the opportunity to visit Michael at the Theatre Royal as the lighting was being positioned.
The first thing that is apparent is the scale of this year’s show, not only is there little room backstage due to the enormity of the sets but even the auditorium becomes part of the staging. While not wanting to give too much away, there are extra speakers in auditorium, projections on the walls and storm lanterns hung on every level so you capture that nautical feeling.
This Robinson Crusoe is not going to be lonely on a desert island as there are Caribbean Pirates and Titan the Robot for company as well as two 3D sequences. True to form Clive and Danny will have their much loved “slosh” scene which promises to be wetter than ever and the ship sets are ready to wow audiences. As usual Michael has plenty of pyrotechnics, smoke and surprises ready for the audiences as well as a spectacular opening sequence and finale.
Even though I visited just as the lighting was being set on the village scene, it was apparent that this year’s pantomime has that feel good factor. Even just standing on stage with the scenery packed tightly in the wings, you could sense this was going to be a great show.
Such is the demand for tickets that the orchestra pit has been made smaller to allow an extra row of seats to be fitted.
Having seen the sets close at hand there is no doubt we are in for another brilliant pantomime in Newcastle and Michael promises me that next year’s Cinderella is a new version that will have his own special treatment, which I am sure will make it another box office record breaking show.
Once this years production is safely open Micheal is off to work on a different show. As he has another pantomime to direct on the South Coast, which opens in late December, as well as visiting many other Christmas shows around the country.
We will be reviewing the show on December 4th and later in the run have a special backstage report.
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