Aladdin prepares to open
November 30, 2007
As the Theatre Royals record-breaking pantomime Aladdin is just a few days away from opening Whatsonstage.com North East were allowed in to the technical rehearsals. On the surface all seems very calm as the cast work with the lighting and sound effects teams to bring the production to life, all under the watchful eye of director and writer Michael Harrison.
This year sees Michael working on his fourth pantomime with Clive Webb and Danny Adams (three at the Theatre Royal) and second with Craig Conway. One casting change is the leading lady, as for the last two years (Cinderella followed by Jack and the Beanstalk) Clive and Danny had Jill Halfpenny as their leading lady, this year sees Faye Tozer (formerly from the hit band STEPS) take over, playing the magical spirit Scherazade. Read more
Canon Stephen Taylor and the Sunderland Empire
September 23, 2007
Canon Stephen Taylor has not only been in charge of Sunderland Minister for the past six years but three years ago he was appointed by the Actors Church Union as Theatre Chaplain for the Sunderland Empire as well. (The Actors Church Union is a national organisation that has responsibilities for theatres, dance schools and other entertainment venues.)
By co-incidence Sunderland Minister and the Sunderland Empire stand next to each other in the City, but that is not why Stephen was appointed as Theatre Chaplin. His predecessor at Sunderland Minister, the Reverend Bill Hall, was the full time director of Arts and Recreation within the Diocese of Durham and Newcastle, before being appointed as National Director of the Actors Church Union based in London. At the time Reverend Hall was Theatre Chaplin for several theatres including the Billingham Forum and Sunderland Empire, but knowing that Stephen had been involved with theatres previously, suggested him for the vacancy in Sunderland. From there he had to be interviewed by the Actors Church Union and Theatre Management, with an appraisal twelve months after his appointment.
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