Puppetry of the Penis is Ten Years Old!
September 26, 2008
Puppetry of the Penis is ten years old and Whatsonstage North East welcomed the chance to talk to the originators of 
the show, Simon Morley (pictured in the dark cape) and David Friend (pictured in the red cape)who started the ball rolling, so to speak, a decade ago.
For those people unfamiliar with the show, the best way of explaining it is to imagine origami being performed on male genitalia, making various shapes, objects and landmarks, including The Eiffel Tower and Windsurfer! A video camera projects the details so no one misses a thing. Audiences around the world, both male and female have been left helpless with laughter at the antics of the on stage performers. Read more
Michael Harrison : panto update
June 24, 2008
As we hurtle past the longest day of the year, which means nights are already starting to draw in and winter approaches, we once again catch up with Michael Harrison, Producer and Director of this years pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.
Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates is already a box office smash with father and son team Clive Webb and Danny Adams retuning to delight North East audiences for the fourth year running.
Following on from our previous chats with Michael it is obvious that the whole show is coming together, with our hero Robinson Crusoe (Danny) being helped out by a friendly sea-horse, in an amazing 3D adventure sequence. Michael brought the 3D Bogglevision to the North East in last years’ record breaking production of Aladdin.
It has also been decided that due to the popularity of Clive and Danny and the views of the North East audiences, that each year the pantomime itself is the real star of the show (regardless of the likes of 3D effects or The Darleks, who appeared in last years production. People realise if you take these elements away, underneath is still a first rate production). This means there is no need for a TV personality or pop star to support the show, as the North East audience know what they want and each year Michael delivers it, bigger and better.
While Whatsonstage North East are aware that Michael will be making a major announcement soon regarding further casting!
We do know other casting includes local actor Phil Corbitt, who was recently in Coronation Street as Rick the builder, who will play Black Heart, making his pantomime debut at the Theatre Royal.
Whatsonstage North East will catch up with Michael again next month to bring you the latest developments on what promises to be the best ever pantomime at the Theatre Royal.
Roll on December!
Micheal Harrison keeps us up to date on the Panto
May 13, 2008
Whatsonstage.com North East caught up with Michael Harrison (MD of Qdos Pantomimes) for the second of our monthly updates on this years pantomime at the Theatre Royal Newcastle, just as he finished discussing the choreography for the show.
Michael , who is writing, producing and directing the Newcastle pantomime, sounded relaxed as he told us everything was on schedule for Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates of the Caribbean to open in December.
Since we last talked Chris Hayward has been confirmed as Mrs Crusoe (returning after being Dame in last years show) and he is already working on some spectacular costumes. While the original score for the show is nearing completion, we do know that Chris will have a fun number called Ship Shape, reminiscent of his Twanky Boogie Woogie routine in last years Aladdin. Read more
Michael Harrison and Robinson Crusoe
April 8, 2008
Whatsonstage North East caught up with Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Pantomimes for the first of our monthly updates on his 2008 pantomime Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates. During our discussion it soon became clear that even though there is still eight months to go before the pantomime opens, at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, pre- production is well under way.
Michael has written, produced and directed the last three pantomimes at the Theatre Royal all starring father and son comedy team Clive Webb and Danny Adams. Cinderella, also starring Jill Halfpenny, started the run of hit shows, followed by Jack and the Beanstalk, when Craig Conway (now Jill’s husband) joined the established leads in the show. Last year, Craig returned with Clive and Danny in Aladdin, with Faye Tozer replacing Jill as the leading lady. Read more
Dancing on Ice talks to Whatsonstage Northeast
March 16, 2008
Whatsonstage Northeast had the opportunity to catch up with the Dancing on Ice starts as they prepared not only for the TV Final but to start there live tour.
We wondered what ice skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean first thought about the idea for teaching a bunch of celebrities how to skate in front of the viewing millions at home, they were frankly sceptical. ‘It was a gamble,’ says Chris. ‘We worried that people might fall flat on their faces. Quite literally.’
We now know those fears proved unfounded. As all the world now knows, Dancing On Ice has become one of television’s biggest hits in recent years, the current ITV series attracting an audience in excess of ten million viewers. ‘We knew from quite early on,’ says Jayne, ‘that we’d struck a chord with the public because the demand for tickets to attend the live show dramatically outstripped the supply. The studio holds not much more than 300 people and we had thousands of applications.’ Read more
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