Looking back and those reviews!
December 31, 2008
As 2008 draws to a close its good to look back at the memories we have from the theatres around the region over the past 12 months.
The first production that springs to mind is Geoff Dead : Disco for Sale, which opened at the Live Theatre, Newcastle. This is one of those rare events when you knew you were not watching a run of the mill performance. Within seconds you realised you were part of an event, something special, everything was clicking in to place and the audience and the actors were all part of the experience.
Infact the last time I felt this way in a theatre was during one of the final preview performances for Guys and Dolls starring Ewan McGregor in London (it was a treat for my birtday, not work). Again everything gelled and at the curtain call the entire audience rose, as one, to applaud and cheer, not the usual smattering of fans standing so the people behind have to stand to see, which slowly results in a standing ovation. Read more
Pitmen Win New Award
November 30, 2008
Lee Hall’s play The Pitmen Painters, first performed at Newcastle ’s Live Theatre, has been crowned winner in the ‘Best Play’ category at the Evening Standard Awards, this year presented by actor Richard Wilson.
Facing tough competition from Black Watch by Gregory Burke and Now or Later by Christopher Shinn, Lee Hall was presented with the award by actress Maureen Lipman at a ceremony which took place at The Royal Opera House in London on Monday 24 November.
The awards, which are in their 54th year, were attended by 250 stars of stage and screen and decided by a panel of theatre critic’s including Nicholas de Jongh (Evening Standard), Georgina Brown (Mail on Sunday), Susannah Clapp (The Observer), Benedict Nightingale (The Times) and Charles Spencer (Daily Telegraph).
This accolade is further national recognition for The Pitmen Painters which was awarded Best New Play at this year’s industry TMA (Theatrical Management Association) awards.
This is the latest tribute to the work of Lee Hall who recently celebrated opening night of Billy Elliot the Musical on Broadway with standing ovations.
The Pitmen Painters will be performed at the National Theatre in London from 27 January 2009. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased by contacting the National Theatre’s box office on 020 7452 3000 or online at www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Mamma-Mia! Singalong where is the audience?
August 26, 2008
As reported on our main site, it is just when you thought this summer’s Abba-mania was starting to die down, producers have announced they are releasing an exclusive sing-a-long version of the recent box-office smash musical Mamma Mia! at cinemas nationwide. Special subtitled screenings of the film, which features hits such as Dancing Queen, S.O.S, Money, Money, Money and the title song, are due to begin later this week at participating cinemas
One of those cinema is the Odeon, Silverlink but at the Saturday showing there were only 16 people and last night (August 25th Bank Holiday) 21. Our party made up 8 of the audience and varied in ages from two seven year olds to someone the rightside of 50! But despite the lack of an audience, we all clapped, sang along and waved our arms in the air. At the closing “Waterloo” number we stood up and danced, soon followed by the six people was behind us. No one left until they had clapped and sang through the closing credits and then one female voice rang out from the darkness at the back of the cinema thanked everyone for joining in and making her night.
This is a great night out and as the stage show has bypassed our area (nearest theatre the tour played was the Edinburgh Playhouse) it is possibly the only chance to catch this feel good show in the North East for some time.
Having seen the movie in both “straight” and now singalong versions, I can recommend either as a great night out. I would really like to witness this singalong with a packed cinema as I am sure the place would be electric. The Odeon had only one showing per day at 21.20 , so maybe audiences were going elsewhere in the region as coming out at 11.30 p.m. is a bit late.
Despite the fact it was only released last month (10 July), Mamma Mia! has already become the biggest selling musical in UK cinema history, and recently surpassed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as this year’s highest grossing film. It features a stellar cast including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters, and is adapted from the hit stage musical which premiered in 1999.
Capital entertainment in the region
May 21, 2008
As The Pitmen Painters prepares to open at the National Theatre after two sell out runs at the Live Theatre , in Newcastle, it is interesting to see how many shows currently running in the West End have recently played the region, either on pre London tryouts or on separate tours.
Currently The 39 STEPS, Darren Brown, Woman in Black, as well as Pitmen Painters, are all playing in the capital having recently played the region. While Penelope Keith, as Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Ernest has just ended her run, having played the Theatre Royal prior to the West End, as has The History Boys. While the musicals Eurobeat, due at the Theatre Royal on July 7th and High School Musical are already taking bookings for their London seasons which follow on from playing in the North East. Read more
Wayne’s child catcher ends May 17th
May 4, 2008
As Chitty Chitty Bang Bang settles in to its final English date in
Sleep played the same part at the Palladium opposite Jason Donovan before reviving the role on tour. For each performance he undergoes a make- up transformation taking twenty five minutes.
Although on tour his exits is much gentler as he is hoisted in a net which disappears in to the wings, in the orginal production at the Palladium he was swung out over the audience before ascending through the roof of the auditorium eight times a week.
No announcement has been made, so far, as to who will play the child catcher in Sunderland from May 19th to June 7th, before the tour moves to
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