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REVIEW: Shrek (Empire Theatre, Sunderland)

November 13, 2015 

For: West End Wilma 

https://www.westendwilma.com/review-shrek-empire-theatre-sunderland/

“What makes us different makes us stronger”

Shrek arrives in Sunderland and after nearly two years on tour and you have to worry about the state of Gerard Carey’s knees.

Surrounded by children and adults alike, this really is a show for everyone, with the men in the audience laughing much more than the children. But Shrek has everything – a love story, triumph over adversity, music, dance and comedy. The perfect feel good family show. But who can fail to enjoy a show where the safety announcements warn you that an ogre will fart on your head if you are caught filming or taking photo’s. And Sunderland Empire staff are clearly wary of the ogre and the stench as they are very vigilant and quick to warn any offenders.

Dean Chisnall was taking a break so Jake Small was Shrek, and a fabulous Shrek he was too. Completely unrecognisable under the layers of green prosthetics. He charmingly captures the poignancy and gallows humour of Shrek. Setting out on his quest to evict the Fairytale characters invading his swamp, he ends up falling for Fiona and is genuinely touching as he falls in love.

Idris Kargbo is the equally lovable Donkey, full of energy and talent his performance of Make a Move was hilarious and fantastically choreographed.

Bronté Barbé has moved up the ranks and is now Princess Fiona on tour. Holding her own in some highly comical scenes, including their very funny farting and burping competition. Feisty and loveable and a mess of contradictions in a dress.

And back to Gerard Carey, who spends the entire performance on his knees as short-statured Lord Farquaad, who had the audience in hysterics without even needing to open his mouth!

Set design, from Tim Hatley, is flawless and scenery moves from palace to woods and meadows seamlessly. But the greatest feat must have been to bring to life the huge dragon. This wonderful puppet, handled by several puppeteers, fills the stage and threatens all with the same tail and green eyes it uses to romance Donkey. With a stand out performance for the outstanding vocals of Candace Furbert, voicing the part.

With a cheeky sense of humour, the entire ensemble is excellent, vocals and choreography are as classy and fun as expected, with a very post-modern spin on the world of fairytales. This colourful, invigorating stage adaptation which is packed with new songs from lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire and music arranged by Jeanine Tesori is outstanding with special merit to the costumes.

Overall, it’s a fantastic family show which will have kids of all ages entertained, and as an added bonus, keep alert for numerous amusing musical parodies peppered throughout.

Empire Theatre, Sunderland – 12 November 2015

“What makes us different makes us stronger”

Shrek arrives in Sunderland and after nearly two years on tour and you have to worry about the state of Gerard Carey’s knees

Surrounded by children and adults alike, this really is a show for everyone, with the men in the audience laughing much more than the children.  But Shrek has everything – a love story, triumph over adversity, music, dance and comedy.  The perfect feel good family show.  But who can fail to enjoy a show where the safety announcements warn you that an ogre will fart on your head if you are caught filming or taking photo’s.  And Sunderland Empire staff are clearly wary of the ogre and the stench as they are very vigilant and quick to warn any offenders.

Dean Chisnall was taking a break so Jake Small was Shrek, and a fabulous Shrek he was too.  Completely unrecognisable under the layers of green prosthetics.  He charmingly captures the poignancy and gallows humour of Shrek.  Setting out on his quest to evict the Fairytale characters invading his swamp, he ends up falling for Fiona and is genuinely touching as he falls in love.

Idris Kargbo is the equally lovable Donkey, full of energy and talent his performance of Make a Move was hilarious and fantastically choreographed.

Bronté Barbé has moved up the ranks and is now Princess Fiona on tour.  Holding her own in some highly comical scenes, including their very funny farting and burping competition.  Feisty and loveable and a mess of contradictions in a dress.

And back to Gerard Carey, who spends the entire performance on his knees as short-statured Lord Farquaad, who had the audience in hysterics without even needing to open his mouth!

Set design, from Tim Hatley, is flawless and scenery moves from palace to woods and meadows seamlessly. But the greatest feat must have been to bring to life the huge dragon. This wonderful puppet, handled by several puppeteers, fills the stage and threatens all with the same tail and green eyes it uses to romance Donkey.  With a stand out performance for the outstanding vocals of Candace Furbert, voicing the part.

With a cheeky sense of humour, the entire ensemble is excellent, vocals and choreography are as classy and fun as expected, with a very post-modern spin on the world of fairytales.  This colourful, invigorating stage adaptation which is packed with new songs from lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire and music arranged by Jeanine Tesori is outstanding with special merit to the costumes

Overall, it’s a fantastic family show which will have kids of all ages entertained, and as an added bonus, keep alert for numerous amusing musical parodies peppered throughout.

Above the Arts Theatre 9 – 21 November.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

A brilliantly barmy B-Musical, Vampire Hospital Waiting Room is a riot from start to finish. As the hospital waiting room fills up, Dr Bloom is busy reading his books of arcane prophecies about the coming of the vampire lord. He has developed a theory that the NHS is a front for collecting blood to feed the UK’s vampires, and wants to become immortal himself. (It’s all explained much better in the opening songs.) An emergency patient is brought into the hospital, comatose after a car crash, and Dr Bloom is convinced that he is the vampire lord. Helped by the patient’s wife, who wants him declared dead to inherit his millions, Bloom tries to carry out the ceremony needed to arouse the vampire lord and become a vampire himself.

Joe McArdle plays Dr Bloom as a cross between Matt Berry and Vincent Price, and is hysterical. His grimaces and vocal tics are repeated for what should be far too long, but, just like in The Simpsons, the audience is howling with laughter throughout. The scene where he carries out his tests on Arty (Craig Methven) is insane. Methven does a great job trying to keep a blank face, but the coma patient got the giggles with the shenanigans going on around him. The conceit of the audience being able to hear Arty’s thoughts is cleverly done. A change of lighting, and up he jumps from his wheelchair to address us. His flops back into unconsciousness as the cast continue the story get funnier each time. I swear the man is made of elastic.

Abby Jackson’s sexy nurse – yes that is the character’s name – is cheerfully unhelpful to the patient’s, and her overdramatic gestures fit in nicely with her  amazing singing. She channels every X Factor wannabe who fits in 10 notes instead of 1 and manages to make Shirley Bassey’s arm gestures look subtle. Roz Ford, as Arty’s wife also gives a wonderfully over the top performance – the best evil laugh I’ve heard for a long time.  Arty’s secretary Liz (Imogen Brabant), who was in the car with him when it crashed, is played as almost sane. Brabant’s love songs with the comatose Arty are a hoot. in “Love is a car crash”, Brabant’s parts are a lovelorn ballad, while Arty sings an up tempo song, mostly about sex.

John Rushton’s priest is delightfully underplayed amongst the scenery chewing – his comments about his stab wounds, and his very English attitude to waiting in the queue and not making a fuss make sure that this quieter character is not overlooked. Martin MacLennan’s Scottish stranger gets weirder and scarier throughout the show. His comic timing makes the disturbingly odd lines even funnier.

The script is full of fantastic jokes, some corny, some filthy, and the cast deliver them brilliantly. The songs are just as funny, with some fantastic comments about the lyrics and over dramatic backing singers by the characters. Dr Bloom gets the best lines though – I will never be able to look at stethoscopes and latex gloves with a straight face again.

This is an unashamedly corny and cheesy show that celebrates the best and worst of horror films and musicals with great affection. It’s very rare to find yourself laughing all the way through a show, but you will here. A bonkers show with a stellar cast – perfect late night entertainment.

BEATLES’ CELEBRATION SHOW

LET IT BE IS COMING TO TOWN IN 2016

Beatlemania is heading to York as the producers of smash hit musical LET IT BE announce a new national tour for 2016.

Audiences will be Twisting and Shouting until their heart’s content when the show arrives at Grand Opera House York for 8 performances from Monday 4^th to Saturday 9^th April 2016.

The LET IT BE TOUR 2016 will take the show on a Magical Mystery Tour when it plays 21 theatresacross England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

This is LET IT BE’s biggest tour to date, and it is expected that audiences will Come Together with a little help from their friends to dance in the aisles and celebrate music history’s greatest ever worldwide phenomenon.

The show has already wowed London’s West End and New York’s Broadway audiences. And it is currently enjoying a massively successful five-week run in the birthplace of the biggest band in the world, Liverpool, where the show opened to 5-star rave reviews and sell-out performances at Royal Court Theatre Liverpool.

 

 LET IT BE celebrates the music of the world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll band in a spectacular concert charting the band’s meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces. They were just boys from Liverpool who went on to change the world.

LET IT BE is packed with over 40 of The Beatles’ greatest hits including Twist and Shout, She Loves You and Drive My Car, as well as global mega hits Yesterday, Hey Jude, Come Together and, of course, Let It Be.  Travel back to the Swinging Sixties when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

The tour announcement comes in the same week as ITV announce a new prime-time two-hour Beatles documentary. The Nation’s Favourite Beatles Number One will be aired on ITV at 8.00pm on Wednesday 11 November. It will feature all 27 Beatles songs which reached the top of the charts here and in the States – including Let It Be.

The programme will highlight the stories behind the songs and will feature Beatles’ insiders and celebrity fans, including Michael Palin, David Tennant, Twiggy, Jake Bugg, and Liverpool actress Sue Johnston, who was a Cavern Club regular herself.

LET IT BE will take to the road thanks to Annerin Productions and Flying Entertainment.

Producer Jeff Parry from Annerin Productions commented: “We’re incredibly proud to announce LET IT BE’s biggest tour to date. We are extremely excited to bring the show to the Grand Opera House York, and we’re sure that York audiences will be on their feet – dancing, singing and very much being part of the concert.

“It’s more than 50 years since The Beatles released their first single, yet the band still continue to win new generations of fans. The songs still feel fresh and vibrant which is testament to the Fab Four’s music and talent. LET IT BE is helping to keep the story and songs of the band alive and charm new fans. Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you tickets to the hottest show on tour.”

Seen by over 1 million people worldwide, LET IT BE continues to delight audiences across the globe, having recently performed to audiences in Germany, Japan, Moscow, and France.

LET IT BE has established itself as one of the West End’s most popular shows since originally opening at the Prince of Wales Theatre in September 2012, where it recouped its initial investment after just 18 weeks before transferring for a year-long run at the Savoy Theatre from January 2013 through to February 2014. Before moving to Royal Court Theatre Liverpool, the show completed an 8-month run at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End.

More information can be found on www.LetItBeLive.com

 

 

SHOW LISTING

 

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

4 – 9 April 2016

Ticket prices from £20

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york

JOE BROWN

Grand Opera House York

Friday 29 January 2016

Since the new millennium Joe has been confounding people’s expectations of him on a regular basis. In 2002 he appeared at the Glastonbury Festival and endeared himself to the latest generation of rock fans. Later that year he won a brand new world-wide audience with his show-stopping appearance at “The Concert For George”, staged at London’s Royal Albert Hall in tribute to George Harrison with a stellar cast of musicians.

In the Autumn of 2005 Joe completed a 37 date British tour with special guest Sam Brown and a DVD of Down To Earth In The Studio was released in 2006. By Spring of 2007 Joe and the band had just finished a further 36 date solo tour with son Pete firmly in his band.

This momentum on the live front continued In 2009 and in June Joe was awarded the coveted Outstanding Contribution to Music Award by MOJO Magazine which was presented to him by Mark Knopfler and two days later it was announced that he was to be awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Latterly Joe has continued to break box office records and gain new supporters throughout 2009 and 2010 when having cropped up as a special guest on Bob Harris’ own 40th Anniversary programme for BBC Radio 2 Joe then completed his own UK tour and rounded off the year by joining fellow British institutions Status Quo in December for the arena section of their Quid Pro Quo tour. The response was terrific both at shows and on the Quo website where positive comments from their fan base ran into pages and pages for the 9 shows which Joe and the band performed with them.

Joe is, without doubt, a one off, a compelling and unique performer with a rare and singular track record, an extraordinary talent and a truly enduring Rock Legend – catch him while you can.

Tickets from £28.65

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york

 

Mercury celebrate 45 years of Queen

 

To celebrate 45 years since Queen was formed in 1970, ‘Mercury’ brings a fitting tribute to the Grand Opera House, York on 28^th November 2015.

As winners of the 2013 National Tribute Awards, ‘Mercury’ will show York how the band has earned its reputation as one of the world’s finest exponents of the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen.

45 years since Queen was formed, ‘Mercury’ has firmly established itself as one of the most authentic tributes to both the legend Freddie Mercury and Queen. Freddie Mercury’s family, along with Brian May and Roger Taylor have all seen and enjoyed Mercury’s authentic stage show.

With a dynamic show that fully emulates the true charismatic appeal of rock’s most flamboyant front man, ‘Mercury’ faithfully and accurately recreate the distinctive Queen experience.

The extraordinary vocal range and outstanding delivery of Joseph Lee Jackson as Freddie Mercury and the intricate guitar work of Glenn Scrimshaw as Brian May are backed by superbly crafted harmonies, a driving rhythm section and state-of-the-art, world class production.

Joseph says: “We are delighted that Freddie’s family see us as an authentic Queen tribute as this is always what we have set out to achieve. Everything we have created – from the costumes and lights, to the sound and music is about creating an authentic experience for Queen fans.”

This show will captivate any audience – from die-hard Queen fans through to new generations of music lovers in a way that Freddie and Queen themselves would be proud of.

Show information

Venue: Grand Opera House, York

Date & Time: 28^th November, 7.30pm

Tickets: £20.90 (+ booking fees). Concessions available.

Box Office: (t) 0844 871 7615  (w) www.atgtickets.com

 

Tony Robinson’s Wild West in 3D will use exclusive, never-before-seen 3D stereoscopic photographs to expose the untold story of the ‘Wild West’ and reveal the truth behind the Hollywood legends.

The three, hour long episodes chart the relatively short, 50 year period that begins at the end of the American Civil War in 1865 when all the western territories in America were opened up to be civilised and exploited.

In the first episode, The Last Stand, Tony looks at the clashes between the native Indian tribes and Americans, namely the famous ‘Last Stand’ of General Custer at Little Big Horn. Whilst this was the one and only battle the Sioux ever won against the Americans, it led to the total destruction of their people and culture, from which they never recovered.

Episode Two, Outlaws and Lawmen, examines the infamous western bandits, often glorified in Hollywood’s latter-day spaghetti westerns, including Butch Cassidy and Jesse James.

The last episode, How the West Was Won, focuses on the pioneers that capitalised on the opportunities of the West, one of which was the renowned Buffalo Bill, the world’s first global superstar.

Many of the early photographs of the American West were taken with 3D stereographic cameras – the images they captured have never been seen on TV before. This hoard of lost images is a real discovery. The 3D stereographic slides are unknown to academics and experts working in the field. This means that the series has genuinely exclusive and ground breaking content.

Tony is a huge fan of Western movies but wants to see if the films he grew up with relate to the reality of the Old West. Now Tony Robinson is using this unique archive to bring the Wild West back to life as he tells the true stories of the men and women who tamed the American wilderness. From Custer’s Last Stand and the Battle of Little Big Horn to the gunfight at the OK Corral and death of Jesse James, this is a history of the West unlike any other.

 

Please find the clips here: http://we.tl/mh24bWCINJ

Tony Robinson’s Wild West in 3D episode 2 airs on Discovery Channel Sunday 15^th November at 8pm

Fictive Theatre in collaboration with Artistic Producciones and
the Mexican Theatre Company La Compañia Perpetua present

SCARBOROUGH
by Fiona Evans

Saturday 5th December 2015
& Sunday 6th December 2015

at London’s The Cockpit Theatre
Gateforth Street, London, NW8 8EH

Following a successful showcase at The Courtyard Theatre, Fictive Theatre in collaboration with Artistic Producciones and the Mexican Theatre Company La Compañia Perpetua present two unique performances of Fiona Evans’ acclaimed play SCARBOROUGH at the Cockpit Theatre, in London, on Saturday 5th December and Sunday 6th December at 3pm.

SCARBOROUGH follows a 15 year-old boy on a romantic weekend away with his (nearly) 30 year-old female teacher at a bed and breakfast in Scarborough. After the interval, the script is repeated word-for-word except for one difference: the genders have swapped.

Across social media and tabloid newspapers it seems every week a new student – teacher affair is uncovered. By staying away from sensationalism, SCARBOROUGH becomes an engaging play presenting the affair from a neutral point of view.

Fiona Evans’ electrifying portrayal of a dangerously charged romance and its disturbing implications was the show to see at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, winning a Fringe First Award.

This intimate performance directed by Simon Paris is set on a bed, in the round.

Young talents Ava Pickett and Charlie Tantam star in this production performing the roles of Lauren/Beth and Daz/Aiden.

SCARBOROUGH has set and costume design by Magdalena Iwanska, and lighting design by Guido Lueches.

Founded in 2014 by Ava Pickett and Simon Parism, Fictive Theatre is a company that creates and embraces brave and bold new theatre.

Artistic Producciones LTD and La Compañia Perpetua, which are about to present the UK premiere of FAUSTAFF at the Cockpit Theatre from 18th November to 6th December, are supporting this emerging theatre company with the aim of promote young talent.

Reviewers have said:

“The brilliant thing about Evans’s play is that it poses these questions without forcing us into either camp. By replicating the script across both situations, Evans stays neutral whilst her audience is left to empathise, take sides and debate as they see fit.” – Holly O’Mohany, A Younger Theatre.

“Despite the play’s brevity, the characters are complex and we don’t automatically see these children as victims – occasionally they seem more mature than the adults taking advantage of them.” – Edward Lukes, Once A Week Theatre

“We’re invading a private moment in a relationship, and our intrusion on these intimacies – the leg stroking, long stares and kissing on the bed in fits of passion – makes us feel suitably
uncomfortable.” – Holly O’Mahony, A Younger Theatre

“Director Simon Paris has done a fantastic job at utilising the script to great effect to convey the two stories in completely different and very effective ways.” – Terry Eastham, London Theatre 1

Tickets on sale at
http://www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/scarborough

Images available for download at
http://www.marsonpr.com/scarborough/

Twitter: @FictiveTheatre

Fictive Theatre Facebook Official Page

http://www.fictivetheatre.com

http://www.artisticproducciones.org

http://www.laperpetua.com

LISTINGS
SCARBOROUGH
A play by Fiona Evans

Directed by Simon Paris
Set and costume design: Magdalena Iwanska
Lighting design: Guido Lueches
Poster design: Amy Laker

Cast:
Lauren / Beth: Ava Pickett
Daz / Aiden: Charlie Tantam

5th & 6th December 2015, 3.00pm
The Cockpit Theatre
Gateforth Street, London, NW8 8EH

BOOK TICKETS
Tickets: £12 (concessions £10)
Box Office: 020 7258 29 25
Website: http://www.thecockpit.org.uk
ON SALE NOW!

A new season of entertaining, imaginative and engaging theatre has been launched this week by Live Theatre.

 

Next summer there is an exciting collaboration with Carnegie Medal-winning author, David Almond (Skellig),to present The Savage (30 June to 23 July), his first full length play for Live Theatre. This creative theatrical reimagining of his critically acclaimed short story has been commissioned to mark the launch of Live Tales, our new creative writing centre for children and young people which is at the heart of the new outdoor performance area and gardens next to the theatre.

 

Max Roberts, Artistic Director, Live Theatre said:

“It’s great to have a writer of David’s quality and reputation writing for Live Theatre. His enthusiasm and support for Live Tales our Children’s Writing Centre has been enormous and The Savage marks its opening. I’m very much looking forward to bringing his play to fruition moulding David’s rich lyrical writing with music and beautiful settings that will appeal to a wide age range of audiences.”
Next year also sees a welcome return for Alison Carr, with the world premiere of Iris (6 April to 30 April), a heady cocktail of caustic humour and tender pathos and her first full-length show in Live’s main theatre. Alison was the winner of Live Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Bursary for The Soaking of Vera Shrimp.

 

Gez Casey, Literary Manager said:

“Alison Carr has a distinct and individual voice as a playwright – witty, quirky and engaging. Following her previous work for the company, including The Girls From Poppyfield Close and The Soaking of Vera Shrimp in our Studio Theatre, I’m delighted that audiences will be able to see her first full commission in the Main House.”

 

Young voices continue to make themselves heard in Write Stuff (4 March), and members of Live’s Youth Theatre perform in The Media Circus  (5 & 6 March) and along with young learning disabled actors in Always the Bridesmaid (19 & 20 February),written by award winning playwright Mike Kenny in a collaboration with Headway Arts in Blyth.

See exciting new work performed for the very first time in Live Lab which this season launches two new projects, Live Lab Elevator festival (9 to 13 February) and Live Lab Takeover (21 & 22 May) which present new theatre and work-in-progress showcases. This also includes new work from Northumbria University MA students, as part of the recently announced partnership.

 

The quayside based Theatre is also looking forward to welcoming some of the country’s most exciting visiting theatre companies.

 

Among the exciting visiting theatre programme, is Iphigenia in Splott, (11 & 12 March), winner of Best Play in the UK Theatre Awards 2015; as well as Land of our Fathers, (27 to 30 January), compelling account of six Welsh miners trapped down a mine as Margaret Thatcher wins the 1979 general election; and Petrification, (26 to 28 May) the world premiere of a new piece by Zoe Cooper, (Nativities) the past and present collide with dizzying consequences.

 

The latest addition to the season is Bits of Me Are Falling Apart (24 to 27 February), which sees Adrian Edmondson staring in a new adaption of William Leith’s hilarious and touching bestselling novel, directed by Steve Marmion, Artistic Director of Soho Theatre.

 

Live Theatre will also host live music from Jumpin’ Hot Club and this season there will be live stand-up from comedian Mark Watson (2 & 3 June) as part of his national tour.

For more information about Live Theatre’s January to June 2016 season or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact the box office on (0191) 232 1232.

 

Shoppers in the newly installed Christmas store at Fenwick Newcastle were treated to a surprise on Tuesday as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier took time out from performing The Nutctracker at Newcastle Theatre Royal, to pose with Christmas shoppers.

 

The dancers, who are performing all week with Northern Ballet at the Theatre Royal, posed for photographs and selfies with shoppers and young children in the glittering Christmas store.

 

Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker is the dazzling tale of one child’s Christmas dreams coming true, as Clara is whisked away on the magical journey of a lifetime through a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy.

 

Set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker features choreography and beautiful costumes by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, stunning Regency style sets by Charles Cusick Smith and lighting by Mark Jonathan.

 

David Nixon OBE, said: “The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most popular classical ballets and holds a special place in the hearts of audiences young and old. We are delighted to once again revive this charming story and add that extra bit of sparkle to the festive season for audiences in Newcastle.”

 

Northern Ballet will also stage a ballet specially aimed at children, when they perform Elves and The Shoemaker on Fri 13 Nov at 12 noon and 2pm. With an original score, composed by Philip Feeney, Elves and The Shoemaker follows the fantastic sell-out success of Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs by Northern Ballet

 

The Nutcracker is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 10 to Sat 14 Nov 2015, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online). All tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk