Theatre N16 presents:

TALES OF ENDURANCE WITH RAY MEARS

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of stories from the edge with Ray Mears at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 23 March.

Have you ever wondered how you might cope faced by seemingly impossible odds? In this heart stirring presentation be prepared to be shocked, amazed and inspired to succeed by the stories of our fellow human beings and the incredible circumstances they have overcome.

As humans we have extraordinary ability in terms if ingenuity, adaptability and sheer determination, but how can we access these abilities in a crisis. Through carefully selected stories Ray Mears explores all of these topics and more providing an insight to what makes a survivor.

Ray said ‘Our ability to find humour in times of adversity and to motivate ourselves by focusing on returning to our loved ones is astonishingly powerful. Stripped bare by adversity survivors cling to the most fundamental emotions, instincts and human qualities. This in its own way can be an instructional guide to living outside of adversity.’

In an uncertain world this could be the most important evening of your life.

Ray Mears – Tales of Endurance comes to Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 23 March at 7.30pm.

Tickets* are £20 & £22. U16s £16, family ticket £72, groups 10+ 1 free. Discounts are available.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All prices include a £1 restoration levy

RORY BREMNER – ‘COME HELL AND HIGH WATER’ TOUR – FLOOD RELIEF FUNDRAISING SHOWS

Top TV impressionist Rory Bremner will be stopping off in York as he performs a series of special charity shows to raise money for those affected by flooding over the festive season across the north of England.

Having played to sellout crowds in Penrith, Kendal, Keswick and Lancaster, Bremner will star in, and compere a two hour comedic extravaganza, alongside top UK comedians, donating their services. So far confirmed are: Barry Cryer; Jess Robinson; Rob Rouse and Katie Mulgrew with others being added in the coming weeks.

The show at York Grand Opera House on MONDAY 16^TH MAY starts at 8.00pm.

Tickets are priced at £21.25 and can be booked through the venue book office –

0844 871 3024 – www.atgtickets.com/york   

Proceeds from the show will go to The York Disaster Fund managed by Two Ridings Community Foundation to help victims of the recent flooding.

The tour is being organised by Bremner’s promoters, Lakin McCarthy Entertainment.

TV presenter and comedian Rory Bremner, said: “It was heart breaking to see the devastation caused by the floods in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire over the Christmas and New Year period. To help out, I’m bringing a top line-up of comics for some special fund-raisers. Come along for a great evening of comedy and variety and support those hardest hit!”

Hackney Empire presents
SLEEPING BEAUTY
2016 Pantomime

• HACKNEY EMPIRE ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST EVER PRODUCTION OF SLEEPING BEAUTY FOR THE VENUES’ 2016 PANTOMIME

• SUSIE MCKENNA AND COMPOSER  STEVEN EDIS TO DELIVER A BRAND NEW PANTOMIME TO THE HACKNEY EMPIRE STAGE

• SEEN BY OVER 54,000 PEOPLE, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 2015 TOOK OVER FROM MOTHER GOOSE 2014 AS HACKNEY EMPIRE’S BEST-SELLING PANTOMIME TO DATE

• LONDON’S NO.1 PANTO WILL RUN FROM 26 NOVEMBER 2016 TO 8 JANUARY 2017
  

Hackney Empire has announced Sleeping Beauty as its 2016 Christmas pantomime. Following the success of last year’s ground breaking production of Jack and the Beanstalk, which was seen by 54,812 people not just from all over London but all over the world (including Japan, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand), tickets for Sleeping Beauty go on sale today, with casting still to be announced.

Welcome to enchanted Hackneytopia; a land of fairies, unicorns and dragons where once upon a time, a princess is born.  Spurned at the celebration party, malevolent wicked fairy Carabosse casts an evil spell which changes the Princess’s life forever.  Will Princess Aurora take charge of her own destiny?

Susie McKenna said: I’m really excited to be able to add a 7th title to the Hackney Empire pantomime cycle.  I have been wanting to tell a new version of this Fairytale for a while and I’m planning that our Warrior Princess takes hold of her own destiny. All the well-known characters will be there together with a couple of new ones and, as usual, we will be putting a very Hackney and London slant on it all! 

Sleeping Beauty will be Susie McKenna’s and Steve Edis’ 18th Hackney pantomime. From starting as principle boy in Nottingham Playhouse pantomimes, Susie is now Creative Director of Hackney Empire and has written and directed every Christmas show and critically acclaimed pantomime since 1998. Her most recent directing credits include The Silver Sword, a musical adaptation of Ian Serraillier’s novel, written by Susie and Steve Edis which opened at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry before touring for 7 weeks. Other credits include Blues in the Night,A Midsummer Night’s Madness (Hackney Empire, New York and Edinburgh Festival), La Varieté,Once on This Island (Hackney Empire), Sit and Shiver (assisting Steven Berkoff), A Christmas Carol (Arts Theatre, London), Once on this Island (Hackney Empire, Birmingham Rep, Nottingham Playhouse).  She was recently nominated for the League of Professional Theatre Women’s Guild/Coigney International Theatre Award for developing international links. Susie has also worked as an actress for over 30 years. Her acting credits include Chicago, Cats andThe Witches of Eastwick in the West End and national tours of Hair, The Rocky Horror Show andJesus Christ Superstar.

Steven Edis returns once again as musical composer to create a magical mix of musical mash-ups, chart remixes and an original score. Steven has worked with the National Theatre, in the West End and on a variety of prestigious projects as composer, arranger and orchestrator. Credits include The Captain of Kopenick (National Theatre), The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chichester Festival Theatre), A Chorus of Disapproval, Flarepath and Birdsong for the West End. Steven brings his vast experience to create a musical score that rivals a West End musical.

Only The Brave, staring Emilie Fleming, David Thaxton, Caroline Sheen and Neil McDermott, which will run at Wales Millennium Centre from 28 March to 2 April.

Directed by Steve Marmion, Artistic Director of London’s Soho Theatre, Only The Brave tells the heart-breaking and inspirational true story of two couples brought together by war. With a book by Rachel Wagstaff, music by Matthew Brind and lyrics by Steve Marmion, this emotionally charged new musical brings to life the passion, camaraderie and courage of an incredible generation.

 NICKELBACK
SHEFFEILD ARENA
SATURDAY 15^TH OCTOBER

Multi-platinum selling rock band NICKELBACK are set to embark on a massive headline tour in 2016, stopping off at Sheffield Arena on Saturday 15^th October, with support coming from fellow Canadian rockers MONSTER TRUCK.

The tour marks NICKELBACK’s tenth world tour and will see the band performing in 30 cities across Europe this Autumn, including shows at both London’s O2 Arena and SSE Arena Wembley.

Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday 11^th March in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

Tickets are priced £43.35 (including booking fee) when purchased through this web site & our ticket hotline on 0114 256 56 56 or £41.43 (including booking fee) when purchased in person from the venue box office.

NICKELBACK have cemented themselves as one of the most commercially viable and important acts of the past two decades.  The group’s worldwide sales exceed 50 million units and their irresistible smash “How You Remind Me” remains Billboard’s “Top Rock Song of the Decade”. Amongst all of these accolades, they’ve been crowned Billboard’s “Top Rock Group of the Decade” as well. Along the way, they’ve received a staggering nine Grammy Award nominations, three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, and a People’s Choice Award. In their native Canada, the band have garnered 36 JUNO Award nominations of which 12 won in a variety of categories and have been inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.

NICKELBACK return to Europe with a high octane rock show, to put it in the words of singer Chad Kroeger: “Get ready Europe, we are bringing one hell of a loud party to our fans over there!”

Tickets for Nickelback’s Sheffield concert go on general sale at 9am on Friday 11th March in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

For all things NICKELBACK:
www.nickelback.com
http://www.facebook.com/Nickelback
http://twitter.com/nickelback
http://Instagram.com/nickelback
http://www.youtube.com/nickelbacktv

The cast for the world premiere of Iris at Live Theatre, Newcastle have been confirmed and start rehearsals today at the Quayside based theatre.  Katy Cavanagh who played Julie Carp, a regular in Coronation Street between 2009 and 2015 stars as Julie, the central character who returns home after living away. Katy, who was born in Whitley Bay, returns to the region making her first appearance at Live Theatre, in this play set in a north eastern coastal town, very similar to Whitley Bay.

Katy said:

“I am delighted to be coming to Live Theatre for the first time. I absolutely love the play Iris, and can’t wait to get my teeth stuck into the part to bring the production to life.”

Katy is joined by Live Theatre regular Joe Caffrey, seen recently in Live Theatre’s productions of Wet House, for which he received a Journal Culture Award for best performer, and Cooking with Elvis and who also tour nationally in The Pitmen Painters.Sam Neale, another Live Theatre regular who starred in Nativities, and one of Alison’s earlier plays, The Girls From Poppyfield Close, as well as appearing in Live Theatre’s Write Stuff plays, is the final cast member.

Iris is Newcastle based writer, Alison’s first full-length play to be presented on Live Theatre’s main stage, and brings a heady world of caustic humour and tender pathos ,and is Directed by Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Max Roberts.
Max Roberts added:

“The more I’ve been working on this play the more I’ve grown to love it. Hearing it read in auditions and listening to the actors thoughts and responses to it has fired my passion to bring Alison’s story to fruition. The characters, especially Julie played by Katy Cavanagh (whom I’m delighted to welcome to Live Theatre for the first time) and Ruby played by Sam Neale, are so richly, complex funny and real. I’m also looking forward to working with my long-time associate Joe Caffrey who plays the part of Gerry. Joe will bring a real warmth, sense of humour and empathy to his equally complex and well-drawn character.”

Iris is a three-hander that follows the relationship of sisters Julie and Ruby who are coming to terms with the death of their mother Iris. This formidable matriarch manages to control their lives from beyond the grave. On the night of the funeral, Julie gets off with Gerry, a crime scene cleaner. Maybe that’ll help. It doesn’t.

When their mother’s unusual bequest unearths a story that leaves some indelible marks, something more than a deep clean is needed.

As Live Theatre’s Literary Manager Gez Casey explains:

“Alison Carr has a distinct and individual voice as a playwright – witty, quirky and engaging. Following her previous work for Live Theatre, 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.”

Iris was first seen at Live Theatre as a play called The Day We Rode the Shuggy Boat when a short extract was presented at the theatre in 2012.

Alison explains:
“My first piece of writing performed at Live Theatre was part of Short Cuts in 2002. Ten years later an extract from the script that became Iris was showcased as part of the final Short Cuts event. In the decade in-between I have worked with Live Theatre on a variety of projects including The Girls From Poppyfield Close, Paines Plough’s Come To Where I’m From and Boys on the Edge. Seeing Iris on the main stage at Live Theatre is the culmination of a long-held ambition and I am incredibly excited to start rehearsals and for audiences to see the play.”

Alison’s relationship with Live Theatre began in 2002 when she assisted Jeremy Herrin in directing Double Lives by Julia Darling and Sean O’Brien. In the same year Alison wrote her first short play for the company called Yellow (part of Short Cuts), which was also directed by Jeremy Herrin. In 2003 Alison also took part in Live Theatre’s popular Introduction to Playwriting course to hone her playwriting craft.

Since then Alison has gone on to write numerous plays for Live Theatre including Come to Where I’m From (Paines Plough), The Girls From Poppyfield Close, When It’s Gone (part of nabakov’s Present:Tense) and Ten Tiny Tyneside Plays. Alison has also worked with Live Theatre’s Education and Participation team as a dramaturg for their Write Stuff programme, which works with young people still in education to develop their writing and literacy skills.
Notably in 2013, Alison won Live Theatre’s 40^th Anniversary Bursary for her heart-warming one woman show The Soaking of Vera Shrimp. The show was described by The Telegraph as ‘achingly beautiful and utterly compelling’ when it later toured to the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Iris is the third production supported by the Friends of Live Theatre. The Friends membership scheme enables individuals who are passionate about Live Theatre’s work to make a tangible difference and get closer to work the company produces. Through regular financial contributions Friends play a pivotal role in unlocking creative talent and supporting emerging playwrights such as Alison Carr. Friends have special access to exclusive behind-the-scenes events which this year include a series of play-development events around Iris following the play from script to stage. On Wednesday 6 April and Saturday 9 April Friends of Live Theatre can benefit from an offer for two tickets for the price of one to see the show.

On Saturday 9 April audiences can join writer Alison Carr, following the 2pm matinee performance, for a free Meet the Writerevent where she will discuss the making of the play.

Tickets for Iris cost £22-£10 full price, £22-£12 over 60s and £15-£6 for other concessions. For more information or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact the box office on (0191) 232 1232.

DATES: Wed 6 to Sat 30 Apr

LOCATION: Main Theatre

DURATION: 2hrs, including interval

SUITABILITY: 14+

PERFORMANCES: Tues to Sun

MATINEES: 

Sat 9, Thurs 14, Thurs 21, Thurs 28, Sat 23 & Sat 30 Apr, 2pm

Sun 17 Apr, 4pm

PREVIEW: Wed 6 Apr, 7.30pm

OPENING NIGHT: Thurs 7 Apr, 7.30pm

ASSISTED PERFORMANCES:

British Sign Language: Tues 26 Apr, 7.30pm

Captioned: Thurs 28 Apr, 2pm

Touch Tour: Thurs 28 Apr, 6pm

Audio Described: Thurs 28 Apr, 7.30pm

TICKETS: £22-£10, over 60s conc, £16-£12, other concs £15-£6

Saturday 9 April (after the 2pm show)

Iris – Meet the Writer

Join writer Alison Carr as she discusses the making of the play.

DATE: Sat 9 Apr (after the 2pm show)
LOCATION: Main Theatre
DURATION:  Approx. 45mins
SUITABILITY: 14+

TICKETS: Free, booking essential

Brockley Jack 23 February – 12 March.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Watching Bertholt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle isn’t everyone’s idea of a jolly night out, and some productions have run the risk of getting lost up their own backsides trying to stay true to the convoluted story. So Lazarus Theatre had a lot to do to impress me. Walking into the theatre and seeing a space filled with stacks of plastic chairs and boxes made my heart sink, but then a lovely lady offered us biscuits, and things started to look up. It took about 3 minutes for me to be completely swept away by the show, and the collaborative storytelling kept me enthralled throughout.

Set at the end of WWII in Soviet Georgia, the play begins with a conflict between two rival farm collectives over a valley left abandoned by the Nazis. A storyteller tells the parable of the chalk circle to help resolve the conflict. In the parable, a coup in the city of Nuhka results in the governor’s wife abandoning her infant son. Grusha, a servant girl, saves the baby and takes him to safety in the mountains. She is engaged to Simon, a soldier who had to accompany the fleeing aristocrats, but has promised to return. Grusha eventually reaches her brother’s home, and after a long illness is forced to marry a dying man to end the stigma of single motherhood. Her husband’s miraculous recovery when peace is declared causes problems when Simon finally finds Grusha, and soldiers arrive to take the baby back to his mother in Nuhka. Grusha returns to stake her claim of motherhood in front of incompetent judge Azdak, who eventually implements Solomic law and the trial of the chalk circle. Simple!

Frank McGuiness’ earthy translation is wonderful, and designers Sorcha Corcoran, Stuart Glover (lighting) and Neil McKean (sound) have brilliantly embellished and enhanced the story, never allowing the effects to overshadow the cast. Colour changes, constant circling movement and shifting props that usually make me tut and roll my eyes just WORKED in this production. Ricky Dukes has created something magical. The songs by Robert Locke are perfectly judged and fit seamlessly in the narrative flow. When Azdak returns to Nuhka to turn himself in, the music, lighting and movement create a sinister air tension under the hedonism that really draws you in. The rickety bridge scene is also a standout – such a simple concept, but wonderfully effective, and wonderfully performed.

The entire cast have no downtime during the play and their energy and commitment is uplifting. Rob Peacock does seem to act mostly with his groin, but this works hysterically for the characters he plays.

I just wish I’d seen Brecht performed like this when I was younger. This is the first time I have enjoyed the play rather than just endured it. This is brave and inspiring theatre at its best.

Ivy House Nunhead 2nd March, Arcola Bar  13th March.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

This immersive production is full of guts, glitterballs and… bingo.

Babs and Jackie are running a fundraising night collecting food and money for families suffering during the miners’ strike, ably assisted by Babs’ husband Dave and Tel on the piano.

The Ivy House was a perfect setting for the night – the ballroom has a 80s 90s workingman’s club atmosphere. Babs and Jackie greet you at the door and hand you your bingo card before taking the stage for the fundraiser. The cast- Judith Amsenga, Dominik Golding, Charlotte Higgins, Jeremy Hancock and Kevin Potton all don 1980s fashion bravely and give fine, natural performances.

The actresses give wonderfully awkward performances, exactly like normal women not used to public speaking, and the way they develop a growing rivalry for the spotlight as the evening progresses is deliciously bitchy. Babs and Dave make a great comedy duo, either bickering or him looking on in exasperation as she puts words into his mouth as he can’t get a word in edgeways. The bingo section is joyfully chaotic, with Jackie’s “mystery prize” jingle getting stuck in your head instantly.

Even though the actors talk of the hardship and humiliation of the miners, this doesn’t really hit home until Tony, a very unwelcome visitor turns up and the whole tone of the evening changes. The audience is left alone with Tony as he explains his reasons for crossing the picket line, making us complicit in judgement of his actions. The delivery of Tony’s monologue is wonderfully moving, highlighting the shattered pride and desperation of the man, only wanting to provide for his family, and reminding us of the shades of grey in the conflict.

Aled Pedrick’s script is full of affection for the miners (his father was a coal miner) and draws many parallels between their situation in the 80s and the present day in a non-preachy way. The food donated by the audience is used by Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank, and this simple fact makes the vision of stronger communities and workers voiced by the characters so nostalgic, innocent and hopeless.

This is an emotional and thought provoking production, well worth catching at the Arcola Bar if you can. The 80s music that follows just tops the night off brilliantly.