REVIEW: The Best of 2017

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The Best of 2017

2017 has flown by for us at the North East Theatre Guide. We continue to increase the readership of the theatre guide and see an increase in traffic on both Twitter and Facebook. Indeed 2017 has been a good year for us, starting with the panto Beauty and the Beast and finishing with a comedy night at the Stand. Our sister publication the North East Music Guide has also built up its reputation for reviews and photography from Carliol Photography

Thanks go to everyone who read, wrote or helped out in any way in helping us to celebrate North East theatre.  The review which created the most traffic was Jack And The Beanstalk at Newcastle’s Times Square Pantodrome http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-jack-and-beanstalk-at-newcastle.html. Now we don’t claim to see every show but here are the shows that stood out for us from those we covered.

We don’t pretend that this is anything other than a list of what we liked. We don’t go on anything technical or clever – we are just members of the audience that say if we liked the show or not, nothing more or less. You may disagree – great! We will be happy that the theatre that you saw caused you to react in that way. Please remember that we are Newcastle based and that will put a limit on how far we can reach out. Sad but true. However, we welcome reviews to be submitted and that has helped us to cover more shows in a bigger area this year.

The Proud To Be In The North East Award:

The theatre scene continues to thrive in the North East and this is flagged up most with shows about local people. We had a longer list than in past years to work on of great work that will, in past years, have taken this gong however Jamie Brown’s stunning race scene in Hadaway Harry was amazing. New production company Blowin A Hooley’s revival of Tom Hadaway’s Filleting Machine was very moving and we look forward to seeing what they come up with next. The football double bill at the Customs House featured a Q&A with the man in question of Jeff Brown’s Cornered himself.

1.   Hadaway Harry at Newcastle Theatre Royal http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/02/review-hadaway-harry-at-newcastle.html

2.   Filleting Machine at North Shields Low Lights Tavern http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/06/review-filleting-machine-at-north.html

3.   Cornered at the Customs House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-wise-men-say-cornered-double-bill.html

2016 Dolly Mixtures at South Shields Customs House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2016/08/review-dolly-mixtures-at-south-shields.html

2015:   Geordie The Musical – South Shields Customs House http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/review-geordie-musical-at-south-shields.html

The Laugh-Out-Loud Standup Comedy Award:

We know Lauren Pattison is set for bigger things and so the opportunity to catch her at the intimate surroundings of the Alphabetti Theatre was a treat. By way of example, we remember when Omid Djalili was the new lad appearing in a short set at a comedy club in Newcastle, long before he appeared on tv, and now he fills theatres.

The NETG covers spoken word and comedy shows in different random venues and this summer we followed Viz co-creator Simon Donald around the region in a double decker bus. The trip is well worth doing if you get the chance.

1.   Lauren Pattison at Alphabetti Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/11/review-lauren-pattison-at-newcastle.html

2.   Omid Djalili at Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/02/review-omid-djalili-at-newcastle-tyne.html

3.   Simon Donald in Him Off The Viz bus tour http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/07/review-tyne-idols-viz-tour-of-newcastle.html

2016 Steffen Peddie 99 Problems And The Chips Still Ain’t One http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-99-problems-and-chips-still-aint.html

2015: Steffen Peddie – Newcastle The Stand http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-steffen-peddie-at-newcastle.html

The Stunning Set Design Award:

Every now and again you witness a show in which the set comes a character in itself. Not just simply a vehicle to ensure the action runs smoothly, it produces wow moments in its own right. This year’s award goes to quite a small touring show that was on a criminally short run at Northern Stage. It has to be said that the Northern Stage had a fabulous 2017 with many brilliant shows in its various spaces and they had put together 2 of its strongest seasons in recent years.

1, Man to Man at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/10/review-man-to-man-at-newcastle-northern.html

2016 Kynren at Bishop Auckland Flatts Farm http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/reviewkynren-at-bishop-auckland.html

2015: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time –Sunderland Empirehttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/review-curious-incident-at-sunderland.html

The Best Dance Production Award:

The news that Dance City is extending its work to include a base in Sunderland is welcomed as the popularity in these shows continues to grow. We have noted that in recent times many shows are now well deserved sell-out events.

1.   Mark Murphy's V-Tol: Out of This World at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/05/review-out-of-this-world-at-newcastle.html

2.   Charge at Newcastle Dance City http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/11/review-charge-at-newcastle-dance-city.html

3.   Cinderella at Sunderland Empire http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/03/review-brb-cinderella-at-sunderland.html

2016 Rambert at Newcastle Theatre Royal http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/review-rambert-at-newcastle-theatre.html

2015:  5 Soldiers – Newcastle Dance Cityhttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/preview-5-soldiers-at-newcastle-dance_14.html

The Best Amateur Musical Award:

The standard of these shows continues to improve and this has been a really hard one to agree on so we’ve gone for a joint 3^rd place.

1.   Legally Blonde at South Shields Customs House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/08/review-legally-blonde-musical-at-south.html

2.   West Side Story at Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-west-side-story-at-newcastle.html

3.   Little Shop of Horrors at Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/03/review-little-shop-of-horrors-at.html

Paint Your Wagon at Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/11/review-paint-your-wagon-at-newcastle.html

2016: Spamalot at Yarm Princess Alexandra Auditorium http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/review-spamalot-at-yarm-princess.html

2015: Hairspray – Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera Househttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/review-hairspray-at-newcastle-tyne.html

The Best Musical Award:

A lot of great musicals have gone through the region this year. There has been something for everyone and that doesn’t make our choice any easier. We thought we knew who would walk off with this award for most of the year and then the local lad popped up in December and blew us away. As for third place – you do realise we spend our Sunday evenings listening to Forgotten 80s on the radio?

1.   Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Newcastle Arena http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-joseph-at-newcastle-metro-radio.html

2.   Young Frankenstein at Newcastle Theatre Royal http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-young-frankenstein-at-newcastle.html

3.   Flashdance at Sunderland Empire http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-flashdance-at-sunderland-empire.html

2016 Sunny Afternoon at Sunderland Empire http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/review-sunny-afternoon-at-sunderland.html

2015:    Our Ladies of the Perpetual Succour – Newcastle Live Theatre http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-our-ladies-of-perpetual-succour.html

The Best show for children:

Typical. Just as our son grows up we start getting high quality children’s shows throughout the year. We have a sublime Christmas show, a high quality production created by young people themselves and an adaptation of a David Walliam’s best seller.

1.   Alice in Wonderland at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-alice-in-wonderland-at-newcastle.html

2.   Heroes, Villains and Mortals - Youth Theatre Festival at Newcastle Live Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/08/review-youth-theatre-festival-at.html

3.   Gangsta Granny at Sunderland Empire http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/05/review-gangsta-granny-at-sunderland.html

2016 Savage at Newcastle Live Theatre http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-savage-at-newcastle-live-theatre.html

2015:  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Newcastle Northern Stagehttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/review-wonderful-wizard-of-oz-at.html

The Best New Writing Award:

This was another heading in which we started with a very long list of potential winners but it has to go to the show which put tears in our eyes as it shook us to our cores. Both Live Theatre and Northern Stage continue to host new writing and, along with Alphabetti Theatre, they give a high quality experience for those willing to take a gamble.

1.   Rattle Snake at Newcastle Live Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-rattle-snake-at-newcastle-live.html

2.   What Once Was Ours at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/10/review-what-once-was-ours-at-newcastle.html

3.   Goth Weekend at Newcastle Live Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/10/review-goth-weekend-at-newcastle-live.html

2016 The Rooms (2016) at Newcastle Alphabetti  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/review-rooms-at-newcastle-alphabetti.html

2015:  The Rooms (2015) – Newcastle Alphabetti  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-rooms-at-newcastle-alphabetti.html

The Most Entertaining Pantomime

It is a hattrick for Ray Spencer and the Customs House. Why? For the same reason it is the one panto that everyone in the North East who loves panto makes sure it is in their diary. Great script, great cast and design which puts a lot of other pantos to shame. Be beware of more expensive competitors! Snow White is the best Tyne Theatre panto we can remember seeing, as Charlie Richmond is finally given the reigns and fully exploits his potential as the comic. As for Jack, it hasn’t been out of the headlines but the cast put their heart and soul into delivering a very funny show. Stephen Sullivan was a proper bad guy and the lads in the bed scene is still making us laugh.

1.   Lambton Worm at South Shields Customs House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-lambton-worm-at-south-shields.html

2.   Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-snow-white-seven-dwarfs.html

3.   Jack and the Beanstalk at Newcastle Pantodrome http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-jack-and-beanstalk-at-newcastle.html

2016 Jack And The Beanstalk – South Shields Customs Househttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/review-jack-beanstalk-at-south-shields.html

2015: Alice In Wonderland – South Shields Customs Househttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/review-alice-in-wonderland-at-south.html

The Most Spectacular Christmas Show

These three Christmas shows were not just for the children. From the bonkers characters and amazing design in Alice, to the crazy stunts of Peter Pan through to hearing the screams during the 3D scenes in Jack, these shows had a lot to offer the whole audience.

1.   Alice in Wonderland at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-alice-in-wonderland-at-newcastle.html

2.   Peter Pan at Newcastle Theatre Royal http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/11/review-peter-pan-at-newcastle-theatre.html

3.   Jack and the Beanstalk at Sunderland Empire http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-jack-beanstalk-at-sunderland.html

2016 Cinderella at Newcastle Theatre Royal http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/review-cinderella-at-newcastle-theatre.html

2015:    Dick Whittington - Newcastle Theatre Royal  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/review-dick-whittington-at-newcastle.html

The Laugh Out Loud Funniest Production

The not-so-wee-these-days-man always gets the job of nominating this one. I’m sure he’ll want a trip down to the Darlington Hippodrome to see it again in 2018

1.   Play That Goes Wrong at Newcastle Theatre Royal. http://jowheretogo.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/?m=1

2016: Avenue Q at Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera Househttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/review-avenue-q-at-newcastle-tyne.html

2015:    Peter Pan Goes Wrong – Darlington Civic Theatrehttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/review-peter-pan-goes-wrong-at.html

The Best Amateur Play:

Another “radio play” picking up a gong. (Remember Frank Sumatra?) Blackadder was a real treat as we are fans of the original tv series. People’s followed up Richard III with another imaginative cracker.

1.   Under Milk Wood at Newcastle People’s Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/06/review-under-milk-wood-at-newcastle.html

2.   Blackadder Goes Forth at Blyth Phoenix Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/11/review-black-adder-goes-forth-at-blyth.html

3.   The Tempest at Newcastle People’s Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/03/review-tempest-at-newcastle-peoples.html

2016 Be My Baby at Newcastle People’s Theatre  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/review-be-my-baby-at-newcastle-peoples.html

2015: They Shoot Horses Don’t They? – Newcastle People’s Theatre http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/review-they-shoot-horses-dont-they-at.html

The Best Adaptation Award:

We loved the original film and wondered if it would transfer easily to the stage. East Is East was a very good adaptation.

1.   East Is East at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/04/review-east-is-east-at-newcastle.html

2.   Gangsta Granny at Sunderland Empire http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/05/review-gangsta-granny-at-sunderland.html

3.   Alice in Wonderland at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/12/review-alice-in-wonderland-at-newcastle.html

2016 39 Steps at Newcastle Theatre Royal http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/review-39-steps-at-newcastle-theatre.html

2015:    Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour  – Newcastle Live Theatrehttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-our-ladies-of-perpetual-succour.html

The Best Shakespeare Award

1.   The Tempest at Newcastle People’s Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/03/review-tempest-at-newcastle-peoples.html

2016 Romeo And Juliet at Newcastle Alphabetti http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/review-romeo-and-juliet-at-newcastle.html

The Best Drama Award

So much to choose from but Rattle Snake was superb and takes another award. Northern Stage was host to a number of excellent touring companies from around the globe and The Suitcase was no exception to the high standard’s in this season’s programme.

1.   Rattle Snake at Newcastle Live Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-rattle-snake-at-newcastle-live.html

2.   Man to Man at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/10/review-man-to-man-at-newcastle-northern.html

3.   The Suitcase at Newcastle Northern Stage http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-suitcase-at-newcastle-northern.html

2016 The Father at Newcastle Theatre Royalhttp://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/review-father-at-newcastle-theatre-royal.html

The Best at Fringe Award

We didn’t make it to Edinburgh this year and ended up watching 39 Steps in German in Berlin – but that’s another story. The Newcastle Fringe scene continues to be supported by a number of theatres but special mention must go to Ali Pritchard and his team at Alphabetti. If you’re wondering why they didn’t feature as strongly this year then you probably don’t realise that they were forced to close the venue next to the Central Library as it was to be demolished. Unperturbed they have set up yet another venue – this time sandwiched between the Discovery Museum and the Grainger Cark Park. If you haven’t spotted the venue on St James Boulevard then please donate some external lights so they can light up the sign at night! Out of the rubble great theatre and events have started again in Newcastle’s most eclectic venue. Their opening show was a superb return. Welcome back and we plan to be paying many more visits in 2018.

1.   Overdue at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre http://www.northeasttheatreguide.co.uk/2017/09/review-overdue-at-newcastle-alphabetti.html

2016 Lifted http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/edfringe-review-lifted-at.html

So that leaves, once again, a thank you to everyone that has helped us by reading, reviewing, performing, inviting and booking the shows.  Special mention goes to the very patient Joanne and our son Robert. He is only 14 and has literally sat through nearly a hundred shows.  For the record Robert’s top pick this year was The Play That Goes Wrong and Jo puts Rattle Snake at the top of her list.

Happy New Year!

Stephen Oliver

North East Theatre Guide