Preview: Everywhere We Go at South Shields Customs House

Appeal For Memorabilia To Use In Football Play 

Everywhere We Go

South Shields Customs House

Wednesday 22^nd - Saturday 25^th May 2019

Wembley Way was a sea of claret and blue when South Shields FC reached the FA Vase final in 2017 – and emerged victorious. Now the writers of a new play charting the historic win are appealing for fans to donate their flags and banners to help recreate the amazing scenes on stage.

Boyle Yer Stotts are bringing their latest production, Everywhere We Go, to The Customs House, from Wednesday 22^nd to Saturday 25^th May 2019.

Dale Meeks (second left) with the cast of Everywhere We Go

(l-r) Craig Richardson, Jill Dellow, Luke Maddison and Wayne Miller.

It tells the story of South Shields FC’s road to Wembley and subsequent takeover of the capital by more than 15,000 supporters, through the eyes of four fans, played by Wayne Miller, Craig Richardson, Luke Maddison and Jill Dellow.  The play has been written by Dale Meeks and Iain Cunningham in celebration of the club’s achievement and what it meant for the town as a whole.

South Shields FC fans with their flags and

banners at Wembley

(Photo: Peter Talbot, used with kind permission of South Shields FC)

The then Northern Division 1 side lifted the trophy after beating Cleethorpes Town FC 4-0 and went on to win back-to-back promotions in 2017 and 2018. They are currently playing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Dale, who will also be directing, said: “We are taking a multi-media approach to the set design and we would love to include some flags and banners from the fans. We are going to put them up on the stage and they are going to form the backdrop to the show.  “So if you want to be involved, get your banners to us!”

Banners can be dropped off at The Customs House and will be returned after the show if you leave your name, address and telephone number.

Tickets:

Tickets for Everywhere We Go, priced from £14, are available from the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or online at www.customshouse.co.uk.

News: Signing Sheep Cutlet Brings Panto Award BAA-ck Home

Signing Sheep Cutlet Brings Panto Award BAA-ck Home

Actress Charlie Raine has triumphed at The Great British Pantomime Awards for her ewe-nique performance as a signing sheep.

The 26-year-old, from Sunderland, who played Cutlet in last year’s production ofBeauty and the Beast at The Customs House, won Best Pantomime Animal for her performance at the national awards, held in London on Sunday evening.  Charlie, who is hearing impaired, brought her sign language skills to the role, which impressed the awards judges, who took in hundreds of professional shows at theatres up and down the country before shortlisting cast and crew in 27 categories.

The Customs House, in South Shields, also had finalists in the Best Comic (Davey Hopper) and Best Staging and Set (Fox and Shriek) categories.

Charlie, who experienced hearing loss from a young age and now mainly functions as a lip reader, said: “Last night was amazing. I absolutely adored getting glammed up and being reunited with my panto family. It was an honour to be representing The Customs House at such a prestigious event and to be surrounded by so many talented people who all love and appreciate the pantomime industry.  I just wanted to thank all the lovely people who support The Customs House panto and who have made me feel so welcome.  Not only am I proud to win this award for the North East but also for the deaf community. Thank you for all your kind comments and ongoing support.”

Charlie trained at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in London, gaining a masters in Theatre for Young Audiences, having graduated from Northumbria University with a first class degree in drama.  She has since toured the UK with various family shows, including Fans (The Six Twenty – Northern Stage and Live Theatre), Treasure Island (LP Creatives) and In The Night Garden Live (Minor Entertainment).

She is also a member of London gospel choir Enchorus and has worked as a residential backing singer for The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice UK.  A highlight of her career so far has been performing in Richard Thomas’ Wrong Sings for Christmas at National Theatre, directed by Evan Ensign.

In 2017, she set up a YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/BSLcharlie - to raise deaf awareness and help break down communication barriers, featuring British Sign Language (BSL) tutorials and pop song covers.   She is currently playing Ben in the UK tour of You’ve Got Dragons (Taking Flight Theatre).

The Great British Pantomime Awards, now in their third year, recognise the best of this British theatrical institution and aims to ensure that its traditions continue to be held in the highest esteem in the eyes of the public and theatre industry.  This year’s winners were announced in a ceremony at the New Wimbledon Theatre, hosted by panto legend Christopher Biggins.

Ray Spencer, Executive Director of The Customs House, who co-writes, directs and stars in the annual panto, said: “It was star-studded event and we were delighted that Charlie was recognised for her unique signing sheep.  It was the first award of the night and Charlie made a fantastic acceptance speech, which she signed to the gathered audience, who were very warm in their support for her.”

This year’s panto is Snow White and tickets are on sale now, priced from £9.99. Contact the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or visit www.customshouse.co.uk.

Preview: Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer On Tour

Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer

On Tour

Monday 29^th April 2019 - Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

Tuesday 30^th April 2019 - Alnwick Playhouse 

Wednesday 1^st May 2019 - Saltburn Arts Centre

​Thursday 2^nd May 2019 - Arts Centre Washington

Friday 3^rd May 2019 - Barnard Castle The Witham

Saturday 4^th May 2019 - Hexham Queen's Hall Arts Centre

 

Photo: Martin Dewar

In this funny and honest solo, Shane Shambhu combines Indian dance and stand-up comedy to lead audiences on a revealing journey of his life experiences. From unlikely Indian dance student to “rude boy” to international performer.

With his inimitable charm and wit, Shane will have you laughing out loud as he reveals his past through a vivid display of characters, lived experiences and comical stories, reflecting on how race, language, cultures and identity have defined him and his career.

Cockney Curry House introduces Chef T and sous chef Dave to audiences allowing them to taste and smell the spices and flavours of South Indian cuisine. Chef T will reveal the journey that curry dishes have made into British cuisine making Tikka Masala as popular as Fish and Chips.

Shane Shambhu has collaborated with an acclaimed team of collaborators to create Confessions Of A Cockney Temple Dancer.

Tickets:

Monday 29^th April 2019

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

Book Tickets

​

Tuesday 30^th April 2019

Alnwick Playhouse 

Book Tickets

​

Wednesday 1^st May 2019

Saltburn Arts Centre

Book Tickets

​

Thursday 2^nd May 2019

Arts Centre Washington

Book Tickets

​

Friday 3^rd May 2019

Barnard Castle The Witham

Book Tickets

​

Saturday 4^th May 2019

Hexham Queen's Hall Arts Centre

Book Tickets

Preview: Jekyll & Hyde at Darlington Hippodrome

A New Musical - Just What The Doctor Ordered

Jekyll & Hyde

Darlington Hippodrome

Wednesday 23 October - Saturday 2 November 2019

The epic struggle between good and evil comes to life as local theatre company Darlington Operatic Society start rehearsals for the musical phenomenon, Jekyll & Hyde.

An evocative tale of two men – one a doctor, passionate and romantic; the other, a terrifying madman – and two women – one, beautiful and trusting; the other, beautiful and trusting only herself – both women in love with the same man and both unaware of his dark secret. A devoted man of science, Dr. Henry Jekyll is driven to find a chemical breakthrough that can solve some of mankind’s most challenging medical dilemmas. Rebuffed by the powers that be, he decides to make himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, accidentally unleashing his inner demons along with the man that the world would come to know as Mr. Hyde

Based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson and featuring a thrilling score from multi-Grammy and Tony-nominated Frank Wildhorn and double-Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse, Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical has mesmerized audiences the world over.  The original Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde took to the stage at the Plymouth Theatre on March 21, 1997 where it played for over 1,500 performances. Jekyll & Hyde also enjoyed two successful UK tours, one in 2004 and most recently in 2011.

Joanne Hand (Top Hat, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, West Side Story) will once again be at the helm as Director / Choreographer and Steven Hood (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Strictly Musicals 2) will have a live, 17 piece orchestra under the control of his baton.

Julian Cound from DarlingtonOS told us “following the huge success of Top Hat we are so looking forward to taking on the challenge of Jekyll & Hyde. The show is full of amazing music and will have audiences on the edge of their seats throughout. We will be using the set and costumes from a recent UK tour so it will look fabulous and with a 17 piece orchestra it will sound amazing too.  Jekyll & Hyde is a completely different style of show from our most recent productions, it is something new and is a powerful piece of musical theatre that will thrill, astound and delight.”

Jekyll & Hyde runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 23 October to Saturday 2 November. Thursday 31 October is a BSL interpreted performance and both Friday performances will be audio described. Recommended age 12+

Tickets are on sale now - to book call the Ticket Hotline on 01325 244659 or book online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk.

Preview: Equus By Peter Shaffer at Newcastle Northern Stage

When teenager Alan Strang’s pathological fascination leads him to blind six horses in a Hampshire stable, psychiatrist Dr. Martin Dysart is tasked with uncovering the motive...

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East present:

Equus by Peter Shaffer

Newcastle Northern Stage

Tuesday 30 April – Saturday 4 May 2019

Inspired by a true story, Peter Shaffer’s gripping and transfixing psychological thriller is re-imagined by award-winning theatre director Ned Bennett in this major new revival for 2019.   Equus explores the complex relationships between devotion, myth and sexuality.   When teenager Alan Strang’s pathological fascination leads him to blind six horses in a Hampshire stable, psychiatrist Dr. Martin Dysart is tasked with uncovering the motive behind the boy’s violent act. As Dysart delves into Alan’s world of twisted spiritualty, passion and sexuality, he begins to question his own sanity and motivations in a world driven by consumerism.

Ira Mandela Siobhan (Nugget) and
Ethan Kai (Alan Strang)
Photo: The Other Richard.

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East have announced the full cast for Ned Bennett’s bold new production of Peter Shaffer’s critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus. Bennett directs Robert Finch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Syreeta Kumar (Dora Strang/Horse), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) completes the cast.

Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang).
Photo: The Other Richard.

Sir Peter Shaffer’s (1926 – 2016) plays include The Salt Land, The Prodigal Father, Balance of Terror, Five Finger Exercise (Evening Standard Drama Award), The Private Ear, The Public Eye, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Black Comedy, White Lies, The Battle of Shrivings, Yonadab, The Gift of the Gorgon, Lettice and Lovage and Amadeus (Evening Standard Drama Award and Tony Award for Best Play). His plays adapted for film include Five Finger Exercise, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Equus and Amadeus (Academy Award for Best Picture), for television The Salt Land and Balance of Terror, and for radio The Prodigal Father and Whom Do I Have the Honour of Addressing?. In 1994, Shaffer was Visiting Professor of Contemporary Drama at St. Catherine's College, Oxford. He was awarded the CBE in 1987 and was knighted in 2001.

Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang
 and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart).
Photo: The Other Richard

English Touring Theatre is one of the UK’s leading touring companies, winning the UK Theatre Awards Best Touring Production in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the 2017 Manchester Theatre Award for Best Visiting Production. ETT works with exciting artists to stage an eclectic mix of new and classic work for audiences throughout the UK and internationally; theatre that is thrilling, popular and engaged in the contemporary world. ETT celebrates the diversity of the nation, create connections between audiences nationally and places an examination of contemporary English identity at the heart of everything it does. ETT passionately believes that everyone, wherever they are in the country, deserves to have access to world class theatre.

Director: Ned Bennett

Last year saw the company celebrate its 25th anniversary, it began the year with a critically acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire directed by the 2017 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Awardwinning Chelsea Walker, followed by a major national tour of Richard Twyman’s production of Othello and a celebrated revival of Dealing with Clair by Martin Crimp in a co-production with the Orange Tree Theatre.

Creatives:

Director: Ned Bennett;

Designer: Georgia Lowe;

Lighting Designer: Jessica Hung Han Yun

Composer and Sound Designer: Giles Thomas;

Movement Director: Shelley Maxwell

Assistant Director: Denzel Wesley – Sanderson;

Casting Director: Anne McNulty

CDG Casting Associate: Lucy Casson

Performance times

7.30pm; Wed 1 & Sat 4 May, 2pm; Thu 2 May, 6pm

Contains full frontal nudity and scenes of a sexual nature.

Tickets

From £10: limited availability.

Box Office: 0191 230 5151 / https://www.northernstage.co.uk/Event/equus

Running Time

2hrs 40mins (includes interval)

Access:

Captioned performances**

Wed 1 May, 7.30pm (Stage Text)

** For best visibility of our caption units, the theatre would recommend sitting in rows E – L.

Audio Described performance & Touch Tour

Sat 4 May, 2pm (Vocal Eyes)

(Touch tours are usually 1hr 30mins before the performance start time)

Preview: Grease at Sunderland Empire

Electrifyin’ News!

Dan Partridge as Danny, Louis Gaunt as Kenickie & Jonathan Hermosa Lopez as Bobby
in the UK and Ireland tour off Grease. Photo: Seamus Ryan

Full Cast Announced For UK Tour Of The First New Production In 25 Years Of

Grease

Grease

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 30^th July – Saturday 3^rd August 2019

Tickets now on sale http://bit.ly/GREASEsunderland #Ad

Peter Andre as Teen Angel in Grease
Photo: Hugo Glendinning

The world’s best-loved musical is back! The producers of the 2019 UK and Ireland tour and first new production in 25 years of Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s iconic musical Grease are delighted to announce that Dan Partridge, Martha Kirby, Louis Gaunt and Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky will star as Danny, Sandy, Kenickie and Rizzo respectively. They join the previously announced special guest artist, Peter Andre playing Teen Angel.

Martha Kirby as Sandy
Photo: Seamus Ryan 

After a whirlwind summer romance, leather-clad greaser Danny and girl-next-door Sandy are unexpectedly reunited when she transfers to Rydell High for senior year. But can they survive the trials and tribulations of teenage life and find true love once more?

Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Rizzo
Photo: Seamus Ryan

So reignite your passion and get ready for an explosion of summer loving! With its phenomenal score, bursting with hits including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted to You and You’re the One That I Want.

Martha Kirby as Sandy and Dan Partridge as Danny
Photo: Seamus Ryan

Producer Colin Ingram said, “At last a new production of Grease with a cast who look and dance like they are in high school! It’s time to come back to one of the most popular musicals of all time with this new production with grit, energy and sass.”

Jordan Abey as Doody
Photo: Seamus Ryan

Dan Partridge most recently played Rum Tum Tugger in Cats (International Tour), Link in Hairspray (UK Tour) and Pepper in Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre). Martha Kirby will be graduating for the Guildford School of Acting this summer, 2019, and makes her professional debut as Sandy. Louis Gaunt recently played Will Parker in Oklahoma! (Grange Park Opera), for which he won the 2018 The Stage Debut Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and Manfred in Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse). Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky most recently appeared in Bat Out of Hell – The Musical (Dominion Theatre). Prior to that, she appeared in The Book of Mormon (Prince Of Wales Theatre).

Dan Partridge as Danny
Photo: Seamus Ryan

Curve’s Artistic Director and director of Grease, Nikolai Foster, said, “This cast are going to blow audiences’ minds with their edge, life-force and sheer exuberance. Just as the 1950s kids who heralded the birth of the teenage movement, these talented young people will breathe new life into this terrific musical.”

Choreographer Arlene Philips said, “I’m so thrilled to have the opportunity to choreograph a new production of GREASE. This new production is going to be edgy, vibrant and certainly takes a new look at this very exciting musical. The cast are incredible, many of them fresh out of college and ready to burst onto the stage.” 

Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Rizzo
Photo: Seamus Ryan

Following a highly acclaimed, sold-out, eight-week run at Curve over Christmas 2016, the tour will open at Leeds Grand Theatre, playing from 19 June to 20 July, with a date at Sunderland Empire 30 July – 3 August 2019.

Special guest artist, Peter Andre will play Teen Angel at Sunderland Empire. Peter Andre is known for his successful music and television career and became the sixth highest selling artist in the UK in the 1990s with hits such as Mysterious Girl, Flava and I Feel You. He had numerous number one hit singles, two number one albums and has toured all over the world, collecting a multitude of national and international awards. Peter’s many TV shows and appearances, include his reality show Peter Andre: My Life, 60 Minute Makeover and the third series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2004.

Louis Gaunt as Kenickie
Photo: Seamus Ryan

Grease originally opened in Chicago in 1971, followed by a move to Broadway in 1972, where it received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical. During the show's eight-year run, at the time, little known actors, including Peter Gallagher, Patrick Swayze and John Travolta, all appeared in the production, with Richard Gere understudying many roles before going on to star as Danny Zuko in the 1973 London premiere.

The 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, when adjusted for inflation, is the highest-grossing live action musical of all time and celebrated its 40^th anniversary last year.

Grease is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Philips, with designs by Colin Richmond, orchestrations and musical supervision by Sarah Travis, lighting design by Guy Hoare and sound design by Tom Marshall.

Martha Kirby as Sandy
Photo: Seamus Ryan

Also in the cast are Jordan Abey as Doody, Ryan Anderson as Roger, Damian Buhagiar as Sonny, Eloise Davies as Frenchy, Natalie Woods as Jan, Tara Sweeting as Marty, Dale White as Eugene, Jessica Croll as Patty Simcox, Corinna Powlesland as Miss Lynch, Abigail Climer as Cha Cha, Darren Bennett as Vince Fontaine and Will Haswell as Johnny Casino. Completing the cast are Thea Bunting as Cynthia, Emily Beth Harrington as Carly, Jonathan Hermosa Lopez as Bobby, Dom Hutcheson as Mickey, Ruby May Martinwood as Sofia and Lindsay McAllister as Donna Sue.

This new production of Grease is produced by Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions, Donovan Mannato, William Sinclair, Ricardo Marques, Hunter Arnold and Curve.

Website: www.greasethemusicalontour.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/greaseUKTour

Twitter: @greaseuktour

  Tickets now on sale:

 http://bit.ly/GREASEsunderland   #Ad

News: Pop Star Receives Home Town Theatre’s Top Honour

 Pop Star Receives Home Town Theatre’s Top Honour

Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall has been honoured by the Customs House.

The singer honed her skills at The Customs House in South Shields, appearing on stage on numerous occasions before finding international stardom via The X Factor.  She returned home over the Easter bank holiday weekend to be inducted as an Honorary Fellow of The Customs House Academy.

Jade was welcomed into the fellowship by Ray Spencer MBE, Executive Director of The Customs House, at a ceremony for invited guests, including fellow The X Factor winner and Honorary Fellow, Joe McElderry. Both Jade and Joe, who have been friends since they started singing together as teenagers, were interviewed by BBC Look North presenter Jeff Brown as part of the event, which raised funds for The Customs House Trust.

Jade, 26, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief this year, said: “I am so, so happy to have been given this award. I’m very proud to come from South Shields and to have learned so much from performing at my local theatre. From singing there to seeing the famous panto every year, The Customs House holds a very special place in my heart. It’s important to support such an amazing local theatre which provides so many opportunities for young people who love performing arts. The Customs House certainly helped me and I will always support them, see shows there whenever I’m home and take great pride in my Honorary Fellowship award.”

During the ceremony, Jade was also presented with a personalised piece of artwork by South Shields artist and Honorary Fellow of The Customs House Academy, Bob Olley. 

Jade’s talent was spotted at an early age on the performing arts circuit in South Shields and she was a member of several groups, including South Shields Musical Society, Performers Stage School and John Christopher Theatre Company. 

She first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, making it as far as the boot camp stages twice, before returning for the eighth series in 2011, where Little Mix were formed and went on to become the biggest girl band in the world. Jade teamed up with Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson, who had all auditioned successfully as soloists, and Little Mix became the first group to win the competition.

Their debut single, Cannonball, topped the charts and they have since reached No.1 with Wings, Black Magic and Shout Out To My Ex, with Jade earning song-writing credits on a number of tracks. Their debut album, DNA, was released in 2012, reaching the Top 10 in 10 countries, including the UK and US. It was followed by Salute in 2013 and Get Weird in 2015. Their fourth album, Glory Days, was their first UK No.1 album and their fifth album, LM5, was released in November last year, peaking at No.3 in the UK.

Honorary Fellowships are bestowed on people who are from, or have been associated with, South Tyneside, who have gone on to make a significant contribution to the development of arts and entertainment locally, nationally and internationally. Existing Honorary Fellows include: Sarah Millican, Jason Cook, Chris Ramsay, Encore, Ann-Marie Owens, John Woodvine, John Hays, Tom Kelly, John Miles, Andy Bogle, Lindsay Kemp, Sheila Graber, Bob Olley, Alex Ferguson, Richard Ord, George Irving and Sandford Goudie.

Mr Spencer said: “Jade is an absolute joy to be in the presence of, her simple unspoilt, unaffected nature is a testimony to someone with their feet firmly on the ground and proud of their heritage.  We are so lucky that a global icon has loaned their support to The Customs House and we are delighted she accepted an Honorary Fellowship of The Customs House Academy."

REVIEW: Where Do We Belong? at Newcastle Northern Stage

Asking For A Little Respect…

Where Do We Belong?

Newcastle Northern Stage

Until Saturday 27^th April 2019

The collective work of 45 young minds have combined to create, and perform, a fabulous piece of theatre, which is being performed to sell out crowds in Stage Two this week. Starting with the obvious Brexit question, it spins out to look at many the issues facing this youthful age group.

This production has been created with the Northern Stage Young Company, which is a mass of young people living in Newcastle and Gateshead aged 16 - 21. Director Louie Ingham has orchestrated a piece that has an urgent beating heart. This beat echoes around the room, be it by the drumming between sketches or the rhythm of the spoken word monologues that capture a real passion. The show runs for 90 minutes without an interval, removing the interval helps keep the pace punchy.

The production is made up of a number of sketches, sometimes we return to find out more, sometimes it is left to the audience to imagine where it is heading. The way in which the themes are intertwined reminded me, for some reason, of The Fast Show. Except the only catch phrase here was “I belong”.  The company have written this with Lee Mattinson and Laurence Wilson to create a stimulating piece. This is not angry in tone, in fact it feels very matter of fact. It does however demand empathy from the audience. My own experience was that I was having to consider views of groups of people I hadn’t fully understood, but, through this show, they have been given a voice.

As you enter Stage 2 there are 3 rows of unreserved seating along the longer sides of the venue for the audience. As you take your seats, the cast peer at you from the scaffold at both of the remaining 2 sides. The space in the centre is where the bulk of the action takes place. Three screens on one set of scaffolding occasionally add graphic illustrations of the location, such as the coast, but they don’t distract from the talent in the centre.  The lighting and sound add to the atmosphere.

My companion tonight was my almost 16-year old son who loved the live band, with music by Mark Melville, and the choreography. He said it was very much everything that he wants from a live show – emotional and intelligent. He was buzzing as we left and he rated it higher than almost anything he’s seen in the past year. That is indeed high praise. He recognised the issues, the hopes and the dreams along with the anxiety and problems of trying to grow up in 2019.

We both wanted to know what happened to the poor couple in a flat. This was a refreshing take on the housing crisis. What would you do to get your own place to live?

Themes such as friendship and family take a refreshing view by considering distance. What happens if your friends decided to leave the area? What happens if your parents live apart? Or if you strike up an online conversation/friendship with someone on the other side of the planet?

This is a very diverse group of people. With them are a range of experience. Differences in race, sexuality, ability, education, ambition and career prospects weave like a vine growing around a thread of finding one’s place in society.

The cast are brilliant. We have fabulous musicians, poets and actors working together with both energy and passion. The show feels personal to each member of the cast, however, as members of the audience we feel like we’ve become a part of that experience.

This is what theatre should be. I know that we will be discussing this in the days to come.  At the time of writing, not many tickets remain. It would be a shame to miss this.   

Review: Stephen Oliver 

Photos: Pamela Raith Photography

Tickets and details: https://www.northernstage.co.uk/Event/where-do-we-belong or 0191 230 5151.

Recommended age by theatre :14+ (Contains strong language and adult themes)