Review: Hairspray at Sunderland Empire

Hairspray

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 19 April 2025

The irresistible feel-good musical Hairspray has burst onto the Sunderland Empire stage this week with a kaleidoscope of colour, infectious rhythms, and an uplifting message that never goes out of style. With a dazzling cast, toe-tapping tunes, and tight direction from none other than Brenda Edwards – herself a former Hairspray star – this production is a joyous celebration of individuality, community, and change.

There are a small number of shows that I love to watch and this is one. I know I will have You Can't Stop The Beat going through my head on the drive home. A show that you leave with a smile on your face.

Set in 1962 Baltimore, Hairspray follows the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big-hearted teen with big dreams and even bigger hair, who dances her way into stardom on the Corny Collins Show and fights to integrate the once-segregated dance programme. It’s a story that still resonates today, packaged in glorious musical numbers and larger-than-life performances.

Katie Brace stars as Tracy and she encompasses the fabulous positivity of a character that sees good in everyone. She brings a winning combination of innocence, determination, and humour to the role, carrying the show with ease and boundless energy. Her vocals are strong, her timing impeccable, and her sincerity shines through in every scene. She absolutely earned the enthusiastic standing ovation on press night – a star turn in every sense.

The heart and soul of the show, however, are Tracy’s quirky but loving parents, Edna and Wilbur Turnblad. Neil Hurst delivers an outstanding performance as Edna, balancing broad comedy with genuine emotion. His chemistry with Dermot Canavan’s Wilbur is truly touching, especially during their duet “(You’re) Timeless to Me”, which had the audience in stitches and sighs in equal measure. The duo’s onstage rapport feels authentic and joyous – a clear highlight of the evening.

Michelle Ndegwa stuns as Motormouth Maybelle, delivering powerhouse vocals and commanding the stage with grace and presence. Her rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been” was spine-tingling and brought a poignant weight to the show’s themes of racial equality and perseverance. 

There's a need for a villain of the piece and in this show Joanne Clifton appears as the openly racist television producer Velma Von Tussle, a mother with a mission to propel her daughter Amber to stardom. Allana Taylor completes the pairing as the aspiring young personality. Their performance gives the show a pivot that doesn't descend into the boo-hiss of panto.

Solomon Davy charms as teen heartthrob Link Larkin. He’s suave, vocally assured, and brings warmth to the role, making it easy to see why Tracy falls for him. Katlo’s Little Inez is delightful – bright, feisty, and full of charisma. In supporting roles, Freya McMahon is a comic gem as the awkwardly adorable Penny Pingleton, while Reece Richards brings energy and charisma to Seaweed, delivering some of the slickest moves of the night.

The ensemble cast are tight and enthusiastic, executing Drew McOnie’s original choreography with flair and precision. Every number crackles with life, from the iconic opener Good Morning Baltimore to the rousing finale You Can’t Stop the Beat, which had the audience up on their feet and clapping along. Brenda Edwards’ direction keeps the pace brisk and the tone buoyant, ensuring every emotional beat lands while keeping the fun front and centre.

A key part of this production’s magic is the presence of a live band, led with verve by Musical Director Rickey Long. It’s a thrill to see musicians on stage, and the band adds vibrancy and authenticity to the score. The brass section, in particular, deserves special mention for their dynamic performance that lifts each number to new heights.

The show’s vibrant aesthetic is another triumph. The bold, cartoon-like set and colourful costumes transport us straight into the early 60s, and the lighting design punctuates the action with sparkle and drama. From the hairspray can-shaped set pieces to the rainbow-hued dance costumes, every visual detail adds to the party atmosphere.

For those unfamiliar, Hairspray began life as a cult 1988 film by John Waters, known for its offbeat humour and subversive charm. It was adapted into a stage musical in 2002 by Marc Shaiman (music), Scott Wittman (lyrics), and Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan (book), opening on Broadway to great acclaim. It went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has since become a global phenomenon – and with good reason. Its messages of acceptance, equality, and joy are wrapped in unforgettable tunes and characters you can’t help but root for. 

I would argue that the musical is one of those rare adaptations that has its own momentum now that is separate from the movie of origin. A number of those watching the show this week will not have seen the original picture and this is down to the skilful writing of the musical - they ensured that you don't need to be familiar with the source material. The exposition is delivered quickly and efficiently, the set up has been transferred to the stage in a way that acknowledges that what makes a good movie is very different to what makes a good stage performance.

This latest tour production manages to capture all of that original spark while injecting a fresh sense of fun and relevance. Brenda Edwards, having previously played Motormouth Maybelle herself, clearly understands the heart of the show and infuses every scene with warmth and humour. Her direction ensures that the social commentary is never lost amid the laughs, and the result is a show that is as moving as it is entertaining.

In a world that sometimes feels increasingly divided, Hairspray is a joyful reminder of the power of community, courage, and coming together. It’s a show with a big heart, a big voice, and, yes, big hair – but it’s the message that stays with you long after the glitter has settled.

If you’re looking for a night out that will leave you smiling, dancing in your seat, and maybe even wiping away a tear, Hairspray at Sunderland Empire is not to be missed. It runs until Saturday 19 April – we enjoyed it and look forward to seeing it again.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Pamela Raith

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Tickets:

Tickets are available from the theatre box office or online from ATG Tickets: LINK

Preview: Dogs On The Metro at Newcastle Live Theatre

New Live Theatre production Dogs On The Metro takes on consent from a female perspective

Dogs On The Metro 

Newcastle Live Theatre 

Thursday 1 - Saturday 17 May 2025

While Adolescence is currently being referenced in Parliament and brought to schools around the country for its study of nascent male violence,  one voice that remains noticeably silent in that depiction is that of the young woman herself. Live Theatre’s upcoming production of Dogs On The Metro, may not be about murder but it takes an unflinching look at gender attitudes and consent from a distinctly female perspective.

The inaugural winner of the North East Playwriting Award, the play observes young friends Jen, played by Sarah Balfour and Dean played by Dean Logan, as they ride the Metro together, people watching and taking part in a series of seemingly harmless games of ‘would you rather?’. But as the narrative unfolds it becomes clear that they have very different perspectives of an event that took place between them years earlier at a party. As the Metro thunders through the city, we learn, piece by piece, not only about what happened, but, crucially, how it felt for the woman involved and what it ultimately meant. With Dean continually reframing and downplaying the significance of what took place, Jen has to fight to ensure that the truth of her experience is heard and the meaning of it fully understood.

Emilie Robson
Dean Logan
Sarah Balfour

Award-winning writer Emile Robson said of her play: “Despite being largely set in the late noughties, it’s remarkable how current and relevant the themes of Dogs on the Metro are. It’s evident that kids then and kids now can lack the necessary language and compassion to relate to the opposite sex and properly communicate with each other. It’s really important to us that Dogs On The Metro does not make villains out of alienated young men but instead honours the perspectives of the young women who can often become collateral damage in other’s sexual exploration."

The play’s director Maria Crocker added: “I love making theatre because it can thrust audiences right into the middle of something. It can create space for difficult conversations, it can illuminate voices that are sometimes overlooked and can allow us to look at the world through a different lens. Dogs On The Metro does all three.”

Tickets:

A gripping portrait of young lives, Dogs On The Metro plays at Live Theatre from Thursday 1 to Saturday 17 May 2025 with tickets priced from £11 to £26.  For more information and to book tickets go to www.live.org.uk

Preview: Uncanny: Fear Of The Dark at Darlington Hippodrome

Brand New Uncanny Stage Show Coming To Darlington Hippodrome

Uncanny: Fear Of The Dark 

Darlington Hippodrome 

Sunday 8 February 2026

A brand new stage production of Uncanny: Fear Of The Dark is on its way to Darlington Hippodrome in February 2026.

The first Uncanny live stage show I Know What I Saw was one of the best-selling paranormal shows in theatre history. Now, Danny Robins and his team of experts are back with all-new, thrillingly terrifying, real-life stories and witness accounts that will have audiences utterly gripped.

This is no ordinary podcast show. This is story-telling and paranormal investigation at its peak. With a backdrop of spine-tingling sound design, video projection and theatrical magic, Danny will bring to life accounts of hauntings, apparitions, poltergeists, UFOs and events that seem to defy logical explanation, examining them with the help of experts, psychologist Dr Ciarán O’Keeffe and writer and parapsychologist Evelyn Hollow, with input from audiences who will get the chance ask questions, come up with theories and share their own potentially paranormal experiences. 

 

As always, whether you are Team Sceptic, Team Believer or somewhere in between, everyone is welcome.  So the question is: ‘Are you afraid of the dark? Or are you brave enough to try to solve these chilling, intriguing mysteries?

Uncanny: Fear of the Dark is written and performed by Danny Robins, creator of the hugely successful BBC Radio 4 podcasts and global hits, Uncanny, The Battersea Poltergeist and The Witch Farm, the BBC TV series Uncanny and the award-winning West End play 2:22 – A Ghost Story. 

Danny Robins said ‘Taking Uncanny on the road and meeting thousands of fans over the last two years has been thrilling for me, so it’s great to be hitting the road again. If you love ghost stories and want to try and make sense of these strange mysteries, we can promise you a fun, thought-provoking, scare-filled night out. Across the podcast, TV series and live show, there’s been no shortage of new stories to tell. Each case is hand-picked for the format and the atmosphere at the live shows has been electric.  I can’t wait to welcome people back at some new venues this time, as well as inviting new audiences along for the ride,’ 

Tickets:

Uncanny: Fear Of The Dark comes to Darlington Hippodrome on Sunday 8 February 2026. For full details or to book visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01325 405405

Interview: Ghost Stories at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 Things That Go Bump In The Theatre

Ghost Stories 

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 April 2025

After numerous successful runs across London, Ghost Stories is taking its jump-inducing, goosebumps-raising show back on the road to complete its first full UK tour, including a visit to Newcastle Theatre Royal. We caught up with the show’s writers, Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson, to hear all about their shared love of horror, giving audiences a trick and a treat, and keeping the spooky secrets of the stage hit.

Andy Nyman & Jeremy Dyson

Supernatural stage scarefest Ghost Stories is something of a modern The Mousetrap - despite having run for the best part of seven decades, no-one spills the beans on Agatha Christie’s record-breaking secrets - and Ghost Stories is exactly the same. 

Despite having premiered 14 years ago and enjoying a subsequent film adaptation starring Martin Freeman and Paul Whitehouse, the secrets that make Ghost Stories such an unusual and successful show have remained elusive, well-guarded as they are by both its creative team and audiences.

“Secrets are precious,” explains the show’s co-creator Andy Nyman. “If you give people a secret that they really enjoy and you ask them nicely to keep it, they do.” If anyone should know about secrets, it’s Nyman. Before writing Ghost Stories, he was the man behind many of Derren Brown’s mystery-filled stage shows and early TV performances.

Ghost Stories - Photo: Hugo Glendinning

The secretiveness with Ghost Stories, he says, was born out of frustration that these days “Everything is spoiled for you. Every single film and television trailer ruins plot points. Jeremy and I love the experience of telling people a really good story without them knowing anything about it in advance. You feel the buzz in the audience; it’s an exciting thing to sit and watch.”

So, what can they say about Ghost Stories? Well, Andy explains: “Ghost Stories is a 90-minute scary, thrill-ride experience about a professor of parapsychology who investigates three inexplicable hauntings. That’s as much as you get and that’s more than we ever used to give.”

If you push him a little harder, he’ll tell you it’s: “A rattling hour and a half that will make you roar with laughter, leap out of your seats and talk about it for a very long time.” And that’s really all you need to know about the specifics of the show; it will make you scream like a banshee and giggle like a schoolchild, probably at the same time.

Nyman and co-writer Jeremy Dyson, best known for his work with The League of Gentlemen, have a long history that reaches back far beyond the start of their Ghost Stories journey, but begins with horror and a shared love of the genre that saw them forge a teenage friendship.

“It probably started, for me, with Scooby Doo,” says Dyson of his infatuation with creepy tales. “There were a lot of scary things for kids around in the 70s, and lots I was enchanted by. Doctor Who would have been a part of that, which in the 70s had a real horror edge to it. So, the groundwork was done by the time I was seven or eight years old. People used to buy me collections of ghost stories for my birthdays. They were supposed to be for kids, but they were the most terrifying tales.”

Throw in horror double bills on BBC2, screened at a time when there were only a trio of channels available so “whoever was doing the programming just picked the best stuff,” and public safety films that were as terrifying as any big screen offering, and you have a culture that bred a shared sensibility, certainly between Nyman and Dyson, if not a much wider generation of horror fans.

“It’s a very English genre,” says Dyson. “Certainly, when it comes to the supernatural side of things. The English sensibility defined a lot of that. It’s a very English tradition, and there’s no question that’s part of what we’re celebrating in Ghost Stories.”

Yet despite the best British traditions of both horror and theatre, stage horror is not a genre you see very often, even with the fact that a theatre gives you the ability to control the entire 360 degrees of an audience’s experience. With Ghost Stories’ emergence at the Lyric Hammersmith 14 years ago, and its immediate success, this has slowly begun to change.

“I think it’s hard to do well,” opines Dyson. “You have to have a love both for theatre and for horror. It’s a bit like comedy. People talk about comedy writers having funny bones. I think you need scary bones to write horror.”

“We cannot wait to take it around the country and let people see it and experience it in their hometowns,” says Nyman. 

Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Preview: Ghost Stories at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 West End hit set to terrify Newcastle audiences

Ghost Stories

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 April 2025

After exhilarating audiences across the globe with record breaking, sell-out productions and a smash hit film, the Olivier-award nominated, supernatural sensation, Ghost Stories “An immaculately crafted evening of entertainment” (Time Out) will be visiting Newcastle Theatre Royal.

 

Now even more spine-tingling and terrifying than ever, the production was last seen in the UK in 2019 when the show celebrated its latest West End Run. Following this, it embarked on a UK tour in early 2020, which was cut short by the pandemic.

 

When Professor Goodman, arch-sceptic out to debunk the paranormal, embarks on an investigation of three apparent hauntings – as recounted by a night-watchman, a teenage boy, and a businessman awaiting his first child – Goodman finds himself at the outer limits of rationality, and fast running out of explanations.

 

Enter a world full of thrilling twists and epic turns, where the ultimate love-letter to horror is imagined live on stage. A fully sensory and electrifying encounter, Ghost Stories is one of London’s best reviewed plays of all time and will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat. This is a theatrical experience like no other.

After exhilarating audiences across the world with record breaking, sell-out productions and a smash hit film, Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s Ghost Stories is "Genuine scary fun” (Sunday Times), a worldwide phenomenon more spine-tingling and fantastically terrifying than ever. 

Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman say of the return of their celebrated terrifying tales: “We are beyond excited that Ghost Stories will be scaring the hell out of audiences around the country in its first ever full national tour. It’s fifteen years since we first brought screams, laughs, jumps and killer twists to the theatre and we can’t wait to do it again. Are you brave enough to book?” 

2018 saw the release of the film version of Ghost Stories. Based on their own play, the film was written and directed by Andy and Jeremy, and its cast included Martin Freeman, Alex Lawther and Paul Whitehouse. The film has been hailed as a ‘Modern Horror Classic’ and was voted number 16 in Empire magazines list ‘The Greatest 25 Horror films ever made’.

Andy Nyman is a multi-award-winning actor, director and writer who has earned acclaim from both critics and audiences for his work in theatre, film, and television. This year he will be starring opposite Imelda Staunton at the London Palladium in Hello, Dolly! and his extensive television credits include The Capture and Unforgotten as well as a highly acclaimed performance as Winston Churchill in Peaky Blinders. Later this year Andy can be seen playing Gov. Thropp in the anticipated blockbuster film WICKED.

  

Jeremy Dyson is best known as the co-creator and co-writer of the multi-award-winning comedy show The League of Gentlemen. His play Ghost Stories, co-written with Andy Nyman was nominated for an Olivier award, and has enjoyed three separate West End runs since debuting in 2010.

Jeremy has worked as script editor on numerous award-winning TV comedies including Bad Education and Tracey Ullman’s Show and has written for many other TV shows including Killing Eve and Good Omens. His latest book, The Warlock Effect co-written with Andy Nyman was published in 2023.

Photos: Hugo Glendinning

Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Please be advised that Ghost Stories contains moments of extreme shock and tension. The show is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15. The producers strongly advise those of a nervous disposition to think very seriously before attending.

Preview: Tim Rice – My Life In Musicals: I Know Him So Well Tour at Sunderland Empire

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Tim Rice – My Life In Musicals: I Know Him So Well Tour

Sunderland Empire

Thursday 1 May 2025

Ticket link

Due to popular demand following his sell-out tour, Sir Tim Rice, the multi-award-winning, internationally renowned lyricist, will return to theatre stages with his extraordinary live musical theatre event - My Life In Musicals – I Know Him So Well.

The show will see Tim reflect on his illustrious career at the heart of musical theatre. He'll be sharing anecdotes behind the songs – the hits and the misses – along with stories of his life and live performances from the wonderful catalogue of songs that are synonymous with his name and that of his collaborators. Musical accompaniment will be from an array of some of the UK’s leading West End singers and musicians led by musical director Duncan Waugh.

Tim is associated with writing the lyrics for so many of the world’s much-loved hit musicals - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Chess and the Disney productions The Lion King, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. His work has not been limited to musical theatre alone, with Evita transferring to the big screen and theme music for the James Bond movie Octopussy.

With the show packed full of songs including Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, Any Dream Will Do, A Whole New World, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, I Don’t Know How To Love Him, Circle of Life, Chess, Hakuna Matata, Another Suitcase in Another Hall, I Know Him So Well, All Time High, Must Love Me, One Night In Bangkok, My Life In Musicals is an absolute must for fans of musical theatre and brilliant music.

Regarded by many as one of the world’s greatest lyricists Tim Rice commented My Life in Musicals is a show in which I reveal all (well, nearly all) of the secrets behind the creation of some of the best-known songs featuring my lyrics. I have had the good fortune to work with some of the greatest composers of our time, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Elton John and Alan Menken, without whose wonderful melodies I’d be at home watching television.

You’ll probably know quite a few of the songs – and will therefore be relieved to hear I won’t be singing them. All musical aspects of the show I hand over to the outstanding Duncan Waugh Band and West End Singers. There will be plenty of stops in between the hits during which I’ll tell you how they happened and, in some cases, nearly didn’t. Actually, I might sing a little – but not Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.”

Tickets:

Tickets are available from ATG Tickets: LINK

Preview: Something in the Water at Newcastle Theatre Royal

 Rosie Ramsey joins star-studded line up for Something In The Water

Something in the Water

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Sunday 18 May 2025

Acclaimed performer Rosie Ramsey is the latest guest-star to join the line-up of the highly anticipated Something in the Water. This fast-paced, live show will bring together a generation of the brightest northern stars from the charts, the stage, and the screen. 

Presented by Joe McElderry and powered by the North East funk-soul supergroup Groovetrain, Something in the Water blends the charm of cabaret-style revue with a live music concert, all set within the breathtaking surroundings of Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Rosie Ramsey is a renowned podcaster, author, and television presenter. Alongside her husband, comedian Chris Ramsey, she co-hosts the award-winning podcast Shagged. Married. Annoyed. as well as a TV chat show. Recent TV credits for Rosie have included hosting BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief, and appearances on Taskmaster, The Wheel, Great British Sewing Bee, and this month’s Stand-Up to Cancer: Great British Bake Off. 

Rosie will join stars already announced for the one off performances including Steph McGovern as Host and Sonny Tennet and Jill Halfpenny as performers.

Proceeds from Something in the Water will be donated to Newcastle Theatre Royal Trust, a registered charity, and North East Music Opportunities (NEMO) CIC, funding will help more children and young people find their own star through music and the performing arts.

Tickets:

Family tickets and Under 16s concessions are available, as well as VIP meet and greet packages. Something in the Water plays Newcastle Theatre Royal for two performances on Sunday 18 May 2025. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.