Northeast Music Guide

Steptoe and Son Northern Stage 15/3/12   Adapted & Directed by Emma Rice A Co-production between Kneehigh and West Yorkshire Playhouse   Picture: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/steptoe-and-son   Ray Galton & Alan Simpson’s scripts have been adapted for the stage to create a loving play about a father and his son who both fought in different world wars. The pair wrote 8 tv series over 12 years and 5 radio series which are firmly etched in British entertainment history. What makes this production work, though, is that they have not tried to recreate the television programmes. Albert ( Mike Shepherd ) is still a dirty old man who will feign death when Harold ( Dean Nolan ) has another plan to fly the family nest. There is no attempt to play the role as Wilfrid Brambell would have done.   We find the useful addition of a female role played by Kirsty Woodward , who alternates between being the unseen guardian angel...

Faithful Portrayal of a Northern Comedy Legend by Pete Peverley 25 Years After Bobby's Death.     Bobby Thompson had a colourful life. Born into a mining family in Fatfield, he lost his mum and dad when he was 8 and was brought up by his sister, He went down the pit at age 15 and supplemented his earnings by playing harmonica, playing domino tournaments and soon discovered his talent for stand-up.   With  a rise in popularity, then a decline as he failed to manage his own bookings and his fondness for drink threatened his career, Bobby wasn't the best at keeping himself in gainful employment. But  new manager and a new outlook gave him a comedy career revival in the 70's but again, drink and health problems hampered any sustained success. With 3 marriages under his belt Bobby had a growing source of material for "her indoors" and "mother in-law" jokes. He was famously bad at looking after his financial affairs with his onstage persona expres...

Flock is a production in which human feelings like , sadness, joy, fear, foreboding, are expressed not only by the actors but brought further to life by the music of Gateshead Composer Mariam Rezaei. A story of searching for oneself, and of family and hope.Three siblings set out to find what their late mother needed to discover. A magical tale of migration in a politically troubled 1920's Iran. Jowheretogo's Jo Oliver was curious where all this creativity came from had a few questions for Mariam JO: You draw upon a wide range of influences for the score for "Flock". Have you always been surrounded by an eclectic mix of music? Did your parents encourage listening to a wide range of music....or did you rebel? MR: I am interested in a great variety of music and arts.  I believe that there is always something to learn from all art, even if its 'don't do this!"   My parents have always encouraged me to explore the world and listen, taste and be p...

Magic amongst the turmoil   "Flock" tells a fairy story of 3 siblings that came into being through magical circumstances and then, as they grew up forgot about their origins and became occupied with the serious matters involved in being an adult. Their mother never lost her belief, after all she was still being watched over by the fairy she had rescued from a cage in the rainforest and had blessed her with the three children..from a pomegranate. After her death they honour her wish that they journey to the Caspian Sea, guided by the acrobatic fairy, to find what their purpose in life will be. The legendary bird, the Simorgh would appear to them an bring them enlightenment. Like in the story, "The Conference of the Birds" enlightenment does not come from a magical external source but from within oneself. The 3 siblings realise what they were looking for was right before their eyes. And all this against a backdrop of political unrest in 1920's Iran. ...

Welcome to the 70's Walking into the auditorium of the Theatre Royal I was hit by a faint odour. I recognised it as the smell of the 70's. The smell you may encounter if you open a drawer in an old dresser that once contained polyester blouses. The smell of an uncomfortable brown leather 3 piece suite that forces the occupants into an unnatural slouch. The stage was a sea of beige, no, "camel". Not a plain surface anywhere and always shades of brown, fawn or "camel". Luurvely! An excruciatingly funny look at a suburban "soiree" hosted by the insecure, frustrated, exhibitionist housewife Beverly. Grasping desperately at her and her estate agent husband's wealth relative to their neighbours', Beverly, played by Hannah Waterman, tries unsuccessfully to steer the gathering into the "sophisticated" cocktail party she wants it to be. Instead, the situation becomes increasing uncomfortable as drinks are pressed on the guests Susan (t...

Zendeh Launches "Flock" at Northern Stage 6th-8th March "Flock" picture from Northern Stage Website. Gateshead Composer Spreads Her Wings ZENDEH ’s latest production, FLOCK   (click link for pictures, info and an audio clip) is a tale of migration and taking flight. A story of 3 siblings in Iran in 1921- a time of impending revolution. Inspired by The Conference of the Birds and the Arab uprisings of 2011. The birdsong-inspired score has been composed by composer, DJ and performer Mariam Rezaei who works with multiple turntables, piano and electronics. The 28 year old musician – born in Gateshead but with Iranian family roots - has been on something of a journey herself. In 2012, she was invited to perform at the BBC Proms 47 by conductor Ilan Volkov for the John Cage Centenary celebration concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and she also performed on turntables with Kathryn Tickell and Folkestra in JigHop, part of the BT River of Music Festival for the Ope...

A goat, some ale, fun time guaranteed. Me and Beer I do like beer. I'm a member of the Campaign for Real Ale but I don't limit myself to the strictly British definition of real ale. I love a good German weiss- or schwarzbier, a Belgian Ale or a lager brewed in the Gambia (very welcome in that heat!). I don't drink beer to get drunk, but to enjoy the different flavours of hops, malts and the odd guest ingredient that brewers like to play with. I was pleased to hear about the Gateshead Beer Festival , and even more happy to see a great lineup of bands playing over the 3 days: the 3rd to the 5th May.  Scratch The Surface,  Jonny Boyle , the Dust Town Dogs , Superheat, Jen Stevens and the Hiccups , Skylark Song , Bessie and the Zinc Buckets , Claypath and many more. After very successful festivals in 2011 and 2012 the festival will again be brightnening up your May Bank Holiday. There will be over 140 different beers from all over the country and also featuring...

Ladykillers, Hull New Theatre Feb 2013   This production of The Ladykillers is based on the 1955 Ealing black comedy film which was the last such British comedy to be directed by Alexander Mackendrick before he headed to Hollywood. This classic film still gets regular repeats on tv and hence the roles of Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner and Katie Johnson will be well remembered by the audience.   This story is a classic tale of a heist gone wrong but it is in the reaction of the various characters after the event that leads to the most memorable moments. Mrs Wilberforce (Michele Dotrice) needs a source of extra income so she puts an advert for rooms to let in a local shop window. “Professor” Marcus (Paul Brown) calls around to view the rooms. He announces that he is a member of a small amateur musical group who wish to rehearse in the rooms. The musicians arrive in quick succession and quickly move upstairs wher...

White Rabbit, Red Rabbit   Live Theatre in association with Aurora Nova Productions http://www.live.org.uk/whats-book/white-rabbit-red-rabbit   The introduction of this play by Nassim Soleimanpour reads “Imagine being 29 and unable to leave your country. Nassim Soleimanpour dissects the experience of a whole generation in a wild, utterly original play from Iran. Forbidden to travel, he turns his isolation to his own advantage with a play that requires no director, no set and a different actor for every performance.”   As part of the Live Theatre’s 40 th birthday celebrations a different actor performs this play each night. On the stage is a step ladder, a chair and a table which has 2 glasses of water and a spoon. The script is delivered in a sealed envelope to the actor, who has never seen the script before, and they cold read it in front of the audience.   They have lined up a number of great actors who have links with the Theatre’s p...

Jowheretogo hasn't gone away! So what's happening? Well a brand new website is on the way. This will put reviews, previews, events all in one place. There'll be news about local bands, their gigs, and their releases. I'll be telling you what's worth a visit to the theatre. It's all change for Jowheretogo...its outgrowing a blog. Until then listen to NE1fm 102.5 at 12 noon every Monday. Announcements about the new website will go out on the @jowheretogo twitterfeed.