Northeast Music Guide

Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair The story of the power hungry murderous Macbeth, driven mad with visions from ghosts and a trio meddlesome witches, is familiar to most theatre-goers. As a Shakespeare classic I would say this one is definitely a good one to start with. It is usually one of the shorter ones and moves along at a fair old lick as a story.  This production had an industrial style set with a military feel that fit well with the costumes of the cast. The lighting, a changing background sky and the use of sound gave this the feel of a professional production. That said, in between amplified sections, the speakers should probably be turned down to avoid the mildly distracting hiss. The cast were all completely immersed in their roles. The three witches were played in a suitably manic, yet controlled way by Sarah Harrison Dowd, Penny Lamport and Ann Cater. Their hair and makeup added nicely to their unhinged appearance. The whole cast did a fabulous job of bringing this...

Macbeth­­­­ by William Shakespeare Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 March @ 7.30pm   “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” In one of the most searing portrayals of evil ever written, Shakespeare examines the dangers of ambition and the potentially overwhelming power of the human conscience. Part supernatural horror, part bloodthirsty tragedy, this Jacobean masterpiece continues to enthral as a timeless warning against political tyranny. INFORMATION: MACBETH by William Shakespeare DATE:             Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 March 2014 TIME:              7.30pm VENUE:          The People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF TICKETS:       £12.50 (Concessions £10) 10% discount for parties of 10+ TELE:       ...

Euripides Classic adapted by Don Taylor Unaccustomed as I am to Greek tragedy, this does not compare to the unfamiliarity of the situation in which the characters in this story found themselves. Noble women suddenly find themselves with no men, no subjects, no servants and a falling country. Queen Hecuba, widow of Priam, King of Troy left us in no doubt as to the level of her loss and despair. Played tirelessly by Rye Mattick, Hecuba has lost her sons and sees her young grandson taken away by the Greek soldiers to be killed as he is seen as a threat despite his youth. The women are variously to be taken back to Greece to be enslaved, married off, made concubines or just killed. Not only do they suffer the loss of their children and husbands but they will suffer the rest of their lives as paupers. This is too much for someone like Hecuba to bear, her sorrow for her family more than equalled by her sense of loss for her royal lifestyle. Hecuba's daughter, Cassandra is a prophetess...

    Our Day Out by Willy Russell Newcastle People's Theatre 17/9/2013     The Newcastle People’s Theatre open up their new season with a vibrant telling of the Willy Russell classic by their Youth Theatre.  Director Mark Buckley has moved the production away from Russell’s native North West and moved it closer to home for the cast, and indeed audience, and yet the narrative still works.  The working class kids from the school’s bottom group are not expected to pass any exams but their loyal teacher Mrs Kay, ably plaid by Anna Robinson, has not given up on them. She wants them to have a nice day out away from Newcastle. Thus she decides to organise a school trip. Moving the play to the East Coast results in the destination changing from North Wales to Whitby. The Head isn’t happy about the class going so he asks the stricter Mr Briggs (Lara Cowler) to go along too.   The play has also moved forward in time to 1983...