Preview: Jabberwocky Market Festival in Darlington

Festival of Theatre

Returns to Darlington

Jabberwocky Market Festival

Darlington

Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 October 2014

It’s one of the biggest dates in Darlington’s cultural calendar and this year promises to be its best yet.

Jabberwocky Market makes a welcome return to venues in and around Darlington from Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 October 2014 for another four days of performances, workshops, talks and fun activities for audiences of all ages. 

Presenting cutting edge, world-class theatre rarely performed in the North East, Jabberwocky Market also features performances from local artists and musicians. The festival showcases an amazing array of talent, including some very close to home. 

The festival hub will open at Darlington’s Covered Market from Thursday 18 September and will feature performances and events leading up to the official start of Jabberwocky Market on Thursday 2 October.

Solas Fae

Local dancer-choreographer Debbie Waistell opens this year’s festival with the premiere of her latest show for children and families, Solas Fae (Thursday 2 October - Cattle Market).  A story of love, loss and Christmas and inspired by traditional legends, this captivating performance takes place at the Cattle Market.    

Photo: Josh Hawkins Photography UK

of the gracefool collective

Jabberwocky Market’s popular Scratch night returns to Darlington’s Voodoo Café for one night only (Friday 3 October - Voodoo Cafe). This informal and sociable evening of theatre invites audiences to enjoy excerpts of five new shows. Those that want to are welcome to give feedback and chat to the creators and actors after the performance. 

Ballad of the Burning Star

Audiences in Darlington will have the opportunity to enjoy the politically charged, Ballad of the Burning Star (Saturday 4 October - Liddiard Theatre at Polam School) as part of Jabberwocky Market. This semi-autobiographical and timely production tells the story of an Israeli man brought up in a Jewish settlement build on occupied Palestinian territories. Told with biting wit and passion, this cabaret performance featuring drag, original songs and physical storytelling was heralded a success on its debut and has since gone on to win universal acclaim. The Observer called it ‘Brilliant… Breathlessly inventive’.

Photo: Selma Dimitrijevic

Darlington-born actor and playwright Gary Kitching brings his brand new show to Jabberwocky Market after a successful season at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Dead to Me (Saturday 4 October – Voodoo Café), is a dark, yet funny tale of a man named Steven and his visit to a local psychic. He quickly discovers, sometimes the dead can be easier to deal with. 

 

The Incredible Book Eating Boy

Children aged 4+ will have the opportunity to enjoy a live adaptation of Oliver Jeffers award- winning book, The Incredible Book Eating Boy.  Performed for just two people at a time, this intimate performance of the much-loved book transports audiences inside the bedroom of Henry, The Incredible Book Eating Boy. Watch as Henry discovers there’s a downside to his never-ending appetite for eating books.

 

Another event for families and children aged 8+ is Fish/Girl, a brand new adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. On a stormy night in a seaside town, a local girl finds a stranded Mer Prince and helps him back into the water. Her feelings so strong for the creature, she follows it into the unknown. Audiences are invited to provide feedback on this unfinished work when it appears at Jabberwocky Market.

Folk in a Box

A music performance like no other, Folk in a Box (Saturday 4 October - Market Place) is just that – a one on one folk music venue in a wooden box. Created by Emily Barker and Dom Coyote, audience members enter, one at a time, through a small door to experience one song, from one musician. Its simplicity makes it so special. Having travelled across the world and back again, it’s now coming to Darlington as part of Jabberwocky Market and will feature local folk musicians.

 
Another exciting element of this year’s Jabberwocky Market is the appearance of a pop-up Fun Palace (Saturday 4 October - Market Place).  A global celebration of arts, science and learning, more than 100 Fun Palaces will appear across the UK and the world on Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 October in celebration of theatre director Joan Littlewood’s centenary, who together with architect Cedric Price, devised Fun Palaces.  These pop-up spaces can be anything the public wants them to be. It’s a fun environment for the people of Darlington to get creative.

Theatre Ad Infinitum –

Ballad of the Burning Star

Photo: Alex Brenner

In addition to all the live performances and workshops, Jabberwocky Market will also be hosting a panel discussion looking at ‘How social conflict affects the development of theatre’. Stella Hall, artistic director of Darlington’s Festival of Thrift, will chair the discussion with panel members including Nir Paldi, artistic director of Theatre Ad Infinitum (Ballad of a Burning Star). Additional panelists from across the world will join the discussion via Skpe.

Created especially for the people of Darlington, Jabberwocky Market is designed and run by theatre producers from the town, in partnership with internationally acclaimed partners and performances. The festival hub will open from Thursday 18 September with performances taking place everyday.

Jabberwocky Market is part of the Collaborative Touring Network, seven producers from across the UK coming together to present inspiring performances from Battersea Arts Centre and local producers to a new generation of theatre-goers. Jabberwocky Market is also supported by Creative Darlington, Darlington Borough Council, Darlington for Culture and local people and businesses. 

On the web

Website:        www.jabberwockymarket.org.uk

Twitter:           www.twitter.com/JabbMarket   

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/JabberwockyMarket

Tickets:
This autumn’s Jabberwocky Market runs from Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 October. For details of all the events and performances at this year’s festival, and to book tickets, please visit www.jabberwockymarket.org.uk.

Pay it forward tickets will be returning this year. Simply purchase an additional ticket and the ‘PAY IT FORWARD’ ticket will be made available to someone that couldn’t otherwise attend. Audiences will also be invited to ‘pay what you can’ at select performances throughout the festival. 

 

Preview: Dead To Me at Newcastle Northern Stage

Dead Funny Show

Arrives at Northern Stage

Dead To Me

Newcastle Northern Stage

Tuesday 30 September - Friday 3 October 2014

Photo: Selma Dimitrijevic

to: Selma Dimitrijevic

Dead To Me is a disturbingly funny story about a man’s troubled relationship with a psychic and her spirit guide and comes to Newcastle's Northern Stage from Tuesday 30th September until Friday 3rd October 2014

"Blah blah blah PSYCHICS blah blah blah MUST BE REAL blah blah blah HOW COULD THEY KNOW THAT? blah blah blah TALKING TO THE DEAD blah blah IT’S JUST RUBBISH blah blah.”

Sometimes we only hear what we want to hear. Steven is a believer - he believes in reason, logic and humanity. The Psychic believes in the spirits. The dead are always right. Dead to Me is a disturbingly funny story about a man and his troubled relationship with a psychic and her spirit guide. When the truth is confronted, an irreversible chain of events is set in motion and Steven finds out that living people can be unnecessarily cruel because of course the dead are easier to deal with.

Photo: Selma Dimitrijevic

The show has been written by Gary Kitching and is directed by Selma Dimitrijevic.  Director Selma Dimitrijevic said:  "Gary Kitching has been angry about the exploitative, predatory nature of psychics and mediums for years, and instead of going and doing something illegal, he has written a play about it. The play examines the reasons why people seek solace and help from strangers who claim they can speak to the dead, instead of reaching out to their friends and family."

Photo: Selma Dimitrijevic

Writer Gary Kitching is a North East based actor and writer whose show “Me and Mr C” was performed at Northern Stage’s St. Stephens Edinburgh venue in 2012.  Gary said:  “I have been drawn to the supernatural and weird since being a young boy. Watching Friday night Hammer horror films definitely got me hooked in that world. As a teenager and into my early twenties, I would believe pretty much anything that I came across that was spiritual, new age or mystic. I even spent good money on visiting a few psychics and to my shame owned a set of ancient (mass produced) runes. I wanted to believe that there was more to this life than the confines of reality. However the more I read about psychics, healers and general mystics the more it became clear to me that these people where far from the benevolent compassionate personas they wished to portray themselves as. They seemed to me to be greedy unscrupulous vultures picking at the bones of another human’s personal grief and insecurities. It made me angry. It made me realise that instead of escaping the confines of reality what I needed to do was embrace reality, logic and reason. We are all on this planet for a finite time. If we used that time to engage with our fellow humans to share each other’s grief, doubts and joy the world in my view would be a happier and healthier place. Just because I believe a unicorn lives in my garden; it doesn’t mean they actually exist.”

Tickets:

Tickets: £10 / £8 concs / £15 with When We Embraced (Jowheretogo Preview to "When we embraced" link)

Running time: 1 hour

Age recommendation: 12+

Multibuy Book an additional show and get your tickets cheaper! Look out for the logo.

3+First Night: Buy 3 or more tickets for Tues 30 Sept and get 50% off (excluding concessions tickets).

To book see www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/dead

Preview: Dead To Me at Washington Arts Centre

Dead Funny Show

comes to Washington

Dead To Me

Washington Arts Centre

Thursday 18 September 2014

 

Photo: Selma Dimitrijevic

Dead To Me is a disturbingly funny story about a man’s troubled relationship with a psychic and her spirit guide and comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 18 September

"Blah blah blah PSYCHICS blah blah blah MUST BE REAL blah blah blah HOW COULD THEY KNOW THAT? blah blah blah TALKING TO THE DEAD blah blah IT’S JUST RUBBISH blah blah.”

Sometimes we only hear what we want to hear. Steven is a believer - he believes in reason, logic and humanity. The Psychic believes in the spirits. The dead are always right. Dead to Me is a disturbingly funny story about a man and his troubled relationship with a psychic and her spirit guide. When the truth is confronted, an irreversible chain of events is set in motion and Steven finds out that living people can be unnecessarily cruel because of course the dead are easier to deal with.

Photo: Selma Dimitrijevic

The show has been written by Gary Kitching and is directed by Selma Dimitrijevic.  Director Selma Dimitrijevic said:  "Gary Kitching has been angry about the exploitative, predatory nature of psychics and mediums for years, and instead of going and doing something illegal, he has written a play about it. The play examines the reasons why people seek solace and help from strangers who claim they can speak to the dead, instead of reaching out to their friends and family."

Photo: Selma Dimitrijevic

Writer Gary Kitching is a North East based actor and writer whose show “Me and Mr C” was performed at Northern Stage’s St. Stephens Edinburgh venue in 2012.  Gary said:  “I have been drawn to the supernatural and weird since being a young boy. Watching Friday night Hammer horror films definitely got me hooked in that world. As a teenager and into my early twenties, I would believe pretty much anything that I came across that was spiritual, new age or mystic. I even spent good money on visiting a few psychics and to my shame owned a set of ancient (mass produced) runes. I wanted to believe that there was more to this life than the confines of reality. However the more I read about psychics, healers and general mystics the more it became clear to me that these people where far from the benevolent compassionate personas they wished to portray themselves as. They seemed to me to be greedy unscrupulous vultures picking at the bones of another human’s personal grief and insecurities. It made me angry. It made me realise that instead of escaping the confines of reality what I needed to do was embrace reality, logic and reason. We are all on this planet for a finite time. If we used that time to engage with our fellow humans to share each other’s grief, doubts and joy the world in my view would be a happier and healthier place. Just because I believe a unicorn lives in my garden; it doesn’t mean they actually exist.”

Tickets:

Dead to Me comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 18 September, 7.30pm, tickets are £8.50 / £6 (conc) to book visit www.artscentrewashington.co.uk or call the box office on 0191 219 3455.

Preview: New Season at South Shields Customs House

Arts Venue Unveils its New Line-up

South Shields Customs House

Autumn 2014

Thirsty

Lotto winners, gruesome murders and happily ever afters will all be part of the entertainment at The Customs House this season.

The theatre in South Shields has, as ever, an eclectic mix of music, drama and comedy as well as the return of the ‘little panto with the big heart’.

Lucky Numbers

Customs House executive director Ray Spencer, MBE, said: “This season we can guarantee we have something for everyone. There are so many shows I’m looking forward to seeing myself and in particular the return of Mike Yeaman’s Lucky Numbers as our annual Customs House production. We’re particularly excited to have Sunderland-born Michael Strassen to direct our flagship production, fresh from picking up the 2014 Off-West End Awards best director gong. We’re delighted the award-winning play will star Pat Dunn, who shot to fame as Nana in BBC’s Hebburn.”

A Doll’s House

For those who like the tried and tested classics the Mill Dam venue in South Shields has a new version of A Doll’s House, Henrick Ibsen’s play about marriage, money, and the freedom of women in the late 19th century and the ever popular Rumpus Theatre return with Charles Dickens’ marvellously macabre Captain Murderer.

Money the Gameshow

The Customs House has a long tradition of supporting new writing and this season is no different with plays including Butterfly, Money the Gameshow, Dead to Me, Collector of Tears, GSOH ‘Would Like to Meet’ and Thirsty sure to whet the appetite of any theatre fan.

I Left My Heart in Roker Park

This autumn also sees old favourites, which originally premiered at the arts venue, return. The hilarious Dirty Dusting sweeps back in and the updated version of I Left My Heart in Roker Park is back.

Perfect Wedding

Other plays include farce Perfect Wedding, mobster comedy The Big Hit and Not About Heroes, which takes a look at Britain’s greatest war poets.

Chris Ryan

If you’re looking for something other than drama, there’s plenty of shows with a bit of a difference, including former SAS commander turned author Chris Ryan, LDN Wrestling, stand-up comedian Micky Cochrane and murder squad detective Trevor Marriott, who will be back to give his insight into Jack the Ripper.

Joe Longthorne

Music fans are never disappointed with a mix of the real thing and the best tributes around. Joe McElderry is back in his hometown theatre ahead of the festive season – but be quick because tickets have almost sold out. Another much-loved Joe is back in the form of Joe Longthorne and Pal of My Cradle Day singer Ann Breen will also take to the stage this season.

Musical lovers can see Over the Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story, starring Bad Girls’ Nicole Faraday, South Shields Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s Jesus Christ Superstar, regulars Encore return, Tenors Unlimited will give an operatic take on well-known songs and the youngsters of Performer Stage School will perform the newly-released Ghost. Top tributes The Hollywood Bees, Nights on Broadway – The Bee Gees Story, Patsy Cline The Concert, Unforgettable, Rolling Back the Years and The Counterfeit Sixties will impress throughout autumn.

Santa’s Naughty Elf

The venue is always keen to introduce youngsters to the theatre and children’s shows this season include the return of Santa’s Naughty Elf in the run up to Christmas. This time Elfluent the Elf has broken the toy machine and needs the help of the boys and girls to save Christmas. There’s also interactive show Babar the Little Elephant, a special junior edition of Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking (with an adult version in the evening) and Wendy the Witch and the Haunted Mansion, which runs this Halloween.

Little Red Riding Hood

Finally, Ray Spencer - who was Tommy the Trumpeter for 25 years - will be returning to pantomime as Granny Hood in Little Red Riding Hood. Having performed in panto for almost 40 years alongside Bob Stott as Dame Dotty, it will be Ray’s first outing as dame.  Bob hung up his wig and frock two years ago after 37 years treading the panto boards, while Ray retired as Tommy last summer. Ray added: “I have big boots to fill but I can’t wait to get back up on the stage and see all the regulars in the audience – I have really missed them.  This is my first time as dame but this year will also mark another first which I am really looking forward to; Little Red Riding Hood will be the first time I have professionally performed with my daughter Natasha who will be playing Red.”

Tickets:

For more information about the new season or to book tickets for any show call the box office on 0191 454 1234, visit www.customshouse.co.uk or pick up the new What’s On brochure from The Customs House, your local library or the Tourist Information Centre.