Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre has announced its first season in its new premises, which will open on Saturday 2 September. Its new home is in St James’ Boulevard, across Blandford Square from the Discovery Museum and just along the Boulevard and over the road from Dance City.
The season begins with a regular night: Alphabetti Soup, featuring comedy, music, poetry and theatre. And free soup for the first fifty people!
This September, Alphabetti Soup has comedy from young North East performer Lauren Pattison, music from South Shields-born Natasha Haws and Diji Solanke who comes from Nigeria by way of Ireland. There will also be poetry from Newcastle-based Zoe Murtagh.
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5 – 16 September (not Sunday and Monday)
Coracle in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre
Overdue
By Arabella Arnott
Performed by Rosie Stancliffe and Christopher Price and directed by Matt JamieBeth and John are happily married. But they’re not always happy. There are a lot of things they need to talk about. Beth’s chance encounter with a young single mum, Izzie, reminds her a lot of her past, and conversations with an enigmatic young stranger, Jack, bring Beth’s thoughts and fears into focus.
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19 September
Singer/songwriter Gavin Osborn -
21 and 23 September
The Game's a Foot, Try the Fish (and The Man with the Twisted Hip)
Two one-man plays, written and performed by Tom TaylorWeaving Wodehousian witticisms, farce and quotable one-liners into a pair of intriguing 1930s whodunits, rakish aristocrat and first-time detective Charlie Montague must prevent a murder. The chap dies.
Not put off in the slightest, Charlie attends the opening of a new art exhibition where he is presented with a double-threat: murder and modern art. He is equally baffled by both.
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22 September
Liberty Hodes and Lauren Stone present
A Fourth Comedy Night That Passes The Bechdel Test -
26 September
Tidy Carnage presents
UnderworldsA sensory experience that taps into our deepest desires through an informal evening of illusion, poetry, music and discussion. This work-in-progress evening will offer spoken word, music, video and the chance to interact with magic and illusion, led by illusionist and mentalist Scott Silven.
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28 – 30 September
Movement 89 presents
Quarter Life CrisisAlicia is a hot mess. She doesn't know what she's doing with her life. Everyone around her seems to know where they're going in life, but she's trying to find ways to cheat growing up and keep her 16-25 railcard. What does it mean to be an adult, and when do you become one?
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4 – 6 October
Bonnie and The Bonnettes present
Drag Me To LoveIt's golden stilettos, ripped fishnets, shoulder pads, and neon bobs. It’s Doncaster, 2009. This autobiographical three-person show combines drag performance with theatrical storytelling following Cameron as he throws himself into a pair of 6-inch stilettos. You are bound to fall, as they drag you, into love.
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10 -12 October
Unholy Mess in Association with Omnibus Theatre present
Above the Mealy-mouthed SeaA woman stands at a microphone. She’s forgotten the punchline. Fusing poetry and song, Jemima Foxtrot presents a play about memory and childhood.
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20 October
Liberty Hodes and Lauren Stone present
A Fifth Comedy Night That Passes The Bechdel Test -
24 October – 3 November (not Sunday and Monday) at 4.00
The Worriers in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre presents
Walter
By Steve ByronMeet Walter the pigeon as he embarks on an adventure to end all adventures in this family production. For ages 8+.
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24 October – 3 November (not Sunday and Monday) at 7.30
The Worriers in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre presents
Wilfred
By Gary KitchingWilfred Owen wasn’t the only poet to fight in the First World War; he also wasn't the only person called Wilfred.
This is is the story of Wilfred Wright. Injured during the battle of the Somme and recovering in a field hospital, Wilfred tries to come to terms with the horrors he’s witnessed through poetry. Unfortunately, his poems are terrible. Will he be able to write a lasting legacy before he heads back to the front?
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7 – 10 November
Honky Bonk Theatre in partnership with CaroleW Productions presents
The Establishment: Eton MessStiff-upper-lipped comedy. Two ultra-privileged British gents struggling to hold onto their whimsical world of cricket, tea and secret arms deals.
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17 November
Liberty Hodes and Lauren Stone present
A Sixth Comedy Night That Passes The Bechdel Test -
21 – 24 November
Tooth+Nail Theatre Company in partnership with CaroleW Productions presents
HummingbirdA dark, seductive tale of love and murder in 1950s America, blending acrobatics, action and a striking visual style.
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5 – 8 December
Roisin Crowley Linton in partnership with CaroleW Productions presents
Be More, Do Better But Don't ChangeA blend of poetry, stand-up and personal storytelling exploring Love with a capital “L” and all of its tragic, sweaty, embarrassing parts. Is it really so important?
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13 – 15 December
Men With Coconuts in partnership with CaroleW Productions presents
Improvised BondA fully improvised Bond film. There'll be villains, gadgets and femme fatales galore—all improvised live on stage with a musical accompaniment.
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14 December at 9.00
MC Hammersmith in partnership with CaroleW Productions presents
MC Hammersmith’s Magical Freestyle FactoryMC Hammersmith (a.k.a. Will Naameh, the tall skinny one from Men With Coconuts) and friends present an hour of white people performing improvised hip hop comedy based on audience suggestions.