Newcastle’s Northern Stage has announced its September to December 2017 programme which includes two in-house productions and one co-production.
First, from 5 to 16 September, is the theatre’s production of David Almond’s stage adaptation of his novel A Song for Ella Grey, a darkly romantic story of being sixteen and in love. Directed by Lorne Campbell, the production is advertised as being suitable for age 14+.
The other in-house production is the major Christmas show, which this year is Theresa Haskins’ adaptation for the New Vic in Newcastle-under-Lyme of Alice in Wonderland. It will have the same creative team—Mark Calvert directing with design by Rhys Jarman and movement by Martin Hylton—as last year’s Christmas smash hit, James and the Giant Peach. The recommended age range is 5 to 11+, and, if the show is anything like last year’s, that 11+ stretches well into the 70s and 80s. It runs from 25 November to 6 January.
The Suitcase (14 to 16 September), which comes from the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, is a co-production between Northern Stage, Hull Truck, Derby Theatre, The Dukes Lancaster and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse. In 1950s South Africa, a young newly married couple leave their rural village and disapproving family for the city of Durban; their goal is to return home, rich and free. The production uses African storytelling techniques and lyrical music.
The season also includes a première from Newcastle-based balletLORENT, which will present the final part of its trilogy of fairytales, Rumpelstiltskin, which will be choreographed and directed by Liv Lorent, based on a scenario by Poet-Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, with music by Murray Gold and costumes by Michele Clapton (Game of Thrones). There will be a local community cast of local children aged 5 to 9 and over 60s and the production will then tour to Sadler’s Wells, Hull Truck Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, The Lowry and Warwick Arts Centre.
Rumpeltiltskin follows Rapunzel (2012) and Snow White (2015).
Visiting productions include:
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Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s The Wipers Times (2 to 7 October, various times), the story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of the Somme.
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The Hartlepool Monkey (10 to 14 October) from Gyre and Gimble, presented by Fuel Theatre in association with Stratford Circus Arts Centre and written by Carl Grose (Kneehigh’s Dead Dog in a Suitcase). It is a version of the legend of the hanging of a monkey, mistaken for a French spy, in Hartlepool. For adults and children, families and schools. Recommended age: 10+
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Man to Man (17 to 18 October), a one-woman show from Wales Millennium Centre, tells the story of Ella, a woman forced to adopt the identity of her dead husband in order to survive in Nazi Germany.
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You’ve Changed (31 October to 1 November), written and performed by Kate O’Donnell, challenging the idea that “genitals equal gender”.
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The Fate We Bring Ourselves (3 November). Ben Haggarty presents three remixed, extended and explicit Greek myths: sex with Zeus, twice born gods, formidable goddesses and some nasty clashes between naive mortals and uppity deities…
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Pink Sari Revolution (31 October to 4 November). The story of Sampat Pal, the formidable leader of the Gulabi Gang—a movement of over 400,000 women in Uttar Pradesh fighting for their rights in a uniform of blazing pink saris.
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On 7 November, Soho Theatre and Tim Whitehead present The Vaudevillians, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon’s bawdy, rowdy musical comedy co-starring composer and musician Major Scales. Throughout the 1920s, Kitty Witless and Dr Dan Von Dandy toured the United States as The Vaudevillians with their edgy, original music. In Antarctica, they were victims of an avalanche and were frozen alive. Thanks to global warming, they have now thawed out only to discover that pop artists have stolen their music and passed it off as their own…
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On 16 and 21 December, The Suggestibles return with their Impro Pantso, a totally improvised pantomime. Recommended for ages 18+ as it contains strong language and adult themes.
Finally for families with young children:
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Bare Toed Dance Company’s aerial dance show Above and Beyond (26 to 27 October) is especially suitable for children with special educational needs or disabilities.
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For children aged 2+, iPet (23 October) is a performance with movement, magic and music from BonteHond in association with TakeOff Festival and Theatre Hullabaloo.
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Every first Saturday of the month, Chris Bostock, The Storyteller, entertains children aged 4 to 8.
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Half Moon presents Fairytales Gone Bad (24 October) for children aged 3+.
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For families with older children aged 12+, What Once Was Ours (27 October) explores how politics and national values impact on the complex lives of one family.
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For children aged 2 to 4, Me… (5 to 30 December) is a story about a penguin and their love for their child by popular children’s author Emma Dodd. The world is a very big place, especially for a tiny baby penguin who is just finding his feet. The shimmering stars and glistening snow spin around, while the mountains tower high and the wind rushes to and fro but although he may be small his family know he’s the biggest thing of all.