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Dateline:
22nd June, 2006
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| Erica
Whyman in the new Northern Stage |
The New Northern Stage
Newcastle Playhouse, closed for refurbishment for almost two years,
has now been transformed into the new Northern Stage. The ambitious
£9m redevelopment has totally revamped the old Newcastle Playhouse.
It has given the theatre two new wings, new public spaces and state-of-the-art
backstage facilities.
"The most remarkable change is on stage," says chief executive
Erica Whyman. "The old main house and studio have been joined together
to create an Epic Space, which can be used in-the-round or in traverse.
With the addition of a ground-breaking acoustic wall, these spaces can
be separated into two independent stages.
"As well as having the largest stage in the north east, Northern
Stage will be the most flexible middle-scale theatre space in the UK."
Free Performance Space
The company has taken the radical step of making all performances in
Stage 2 free.
Productions including Théâtre Sans Frontières'
Like Water for Chocolate, Forced Entertainment's Exquisite
Pain, Fuel's The Night Shift and Quarantine's Susan &
Darren will all be available free in Stage 2 (parties of 5 or more
should ring 0191 230 5151 to reserve tickets and will be asked for a
booking fee).
"By making Stage 2 the first theatre space in the country which
is free to come into, we want to give our audience the opportunity to
try something new, to tell us what they think and to enjoy a very wide-range
of the best and most imaginative work from the UK and beyond,"
says Chief Executive, Erica Whyman.
Imagine
Imagine is the official opening of Northern Stage. Over the
August Bank Holiday weekend Northern Stage will join with Tyneside organisations
The Sage Gateshead, Dance City, Seven Stories, Live Theatre and Tyneside
Cinema. A massive parade through Newcastle to the new theatre is being
planned, followed by the 'christening' of the new Northern Stage with
a fire and light show.
The Season
On Top of the Town
Stage 1
31 August - 2 September
I stand on a rooftop, somewhere high up. You don't know the city
where I live. You might know Groningen or Newcastle, but you don't
know my city. My city I have created out of stories.
Northern Stage and Noord Netherlands Tonnel from the Netherlands present
a collaborative work from 16 young people about the stories we create
to explain the cities we live in.
Son of Man
By Dennis Potter
Epic Space
8 - 23 September
Originally transmitted in 1969 as part of the BBC's Wednesday Play
series, this dramatic retelling of the story of Jesus questions our
traditional ideas about religious faith and human doubt. As the world
continues to be torn apart by sectarianism Son of Man raises
as many questions about the nature of religion and belief as it did
when audiences first saw the play.
Directed by Erica Whyman
Exquisite Pain
Forced Entertainment
Stage 2
27th and 28th September
The World in Pictures
Forced Entertainment
Stage 1
29th and 30th September
Cymbeline
By William Shakespeare
Kneehigh Theatre
Part of the RSC's complete works season.
Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate)
Based on the novel by Laura Esquival
Théâtre Sans Frontières
Performed in Spanish
Stage 2
10th - 14th October
The Wolves in the Walls
Improbable, in association with the National Theatre of Scotland
Stage 1
17 - 21 October
This is the story of Lucy, who hears creeping, creaking, crumpling
noises coming from behind the wallpaper.
For everyone over 7 who is not a scaredy cat.
The Night Shift
By Mark Murphy
Fuel
Stage 2
18 - 21 October
Ever dreamt you were dreaming? We each spend twenty-five years asleep
yet no one really knows why we dream. Now, Luna has the answer. The
trouble is she can't remember it, or doesn't want to. She didn't do
it, she's sure of that. Or was that a dream?
proudWords
Stage 3 and Foyer
19, 21 and 22 October
Now in its 9th year, the annual festival of lesbian, gay and bisexual
writing seeks to develop creativity through writing and performance.
This year's event combines discussion, creative expression, theatre,
reading, live music, favourite books and food.
Waiting for Godot
By Samuel Beckett
27 & 28 October
Stage 2
Exploring Waiting for Godot in two primary schools may seem
like a strange process. 100 years on from Beckett's birth, Waiting
for Godot is given a fresh and exciting interpretation by Theatre
Cap-a-Pie. This is theatre of the absurd for a family audience.
RSC Newcastle Season
Much Ado About Nothing (Sold Out!)
30 October - 4 November
King John
7 - 11 November
Susan & Darren
Quarantine
Stage 2
8 -10 November
Thumbelina
Stage 2
24 November - 6 January
For the under-6s
The Little Prince
Based on the story by Antoine de St-Exupery
Stage 1
Thurs 30 November - Sat 13 January
Little Howard's Kids' Show
Stage 3
9 & 10 December
Stand-up for children
Vincent Dance
Broken Chords
Stage 2
16 and 17 January
Test Run
Stage 1
19 and 20 January
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