Newcastle’s Alphabetti has announced its season of theatre from the end of August to March 2022, beginning with a production with Coracle of Arabella Arnott’s Pod, a new comedy drama about identity, dealing with grief and running away from secrets (and bulls). As one family gathers together over a weekend, they end up sharing more than just a camping pod. As secrets come out, they find the answers to questions nobody was expecting to be asked. Pod, which is directed by Matt Jamie and performed by Judi Earl, Kylie Ann Ford, Dave Raynor and Arabella Arnott, opens on 31 August and runs until 18 September (not Sundays or Mondays).
The rest of the season is:
28 September–6 October
hang
By debbie tucker green
North East première
In the near future, in a stark room, a woman meets with two officials. She has been the victim of a crime, and she has a choice to make. We wait for her answer—a breathless look at life in the aftermath.
BTG’s Philip Fisher, reviewing the original production at the Royal Court in 2015, called it “a memorably powerful and moving play.”
26–30 October, Saturday 6 November & Saturday 13 November at 1:00
Meggie Magicia
A family play by Wendy Errington
An Alphabetti production
Meggie has just moved to the seaside to live with her Gran. She's desperate to fit in and to make her magician Dad proud. She sets about practising a magic show for the annual Lifeboat Festival the next day, helped by her toy penguin, but time is ticking away.
23 November–11 December
10 Things to Do in a Small Cumbrian Town
Written and performed by Hannah Sowerby and directed by Jonluke McKie
Presented by Alphabetti Theatre and Hannah Sowerby
"When you tell people you live in Cumbria, they expect you to live in some grand manor house on the side of the lake… I live above a kebab shop in Penrith—with me Nana."
All Jodie wants to do is kiss a woman, but the only one available in Penrith seems to be her friend’s Mam…
19-year-old Jodie hasn’t gone to uni like most of her friends, but has instead been forced into taking a job shelf-stacking by her very sweary Nana.
16–31 December
Santa Must Die!
Writer: Rosie MacPherson
Co-Director & Lyricist: Laurence Young
Co-Director: Beth Knight
Composer: Sean Ryan
Produced by Alphabetti Theatre and Archipelago
Nadia might just be the next big thing. She’s lead singer of the North’s greatest punk band this side of the seventies and for one night only they’re playing her local. It’s just it’s Xmas eve and Santa is a bad boss.
Unending queues of demanding, entitled customers, minimum wage, no time off, unpaid overtime, zero-hours contract. It’s about time the elves staged a riot.
This is a raucous new gig theatre show for the gig economy at the most difficult time of the year, a different kind of Christmas story about it being really shit when Xmas is all work and no play, about finding joy in unexpected places and fighting against that which is meant to keep you down.
25 January–12 February 2022
Tree
By Gary Kitching & Steve Byron
Performed by Judi Earl and Jacqueline Phillips.
Presented by Alphabetti Theatre and The Worriers
Two friends talk about life and humanity. They are hilarious, heart-breaking and packed full of lies. They sing and dance and laugh and cry. Just like real humans. Through a series of cosy and uncomfortable chats, Rowan and Hazel dissect each other and the world. They share their favourite songs and musings on life, but there’s a lie so big it’s hard to believe that “everything’s coming up roses”.
22 February–12 March 2022 at 1:00, plus a 9:30 performance on 24 February
Dragon
By William Steele
A family show presented by Alphabetti Theatre and Life & Limb Puppets
An idyllic valley sits ringed by mountains protecting it from the world outside, the land is rich and the hunting good. In the valley, a young child is reluctantly being taught their hunting duties and comes to learn what the price of living in paradise is.
A non-verbal narrative blending fantasy, puppetry and digital animation with an original score suitable for age 5+
22 February–12 March 2022 at 7:30
No. 9
By Anna Robinson
Presented by Alphabetti Theatre and Anna Robinson
It all started with an event, in this case an assault. But this isn’t the main story. No.9 was inspired by an actual trauma and conversations with the survivor about how people reacted to being told. Did they ask how you were dressed or if you were drunk? Did they offer you a sticky plaster or tell you to make lemonade? Or was it too bitter for them to hear, did they turn a blind eye or look the other way? Was it shameful? What were you wearing? How much did you drink? Cheer up love, it could have been worse.
No. 9 is a party for people who feel lost when someone close to them is going through the thick of it, it laughs at the absurdities and dances in the face of shame and fear, singing catchy tunes and banging beats all in the search for a better thing to say to that someone. Expect live music, mustard yellow, wacky characters and fabulous outfits.
Please note: all seating is socially distanced. Tickets are Pay What You Feel.