The Sunderland Stages initiative, founded to bring the best of theatre, dance and spoken word performances to hidden, found and unexpected venues across Sunderland, has announced its programme from January to May 2015.
The regular venues used by Sunderland Stages are Arts Centre Washington, The Royalty Theatre, the City Library and Arts Centre, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Bonded Warehouse and North Shore (both part of the University), Independent.
The season consists of:
31 January at 10:30AM, 12 noon, 2PM and 3:30PM
Landscapes
Mimika Theatre
(Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens)
Take a magical journey through four different worlds and meet the animals that live there in this performance full of visual effects and life-like puppets inside Mimika’s special performance tent.
For children aged 4 to 11.
25 February at 7:30
Jumping Puddles
Open Clasp in collaboration with Frantic Assembly
(Royalty Theatre)
Two sisters at war suddenly find their world turned upside down. As the autumn nights draw in and the rain falls Grace and Anna find themselves trying to stay afloat as they jump from one puddle of emotion to another. Now the puddle is in danger of becoming a river and Anna fears Grace will be taken by the tide.
28 February at 2PM
Half Moon + Floods of Ink
Up in the Attic
(Royalty Theatre)
Join three children on a bedtime adventure: a journey through the attic at the top of an old house.
For age 3 to 6.
7 April at 11:30AM and 2PM
Word Pepper Theatre in association with Half Moon and Apples and Snakes
Pop-Up Flashback
(City Library and Arts Centre, Fawcett Street)
Sebastian’s memories aren’t like everyone else’s. He remembers troll kings and mermaid queens, deep sea diving super heroes and city smashing dinosaurs...
For ages 5+.
21 April at 6PM and 8PM
Third Angel
Cape Wrath
(Roker Seafront: Marine Walk, near to the Pods)
"After he retired, my Grandad went on a trip from the Midlands up to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of his native Scotland. He sat, looked at the sea, and thought about his life. Then he got up and went home. Over 20 years later, I got on a coach and followed in his footsteps. This is what I learned."
Told to an audience of 14 at a time in a stationary minibus.
28 April at 7:30
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Back Down
(Sunderland College Visual and Performing Arts Building, Bede Campus)
Luke, Zia and Tommy have known each other for forever. With Luke about to leave for university it’s time for one last adventure together, they set off on a camping trip to conquer Snowdon. But when their jaunt takes an unexpected turn they are forced to face up to the reality of why they needed the trip in the first place.
1 May at 7:30
Sometimes We Play in association with LittleMighty
We Can Be Heroes
(The Bonded Warehouse)
Teenagers Patrick and Mark spend their days dodging school bullies, reading comic books and dreaming of escape from their small town home. Then they meet Mr Smith—a real-life superhero, with his own costume and canine sidekick.
15 May at 7:30
Stella Productions
The Rise and Fall of a Northern Star
(Independent, Sunderland)
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll—Tracy Star wanted it all. Seeking to escape the drudgery of her day-to-day life in 1980s Manchester, she sought to make something of herself in the burgeoning male dominated Madchester music scene.
21 May at 8PM
Middle Child Theatre and Sunderland Stages
Not Quite a Pub Quiz
The Dun Cow, High Street West
The ultimate interactive pub quiz. Watch what's going on on stage and try to answer their questions, it’s not as easy as you think.
29 May at 7:30
Middle Child Theatre and Sunderland Stages
Weekend Rockstars
(North Shore)
Terry’s having a bad week. He’s lost his job, his girlfriend is off to Uni in London and he’s just killed his dealer’s cat.