WHAT'S ON
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, we are OPEN but with limited capacity and strict health & safety regulations. A one-way system is in place at our venue, ticket bookings can be made for maximum 6 people, and our bar is table service only.
We have developed our new season so we can premiere both ONLINE and at ALPHABETTI THEATRE as detailed below. Booking is essential. For online performances, audience members will be sent a link on the day of the performance, with a reminder 10 minutes before the start time.
All tickets are PAY WHAT YOU FEEL.
Alphabetti Theatre in partnership with Newcastle University presents
Sucking Eggs by Steve Byron
Directed by Karen Traynor
Produced by Esther Fearn & Ali Pritchard
Stage Managed by Rachel Glover
Musical re-arrangement & performance by Ceitidh Mac
Sound Design by Nick Tyler
Set & Costume design by Anna Robinson
Performed by Jacqueline Phillips & Steve Hawksby
Commissioning Producer Charlie Wilkinson
Creative collaboration from the VOICE platform
Photo Credit: Molly Barrett
Book Tickets LIVE SHOWS
“Some days I just want to shout to the world that I am still here and I have something to say.” A kitchen sink drama about what it means to grow old.
When: Tues 15th - Sat 26th June 2021 (excluding Sundays & Mondays)
Performance Time: 7:30pm plus a 1:00pm relaxed Saturday matinee
Live Audience: Socially distanced tickets will be available and will sell out fast, audience numbers vary depending on restrictions. Where possible please book in groups to maximise available seats.
Online Audience: Every performance from Tues 22nd June will be live streamed.
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: Approx. 90 mins, including interval
Age Rec: 16+
Access for live performances: Captioned Performance Wednesday 15th June (please book tickets stage right to be in sightline).Audio Described Performance Wednesday 23rd June. All performances are wheelchair accessible. Relaxed performances are on Saturday matinee 19th and 26th June.
Content Warning: This performance contains smoking, themes of grief, conversations around pregnancy loss, and instances of bad language. For further information please contact
Peter is in his late sixties and has accepted his ageing with grace. He is kept busy caring for his mother and his ever-growing obsessions with the “state” of the “bloody" world. His slightly younger sister Maggie, however, is kicking and spitting about getting old and determined to do so as disgracefully as possible. The siblings often nip and scratch but in times of trouble know that blood is thicker than tea.
Praise for Steve Byron's previous work:
“Sharply written and often very funny”
Floorboards, The Stage, 2019
“Raw dramatic power”
Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers, The Stage, 2019
“A well-crafted black comedy blessed with Steve Byron's sharply
observed writing” Floorboards, North East Theatre Guide, 2019
This production has been created in collaboration with participants
through Newcastle University’s VOICE platform.
Book Tickets ONLINE SHOWS
Photo Credit: Anna Robinson, Sucking Eggs Designer
Newcastle University & National Innovation Centre for Ageing present
Sucking Eggs: Conversations on Ageing
Led by Charlie Wilkinson
Hosted by Steve Byron, Olivia Hunt, Ali Pritchard & Karen Traynor
Book Tickets ONLINE SHOWS
A series of panel discussions in response to the themes of Steve Byron’s 'Sucking Eggs'.
When: Weds 23rd June, Friday 25th June, Weds 30th June, Thurs 1st July & Fri 2nd July 2021
Event Time: 2:00pm
Online Audience: Every panel discussion will be live streamed.
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: Approx. 1 hour
Age Rec: 12+
Join us for a series of panel discussions in response to Sucking Eggs, the new play from esteemed North East writer Steve Byron in collaboration with members of VOICE, for Alphabetti Theatre in partnership with Newcastle University. Joined by experts from the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing, Newcastle University, Equal Arts, and the Elders Council Newcastle, as well as the creative team behind Sucking Eggs, we’ll explore some of the themes of ageing that have emerged from the play.
Peter is in his late sixties and has accepted his ageing with grace. He is kept busy caring for his mother and his ever-growing obsessions with the “state” of the “bloody" world. His slightly younger sister Maggie, however, is kicking and spitting about getting old and determined to do so as disgracefully as possible. The siblings often nip and cratch but in times of trouble know that blood is thicker than tea.
PANEL PROGRAMME:
Wednesday 23rd: Care
Host:
Ali Pritchard, Artistic Director of Alphabetti Theatre & Co-Producer of Sucking Eggs
Panellists:
Cath Fullerton, Care Manager, Home Instead
Stephen Cowen, Gatheshead Carers
Barbara Hanratty, Professor of Primary Care and Public Health, Newcastle University
Friday 25th: Innovation for Ageing
Host:
Karen Traynor, Director of Sucking Eggs
Panellists:
Peter Gore, 4Gen Kitchen & Professor of Practice, Newcastle University
Nic Palmarini, Director, NICA
David Kirk, Director of Open Lab
Wednesday 30th: The Global Challenge of Ageing
Host:
Ali Pritchard, Artistic Director of Alphabetti Theatre & Co-Producer of Sucking Eggs
Panellists:
Tom Scharf, Professor of Social Gerontology, Newcastle University
Lynne Corner, Professor & Director of VOICE
Richard Walker, Professor of Ageing & International Health, Newcastle University
Thursday 1st July: Housing
Host:
Steve Byron, Writer of Sucking Eggs
Panellists:
Barbara Douglas – Elders Council Newcastle
Rose Gilroy, Professor of Ageing, Policy & Planning, Newcastle University
Glenda Devlin, CEO, Peggi App (developing dementia friendly villages UK)
Friday 2nd July: Creativity in Ageing
Host:
Liv Hunt, Community Engagement Coordinator, Alphabetti Theatre
Panellists:
Victoria Burnip, Chief Executive, Unforgettable Experiences
Karen Ross, Professor of Gender and Media, Newcastle University & Curator of JOY exhibition
Douglas Hunter, Chief Exec, Equal Arts
For more information about the hosting companies, please visit:
Alphabetti Theatre:
Newcastle University:
National Innovation Centre for Ageing: www.uknica.co.uk
Book Tickets LIVE SHOWS
Book Tickets ONLINE SHOWS
Alphabetti Theatre in partnership with Paula Penman, Mark Calvert, Laura Lindow and Jeremy Bradfield present
Pause
Written by Laura Lindow
Directed by Mark Calvert
Performed by Paula Penman
Music by Jeremy Bradfield
‘Ever wanted to be someone else?’
When: Tues 6th - Sat 17th July 2021 (excluding Sundays & Mondays)
Performance Time: 7:30pm plus a 1:00pm relaxed Saturday matinee
Live Audience: Socially distanced tickets will be available and will sell out fast, audience numbers vary depending on restrictions.
Online Audience: Every performance will be live streamed
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: Approx. 50 mins
Age Rec: 16+
Access for live performances: Captioned Performance Wednesday 7th July (please book tickets stage right to be in sightline).Audio Described Performance Wednesday 14th July. All performances are wheelchair accessible. Relaxed performance are on Saturday matinee 10th and 17th July.
“I would travel down to hell and wrestle a film away from the devil if it was necessary” – Werner Herzog
‘I’m a film fan. Okay the whole world is. But I’m really good at it. There’s nothing better. You can just sit and zone out. What I’m less good at…is the rest of it.’
Pause is an uplifting love story about film and how we use it to make day-to-day blockbusting escapes.
‘Alright, my life might not feature kissing in the snow, or racing to airports. But it might just include zombies or sharks or learning how to find friendship, even if it is just with yourself.’
Alphabetti Theatre & The Cinema Show presents
The Cinema Show LIVE on the D’Addario Stage
An audio-visual performance uniting electronic music and archived film.
When: Friday 9th July 2021
Performance Time: 9:30pm
Live Audience: Socially distanced tickets will be available and will sell out fast, audience numbers vary depending on restrictions.
Online Audience: The performance will be live streamed
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: Approx. 45 mins
Age Rec: 16+
The Cinema Show combines music with audio samples and archived film material into a performance, bringing events of historical significance back to centre stage.
The Cinema Show is the audio-visual contrivance of Doug Skelton, combining a variety of electronic musical instruments with archived audio samples. Beginning in 2017, Skelton began using basic software synthesizers and a single guitar, before incorporating more advanced keyboards and looping techniques. At first, the music focused on certain well-known events of history, such as Churchill's leadership during the Second World War or the legacy of Nelson Mandela. It later covered sporting highlights throughout history with the debut album This is the One. During the coronavirus pandemic, Skelton worked on his second album Discovery, chronicling the inventions of the 20th Century from the steam engine to the internet. In what he often refers to as 'kickstarting a dream career in music', Skelton will be returning to the stage later this year with an updated performance, whilst reverting to a duo setup during the pandemic.
Follow The Cinema Show:
Facebook @cinemashowlive
Twitter @cinemashow0217
Instagram @thecinemashowlive
Book Tickets
Alphabetti Theatre & Wolfred presents
Wolfred LIVE on the D’Addario Stage
Wilf Stone returns with a brand new musical project.
When: Saturday 10th July 2021
Performance Time: 9:30pm
Live Audience: Socially distanced tickets will be available and will sell out fast, audience numbers vary depending on restrictions.
Online Audience: The performance will be live streamed
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: Approx. 45 mins
Age Rec: 16+
More information to follow.
Follow Wolfred:
Facebook @tbc
Twitter @tbc
Instagram @tbc
Book Tickets
Alphabetti Theatre in partnership with Kerrin Tatman presents
Newcastle Fringe Festival
10 of the best touring shows, 6 artistic development workshops, 2 commissioning seed pots, 1 producers summit and so much more… www.newcastlefringe.co.uk
When: Tues 27th July - Sat 7th Aug 2021 (excluding Sundays & Mondays)
Performance Times: To be announced.
Live Audience: Socially distanced tickets will be available and sell out fast, audience numbers vary depending on restrictions.
Online Audience: Every performance will be live streamed
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: To be announced.
Age Rec: 16+
Access for live performances: Due to an eclectic programme and short turnarounds, it will not be possible for us to ensure that there are captioned and/or audio described performances. We will work with all the visiting companies to try and make as much of the programme as accessible as possible.
Programme includes:
Good Grief by Ugly Bucket
Following the death of a friend, Ugly Bucket turned to their unique style of clowning, music and physical comedy to create a show that explores grief in a way you would never expect (nor forget). Good Grief uses comedy to spark honest conversations, create unity, and share memories.
Me & My Doll by Paperback Theatre (in co-production with The Old Joint Stock Theatre)
A touching and hilarious exploration of the challenges, joys and pitfalls of allowing yourself to be vulnerable, Me & My Doll is a romantic comedy with a twist.
39 Horses by Izaak Gledhill in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre
Buckle up as Izaak invites four audience members into his taxi (no drinks allowed) for an immersive, lip syncing comedic journey like none you have ever taken before…or maybe you have?
The Oedipus Album by Pecho Mam
Pecho Mama make unconventional, music-driven theatre performance. This is a performance of their latest album - it's going to be a kaleidoscopic sonic and visual adventure, 7 cameras, green screen, studio quality audio!
600 People by Third Angel
Somewhere between stand-up and an astrophysics lecture, Third Angel brings you a simple show about huge ideas. 600 People explores the stories we tell in order to understand our place in the cosmos, that question if we’re alone in our galaxy, that ask what it means to be human. Originally commissioned for Northern Elements, a development programme funded by Arts Council England and managed by ARC, Stockton Arts Centre. Third Angel is an Associate Company at Sheffield Theatres.
Workshops with:
Lyn Gardner, David Byrne, Mark Makin, Culture Against Racism
Plus performances by multi-award winning physical theatre company Spies Like Us and chart-topping, award-bashing contemporary theatre company In Bed With My Brother.
Funded through Arts Council England and Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund
Alphabetti Theatre & The Folding Desert presents
The Folding Desert LIVE on the D’Addario Stage
Travel through space, time and melody with The Folding Desert.
When: Friday 6th August 2021
Performance Time: 9:30pm
Live Audience: Socially distanced tickets will be available and will sell out fast, audience numbers vary depending on restrictions.
Online Audience: The performance will be live streamed
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: Approx. 45 mins
Age Rec: 16+
The Folding Desert is the space between Adam Sams' ears... Exiled there most of the time, he attempts to score out a warm, colourful and surreal universe for those who have insinuated that he's "on another planet" (and anyone else who may happen to enjoy the music).
Following the release of TRIAD, The Folding Desert's debut DIY release earlier in the year, this will be the premier live performance of a band constructed through spiritual gravity. Adam will be joined by local heroes Robert Griffiths, Haythem Mohammed and Diji Solanke.
Expect elements of R&B, jazz, electronic and eastern music with plenty of improvisation.
Follow The Folding Desert:
Facebook @thefoldingdesert
Bandcamp @thefoldingdesert
Instagram @tbc
Book Tickets
Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Project A presents
Create
Directed by Phil Hoffmann
Project A is Newcastle’s only dedicated actor training programme, working with the new kids on the block before they continue along their own creative paths. Create is part of their final showcase.
When: Thurs 12th - Sat 14th August 2021
Performance Time: 7:30pm plus a 1:00pm Friday & Saturday matinee
Live Audience: Socially distanced tickets will be available and will sell out fast, audience numbers vary depending on restrictions.
Online Audience: Every performance will be live streamed
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (booking essential)
Running Time: TBC
Age Rec: TBC
Project A presents a series of one act plays as part of their Create season. The ensemble of 18 perform a series of shorts, chronicling the trials and tribulations of modern life. Each performance features a different set of shorts, creating harmony and juxtaposition, empathy and discourse; is anything really real? What is life really all about??
There will be strong language and themes that may be distressing to some, Please contact bar@alphabettitheatre.co.uk with the subject line CW – Create for more information.