NE Online Magazine Issue 59 - Its Panto Time

Welcome Note.

It’s everyone’s favourite season... Panto season and we have had a ball at this years Panto press day at Playhouse Whitley Bay. The cast of Aladdin are all superb, this years Panto really will be a magical show for all ages. Find out what they had to say in our main feature.

As always, if you have something you want to see in a future issue then don’t forget to drop us an email to wayne.groves@neonlinemagazine. com

Plus remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram for our regular updates on events and competitions.

Till next time

Take care

O2 City Hall www.o2academynewcastle.co.uk

Ocean Beach Pleasure Park www.oceanbeach.co.uk

Quasar Elite South Shields www.quasarsouthshields.co.uk

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Hi David and welcome to NE, can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi, so my name is David Garrick, “professionally” known for the last 5 years as the barber Short Hair Dave, friends and yourself, Wayne, know me more unprofessionally as simply Garrick. I am born and raised for the last 36 years in South Shields and now own and run Community Barbers on Westoe Road.

You have recently opened Community Barbers in South Shields, which is not your typical barber shop, tell us a bit more about it, what exactly is Community Barbers?

Community Barbers is my take on the modern barber shop. A locally ran barbershop focused on community building with the goal to help the surrounding communities come together with a place in common by supplying and promoting a safe LGTBQIA+ inclusive environment. Where

anyone with short hair can walk through the door feeling safe that they won’t be turned away for how they present themselves or identify.

So, what makes your Barber shop different to the other ones around you, why should people come to you?

A barbershop to me should be a safe environment free

of judgment and prejudice, something unfortunately in my experience they are not. People confide in barbers, friendships are made, a community is given life. I want to supply a space where you feel safe and comfortable to come, knowing that the attitude of the barber is as good as their work. A place that leaves you feeling good and looking good.

You’re all safe in the knowledge that all the products stocked in the shop are Vegan and Cruelty free, I am vegan myself and I am proud of the fact I stock these options, but don’t worry I’m not going to lecture about it. Ill happily have a conversation about veganism with out and answer any questions but quickly ill answer the first one you have, no I don’t miss bacon.

When did you first get into barbering?

February 2017. Is the short answer.

In 2016, I had my hair cut properly for the first time in approximately 15 years. Emma Knox who runs Artful Barber in Tynemouth done the deed and their shop really showed me things had changed. They had a one seat little barbers in the Green and Ginger in Tynemouth with a real punk rock vibe. Barbering was an old man’s game to me, dark dingy unwelcoming places where to sit for 15 minutes hearing them go on about their prejudices and football, and walkout with a haircut you didn’t ask for.

I started looking into the

industry and how it has moved and changed with the times in at least certain ways.

Around the same time my partner was training to be a dog groomer and my self being unhappy in the call centre job I had for 9 years made the joke I should become a hairdresser and I could cut the customers hair while she does the customers dog… 5 years later I opened Community Barbers, I’m still waiting for the punchline to that joke.

What has been the hardest part about opening Community Barbers?

Finding the right property, writing out a business plan and loan application, telling my previous employer I was leaving to open my own place are all high up on the list.

Honestly the hardest part was genuinely believing in myself that I could do it, that I could really see through the vision in my head and bring it to fruition. Trying to push aside the thoughts

of failure, money and finances or will I even have customers to cut once I open?

Am I over those thoughts? Not at all but I am glad that I managed to really push myself and take the leap and get as far as I have.

And what has the response been like so far?

Fantastic. Any business, especially new businesses have their ups and downs, teething problems but I take each day as it comes I don’t let the slow days

hinder my momentum and as long as I lock up at the end of the day and look back at that shop, as cheesy as it sounds, with a smile on my face I know I’ve done the right thing, it’s all good. A lot of my old customers from various shops previously have followed me and have had nothing but praise for the shop. New customers, local and even not so local have come to me and praised what I am doing with the place they love the fact that it is so laid back and welcoming and

are happy just to chill out watch tv play some dominoes waiting for a cut knowing that they are welcome in the shop.

What kind of things do you offer? I’ve kept it super simple, at the moment as of writing this I’m a one-man band. Haircuts, skin fades, beard trims and a nike tick here and there if asked to. Unfortunately shaving at the moment is off the cards it isn’t feasible for a one-person shop to take the time to do a wet shave and make it worth their time and not grift the customer’s pocket Things may change in future as I have the space and set up to expand but for now keeping it simple.

You have quite the theme going with the skateboards and of course the record player and vinyl collection, so the question I have to ask is what are your top 5 albums or songs to cut hair to? Skateboarding, although I don’t skate anymore (I am old), has been a constant in my life. The videos the culture and the music influenced by the movement have followed me through my life.

I say I am of the Tony Hawks Pros Skater generation and the games and soundtracks in no way ironically changed who I was and shaped how I am. The record player is just cool really! I got in to Record collecting just before the first Pandemic lockdown and like anything I get in, I took it too far!

It’s hooked up to a 300watt Ashdown Mag III bass amp and trace a 2x10 trace Elliot speaker cabinet … for people who don’t know what that means it’s a geet big bass guitar amp…its actually the Bass amp I used to use live on stage in the many bands I’ve played with over my time. Top 5 albums to cut too, I’m really going to shame myself here with my love of Ska punk but here we go –

5. Dissidente – War On Two Fronts

4. Abraskadabra - Make Yourself at Home

3. Tied 3rd – Anything by Jeff Rosenstock, The Skints or The Interrupters

2. Bad Operation – Bad Operation 1. Tim Armstrong - A Poets Life

I also have a record bin under the till labelled “too heavy for customers” … Those records are for bad moods and cleaning!

Surely you have a favourite cut or style?

Sure do, I have a soft spot for old school 1950’s pomps and side parts.

But if I have to choose one I LOVE a mullet.

A long mullet. A short mullet.

A curly mullet... Mullets love them.

What makes the mullet so special?

I have no idea, it’s 2022 not 1970 and the mullet is such a dividing haircut but it is still around which has to say something.

I just love cutting them they are challenging in every way. I have to use different cutting techniques I don’t get to use on a daily basis.

I have to really think about how the hair is going to fall and make sure that the shape is held in the cut in a very non-traditional way really tests my skills... Plus they look class. Anyone who has the confidence to rock a mullet is good in my book.

When you are not cutting hair, what do you get up to in your spare time?

Spare time consists of Dog

walking, long walks on the beach, hiking… I joke it’s not a tinder profile, I’m taken ladies and gents. Mostly Roller derby… Although I don’t Skateboard anymore, I do play Roller Derby and train with Sunderland Roller Derby team I’m no.29 Barbarrick. Don’t ask me to explain the rules its complicated, I once explained to a taxi driver, mix the films fight club and rollerball together, remove the ball and bingo. He looked at me weird but got the jist.

Tell us 3 random facts about yourself?

Well I’ve already outed myself to the fact I love ska punk so…

1. I can play mandolin, and played mandolin in a band The Railway Club for several years

2. I know the offside rule and that’s as far as my football knowledge goes, and often have to text friends to fill me in on important games just in case I’m asked about them while cutting 3. I may or may not have, I’m not sure, cut David Miliband’s hair.

4. Bonus fact, I don’t skateboard but I can fingerboard, for the record I’m 35.

How can people follow you and keep up to date with all things Community Barbers?

Facebook, instagram, unfortunately tiktok and all the usual places. Search Community Barbers and I’m sure you will find me!

Facebook @ communitybarberssouthshields Instagram @community_barbers tiktok @community_barber

Do you have to book an appointment or can you just walk in, how can someone get a haircut with you?

Walk-ins mostly, on a Wednesday I offer appointments through www.communitybarbers. nearcut.com … I call it Wed TENS Day, I’m the only one that finds the pun funny but I only charge £10 on a Wednesday, wed tens day. The only thing I ask is you book in to get the discount.

Tuesday 9-5 Wed-TENS-day 9-5

Thursday 9-7

Friday 9-6

Saturday 9-5

You may be new but what’s next for community barbers? Who knows, I really want to knuckle on down and really make the shop the best I can I’m always looking for more things to do. I want to look at taking community barbers to events and things like that and looking at more being involved in the community really bringing the essence of the local community into the shop.

Who knows though, maybe small acoustic gigs, I have a tv maybe an event premiering skate video’s I’ve been to a few

of them they are good fun. But honestly as each day goes by, I’m closer and closer to running a Tech Deck skate shop, remember them? Why a Tech Deck or finger boarding skate shop? Why not, it’s a laugh!

Is there anything you want to add?

Be nice to people and call your mam and see how she is.

Cheers for talking with us and I’ll be popping in soon for a trim. Can’t wait to see you, come pick up those comics too they are taking up space.

Photo Credit James Fortunewww.fortvne.co.uk

Hi Craig, welcome to NE, can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi. I’m South Shields born and bred, and have lived and worked in the town for most of my life. I’ve worked in a lot of different jobs including in many of the pubs and clubs around the north east DJing and hosting quiz nights. I currently run a couple of businesses in the area and now present a show on Radio Shields every Friday Night 8pm – 10pm, called Friday Night Live with Craig Murray

You have recently joined Radio Shields hosting the Friday Night

Live Show, tell us about the show and what people can expect?

Yeah it’s broadcast live every Friday night 8-10pm only on Radio Shields, and has loads of great music, lots of chances to win prizes and get involved in the show. We have lots of great features including our Where on Earth (where you have to guess where a picture of a local landmark was taken) our A to B feature where listeners suggest tracks and we play a long forgotten or maybe a well-known B side and it’s corresponding A side, the NEWSic Challenge competitions where listeners suggest tracks based on a chosen

news story from that week, our What’s On Guide featuring all the best local events and each week we have the 10 Minute Mashup from local DJ and producer SPF. It’s just a great way to have a bit of fun after the working week and get geared up for the weekend whatever you’re up to.

As well as the radio show you have been very active on social media running competitions and links that tie in with the show, how important is that and does it get the response you were hoping it would? Yeah we are always posting bits and pieces about the show

throughout the week and hopefully keeping our listeners entertained. We post each day during the build up to that week’s Friday night show so people have a chance to get involved even if they might not catch the show live and wish to catch up using Listen Again which is available on our website fridaynightlive.co.uk each Saturday after the show. We’ve had a great response and lots of people get involved each week which has been great to see. I have to say thanks to our show sponsor The Sanddancer in South Shields and NE Online Magazine by the way who’ve very kindly donated prizes for the show in the past and have also promoted the show on social media.

How did you come to be the host of Friday Night Live? In a nutshell the station CEO approached me asking if I’d like to get involved when I’d bumped into him in and around the town, but I’d always been a bit too

busy to give it my full attention. During the summer however, a few things moved about which enabled me to get involved and host the show live each week. So that’s how it came about.

Lots of old school clubbers will know you from back in the day from when you used to DJ in the bars and clubs around the North East, tell those that don’t know

a bit more about your time doing that?

Yes in a former life I used to work in a lot of the bars and clubs in the north east. I did that for around 20 years and hosted nights in South Shields, Newcastle, Sunderland and all over the country. One of my favourite gigs was as DJ at Sunderland University at the nightclub Manor Quay before I moved to the newly built venue, The Point, in the early/mid 2000s.

How different is being a radio DJ to being a club DJ?

I suppose the main difference is not having that live instant reaction from an audience. When DJing live you get a buzz which you might not get on radio, even though people are interacting with the show by calling in or messaging. On radio you have to have a lot of good, relevant content, and you can prepare a lot of items and features to keep people entertained and tuning

in each week. You can’t just rely on the music, although it’s still a massive part of the show. When on radio or performing live, you have to know your audience though.

Between the two, what do you prefer doing?

If you’d asked me a few years ago I couldn’t have decided, but now as I’m getting a bit older, and going to bed a bit earlier, probably radio haha.

Both radio and club DJ’ing will bring you in contact with the odd famous person, is there anyone you’ve hated dealing with over the years and if so why?

I’ve been quite fortunate over the years to meet quite a few famous people and celebs and to be honest they’ve all been really pleasant. The only ones which were a bit diva-ish were some of the members of Girls Aloud. Only a couple of them mind you, but I won’t say which ones. Cheryl was really nice and very chatty!

If you could have anyone on your show who would it be and why? That’s a tough one. I’d love to interview the Gallagher brothers I think, that would be an interesting one. Maybe Noel over Liam. I grew up in the Britpop/Indie era so I’ve always

like them. You’re bound to get some good material for the show too!

People might think it is easy doing a radio show, but give us an idea of how much time and effort goes into a single show? As I mentioned if you want to do the best show possible you really have to prepare your content, features etc, and get as much listener input as possible. So we start to write the show on a Monday evening believe it or not, and then most evenings we are fine tuning bits and pieces before the final show is put together Friday daytime to go out live on Friday evening. The social media

output also goes out each day in the run to Friday’s show. It’s quite a lot of work but it’s worth it when it comes together on a Friday evening.

Music wise you have the secret weapon of SPF and his phenomenal mixes, have you had people trying to guess his/ her identity yet?

Haha yeah we’ve had a quite a few people asking but we never give any clues. SPF is quite shy and we worry that giving away the identity would affect the quality of the mashups. Once the secret is out – the spell is broken!

Will you be revealing the secret identity or will it be like the Stig, keeping everyone guessing? You’ll need to keep guessing!

And if that wasn’t enough to keep you busy, you also host several Quiz nights, so here’s

your chance to give them a plug and tell people why they should pop down and give them a go.

Yes I’ve been roped into doing a few quizzes to keep my hand in with the live events. You can catch me at River Bar in Washington from 7:30pm on a Tuesday, at our Friday Night Live with Craig Murray show sponsor, The Sanddancer in South Shields from 8pm every Wednesday, and at The Britannia pub again in South Shields every Thursday from 8:30pm.

On the Quiz theme, you have made a few tv gameshow appearances, can you tell our readers which ones and how you did on them?

Yeah I was lucky enough to appear on The Chase a few years ago and managed to beat the Governess Ann Hegerty. I also appeared on Mastermind a couple of years back and was surrounded by people whose

specialist subjects were things like the poetry of Philip Larkin, the Mongol empire etc. Mine –Alan Partridge!!

Is there any show that you would like to appear on?

Yes I’ve always fancied a go on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire –I reckon I could win a few quid at least and wouldn’t mind a chat with Clarkson hehe.

What do you get up to in your free time…if you even have any? Free time – what’s that again?

Tell us 3 random facts about yourself?

I once lost 13 stone in a year!

I interviewed and pitched a business idea to Richard Branson in a lift – a literal elevator pitch as they call them!

I won The Chase – struggling for 3!

Where can people follow you and keep up to date?

The show socials are @ CraigMurrayFNL on Facebook, craigmurrayFNL on Instagram and the website is fridaynightlive. co.uk where you can find out about, and take part in the show each week, and catch up with Listen Again.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

If anyone would like to get involved with the show, looking for any work experience or would like to get involved with radio and the production please get in touch using the above.

Andrew Bradley

New music is always good to come across, it soothes the soul, and brings a warmth to the heart; be ing introduced to the magic that is Andrew Bradley, a Northum berland-based musician, does just that.

It’s hard to think he’s been around

for as long as he has, more than fifteen years, but he’s starting to spread his wings and, since the inception of a global pandemic in 2020, he’s ensured people re member him with the release of THREE EP’s and soon to be TWO albums – yes, he’s been busy.

The type of music in which he re leases, you’d be surprised really –there’s a crossover of sorts in there, but it’s very much worth a listen. Talking to him, shows how much he’s both done, and wants to do, telling ourselves at NE Online Magazine that: “I’ve been involved in some musical aspect for around fifteen years now,” admitted An drew.

“My dad used to play the guitar, and I just picked it up from him.

“Playing was just a hobby for my dad, and I’d like to make some thing of it.

“When I started, it was just myself and four mates, in a band really, and we gigged a lot, having fun, making a little money, whilst also playing at some busker nights at

the same places as Sam Fender.

“That first band I was in, we just started drifting away from music, but I still wanted to be involved myself because you really do miss it after a while.

“I was constantly gigging up until 2018, toured Scotland, played the O2 Academy, now, I’d like to get things moving forward and I’m looking at getting a band together for what is currently, my solo music.

“Hopefully that’s something I can sort for next year; I won’t stop writing though as that, it keeps me focussed.

“I began with releasing some stuff online, that was something like, six years ago now, as well as releas ing hard copies, cd’s, but they can be difficult to sell at times.

“There’s also been some single releases, then the three EPs that I released in 2020, prior to the al bums, last year (Hypnoteyes) and this (Parasomniac).”

What about the style in music, the

topic, to some, may leave a lot to be desired; looking at the titles of his release alludes to just that with,

prior to the recent album releases, those three Eps were entitled Outer Space, Shadow Puppets, and Monsters

There is, as always, a reason be hind the route in which Andrew takes with his music.

“I do try to keep things similar,” continued Andrew.

“The style of music I perform, and really, there’s no real reason for that, I just know, and feel, that they’re the more creative topics for myself.

“I also feel that, over the past few years at least, my music is getting better because of it.”

As for the music itself, the aforementioned, trio of EPs, and te soon-to-be, duo of albums, we asked him what, and how“The three EPs, they were all re leased in 2020,” explained Andrew.

“They were all written and re leased during covid; I just picked up the guitar on the first day of the first lockdown, and started work ing on new music.

“At first it was difficult not per forming in front of people, but I didn’t do any of your facebook lives or anything like that, I was just too busy writing and record ing.

“The first album, Hypnoteyes, it was also supposed to be an EP, but the writing kept going and it kept getting bigger.

“I started with four tracks, and it tripled; I got impatient I guess. “There was a lot of momentum in 2020, and I’m just always doing something.

“As for the album title itself, I read through the lyrics and changed one of the words to suit, that sim ple really.

“Then, the second album, Para somniac, it’s kind of opposite to Hypnoteyes, which is more happy, colourful, whilst this one is more dark, atmospheric, eerie.

“I’ve felt that, because I’d done one album, then I could do it again, so this one was actually supposed to

be an album.

“It’s not perfect though, to me, but I’m happy with it.

“I’ve listened to each track though, like a thousand times, going back over it.

“It’s rewarding as well, even if the theme of each of the songs are nightmares, sleep paralysis, and the like, and that’s how the title came about, a rewording of the lyrics.”

Scheduled for release on Hallow een, 31 October 2022, Andrew Bradley’s upcoming album, Para somniac, contains the following, stunning, twelve tracks – 1) Silent Film; 2) Sleepwalking; 3) Paraly sis; 4) Little Voices; 5) Acrobat: 6)

Ghosts; 7) It’s Only A Dream; 8) Forever Haunted; 9) Clarity; 10) Oblivion; 11) Hallucinations 12) Your Euphoria Keep up-to-date with all things Andrew Bradley via his Facebook https://www.facebook.com/My nameisbradz and Twitter https:// twitter.com/MynameisBradz

Nylon Man comes forth from Aaron Liddard & The Argonauts, ahead of Newcastle visit Multi-talented musician, Aaron Liddard, heads to the north-east later this year, touring the im pending release of his new album, ‘Nylon Man,’ set for release this October, via Havis House.

Liddard, a saxophonist-keyboard ist-arranger-composer of the highest order, sees his new release feature a plethora of contributions from guests like Carleen Ander son, Omar Puente, and Miss Baby Sol, mixed with the jazz influences and infusions from around the world, including the Americas, and the Caribbean.

A career in which has seen him

work with artists including the like of Prince, and Amy Winehouse, whilst covering the widest range of music, but it’s that of jazz that rings truest with the musician; classically-trained, Liddard started on the euphonium, before spend ing time playing piano and guitar, eventually settling on the tenorsax as his main instrument.

Having spent a long period as a regular member of Amy Wine house’s band, as well as touring with singer Beverley Knight, performing with Maceo Parker and Prince, and playing rock with the Stargazers, and the Boomtown Rats.

Liddard has also contributed to over 30 albums, performed jazz

with Sheila Tracey’s big band, blues with the Sugaray Rayford Band, and toured in three conti nents with his group Aaron and the Argonauts, but it’s been jazz that has rose to the forefront of his life, and career.

“Jazz is the only living, musical art-form, that is not defined by its exclusions,” says Aaron, regard ing something that is close to his heart.

“At its truest, jazz is an evolving, aural tradition, and as a musician with myriad, musical influences, jazz is the only home that allows me to fully explore.”

It is those traditions, those influ ences, which he’ll take on tour later this year, including to New

castle’s Hoochie Coochie, on Thursday 20 October, more as Nylon Man, as he readily admits, is “roughly twelve years in the making,’ and which summarises his career to date.

Mind you, there’s some forty-two musicians present on the album; Five (singer Giulia Marelli, guitar ist Harry Greene, bassist Paul Mi chael, drummer Jimmy Norden, and percussionist Eric Young) appear on many of this release’s selections.

In regards singer Giulia Marelli, who is prominent on four num bers, Aaron adds: “She is able to tackle every detail and edge with precision and deliver performanc es with charisma.

“Giulia comes to my music with the best attitude, capability and emotional energy.”

Taking a brief trip through his album, Aaron looked at the tracks, ‘Corean Castaway,’ ‘Frisco,’ ‘To gether Forever,’ ‘Chicken Soup,’ ‘Thru Your Eyes,’ ‘Apples & Pears,’ ‘My Kinda,’ ‘Catfood,’ ’Snowdrops,’ ‘Manana,’ ‘Beautiful,’ and ‘One Million Children,; with Nylon Man named after the cities that have most influenced the Hert fordshire-born musician – New York, London, and Manchester. ‘Corean Castaway’ is Aaron’s tribute piece to the late Chick

Corea (American Jazz musician, 1941-2021) and was composed years ago, Joan Viskant writing the

lyrics in more recent times. Marelli provides the vocals and handles the wide intervals quite flawlessly, whilst the strings make for a gradual, yet memorable entrance; the complex drum solo is played with expertise by Marc Parnell. You could easily imagine Chick Corea and Flora Purim (Brazilian songstress) enjoying performing this piece.

‘Frisco’ was written during Aaron’s first visit to the United States, whilst walking to his hotel in San Francisco one night after attend ing a stirring rap opera; the entire piece was penned that very night. Carleen Anderson, who Aaron met while appearing with Norman Connors and Michael Henderson

in a London show, is featured on this track, she singing in a lovely operatic voice that recalls Kay Davis with Duke Ellington in the 1940s.

‘Together Forever’ features a stunning vocal duet from Sannali isa Ilkka and Sam Grimley, the pandeiro of Norman Jankowski, alongside a mixture of acoustic bossa nova with heavier drums and bass.

‘Chicken Soup’ found itself being recorded in the South American country of Brazil, and has a fine bass solo from Felipe Cortes (who at one point emulates a clucking chicken), and is a particularly rewarding showcase for Aaron Liddard’s tenor and piano.

‘Thru Your Eyes’ is about the long demise of a relationship, and fea tures the dreamy, and eerie vocals from Marelli, over an electronic ensemble.

‘Apples & Pears’ is a joyful piece which was recorded in one take, includes prominent spots for gui

tarist Greene, and Aaron’s tenor, over a bluesy and funky groove, whilst a real change of pace is af forded with ‘My Kinda,’ described by Aaron as being about “an affair that starts out with butterflies and ends in emotional torture.

“It travels from rock, to hip hop, to electro, to highlife, to acid jazz, and back to rock; it always sur prises audiences.”

‘Catfood’ is rollicking, yet a little unique, with Aaron being joined by two different rhythm sections (British funk and Cuban) for a brief bit of extra excitement; and the medium-tempo ballad ‘Snow drops’ begins with hints of the Yel

lowjackets and includes a particu larly warm vocal by Marelli with inventive playing by the leader.

Aaron switches to the flowing sounds of the flute for some lively, Latin Jazz, on ‘Manana’ which has infectious percussion work from Young and is highlighted by colourful solos in the tradition by violinist Puente and Greene on acoustic guitar, and ‘Beautiful’ is a calming ballad sung beautifully by Miss Baby Sol with Aaron on piano.

The set, it concludes with the po litical anti-corruption song, ‘One Million Children,’ an episodic and unpredictable performance is about the sins of the world being viewed through the eyes of the youth, and of a temple in Thailand in which one million school chil dren gather once a year to medi tate for world peace.

Summing up the new release which defines his career to date, Liddard concluded by saying that: “Nylon Man is how I hear music

and its possibilities.

“I hope that listeners will be hap pily surprised by what they experi ence.”

Aaron Liddard and the Argonauts

will be appearing at Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle, on Thursday 20 October, further informa tion available from https://www. hoochiecoochie.co.uk/event/

aaron-the-argonauts/ whilst you can find out more on Aaron via his website https://www.aaronlid dard.com/

Holly Rees

Holly Rees

A couple of times we had to google-map the location of our meeting up with Artist of the Year, Holly Rees – guilty-as-charged,

we’ve never been to ‘The Magic Hat Café’ before (it’s on Higham Place, behind the Laing Art Gal lery, and is lush).

Holly, she’s been known to us for a number of years now, so it felt right when we invited her to be the AOTY for 2022 (next year’s incoming, or is it); and, she’s been busy, she’s always busy if we’re honest – expect no less than a busy Holly Rees.

Mind you, the presence of a global pandemic over the better part of the past three years did hamper the local musician somewhat, but, she being who she is, changed tack over the duration, and, although playing catch-up (a little) now,

is very much looking forward to what next year already has to offer.

Previous interviews this past year have shown what Holly Rees has been up to in recent times, and, since we slowly eased back into some kind of normality – what is

normal these days, Holly spoke about how things have changed with what she was planning on doing, to what she, and her band mates, have been doing…. “The plan had been to make head way on the new, next EP, if we had

no gigs booked in that is,” began Holly.

“Then, seemingly out of the blue, we’re getting loads of messages booking us for gigs.

“In fact, the last gig, the ‘before everything changed’ gig, was supposed to be the first gig of the tour, at Independent Sunderland,

so we’re looking forward to go ing back there. Whilst also seeing about getting other dates booked in.

“In restarting though, as quite a lot of us are now, there’s been a lot of pressure within the industry, es pecially having lost so long (twoand-a-half-years) and it’s been difficult, but, if you work hard, then you can do something – it puts things into perspective that, especially because of an enforced break.”

With the new EP having been shelved, for now at least, Holly and the band will be looking at finish ing things off there over the festive season, the past few months has, very much so, been about festivals, and gigs, quite a few of them.

It’s been enjoyable though, why wouldn’t it be, after all, Holly and her bandmates, Ryan and Rhys, live for the music.

“We’ve been involved with some pretty cool things though,” ex

plained Holly.

“Especially with Claire Dupree, and NARC Magazine.

“She’s been a great support of what we do and we’ve been on some great gigs because of it.

“We’re been playing places that

we’ve not played before, like Little Buildings (Newcastle), two days after we play at Independent (Sun derland).

“We’re just starting to rack up the gigs, build up some kind of mo mentum again, whilst also looking at other places, like London, and

the South.

“Next year though, I just want to go on tour with the band, around the UK; the songs which we have now, I really want to take them on the road whilst continuing to play to brand new audiences.

“I’d love to be able to crack Lon don, and Liverpool, as there’s so many places not played and we really want to do that – it’s excit ing though, and, as a band, we can play in so many different ways.”

And the music, after all, nobody can be a touring musician without the music.

The EP has in itself been some time in the making, but, for Holly and the lads, next year, could well be the one. By that time some three years or so will have passed since everything changed.

“I’m hoping that we can use the winter period to nail down this EP, to get it right, but I want to take my time with it now,” smiled Holly.

“The crowd reaction has been

great over the summer months, so we’ll just see how things how play out really; but it does feel like I’ve been working on this since 2020 though, and a whole lot has changed since then.

“I’m pretty happy with where we are at though, as a band, and we have a pretty tight set going as well.

“I think we’ve just about cracked it – Rhys, he’s always challenging himself, it’s what he’s like and I just love the way he approaches things, whilst Ryan, he’s just amazing, and basically runs everything when I’m not around; he’s a big help, a great guy, and fab musician.”

Keep up-to-date with all things

Holly Rees via her socials on Face book https://www.facebook.com/ hollysounds and Twitter https:// twitter.com/hollysounds; and visit her website at http://www.hol lyrees.co.uk/

Also, check out her live shows, and music with a number of upcoming gigs for your musical pleasure.

IT’S CHICO TIME!

It’s that time of the year that eve ryone loves, no matter your age, everyone loves panto season. It is a time where you can forget all of your troubles for a few hours and be whisked away to a magi cal place, where you can become a child again and enjoy the magic of it all. This year the Playhouse in Whitley Bay really have brought the magic, they have pulled out all of the stops to bring you Aladdin, with its high level production and incredible cast, who we were lucky enough to spend the day with and chat about all things panto and of course what is magic about per forming here in the North east.

First off we got to have a really good candid chat with this year’s star of the show, X-Factor’s very own Chico where we asked him

all about Panto and what he loves about them

Oh, my God. I love them. I abso lutely love them. It’s time that you get to be a kid. You get to enter tain up to three generations. And everybody has a great time. And it’s magical. It’s magic.

Do you know what, I think one of the things I love, from a personal level, is the fact that you become a family in that two months. Yeah, literally, everybody just becomes one family.

Two, it is the expression of an art form that is so unique, and there is nothing like it in the world. It’s pure magic. It really is. It’s you transporting, like families from two years old to 80 years old, or even more, and everybody gets something out of it. And there is now not many art forms out there like that. And I think panto is unique in that sense. And I love the fact that, you know, they can come and experience the magic, but they can also go home and everybody can talk about it and feel like a kid again. Yeah. And that’s a beautiful thing.

The older one’s, remember the nostalgia through their children and through their grandchildren. You know, look, I think it’s just that time of the year, where we can all just be carefree. Believe in miracles, believe in magic, believe in the beauty of the human spirit. And it’s just beautiful to see, it really is. I mean, it’s an art form. Like some people say, you know, oh, it’s only panto. Like as in like, especially people that do, like, movies and stuff like that, and, oh, it’s only Panto, but do you know how it’s a craft that you have to learn? It isn’t about you, you have to deliver. But you have to connect with the audience to make them believe that they are the show they are part. It’s like you suck them into it, where they don’t feel like oh, there is us and there is them. They are part of the show, because the audience participation makes them feel like oh, wow, I contrib uted to this magic. And that’s the

magic.

When I mentioned about act ing snobbery and people looking down on panto the passion really came out with Chico saying… “The thing is, is the biggest stars, they say, you know, be nice to the people on the way up, you might meet them on the way down, but for me, you know, panto now has got the script, it has got the acting ability. It’s got the dancing, it’s got the singing. And it’s got some in credible Hollywood stars that have done this, you know, and it really is an art form. Like I’ve seen some big time actors that actually come on stage and they, I’m sorry to say, but actually die on that stage. Why? Because you’re not per forming to a camera and catching a scene, you’re connecting to an audience. And that audience needs a synergy. It needs that energy, it needs that contactability and con nectability in order for the panto

to work. If the audience feel like you are divorced from them, they just won’t take to you. Because the thing is, is like because it’s children based, and with children, you can’t, you can’t fool them. You can’t fool kids. They either like you

or they don’t! But with kids, be cause they’re innocent, they’ve got this wonder in their eyes. They feel the energy. Yeah. And if you’re not giving that energy in a real selfless way, and it’s all about you, they feel it and you just wont translate.

Chico has performed in many panto’s over the years but I wanted to know if there was any character that he really wanted to play, so this could even be an exclusive here when he replied…

You know, I’ve played Aladdin. I’ve played Prince Charming. I’ve played Jack and the Beanstalk. I played pretty much all of them, but the only one I haven’t played is Abanazar, right, because I would like to play sort of a baddie? Yeah. Because I think you could have a lot of fun with that. I love playing all of these sort of magical char acters, and sort of heroes. But I think next year I might step out of my comfort zone and go look, you know, I want to play a baddie. Yeah. And I think I play a bad one. And I’ll tell you why. Because to a a lot of people I’m known as a Mr. Nice Guy. And I don’t pre tend, it’s not a persona. I just love people. And I love to make people happy. That’s kind of like, that’s,

that’s what I live for. But when I play a baddie, it’s like, so Oh!, Oh my God. Is that…really? So he trends, it’s even more because of the perception of what you are. And when you play a baddie he’s like, wow, I didn’t expect that. And so I think, hopefully, next year, if I do one, I might just look out for him. Yeah, definitely. Because I’m gonna see as a challenge, and I always say to people, if it doesn’t scare you, it doesn’t challenge you. Yeah. Then, you know, what’s the point? You’ve got to exceed and excel and always push yourself out of your comfort zone. And if it scares you a little bit, that’s what you should do.

Well, absolutely. I mean, obviously, over the years since the X Factor, you’ve pretty much done every thing, haven’t you? I mean, you’ve been in films. You’ve been on the TV, you’ve done tours, you’ve re ally challenged yourself…

You know, yeah, I’ve done tours, done panto, done plays. And even created a fitness brand called blockfit, which is dance, combat, hit, yoga and meditation, I’ve trained over, almost 1000 instruc tors, I’ve got my Hu Breath. So it’s actually a free app that you can download and use to do breath work, I’ve got meditation retreats around the world, from the Atlas Mountains, Portugal, Croatia. So you know, I actually was hav ing this conversation with Steve Walls. And I love that guy. And we’ve known each other for about 13-14 years, actually. And we worked together. And it was actu ally because of him, I ended up getting this job. So I’m eternally grateful. And we were just talking about the kinds of entertainers out there. Now you’ve got some people who are brilliant. At one thing, yeah, they’re really brilliant. And as a team, we’ve been around and why we work so much is because

we do. We’re like the jack of all trades, maybe the master of none. However, what we do is… special, what we do is unique in the sense of wherever you put us, if you say okay, sing, we’ll do the singing. If you say, Okay, I need you to host tonight. Can you sing and host I go? Yeah, okay. Well, do you know what? Like, could you do some choreography? Yeah. And me and

Steve, were talking about this. So it’s like being able to put yourself in these different positions, by being able to deliver? Yeah, you know, whether it’s the acting, whether it’s a dance, and all that, and not many people can do that. Yeah. And I think it’s the, the gift is being able to connect with the audience and to connect with an audience it has to come from your

whole heart soul essence. Yeah. And you have to really genuinely go, I love people. And my greatest joy is to see that beautiful smile on that child, or the mom or the dad or the grandpa. And if it’s a family is even better.

I mean, I was talking to Steve to day when we went to do the shoot in Newcastle. Yeah. And he said, you know, the thing about you, I’ve never ever met anyone that speaks ill of you. And I said, Steve, the same. Same goes with you. He says, Whenever your name is mentioned, they go oh, well, lovely guy or this or that? And I said to him, do you know what my great est joy in this world, irrelevant of the fame or of the accolades that we’ve had, all the experience that are had. My greatest joy is if my name gets mentioned, someone may say that’s a good person, so to me, that’s the ultimate tro phy. That’s the ultimate success, because you can have it all. But if your name is mentioned, and people speak ill of you, then what have you learned in this life? Yeah, you know, and it’s about the love we give, it’s about the gift is given to you by a higher power, what ever that power you believe it to be. Yeah, that gift back as a thank you is what you share, and the joy you spread. And this noble Mas ter said, even a smile is a charity. Because you don’t know what a person is going through. You may think that a smile is like a lot of people, oh my God, why are they smiling at me? It doesn’t cost any thing. But you don’t know what that person is going through. That smile might change the course of that person. Yeah. So I always say, Never underestimate the smallness of your action, because it could be the bigness of tomorrow. And again, talking about Steve, so you know, the way I see him, talk to

people, in the way he greets peo ple, he is forever walking around, putting smiles on people’s faces. And it’s such a beautiful thing. And I looked at him, I said, you’re really a beautiful human being! It doesn’t take much. And he’s been here for I think he said 12 years. And in the break, he goes out and takes pictures with people 20 min utes, 30 minutes out of his time, when some people probably look at him. And think why are you do ing that? Well, that’s because now the 12 year old is the 20 year old, the 18 year old now is a 26 year old, and she’s brought her child to see him and she would have spoken to him. And every year they take a picture of them. For that person it’s all these beautiful

things. Of course, it means a lot to a lot of people and people I know, they don’t understand that. I did a tour with the Osmonds, and I’ve become very, very good friend with them. And if you see the way they operate with their fans, it’s unbelievable. And these fans they literally follow them, follow them everywhere. Yeah. But they still go out every show. They meet them. They take pictures with them. And the way they operate with them is beautiful. Yeah. Now that’s like 50 years later. Yeah, you know, those girls needed them when they were 14, then they’re 65 and 70. And they still, what’s magical about that is they still act like they were 14 years old. It’s amazing. it’s just an incredible gift.

And we live for that. And I think we need more love in the world. Especially in the last couple of years people have gone through so much. Yeah. And no one is im mune from that. Now it doesn’t matter whether you rich, though obviously the rich have got slightly better options, shall we say? But the majority of people have suf fered greatly. So I think the least we can do now is to just go okay, how can I be of service? And what can I do to make someone better? Feel better? What can I what? Can I say a word to you? Can I give you a smile? Can I give you a little compliment? Can I just make your day a little bit better, and it really doesn’t take a lot, it does not take a lot. And if you can’t do it, be silent. And do not spread negativ ity. And I think the world now really needs us to come together without the division without the judgement, and you know, kind of live and let live and understand that, hey, none of us are gonna get

out and alive. And no matter what you have in this world, if you have it, give it if you have it share it, if you got knowledge, speak about it. And if you can’t, then that’s okay. Just make sure that you know be a plus to your family, community, humanity, and you’re not a men ace to society.

Because your whole attitude it’s pretty infectious as well. Well, thank you. It’s good of you to say. Positive energies. And so is negative energy and that’s why

we must do away with it. And be mindful in our mind and our hearts to stay centred, and you know, become a mirror by which others can see themselves because it is infectious. Yeah. But both ways, you know?

Now we all know how amazing the North East is, as we are lucky enough to live here, so it was great to ask Chico if there was anything around about the Northeast that he was looking forward to seeing. I’m going to be spending two months here. Yeah. And I gotta say, I love it. Yeah. I mean, I’m a beach kind of person, because I live most of the time in Portugal and Croatia. So I’m all about the beach and just openness. So as soon as I arrived, I was like, This is amazing. And then they took us into that sort of dome Opera House, and that was incredible (Spanish City). The people are lovely, you know, had ice creams, the best ice creams in the country.

I mean, the best fish and chips is just for me. Like I said, I’m all about energy. And I just feel a niceness about this place. It is beautiful. And yeah, I’m not just saying it, people in London are not as friendly as the North. I mean, I’ve lived down south as well. It’s gorgeous, absolutely lovely. You know, people actually stop and say hello here. And if you say hello, they say hello back. Whereas, you know, in London, because eve ryone is in a rush and you’re in a rat race, and you’re just trying to get to the next bit, you’re trying to survive you you’re in constant fight or flight, you know, where his head is a little bit more relaxed and chilled. And I think that hu maneness is beautiful, and I think the south could definitely learn a little bit of that, can take a little bit of that. It’s not, it’s not saying it’s just that they nicer, it’s just people forget it, nicety and goodness is in all of us. But what happens is the system makes you busy. I remem ber when I used to live in Crawley, which is a town next to Gatwick airport and I used to go to town for a day out and I’ve got nothing to do but just go and enjoy and up running with everybody on I’m in tubes on I’m like I said I had to check myself on five o’clock I’m exhausted, Why am I? Why am I running with everybody? Because kind of everyone is in a hurry so I think the world is going into a hurry. You know we’ve now got social media that’s made our brain well addicted, it is the biggest drug we’ve got our children, you got tik tok, its minimised people’s atten tions to less than a goldfish. And now basically, we’re just…you see, the beautiful thing about panto is it makes you escape. It’s an escap ism to a magical world. Which is even though it’s a make believe world, it’s still real. Yes, where as a screen of swipe this and swipe that

and that’s it, and I think we’ve got to go back to you know, like back in the days of how people in com munities used to sit next to a fire and tell beautiful stories. Tell old stories. You know, the grandma would tell stories, the grandpa would tell stories, and it was like a hand me down. I remember I was a goat herder in the mountains of Morocco, I didn’t see electricity until I was 11. You know, we’ll just candles and stars. And oh my god, you sit there and there’s just these riveting stories that they used to tell us that will just transport you because a kid’s imagination is so fertile so brilliant. So you know, a kid on a little broom, playing

horse, as far as he’s concerned he is on a horse. We are living in through a lens and I think it’s a case of let’s forget that lens. And come on. Watch it through the lens of a beautiful innocent child. And that’s the beautiful thing about Panto.

I have to say Chico is without a doubt one of the most genuine and nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of chatting with, he really does have an infectious personality and a likeability that really will shine through when he is on stage. This year’s panto really is in safe hands, and do you know why? Because it’s Chico time!!!

PANTO LEGEND STEVE WALLS

Another panto icon and absolute legend is the one and only Steve Walls, who is always a pleasure to catch up and chat with.

Hi Steve, can you believe it’s been a year since we last did this, with Linda?

Unbelievable, isn’t it? How quick it goes, it’s weird. I don’t know if you find that after a panto, the first couple of months kind of drag and you get fed up and then all of a sudden, bam, soon as the castings are launched, it just comes around so quick.

It’s definitely come around quick mind. So are we looking forward to this one?

Very, very much so. I can honestly say, though people probably say it every year when they do press launches, but I think this one’s got

me more excited than any other one that I’ve ever done. Right. And the reason, well, a number of reasons. Gary’s investing very, very heavily in the Show again this year, so it’s going to be spec tacular. All brand new costumes. I’m getting to work with my mate Chico. So it was me who actually

recommended him, I’ve known Chico for 10-11 years now. Yeah. So we’ve done a lot of events to gether, award ceremonies etc. And when I knew he was looking for a headliner, and someone to play my brother, I went ahhhh, I know just the man!

I tell you what, it’s funny because he cannot speak highly enough about you either, he was just say ing the same thing to me earlier. Oh, that’s nice. It’s good. He’s a great great guy.In fact, I think it was just before COVID, the panto before COVID. And he was doing Crew with Cannon & Ball. And, and we went up, I finished my panto and went to watch him for his last show. And ironically, it was Bobby balls last ever panto. Oh, God rest his soul. The last ever show that he did.

I know. They were meant to be coming here. I was really looking forward to that.

That’s right. Yeah. Legend. Such a shame.

Well, we all grew up with them. That’s the thing, isn’t it?

You know, I don’t know if you’ve heard the song Together We’ll be okay. And whenever I hear that, now, you know, the Cannon & Ball theme tune, I get a little lump in my throat. It’s sad.

Well it is definitely looking like it’s gonna be a good show for you. A good strong cast as well. Very,very much. So. I mean, obvi ously, we’ve got Dan back again, as Patsy? You know, it’s great as me and him bounce off each other so well. Again, because I’ve worked with Chico that much, we just laugh all the time together. So we’re gonna have fun. I’m looking

forward to working with Andrew, who’s Abanazar, he’s brilliant. Sometimes you just get a feeling from someone who, you know is going to be good. Gary’s seen him work a few times in different panto’s, which is why he’s been try ing to get him for a few years, but you just get a feeling. You know, someone’s going to be really good. Lucy Kinsella, who’s playing the spirit? I’ve seen her grow up along with Joanne. Because my missus is who taught her, my missus is the choreographer, Joanne’s here. And so I’ve seen Lucy develop as a per former and she went off to do Bird and performing arts. It’s brilliant having her in as well. Isabel, I’m looking forward to working with, I’ve heard she’s a phenomenal singer, a great West End singer. So all in all, it’s just gonna be a really strong cast.

Is there anything else that you’re looking forward to with the per

formance?

In terms of the panto? Do you know, I was just saying this to a guy just before he said,” do you still get a buzz out of doing it?”

I’m very, very fortunate. I get to work with some people who are

fairly well known. I worked with Beverly Knight last Saturday and done gigs with Paul Carrack re cently. And, you know, people like that and I still do tours with Jane McDonald from time to time. So I’m very lucky to work with people

like that. But there’s nothing like a panto or anything like it. Even if I go to watch a show, another panto, even the buzz of just sitting there and the lights go down, there’s just a magic about it, probably because it’s Christmas as well, that helps. But I just think there’s a magic of pantoland that you don’t get any other time of the year.

You’ve almost mirrored what Chico said, actually. Oh really? And we haven’t even conferred on that And the thing is, even Linda was saying that last year and that yeah, Panto just is magic

Well, I get the chance to do lots of corporate work over Christmas as a comedian, as a presenter. And I always still choose to do panto and I’ll probably take a little bit less money doing it, you know, but I’m happy to do that, because I just love it.

Sometimes if we do a three show

day, and I do photographs, as you know, on the foyer, so it can be a little bit tiring, but it’s a labour of love. I absolutely love it. And the lovely thing for me is now, I was on a ship. I think we were in Italy, it might have been Sorrento or something. And a woman came and she went, can I just say, my daughter has grown up with you. I said what do you mean? And she went through the photographs from nine years ago, eight years ago, and this girl was getting big ger and bigger. And now she’s go ing to be bringing her little tots for this year. So it’s lovely that.

So you mentioned that you have worked with a lot of famous people. Was there anyone that you you’d like to work with that you haven’t had a chance to yet? Work wise. Funnily enough, not that I haven’t worked with but there is someone that I wish he was still around because it’s a bit

sad as John Challis because I did panto with John and Sunderland in 2010. He played Captain Hook and I played Smee and we got on so well we became really good mates. And I tried for the last two or three years of his life to get John to come and do a panto here. Yeah. But cudos always stepped in and snapped him up you know, before I had the chance to so I’d love to, I’d love to have worked with John a second time in my home theatre, now that would have been lovely. Again other people who I’d like to have worked with is a comedy hero of mine like Norman Wisdom, But if I did work with Norman Wisdom, I’d have been out of a job because he’d have been doing what I do, though he would have been great.

Obviously you’re from the North East, but what’s your favourite place in the North East? That’s the personal side of things, nothing to

do with work or panto, this is just what for you is the North East? There’s a couple of things really. I’m a Wallsend lad, Battle Hill born and bred. And so obviously, I’ve got a fondness for Wallsend but I absolutely love this coast. It’s weird. There’s two places I go, and I just absolutely feel so at home and relaxed. It’s when I come up to do the press launch for the panto

or when I come to do the photo graphs. And I drive along the sea front and if I haven’t been home for two or three months, because I live in Liverpool most of the time. And as soon as I started driving from Tynemouth or I’m on my bike going from Cullercoats along to Whitley Bay. I just absolutely love this part of the coast. It’s gor geous. And the other one, and it

still happened yesterday. It hap pens every single time is when I’m going over the bridge on the train. And I’ll see the other bridges on the river Tyne, I just feel proud. As soon as you go over that bridge, and you come in the cen tral station, it’s just like, wow, even the central station itself. I love it. I just love it. I feel at home as soon as I arrive. And also if I’m driving up when I pass the Angel, same thing, I see the Angel and you go “Yeah, I’m home!” There’s no bet ter feeling.

Here’s a total change of subject now, tell us three random facts about yourself that people might not know.

Oooooh, three random facts? I once appeared in a newspaper but for saving Miss Great Britain from a car that had exploded dressed as Captain crocodile. So yeah, it was a Pontins Bluecoat and we went to the Leyland festival. And I was I was actually in this vintage car and we were going through this parade and for some reason the radia tor exploded, but it exploded the wrong way. And it started squirt ing the chauffer with like scolding water. And I see what was hap pening. I was dressed as a crock. And I lifted Miss Great Britain up and I chucked her over the side. And she didn’t know what was going on. Because she asked me that, she just looked at me as if to say what the hell are you doing. But yeah, and it says Captain Croc Saves The Day! So that was the first one. Second one. I once got a commendation of Northumbria Police many, many years ago, not a particularly happy story, well, I guess it was a happy story in the end because it was a guy threaten ing to chuck themselves off the high level bridge. And I stood with another guy and we talked him out of it until people got there. So

I got a commendation from them, which is quite nice. Another random fact, one of the nicest things I think happened to me, I don’t know if it’s a random fact, I hosted the Christmas lights switch on with Bobby Robson in 2014 I think it was, and he is such a lovely, lovely guy. Anyway, it went really well. And at the Civic reception afterwards, I was on stage and then Bobby Robson was being ushered in. And he turned to a fellow who’s stood next to him and he says “That lads great, he’s just given me a lovely interview”, he says “he’s a born performer. What a lovely lad, he’s got a lovely way about him, he’s got a lovely manner”… He was talking to me Dad! My dad was absolutely over

the moon. And when he told me I was like, wow, and without any problem. He just didn’t even know that was my dad. Maybe if he had of known it was me Dad, you might think he’s only saying that. But he just turned to a bloke who was just stood there, you know, and I thought I was quite nice. So I don’t know if that’s a random factor. It’s a proud fact

One final question, if you could work with anyone who would it be and why? Well, I tell you, the one person I would love to work with is David Jason. The first person I ever saw in panto was David Jason. And that was 1979. He was in Cinder ella with Leon Bell. Right. And

that absolutely blew me away. That’s how I knew I wanted to be an entertainer, I just remember going, wow. That’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. And so if I could I would love to work with David Jason, that would be a bit special.

I’d love to just shake his hand and say, I got into show business because of you, because of watch ing you. You changed my life. You know, I just want to tell him that

it’s bizarre. And we’ve had a lot of sort of crossovers, bizarrely, obvi ously John Challis, and I wrote quite a bit of a script for the Boy cie and Marlene tour for John and Sue, which was quite nice. And then I did panto with John Challis ironically, how ironic is this? And the lad called James Baxter from Sunderland. And he then went on to do Still Open All Hours where he played the young David Ja son part with David Jason. Yeah,

which is, which is odd. So there’s been kind of, I’ve always had tenuous links to Only Fools and Horses. But I’d love to just shake his hand.

So if anyone reading this that can make Steve’s Dream come true, if anyone can help him to meet Da vid Jason then please get in touch, let’s see if we can make this hap pen, after all, he is always going out of his way for others.

LUCY KINSELLA & ISABEL MONJE

Hi ladies, thanks for chatting with us, so are you both looking for ward to doing this year’s panto?

Lucy - Well, we were actually both saying this is both our first panto so I guess my first Panto at all, as I’ve never done a panto before. So I’m really looking forward to Yeah, just something very new.

Isabel - Yeah, and I’ve only done them in COVID. So it’s gonna be very, very different. I’m really ex cited to do it in front of a live au dience, really special. So it’s gonna be really special for both of us like our first big show. And I’m really excited to see all of the special ef fects because I feel like Aladdin is such a special show anyway.

How’d you feel about working with Chico as well?

Lucy - Yeah, it’s been fun meeting him. Yeah, he’s a really lovely guy.

So think it will be a fun time. The whole cast just seems really kind and welcoming, friendly. Yeah, so really excited.

Isabel - Yeah, everyone seems to know how to have a good time. And I think it’s gonna be a really

fun run.

It’s gonna be a lot of hard work to actually get the act together, are you looking forward to that part of it? Or is that just the necessary evil that has to be done?

Isabel - The rehearsals are always fun as well. It’s when everyone bonds really, isn’t it. And then, you know, when you get the show up, and on its feet, it takes a while to get into it. But rehearsals, yes, it’s hard work, and its long days. But that’s when you really, like, come together. And it’s what we’re trained to do. It’s what we love do ing isn’t it, like getting the show on its feet. So it’ll be hard work, but it will be really fun as well.

What part of the panto experience are you looking forward to the most?

Lucy - I think just, it’s just such fun. When I’ve ever been to see friends in Panto or whatever, just that kind of fun, like quite infec

tious energy. Like, when every one’s kind of having a laugh. And I feel like you can’t really be miser able when you’ve got that kind of energy around you. So I think that will be really positive. And then I just can’t wait to like, again, like Is abel was saying, like being around other performers every day, be cause I’ve had that time away from it. So like, even rehearsing and the like will be quite fun in itself.

Isabel - I think for me, I’m looking forward to just the children. You know, like, they really make Panto, you know, they really just believe everything, they’re like horror and their happiness, that’s going to be great, especially after COVID. You know, this is kind of the first year that everything’s like fully back to

normal. So it’s gonna be so special, like seeing the kids in the audience and just seeing how happy they are and getting to interact with them. I’m really looking forward to that.

What about the people of the Northeast? How are you finding them?

Lucy - Yeah, so I’m obviously only from Liverpool. So I’m not miles away. But I’ve always wanted to come to this part. So I’m buzzing to be here. Yeah. It’s quite a similar vibe. I think it’s kind of cool. Eve ryone seems really friendly. So I’m really looking forward to being there for those six weeks. Yeah.

Any plans, anything you want to do away from the panto or while you’re up here?

Lucy - I definitely want to explore like kind of around Newcastle? Just yeah, I do want to get a good feel of being here as well as the show, so trying to fit it in at some point. Well, we’ll find the time but yeah, it’ll be good.

Isabel - My best friend went to uni here in Newcastle. And she’s told me she doesn’t think I can hack a northern night out. But yeah, everyone’s definitely friendlier up here. I got a free shot of syrup in my coffee at the station. I thought that’s a good sign, of how the show’s gonna go.

So make sure you get your tickets for Aladdin, this years magical Panto at Playhouse Whitley Bay. Tickets are on sale now at https:// www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk/ events/christmas-pantomimealaddin/

Photos from Limelight Studios. A Big Thanks to Gary Telfer from Blue Genie and David Kirkland from Playhouse for looking after us as always.

We have double the fun now as we have teamed up with Cineworld Boldon and the new Cineworld Dalton Park to give you a quick run down on a few films that are coming soon and really have got us excited.

Plus make sure you check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with their daily competitions and updates. Boldon and Dalton Park

Amsterdam

07 October 2022

Running time: 134 minutes

A fascinating and richly intricate tale that brilliantly weaves historical fact with fiction for a timely, cinematic experience, 20th Century Studios’ and New Regency’s original crime epic is about three close friends who find themselves at the center of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history.

Cast:

Christian Bale, Robert De Niro, Mike Myers, Alessandro Nivola, Timothy Olyphant, Andrea Riseborough, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Taylor Swift, Rami Malek, Margot Robbie, Anya Taylor-Joy, John David

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS AND WATCH THE TRAILER

Washington Director: David O. Russell

Black Adam 21 October 2022

Running time: 125 minutes

From New Line Cinema, Dwayne Johnson stars in the action-adventure

“Black Adam.” The first-ever feature film to explore the story of the DC Super Hero comes to the big screen under the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra (“Jungle Cruise”). Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods—and imprisoned just as quickly— Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, Sarah Shahi, Noah

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS AND WATCH THE TRAILER

Centineo, Bodhi Sabongui Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Running time: 161 minutes

In Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect

their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique

Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, and Alex Livanalli.

Cast: Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, Alex Livanalli Director: Ryan Coogler

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS AND WATCH THE TRAILER

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 11 November 2022

Coldplay Live Broadcast From Buenos Aires

29 October 2022

Running time: 150 minutes

Experience the stunning spectacle of Coldplay’s record-breaking Music Of The Spheres world tour at your local cinema with this spectacular worldwide live broadcast of the band’s sold-out concert at Buenos Aires’ River Plate stadium. The show has attracted rave reviews from fans and critics alike, with The Guardian calling it “genuinely stunning”. the New York Post describing it as “a night for the history books” and Glasgow Evening Times heralding it as “the greatest show on Earth”. Now you can celebrate Coldplay live on the big screen, broadcast directly from Argentina. Watch as the band perform classic hits from across their career including Yellow, The Scientist, Fix

You, Viva La Vida, A Sky Full Of Stars, and My Universe in a stadium bursting with lights, lasers, fireworks, and LED wristbands - all of which combine to make Coldplay’s concerts such a joyful and life-affirming experience. This beautifullyfilmed feature presentation is directed by acclaimed BAFTA-winning and Grammynominated director Paul

Dugdale. Please note this event has been time-shifted due to suit local time zones.

Cast: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion Director: Paul Dugdale

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS

Unlimited Card Love Cinema. Join the clubfrom £9.99 a month. You will receive...

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Unlimited members get 10% off all food and drink bought in-cinema at any time of day, every day!* Plus, you’ll also receive discounts for all nonfilm screenings such as Live Opera in HD, Live National Theatre, Live sport in 3D and live gigs etc. (All discounts subject to terms)

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Highly anticipated Waves festi val returns to Sunderland this November bringing a line-up of exciting established and emerging artists

Pale White (pictured) are head lining the festival at Sunderland’s

newest venue The Firestation

The all-day, multi-venue festival, Waves, is returning to Sunderland for its second edition this No vember where it will take over six venues in the heart of the city.

The festival will bring together

international, national and re gional artists for a day of music on 5 November, taking over Sun derland’s newest venue, The Fire Station (800 cap) as its main stage alongside five venues that were involved in its inaugural event last year: Independent, The Peacock, The Ship Isis, The Bunker and Live Lounge.

The first wave of acts features The Pale White as festival headliner at The Fire Station. Fresh from releasing their debut, critically-ac claimed album ‘Infinite Pleasure’, the band will play its only North East date of 2022, boasting a fresh new live line-up.

The Dutch indie four-piece Pip Blom returns to Independent to headline the stage following a sell out show in April while touring their second album ‘Welcome Break’ as part of the Music Venue Trust’s Revive Live tour. The Pea cock will be headlined by Leeds based electronic/funk party band Galaxians. With an ever grow ing live reputation, the group has recently returned from a series of appearances at major UK festivals

Other big names on the line up include the incredible Ishmael En semble who continue to blur the lines between electronic and jazz music with their expansive sound. Sunderland-born Tom A Smith, who is on a meteoric rise having recently played Glastonbury for the second time and supported Elton John. And York 5-piece Bull will bring their noisey indie racket to Sunderland for the first time.

Other acts include Sunderland’s dance/pop outfit Vandebilt, the psychedelic/indie sounds of The Dream Machine, Luke Royalty, Hivemind, Yaatri, Wax Heart Sodality, Ghost//Signals as well as many more still to be announced.

Festival co-organiser Ben Richard son commented: “We can’t wait to

host Waves festival again this year, there was such a great atmosphere last time out and we’re predict ing it to be exactly the same this time, just on a much bigger scale. The addition of The Fire Station as

main stage is a big coup and will allow us to bring bigger and better bands to Sunderland as part of the festival.”

Ben Wall from the venu Inde pendent added: “We’re really proud of the line-up we’ve put together for this years event, it’s amazing to bring bands that have played and sold out Independent in the past (The Pale White, Pip Blom) back to the city alongside so many more exciting emerging artists that are playing here for the first time. The further announce ments to come only make the day better, with loads more acts, stage takeovers and more still to be an nounced.”

Tickets for Waves festival are on sale now from: https://sunder landculture.org.uk/events/wavesfestival-2022/

such as Bluedot and Tramlines.

National Tour Autumn 2022

As featured in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights and the massively popu lar Clinton Baptiste’s Paranormal Podcast

It’s CLINTON BAPTISTE and his arch psychic enemy, RAMONE TAMINE.

Communicating with the After life? What could be more mind expanding?!

The public are rightly hypnotised by mere mortals with extra-senso ry ability, and Britain is honoured to have spawned two of the most

gifted mystics in the world - two maestros of the metaphysical, who also happen to hate each other.

Next autumn Clinton Baptiste and Ramone Tamine take to the road to play out their bitter rivalry in theatres up and down the land

Clinton is the notorious clairvoy ant medium psychic who bravely tells the punters what the spirits are saying… whether the recipient is willing to hear the bald truth or not.

Ramone is a Scottish soothsayer and spirit-channeller from the

Caledonian cabaret circuit. His expertise in the Dark Arts is sur passed only in the dexterity of his cutting Glaswegian bitchiness.

These coiffured titans of the Un known - the flamboyant Clinton and his Scottish nemesis Ramone - possess otherworldly skills that have rightly attracted audiences all over the world. But despite the fact that each has a third eye they find it impossible use it to see eye to eye. Both claims to be a true mystical seer but each insists that the other one isn’t!

Now their very public spat is

threatening to undermine them. Even the Parapsychological In stitute of Great Britain feel that these two silly fakirs are bringing the serious subject of Mediumship into disrepute. Repeated requests to desist the slander have fallen on deaf ears and now their rivalry is about to escalate to epic propor tions.

So, buckle up for a battle of cha risma, verbal one up-manship and hair-raising paranormal wizardry as the two megastars meet to fi nally decide who holds the title of “Britain’s Greatest Paranormalist”.

Next Autumn, this rancorous badinage will propel one of them onto the canvas … .and the other into the hallowed pages of the supernatural history books!

This 40-date fight to end all fights kicks off in Darwen on September 22, taking in venues up and down the UK, incuding Playhouse Whit ley Bay on Friday 14th October before finishing on December 4 at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

“unashamedly crowdpleasing” BEYOND THE JOKE

“old-fashioned comedy at its best.” BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

“I would highly recommend grab bing a ticket. Seats are selling fast and you certainly won’t be disap pointed with this great evening of comedy.”

“nothing short of genius.”

ON YORKSHIRE MAGAZINE

Clinton Baptiste is the crea tion of comedy actor Alex Lowe. Originally conceived for Peter Kay’s smash hit Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights back in 2001 some twenty-one years after the show first aired, Clinton continues to

conjure up his extraordinary pow ers for a new generation.

Lowe is also well known for playing ‘Barry from Watford’, his wondrous 82-year-old creation from Radio 2’s Steve Wright in the Afternoon and Noel Edmonds’

Channel 4 quiz Cheap Cheap Cheap. Amongst his various act ing roles, he has a number of cred its with Kenneth Branagh – whom he met as a child actor of 14 years of age whilst in the West End play Another Country. Later he joined Branagh’s Renaissance Theatre Company, touring with Rich ard Briers. He also appeared in Branagh’s film’s Peter’s Friends and Much Ado About Nothing Alex played the role of Simon Marriel in the 1995 feature film Haunted, alongside Anthony Andrews, John Gielgud and Kate Beckinsale. He was part of the BBC Radio Drama Company for a year and has ap peared in scores of radio plays ever since. Currently, he plays Brian in the BBC Radio comedy Clare in The Community.

Lowe revived Clinton Baptiste for an appearance in Peter Kay’s Britain’s Got the Pop Factor and, in 2015, for Manchester Arena’s Phoenix Nights Live, which raised £6 million for Comic Relief. Prior to two acclaimed tours as Clinton, he was gigging as the character on the London circuit and also per forming as Barry with his double act partner Angelos Epithemiou (BBC1’s Shooting Stars). His work with Angelos was recently nominated for Best Comedy at the British Podcast Awards. Clinton Baptiste’s Paranormal Podcast also continues to sit high in the podcast charts. Recent TV ap pearances include Brassic and In the Long Run both for Sky One, Don’t Tell the Driver for BBC2 and for film, The Devil Outside.

As a writer, Alex has written for Alistair McGowan, Ronni Ancona, Paul O’Grady, Iain Lee and Lewis Macleod. In 2016 he wrote the Ra dio 4 comedy series Barry’s Lunch Club featuring his creation, Barry.

Ramone is created and played by actor, comedian and mimic Lewis Macleod. MacLeod’s various TV appearances include the Netflix production of The Crown, ITV’s ‘Endeavour. BBC’s ‘Zapped’ and C4’s ‘Toast of London’. Feature Films include The Lost King, Minions, Sixteen Years of Alcohol, Last Days on Mars and Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace. Lewis is well known for voicing various award-winning com mercials, video games, cinema, podcasts and television trailers. He is not only the voice of Ra mone but also of many characters on BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers, Britbox’s Spitting Image and a number of radio plays. Postman Pat, Gumball, Mr Men and Love Monster are just a few of animated series’ he has worked on. Lewis travels extensively, hosting events and provides satirical after din ner speaking in the guise of many characters including Boris John son, Donald Trump, David Atten borough, Christopher Walken, Ian McKellen and many others. The show is for ages 14+.

Dehd have unveiled a new unre leased track, “Eggshells”, complete with an official video.

The new cut arrives as the band size-up a stretch of UK Dates this November including an appear ance on Friday 18th at Sunder land’s Pop Recs. Tickets on sale now from http://www.dehd.horse/ shows.html

2022 has been the ultimate roll ercoaster for rising alt-rockers Dehd. Hitting many millions of streams, playing several sold-out worldwide shows and garnering widespread critical acclaim is just the tip of the iceberg of a whirl wind 6 months, and today they offer a taste of brand new mate rial with “Eggshells”, a song which shows Dehd in a different, more reflective light than ever before.

“Eggshells” is just another example of what makes Dehd so special; a track which swirls with depth and shimmering beauty as the band’s sound outgrows the con fines of the bedroom pop that’s been tagged besides their name before today. Taking cues from escapist fantasies and Jodorowsky films, Dehd’s melancholic eupho

ria turns off all the lights and lets the Utopian tableaux come to life, with the band roaming the desert in search of catharsis and freedom.

Striking a chord with listeners thanks to their dynamic ear for melody and unfiltered songwrit ing, Dehd are the critically hailed, unashamedly idiosyncratic trio whose unique blend of weird ness, warmth and wit has sparked an adulatory fanbase across the world. Their new album Blue Skies is still Dehd – just more wild and wonderful than ever before. An other jolt of timely hope, only with twice the power.

Following the release of ‘Blue Skies’ earlier this year, the indierock trio will now bring it to the UK for a stretch of headline shows in the Autumn, plus a set at the Pitchfork Music festival in Lon don. Dates are as follows:

UK LIVE DATES

Nov 13 London, UK @ Pitchfork Music Festival

Nov 16 Bristol, UK @ The Lanes

Nov 17 Leeds, UK @ Budenell Social Club

Nov 18 Sunderland, UK @ Pop Recs

Nov 19 Glasgow, UK @ Oran Mor

Formed in 2015, Dehd are an American three-piece indie rock band from Chicago comprising Jason Balla, Emily Kempf and Eric McGrady. Their latest release ‘Blue Skies’ is their fourth album (and first for Fat Possum) and it’s filled with the most compelling, compulsive, and expansive songs of their career. The follow-up to 2020’s breakthrough record ‘Flow er of Devotion’, it offers another jolt of timely hope, only with twice the power. 13 hits that acknowl edge how difficult everything from love and sex to living and dying can be, while supplying the inspi ration of their own experiences; the album is available to stream in-full here: https://dehd.lnk.to/ BlueSkiesPR

Hypnotherapy, but what is Viking Hynotherapy?

Viking Hypnotherapys’ business motto is having “The Strength to Conquer Anything”. Wherever

you are today this is just a situ ation you’re in now, this is not your life, we all have the power to change our lives and I am basically your guide for this. Utilising the power of positive suggestion to bring about subconscious change to your thoughts feelings and behaviours. NLP is an approach to communication, personal devel opment, psychotherapy and also Life Coaching.

How different is Hypnotherapy compared to a hypnotist, is it the same thing or is it completely dif

physical conditions.

ROAD, SOUTH

Have these comedy hypnotist shows, where they put you under and then get you to do silly things

NE33

Strictly Stars set for ‘A Christmas to Remember’

They’ve been a staple of the BBC television schedule for a number of years and now, after several tours taking fans on trips to the movies, Strictly Come Dancing legends, Aljaž Škorjanec & Janette Manrara are set to tour again this winter, bringing forth their ‘A Christmas to Remember.’

Aljaž and Janette joined the Strictly set-up in season eleven, back in 2013, with the latter of the pair stepping away from the dancefloor, and joining the Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two team, in 2021.

Now though, as we crash towards the end of 2022, the Strictly couple, they’ve been married since 2017, are inviting fans of music and dance to ‘shake your tinsel and polish your baubles,’ as they prepare for their thirteen-date, minitour, finishing in Newcastle the week before Christmas.

The Christmas spectacular, set to be the ultimate, yuletide jukebox show, promises to be full of merry-making for all the family, with the show’s fabulous cast creating tidings and joy

performing festive feasts from the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ to your ‘Disney Christmas Crackers.’

The much-loved dance stars are set to be joined on the tour by an incredible cast of dancers and singers whilst combining lavish costumes and fantastic sets with everybody’s favourite Christmas hits, and there’s plenty of those.

‘A Christmas to Remember’ will feature an assortment of festive favourites, pop classics, some Christmas Carols (we all love a good carol-singing) and some crooners, showing that there really is something for everyone. The duo, and their ensemble, will be dancing, singing and performing magical dance routines in their own unique winter wonderland, throughout the night.

Looking ahead to what promises to be ‘A Christmas to Remember,’ Janette said: “We want to invite everybody to join us for the classiest, sparkliest Christmas party that you will have ever been invited to.

“We will be going on a magical journey, celebrating the twelve days leading up to Christmas, with some great songs and fabulous

routines, with our amazing cast of singers and dancers.”

Aljaž meanwhile added: “We will be sharing our childhood Christmas stories, exploring what we both love most about this special time of the year.

“We will be making merry and dancing with all the joy of what Christmas is truly all about.”

The thirteen-date, UK tour, begins in Portsmouth on Friday 25 November and includes additional, matinee performances in Southend (3 December) and London (12 December), before finishing on Tyneside, at Newcastle’s O23 City Hall, seven days before Christmas, on Sunday 18 December.

Santa Claus is coming to town… so let’s make a song & dance, celebrating the most wonderful time of the year!

Tickets are now on sale from all venues as well as via www. ticketmaster.co.uk and www. achristmastoremember.co.uk with the O2 City Hall via https:// www.academymusicgroup.com/ o2cityhallnewcastle/

Tyne Theatre & Opera House cel ebrates 155 years with a fresh new façade!

Friday 23rd September 2023

Tyne Theatre and Opera House is celebrating its 155-year anniver sary on 23rd September 2022. One of the ways the Theatre is celebrat ing, is through a lovely new façade revamp – it was time for a bit of a facelift! Canopy cleaning, fresh painting and beautiful new sign

ing provided by Ellis Signs has left the Theatre is very pleased with the sparkling result.

The Grade 1 listed Theatre was designed by industrialist and politician Joseph Cowen in 1867. He envisioned a ‘Theatre for Eve ryone’ offering warmth, light and escapism to working people dur ing a time of heavy industry when life was hard. Since those early beginnings, the Tyne Theatre has

also thrived as a cinema for sev eral decades across the mid-1900s before returning to its original function in the eighties and has delighted audiences with the best in music, comedy, theatre, variety and more ever since.

Theatre Director Joanne Johnson says: “We’re thrilled to be celebrat ing the Theatre’s 155th birthday and very pleased with our shiny new signage which reflects the

newest chapter in the venue’s his tory. As a Theatre with so much heritage and historical significance in the city, and as a community of theatre-lovers, reaching a mile stone of 155 years is very special. We’re excited to welcome new and returning visitors to our beautiful venue for years to come!”

Other ways to support the Thea tre and ensure they see another 155 years of wonderful acts and fantastic events, is to join their Friends’ Club – giving you waived booing fees, exclusive pre-sales, ticket offers and more. You or your business could also sponsor a seat in the Theatre’s auditorium for £150 – which would be noted on the seat in a form of a plaque – and join local comedians Sarah Millican, Chris Ramsey, and Carl Hutchinson who already sponsor seats.

The Theatre is heading into its busiest season, with the likes of Harry Hill, Russell Kane, and Joanne McNally stopping off with new stand-up acts, plus local legends Gavin Webster and Matt Reed. Their genre-spanning music programme boasts pop superstar Gary Barlow to folk’s Steeleye Span, #1 Blues Billboard artist Joanne Shaw Taylor to Bolly

wood’s Voice of Legends Extrava ganza.

The Theatre also hosts debate and discussion, with a fabulous In Conversation programme featur ing the incredible chef Yotam Ottolenghi, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, cycling’s Ned Boulting, gardening guru Monty Don and Dragon Den resident Sara Davies shows you how to ‘Craft Your Christmas’.

It’s a venue offering ‘something for everyone’, and family favorites coming up include The Smart est Giant In Town and Room on the Broom for the little ones, The Canterville Ghost a gloriously ghoulish vaudeville spectacular

for everyone 12+, and this year’s Christmas’ panto, Beauty and the Beast for the whole family.

The best way to keep up with all the latest news and events from the venue is by following Tyne Theatre and Opera House on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok!

For more information on the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, to book tickets for upcoming shows, or find out how to support them, please see their website: https:// tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Theatre Address: 109 – 119 West gate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG

Fingers and Fringe bring a stellar line up to Tyne Theatre and Opera House for a Night at the Theatre Friday 3rd February 2023

bringing together some of the county’s favourite comedians for a night of hysterical

New comedy gala coming to Tyne Theatre & Opera House wants YOU to get involved!

An all-star comedy gala is coming to Tyne Theatre & Opera House this November, bringing together some of the county’s favourite comedians for a night of hysterical stand-up. And they are letting you join in on the fun.

Taking place on Wednesday 23rd November, Fingers & Fringe Presents: A Night At The Theatre will see Reginald D Hunter, Scott Bennett, Daliso Chaponda, Fern Brady, Louise Young and Rachel Fairburn perform alongside host Jarred Christmas for a fantastic night of comedy. The organisers are inviting members of the public to send in videos of them telling their favourite jokes with the best ones being played on the night as part of the show.

Reginald D Hunter has been an nounced as just one of the heavy weight names confirmed.

Also on the bill is Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Daliso Chaponda, recent Live At The Apollo star Scott Bennett, one half of the All Killa No Filla podcast, Rachel Fairburn, local comedian Louise Young and Scottish comedy star Fern Brady.

Speaking about the show, event organisers, Matty and Luke from Fingers and Fringe, said: “It’s always been a dream of ours to put on a show of this size together and to do it at Tyne Theatre & Opera House is an absolute joy. Strip Fingers and Fringe down and you have two die-hard fans of comedy wanting to put on a great show with an incredible line-up.”

The event will be hosted by Fin gers & Fringe favourite Jarred Christmas who has previously

been awarded winner of the Chor tle Award for Best Compere. Theatre Director Jo Johnson said: “There’s so many fantastic come dians taking part in this wonder ful night at the theatre! We’re so excited to add more names to our exciting comedy programme. Au diences are in for a treat with this spectacular event.”

Tickets are priced at £24 and can be bought at: https://www. tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/ events/fingers-fringe-presents-anight-at-the-theatre/

To check out more recently an nounced shows, head over the Tyne Theatre & Opera House website: https://www.tynetheatre andoperahouse.uk/whats-on/ Please note 16+ U18s need an Adult 18+

Theatre and Opera House for a Night at the Theatre