4 July 2011
NEWS RELEASE
CURTAIN UP ON NEW SEASON IN SPECTACULARLY
RESTORED THEATRE ROYAL
The curtain is now up on Theatre Royal Newcastle’s new autumn 2011 / spring
2012 season revealing a sparkling collection of shows which is eclipsed only
by the splendour of the Theatre’s newly restored auditorium!
Philip Bernays, Chief Executive of the Theatre Royal said: “Our autumn 2011 / spring
2012 season is once again filled with the very best drama, dance, musicals, opera,
family shows and comedy on tour in the UK right now, but will be more special than
ever before as it will be presented in our spectacular newly restored auditorium.
Once we re-open in September this year we will offer our customers the best
Theatrical experience in the UK, bar none. Highlights for this new season include the
critically acclaimed musical drama ‘End of the Rainbow’ starring Olivier-award
winning Tracie Bennett as the tragic and troubled star Judy Garland. I’m also
delighted to announce that in March 2012 we will host the World Premiere of the
Susan Boyle musical ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ starring the fantastic Elaine C Smith.”
There is a feast in store for drama lovers this season. Nominated for four Olivier
awards and fresh from rave reviews on the West End, the spectacular End of the
Rainbow (10 – 15 October) tells the story of Judy Garland’s later career. It follows
her struggling efforts to reclaim her crown as the greatest talent of her generation
amid a whirlwind of drug and alcohol abuse, and is a thrilling and evocative portrayal
of the tragic star. It features a Tony and Olivier award-winning team at the helm –
including Terry Johnson in the director’s seat and critically acclaimed Tracie Bennett
playing Judy, and is studded with a memorable score of Garland’s biggest hits.
Noel Coward’s deliciously funny final play Star Quality (Mon 24 – Sat 29 October),
starring the internationally acclaimed star of stage and screen and Golden Globe
winner Amanda Donohoe, is set to be a sell-out. Adapted by Christopher Luscombe
(Madness of George III, The History Boys) it is a sharp and wickedly observant play,
taking us behind-the-scenes to the making of a West End show and revealing a world
of mayhem, clashing egos and treachery.
The hit West End production and winner of 19 major awards JB Priestley’s An
Inspector Calls (17 – 21 April) is making a welcome return to the Theatre direct from
its fourth London season. One of the most evocative and suspense-filled murdermysteries ever written, the show, from director Stephen Daldry (The Hours, The
Reader, Billy Elliot) is hailed as the theatrical event of our generation and has won
more awards than any other play in history.
The big names continue in the form of Ed Hall’s famous all-male company Propeller
who are coming back to the Theatre following the huge success of their 2010 shows
The Comedy of Errors and Richard III. This time they are bringing Shakespeare’s
epic tale of the greatest warrior in English folklore, Henry V in repertoire with his
mysterious and tragic fairytale The Winters Tale (24 – 28 April).
No stranger to fairytales and epics themselves, the fantastic Opera North are
returning to the Theatre after their summer stint at Sage Gateshead during our
restoration, and have another feast of musical splendour instore for the autumn and
spring. The line-up includes three new productions - Bellini’s Norma (7 & 10 March),
one of the greatest Italian operas which made stars of Maria Callas and Joan
Sutherland; Tchaikovsky’s supernatural tragedy The Queen of Spades (11 Nov) set
in nineteenth century Russia; and Handel’s Giulio Cesare (9 March), an opera with
all the colour and passion of a Hollywood blockbuster magnified by its exciting and
seductive score. In addition, the acclaimed company is bringing back two of its
biggest hits – one of the world’s best-loved operas Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (9 &
12 November, 6 & 8 March) a deeply touching story of innocence and betrayal; and
Gilbert and Sullivan’s marvellously entertaining burlesque Ruddigore (8 & 10
November) which comes back following a hit season at the Theatre in March 2010.
For those who prefer a more mainstream musical treat, we have two spectacular
shows this season – Rodgers and Hammerstein’s all-time classic The King and I (24
– 28 Jan) starring Ramon Tikaram (Bombay Dreams; Jesus Christ Superstar; Ferdy
in This Life;) which tells the story of the British Governess brought to Siam to teach
the King’s children; and I Dreamed a Dream © (23 – 31 March) – the world premier
of the Susan Boyle Musical, starring Elaine C Smith (Mary Doll in Rab C Nesbitt), a
very special show brought to us first ahead of a major international tour by Theatre
Royal’s famous pantomime producer Michael Harrison, and set to take the world by
storm!
Dance-fans will delight in the three red hot dance shows coming this season. In
addition to the magical Nutcracker being brought to us in November (15 – 19) by
Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet are bringing The Sleeping Beauty (1 – 4 Feb) as a
new years’ treat in February – Ashley Page’s spellbinding re-telling of the treasured
fairytale complete with a sumptuous score and stunning sets and costumes from
international designer Antony McDonald.
Celebrating 85 years at the heart of British dance come the original masters of
contemporary form – Rambert (7-9 Feb), with their magical and humorous Seven for
a Secret anniversary Tour 2012. The new programme once again features a feast of
original offerings from the world’s best dance directors, designers and
choreographers, and is sure to be a big hit.
Fans of Saturday night TV shows don’t just get the one and only SUBO this season,
but also the unstoppable Vincent and Flavia, stars of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing,
who are coming to Theatre Royal with their dazzling show Midnight Tango (10 – 14
April). With their stunning routines they will take audiences on an intoxicating journey
into the heart of Buenos Aires for an evening of break-neck Latino rhythm, passion,
drama and sensuality.
From the heart of South America to the heart of British Comedy, and one of the most
popular comedy shows of this century The Vagina Monologues (13 – 15 Feb) is
coming to the Theatre for the second time. With another all-star cast and fresh from
more sell-out seasons on the West End and Broadway, Eve Ensler’s show offers the
ultimate girls night out in an evening of hilarious comedy combined with raw heartstopping emotion.
Another two old favourites are set to return this season in the form of everyone’s
favourite little pig Peppa Pig (11 & 12 Feb), who’s back with a new show after a
storming 2010 tour. This time she’s going on a Treasure Hunt with her friends
George and Danny Dog aboard Grandad Dog’s boat, and with true-to-life puppets
and singalong songs, this is a show which will delight all her fans once again.
An old favourite of a very different kind is international master of illusion and stage
prodigy Derren Brown (7 – 12 May), who’s back again following several Box Officebusting one-night shows at the Theatre Royal, all of which sold out within less than a
week of being on sale. In response to this unprecedented demand, he’s bringing his
‘Sevengali’ tour here for a full week of shows in the spring. Combining magic,
suggestion and psychology to seemingly predict and control human behaviour and
perform mind-bending feats of mentalism never seen before – the inimitable Brown is
in a class of his own.
Tickets are also selling extremely fast (over 50,000 already sold) for the biggest and
best pantomime in the North East Sleeping Beauty (29 November 2011 – 21
January 2012), and an extra week has even been added to meet public demand. It
promises to be another magical show starring everyone’s favourite father-and-son
comedy duo Clive Webb and Danny Adams, and the best dressed dame in the UK
Chris Hayward. Be quick to avoid missing out!
Tickets for all new shows in our autumn/spring 2011/12 season go on public sale
from Thursday 7 July at 9.00am. Booking for Friends of the Theatre Royal opened
on Friday 1 July. For more information about becoming a Friend of the Theatre
Royal, please contact the Box Office. Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre
Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at
www.theatreroyal.co.uk (Public booking only).
-ENDS-
For additional information / images / interview requests, please contact Marianne
Quayle, Press & Communications Officer at the Theatre Royal on
0191 244 2518 or email marianne.quayle@theatreroyal.co.uk.
NOTES TO EDITOR
A full season listings document featuring all the shows in the autumn ‘11 season is
available upon request.
Press Nights
(please note – for reference only, invitations will be dispatched closer to the time)
The Madness of George III
Mon 12 Sep
The Sound of Music
Wed 21 Sep
End of the Rainbow
Mon 10 Oct
Rhinestone Mondays
Mon 17 Oct
Star Quality
Mon 24 Oct
42nd Street
Mon 31 Oct
Ruddigore
Tue 8 Nov
Madama Butterfly
Wed 9 Nov
The Queen of Spades
Fri 11 Nov
The Nutcracker
Tue 15 Nov
Sleeping Beauty
Thurs 1 Dec
The King & I
Tue 24 Jan
The Sleeping Beauty (Ballet)
Wed 1 Feb
Rambert
Tue 7 Feb
Vagina Monologues
Mon 13 Feb
The Taming of the Shrew
Tbc
Norma
Wed 7 Mar
Giulio Cesare
Fri 9 Mar
Madama Butterfly (2nd opportunity)
Tue 6 Mar
I Dreamed a Dream
Tue 27 Mar
Midnight Tango
Tue 10 Apr
An Inspector calls
Tue 17 Apr
The Winter’s Tale
Tue 24 Apr
Henry V
Wed 25 Apr
Derren Brown
Mon 7 May