Theatre Royal’s season programme

Jun 26 2010 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

BARBARA HODGSON hears what treats are in store in the Theatre Royal’s newly announced season programme.

WE’RE already past the longest day and the idea that the dog-end of summer will be here before we know it is enough to cast a cloud over our current balmy weather.

But having something to look forward to always helps and, to assist you in filling a few days in your calendar for autumn, and beyond, the Theatre Royal in Newcastle has announced its new shows for the coming seasons.

With a six-month dark period scheduled at the Grey Street theatre next year for final restoration work ahead of its 175th anniversary, the idea is to go out (temporarily) with a bit of bang, says chief executive Philip Bernays.

So there’ll be lots to entertain us between October and next spring, in a mixed bag of musicals, serious drama, light relief and children’s shows.

A guaranteed crowd-puller is choreographer Matthew Bourne and high on many theatre-goers’ lists early next year surely will be his Cinderella when it arrives for a February 8-12 run.

The award-winner behind such inspired dance creations as the all-male Swan Lake, which returned earlier this year, Car Man – upping the steamy ante of Carmen – and 2008’s Dorian Gray, this will bring us his take on Cinderella.

His story, set to a Prokofiev score, has Cinderella meet a young RAF pilot in London during the Second World War, and premiered in the West End in 1997. But it’s now been totally revised to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Blitz. But before that wartime fairytale delight, the theatre turns its mind to crime with October 25-30’s Morse in House of Ghosts.

Writer Colin Dexter has come up with a new story for the eponymous detective he created 35 years ago, and Colin Baker takes the role made famous by John Thaw.

These two productions are highlights, says Philip. Others include Opera North’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, from November 12-13, and the musical Footloose from January 21-29.

In February, all-male-led theatre company Propeller offers Shakespeare fans a chance to compare and contrast with the work of the ever-popular Royal Shakespeare Company (whose season this year runs from September 28 to October 16). It, too, is an internation- ally-acclaimed company and, led by director Ed Hall, it’s known for rigorous and physical theatre so expect a fresh interpretation of both Richard III, the last play in the War of the Roses cycle, and The Comedy of Errors, from February 1-5.