A feast at Classics Fest

Plus creative opportunities at Live Theatre

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Also, this is the first time I’ve sat properly at a desk in weeks so excuse any typos or errors.

[Image description: hospital table with toast and a mug of coffee on it]

My theatre diary

It’s been an odd few weeks, to be sure, but (touch wood) my recovery is going well enough that I am resuming my theatre schedule – just in time to see some great shows, starting next week. If you see me hobbling like an old lady, no you didn’t.

The big show of the week is of course Little Shop of Horrors, which opens at Northern Stage before touring. This season marks a return to form for Northern Stage after a couple of less exciting years, so I’m keen to see both this and the rest of the season.

Also at Northern Stage is the touring production of Long Day’s Journey into Night. I’m slightly scared of how my poor injured body will cope with the three-hour run time – I might have to bring a cushion for my back! – but I’ve long been keen to see work by local company Elysium, so I’m pleased the timings finally work out.

I have two shows lined up at Alphabetti: I mentioned Split Ends in a previous newsletter, but I am keen to see this show about the reality of OCD and coercive relationship and their impact. If you want to read more about it, the always interesting Exeunt did a piece:

'It was only after my first performance that I recognised our relationship for what it was'

Also at Alphabetti is Abby Walker’s Great Granda Apicius, which is part of this year’s Classics Fest and is inspired by a 2,000-year-old cookbook. The play is directed by Ed Cole, Betti’s Artistic Director, and was the winning submission in a competition.

Another exciting ‘big’ show is the opening of Astell and Woolf, Shelagh Stephenson’s new play, at Live Theatre, with the press night the following week.

I’m also hoping to catch the showcase by Blowin’ a Hooley, Haddaway & Write, six short plays by local talent, including another one by Abby Walker, and one by John Dawson, whose work I have seen before and found interesting. It’s touring, so you can check out details of this and the company’s other work on their website.

Classics Fest

Running from 14-16 May, this year’s Classics Fest has the theme Food & Feasting in Antiquity. A collaboration between the Lit & Phil and the School of History, Classics & Archaeology at Newcastle University, it offers a packed programme that includes everything from talks to performances to wine and food tastings, spanning venues that include the University, the Lit & Phil, the Hancock Museum, the Tyneside Cinema and Alphabetti.

Highlights include Trimalchio’s Dinner Party, which includes afternoon tea and a screening of Fellini’s Satyricon at the Tyneside, Laura Coffey’s A Gourmet Journey through the Odyssey and a wine tasting Wine from Antiquity to Now. A lot of the events are free (the charged for ones tend to be the ones that include food or drink) but booking is essential.

The Late Shows

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, why not check out The Late Shows? A cultural crawl that includes everything from candle making workshops to musical performances to, um, a collective scream event, this takes place in and around Ouseburn, and there’s something for every taste.

Creative opportunities at Live

Live Theatre is currently offering a raft of creative opportunities for writers, directors and performers. The biggest of these is the chance to become Writer in Residence, which offers a £4,000 bursary and six-month residency. There’s also a free playwriting course, and the chance to take part in Live Writes and the Unearthed Scratch Night or a chance to preview Fringe shows. Some of these deadlines are very soon, so be sure to check out the talent page.

Play-reading group at Alphabetti

A new offering from the theatre is this free play-reading group, which gives aspiring / current playwrights (or just those interested in the form) the chance to read and analyse plays, kicking off with The Inheritance. Unfortunately, the limits of the building mean this isn’t fully accessible – it takes place upstairs and there’s no lift – so do check with the venue if you have access concerns.

What I have been reading

I love the idea behind The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann. Anne Boleyn wakes up after her execution, miraculously alive and bent on avenging her death and securing the future of her child, Elizabeth. I found the novel a little meandering at times, but I liked its presentation of Anne as a flawed, complex woman realising a little too late what a monster she married. There’s also a sweet, tentative queer love story in there.

[Image description: The Beheading Game]

I also was excited to contribute to this piece by Natasha Tripney, looking at boredom in theatre:

Being boring: On the experience of being bored in the theatre

Anyway, thanks again for reading – please do share with your friends! Every new subscriber really does give me a boost. And remember if you want to support my writing but a paid subscription isn’t for you (times are hard, I get it!), you can buy me a one-off Ko-fi or buy one of my books.

Remember: everything included is my personal preference / opinion, and while I strive to be accurate, I always advising checking with the relevant venue.