Hello! Welcome to my Substack!
I’m feeling re-energised after a lovely weekend in sunny Framlingham, staying with old friends. The summer so far in the North East has been disappointing to say the least, so having nice enough weather to sit in a pub garden (and in my friends’ garden, which as you can see from below is very nice indeedy) has done wonders for my spirits, not to mention the balm of time spent with good people who know you well. I hope all of you are managing to get at least a bit of brightness in these grey days…
[Image description: a photo of a hedge, beyond which is a gloriously blue, cloudless sky]
I’ll be taking a break from this newsletter throughout most of August, as all theatre eyes will be on the Edinburgh Fringe - which I won’t be going to - and I’m hoping to use that time to work on a big client project and my own writing.
If you want more in-depth Fringe coverage, I heartily recommend Fergus Morgan’s Crush Bar, which offers free and paid subscriptions. While Natasha Tripney’s Café Europa is generally more focused on European theatre (and very worth signing up to), I know she will also be at the Fringe, so it’s worth subscribing to her Substack also (again, there’s a free option if you want to give it a try). Both are worth following on Twitter for their advice on what shows are good, too.
Theatre to book now
It’s week two of Newcastle Fringe, and though I failed miserably at seeing anything last week (though I did see Luca Rutherford’s Political Party at Live, which I did enjoy), I’m hoping to catch something this. There are a ton of shows across a variety of venues, at a whole range of times, so do check out the programme to see what’s coming up.
New season at The People’s Theatre
The People’s Theatre announced its new season last week, and as usual it has a packed and interesting programme. September brings Andrew Bovell’s family drama Things I Know to Be True, while if comedy is more your bag, classic farce Boeing Boeing arrives in October (I’m sure there’s a ‘it can’t be more farcical than actual Boeing at the moment’ joke in there somewhere). Spooky season offers both Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Collected Grimm Tales, while festive offerings include It’s a Wonderful Life in November and Alice in Wonderland in December (including relaxed performances for the latter).
Looking ahead to next year, there’s the Christie classic And Then There Were None, and Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls.
As ever, productions tend to have quite a short run, so it’s worth booking early. This really is a gem of a theatre – it’s honestly worth going just to check out the lovely wee bar – and definitely worth your support.
The theatre is also running a playwriting competition (deadline end of September), so if you are a Northern playwright who has yet to have a full length play produced, this could be for you.
Details of this and the new season are on the website.
Other theatre to book now
The Theatre Royal Newcastle has a packed season of shows over autumn. Highlights include musical Come From Away, which got great reviews when it was in London, and touring productions of Heathers The Musical and Chicago.
There’s also the chance to catch the riotous good time that is Pride & Prejudice* (*Sort of), a Theatre Royal Co-Production of Isobel McArthur’s irreverent take on the Austen classic. I’ve seen this show twice now and would happily sit through it again, so consider that my recommendation!
You can read about the new season here.
One initiative I like the sound of is Northern Stage’s Playreading Group. A chance to read and discuss plays in a relaxed and informal setting, this looks like a great opportunity to expand your knowledge of plays and how they work, and meet new people.
Mamma Mia! Singalong at the Tyneside
If this bloody weather has you yearning for sunnier climes, this weekend sees The Tyneside Cinema hosting a bottomless brunch singalong Mamma Mia! screening. At least you can look at the beaches…
Ed Fringe picks from me
While my own knowledge of what’s coming to Ed Fringe is limited – honestly, I look at the brochure and feel like my head is about to explode – I can recommend some shows I have seen personally, or by artists whose other work I’ve seen. (Seriously: check out Tasha and Fergus and The Stage for a more comprehensive list of suggestions!) (You can find all these shows and more on the Fringe website).
Luca Rutherford’s You Heard Me: I saw an early version of this at Northern Stage a while ago and I liked it, and seeing Political Party last week made me appreciate Rutherford as a performer even more. You Heard Me tackles a tough subject with eloquence and insight, based on Rutherford’s own experience).
Si Beckwith’s Bricks: I’ve mentioned Beckwith a few times, I know – I’ve very much liked what I’ve seen of his stand up, and found this show about being a step-parent surprisingly warm and charming, though with enough bite not to make it sickly.
Solve-Along A Murder She Wrote: I’ve already convinced my Edinburgh friends to buy tickets to this feel-good night out, in which the charismatic and insanely likeable Tim Benzie walks us through an episode of the Angela Lansbury classic. (If you can’t make the Edinburgh dates, the show is touring). Benzie’s one-man show It’s a Mystery also runs throughout the Fringe. You can find details for both here:
Metroland Live – OK, I can’t personally vouch for this as I’ve never seen it, but I’m including as this is a local comedy act that has sold out shows in the North East and of whom I’ve heard good things (they do a lot of gigs at Laurels). So if you want to support North East talent and you’re in town, why not check them out?
I also haven’t seen The Gallifrey Cabaret, a riotously queer take on Doctor Who, but I am familiar with – and like – the work of one of its stars, Reece Connolly, whose Ghosts of Metroland I really enjoyed at Live.
Buffy Revamped – This one-man retelling of Buffy the Vampire Slayer features Brendan Murphy on fine form as Spike. I saw this at Northern Stage and the friend I was with liked it so much she booked to see it again when it toured. Worth it just to hear everyone in the audience pack bond over how much they hate Riley.
As ever, though, the best way to approach the Fringe is often to pick a show or two you really want to see, book those and then take a punt on something else based on time and location (I believe the Festival has reinstated its handy app, which helps you pick what’s on). Also, take a packed lunch because otherwise you risk getting charged EIGHT POUNDS FIFTY for a cheese sandwich. (YES, I AM STILL MAD).
And remember, if you want something to read on the train up and sexy supernatural murder shenanigans are your thing, my Fringe set Dark Dates story A Vampire in Edinburgh is available as a Kindle standalone, or part of the paperback A Vampire in Edinburgh and Other Stories.
[Image description: A Vampire in Edinburgh e-book cover]
What I have been reading
My Tumblr has been on fire lately due to Chuck Tingle’s latest book, Bury Your Gays, mainly due to it featuring an aro/ace character as one of its leads – which, as the book points out, makes it something of a rarity.
This queer Hollywood horror is the story of a gay (but partially closeted) movie / TV writer who comes under pressure to kill off his gay characters, only for this to spiral into something larger as both his own characters and his troubled past come back to haunt him. Not-always-subtle but unfailingly sharp, this satire on the entertainment business’s cynical pinkwashing is definitely worth a read.
[Image description: Chuck Tingle’s Bury Your Gays, next to a Dark Dates bookmark]
And if queer horror fiction is your thing, I also heartily recommend the gorgeous graphic novel When I Arrived At the Castle, a blood-soaked gothic tale of cat women and lady vampires by Emily Carroll. (Also, of course, if you like your vampires sexy and queer, I do have a great series of books to recommend, ahem, which happen to be on sale on Kindle at the moment…)
I’m signing off for a few weeks now, but remember my books Dark Dates, The Bridesmaid Blues, Doll and No Love is This are still on sale for 99p on Kindle. You don’t even have to read them! Just buy them and leave them on your Kindle forever like normal people do with Kindle bargains…
(I’m kidding. Read them. They’re great!)
Thanks again for reading – please do share with your friends! Every new subscriber - free or paid - 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.