Woven Bones

Take a step through time and walk in the shoes of the Scottish soldiers who became Durham’s darkest secret.

Laura Lindow has written a powerful and poignant piece which transports the audience back into 17^th century Scotland and brings alive the heart-breaking tale of local lads who were conscripted to fight against Cromwell’s English army and their families they were forced to leave behind.  Based on the archaeological findings at Durham Palace Library, and using the forensic evidence which helped to establish the soldiers’ lifestyle, Woven Bones is clever, witty and captivating.  Taking the audience back from the initial discovery of the remains to the childhood of one of the soldiers, we follow his story as he leaves the Western highlands and walks down the length of the country, finally ending up at the battle of Dunbar.  From here, our soldier is captured and becomes a prisoner of war, marched further south and held captive with thousands others in Durham Cathedral.  Luckily, he was one of very few who survived and ended up leaving these shores for a new life in a New World.

The cast, Greig Adam, Paula Penman and Gemma Stroyan are brilliantly inventive, providing everything from the soundscape of building work right through to becoming archaeologists providing the science behind the soldier’s story.  They very quickly draw you into the world of Scottish families in the mid 1600’s with a blend of humour and pathos.  Director Brad McCormick keeps the intensity high, made all the more claustrophobic by Katie Doherty’s ambient soundtrack, while Anna Reid’s design is impressive in its simplicity.

If you have been to see the Bodies of Evidence exhibition at Durham Palace Library then Cap-a-Pie's Woven Bones is a brilliant companion to the whole story.  Laura Lindow has once again written a piece of theatre which transcends time and cultures and, by ensuring that it’s not just the story of the soldiers but also their families we cannot ignore that each set of bones found represents a life amongst lives.

Woven Bones is on tour in June and July - check out the Cap-a-Pie website for more details:

http://www.cap-a-pie.co.uk/woven-bones/

29th June, The Maltings, Berwick
3rd July. The Customs House, South Shields
5th July, Arts Centre Washington
6th & 7th July, Gala Theatre, Durham

This IS Elvis

It’s hard to think that the legend that is Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and one of the most iconic and recognisable voices ever to have graced the airwaves, could have been so close to quitting music performing for good.  It was after a gruelling run of movie productions in which Elvis’ role was diluted to, as he put it, “Sing a bit, hit the bad guy, get the girl” that Presley, in a stew of insecurity and self doubt, decided that he could no longer perform to his roots of live performing.  He’d been away from chart music for 8 years in which time the British invasion had taken America by storm, hippy and surf music had become the West Coast soundtrack and many were proclaiming Rock ‘n’ Roll was dead.

Persuaded by TV Producer Bob Finkel to make a TV special (developing an original idea by Presley’s manager Colonel Parker that he should make a Christmas show) Elvis began recording over 4 hours of material which would later be distilled down into the 50 minute special and broadcast on December 3^rd.  The impact was worldwide with Presley’s recordings rocketing into the charts and calls for him to perform following long and hard from all corners of the globe.

At this point, Colonel Parker (whose motives were often very selfish in seeing how much he could personally make from Presley) signed Elvis up to 3 seasons at a brand-new hotel The International on the Las Vegas strip.  Once again, Presley’s insecurities resurfaced, especially when he thought of the alumni who performed regularly at the Nevada hotspots but he battled through and thus his Vegas show legend was born.

This show, produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield is a replay of these two pivotal shows in the Elvis flightpath to immortality.  Steve Michaels IS Elvis; he isn’t playing Elvis, he isn’t impersonating Elvis, he doesn’t have an uncanny passing resemblance to Elvis – he IS Elvis.  To be convinced of just how good Steve’s performances are, find out the two live shows on YouTube and be prepared to have the hairs on your arms stand up.  The live shows have all of Elvis’ power and style but still show some of his ring rustiness that was later polished from years of Vegas headlining – Michaels' performance, his style, his looks and of course, his voice (not jsut singing but while talking too) captures all of this and makes it, and him, the best EVER Elvis since Elvis.

This is not a journey show, it doesn’t have much dialogue outside of setting up the two performances, nor does it chart Elvis’ life at this time save for his initial reluctance to play such high profile shows with no warm up tour but for any fan of Elvis Presley there is no better show to see.  Steve Michaels is able to bring the intimate, fun loving Elvis seen on the ‘68 TV special and then explode into the Vegas show king, complete with brilliant set, band and backing singers.  Personal favourites are Burning Love and the hypnotic Suspicious Minds, guaranteed to get everyone up dancing and singing.

This is Elvis is on at Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday 30th June and is a brilliant way to grab a break from the heat (and the football).

Bodies of Evidence @ Durham Palace Green

Have you ever watched Time Team on TV and wondered just what happens after they’ve made a discovery ?  Have you ever watched Bones and been puzzled about the science behind the show ?  Have you ever wanted to know what has made Durham City such a rich and diverse place in the country’s history ?  Well, there’s a new exhibition on at the Durham Cathedral Palace Library that will not only answer a lot of those questions, but will inform, entertain and leave you in awe of the science and history behind an amazing discovery.

Bodies of Evidence is the stunning new experience which charts the history of a group of Scottish soldiers, captured by Oliver Cromwell and marched from Dunbar in the Scottish borders all the way to Durham Cathedral.   Not only are we taken through the timeline of their march, what they ate, where their slept, how many actually made it alive, but perhaps even more fascinating we are also shown what happened to some of them afterwards and where they ended up.

Split into 3 main areas, the exhibition is a walkthrough experience taking in Archaeology, Anthropology and Forensic Science and uses exhibits, video, interaction and hands on activities to immerse visitors into a period of history that is rooted in the Civil War.  Drawing on world leading experts and using ground breaking techniques, the story of the soldiers comes alive, not just a few pages in a history book but people with families, beliefs, passions, troubles and hopes.

First is the story of how the soldiers were discovered.  From the initial uncovering of the remains (which were exposed during work to renovate the café), an archaeological investigation was set up to establish exactly who they were and to tie them into known history.  These Scottish soldiers were captured at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 and, after a period of incarceration, marched down the 110 miles to Durham where they were held in the Cathedral.   Most of these soldiers were taken from small farmsteads in Scotland by generals loyal to King Charles and forced to fight Cromwell’s armies all across the borders.  Many were the younger sons (the older ones being kept on the farm to continue working the land) and as such there were often ‘Sliding Door’ moments separating families simply by letting one son leave and one stay.  Professor Chris Gerrard, Durham University Department of Archaeology has led this fascinating exploration and brought to life their stories.

The next part investigates what happened to those soldiers who survived the march and imprisonment – soldiers were sent to work in linen factories on Tyneside, down to Lincolnshire to dig clearing ditches for the Fens, over to France to support English troops and, perhaps most amazing, over to the East Coast of the US to clear forests and work the land for the early settlers.  Bearing in mind that this was the late 1600’s, this would have been an amazing wrench for the young Scottish men and yet they didn’t just survive, they thrived.  It is estimated that there are now over 500,000 people in Eastern US who are descendants of the initial Scottish soldiers and here visitors are treated to videos from some of the families who have been traced.

The 3^rd part takes visitors through the science behind understanding the anthropology of the remains, who they were, what they ate, how they lived as well as an amazing facial reconstruction of one of the soldiers.  Created and reconstructed by Prof Charlotte Roberts, one of the world’s leading palaeopathologists, bioarchaeologist and an expert in understanding people’s interactions with their environment, this is no dry science lesson;  Charlotte’s displays bring to life the painstaking steps taken to providing understanding of our ancestors, our evolution and how lifestyle and environment change how we develop, our health and ultimately our demise. 

Bodies of Evidence - How Science unearthed Durham's Dark Secret, is a wonderful walk through the history and science and is perfect for the casual visitor as well as the passionate history buff and will definitely leave you wanting to learn more.  It will be revered throughout the UK and beyond as a pivotal display of how to blend 3 branches of human science and create a seamless understanding of cause and effect.

For more information go to https://www.dur.ac.uk/palace.green/whatson/events/

For specific information on some of the family events, please go to

https://www.dur.ac.uk/palace.green/whatson/details/?id=38395

https://www.dur.ac.uk/palace.green/whatson/details/?id=38398

84 Charing Cross Road

84 Charing Cross Road is a charming and utterly beguiling story of love – love of books, of travel, of finding a kindred spirit and of sharing the most human of qualities, that of time.  Adapted by James Roose-Evans and directed by Richard Beecham, this Cambridge Arts Theatre Production started its tour at Darlington Hippodrome – a tour which will undoubtedly and very deservedly receive huge applause and accolades wherever it plays.

Beginning in 1949 and spread over 20 years, it charts the long distance friendship between Helene Hanff (Stefanie Powers), a Brooklyn writer and bibliophile, and Frank Doel (Clive Francis) the chief buyer for Marks and Co, a second hand book shop in London.  Between them they share the trials and joys of post war rationing, the death of King George and coronation of Queen Elizabeth, the blossoming of TV, the rise and fall of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the cultural shift of pop music, all played out against the backdrop of Hanff’s constant searching for rare books and her repeated desire to visit London and the home of her beloved books.

Told through a series of correspondences, 84 Charing Cross Road (which is the address of the bookstore) is a wonderful and genuine tale which cannot fail to touch the heart of everyone who sees it.  Powers’s performance is simply one of the best you’re likely to see anywhere on any stage – her American forwardness boarders on brash without ever being crass and underneath, her gentle ribbing of the rather straight-laced Frank Doel belies a growing love for him and all things English.  In return, Francis portrays Doel as the consummate early 20^th Century Englishman – proper, polite and purposeful and yet, over time he too grows to love his American ‘cousin’, relaxing his formality and replacing it with warmth and affection.

The set, designed by Norman Coates is a perfect example of the craft at its very best – split between Hanff’s Brooklyn Brownstone apartment and the London bookstore, you can’t help but feel you’re stepping between two different worlds, and with clever use of highlights, the attention of the audience is gently shifted between the two leads as they take turns to write and read their correspondences.

Cleverly aided by live music, the bookshop staff all play their part in creating a happy workplace vibe as we are taken by the hand through the seasons and milestones – Christmases (for which Hanff sends the store food parcel gifts with such delicacies as eggs and ham), Easter, New Years are all shared with the audience – as are the end of rationing, staff leaving to start families, sad demises and happy coronations. 

What sets this story apart from so many others is Hanffs searching for, and Doel’s locating of the rare books – names such as John Donne, Samuel Pepys, Chaucer, Jane Austin, Izaak Walton and Virginia Woolf evoke such passions and desires for holding their physical works which, in the current day are all too often substituted for electronic versions on a tablet.  What is even more impressive, is that this story is true – Helene Hanff did request all these books (and many more not listed in the story) and was genuinely in love with holding the physical copy.  Likewise, Frank Doel saw in a ‘well bound and clean’ book a piece of art to be enjoyed as much by looking at it as it was to be read.

If you plan to see only one play this year, make 84 Charing Cross Road your priority, if you fancy seeing more than one then go and see it again.

Dusty - The New Dusty Springfield Musical

Voted one of the last century’s most influential people in music, Dusty Springfield was and still is an icon of individuality, creativity and inclusivity.  Her hits spanned the world and remain as popular today as they did on first release, but behind the public façade is a life less well known, that is until now as a brand new show is about to tour which will peel back the layers and allow us to peek into the real life of the US and UK Halls of Fame inductee.

First, let’s be clear - this is not a jukebox musical like so many shows currently touring, some of which are, to coin a phrase, ‘just bobbins’ – this is a fully rounded play with a fiercely funny and emotionally charged script by BAFTA and Olivier nominated writer Jonathan Harvey.  Directed by Olivier Award-winner Maria Friedman and supported throughout by Dusty’s close friend, manager and authorised biographer Vicki Wickham this promises to be a super-charged trip through her life.  “Audiences will come out surprised at what a life she had, the challenges she faced and how she overcame them” said Wickham, the lady who first met Dusty in 1963 on the TV show Ready Steady Go!. 

Dusty has always had a huge following who love her style and music – to many she has become an empowering icon for them to follow but what is probably less known about her is that it was Dusty who introduced many of the black artists of the 60’s into UK mainstream TV – The Temptations, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder were all invited to perform on a special edition and was just one example of how Dusty wasn’t just against racism, she abhorred it (to the extent that she was barred from South Africa for refusing to play to a segregated audience).  A lady of principals far ahead of her time, her story still rings true today, in fact it is probably more relevant now than ever before.

With 16 UK Chart hits and 20 in the states, the challenge for writer Harvey was how to ensure the songs were woven into the thread of the story, not just shoe horned in “You don’t want it to feel like you do a scene, stop for a song, do the next scene…it has to feel organic” and it will be this approach that will undoubtedly set this show apart from all the other tribute/jukebox musicals.  Agreed by all the cast, Harvey has written a really visceral, raw script that is also very funny.  Dusty herself was a very funny lady and so there’s a lot of banter between her and her entourage of best friends, but he hasn’t shied away from showing the darker, less happy times too – times which may shock and surprise the casual fan and leave them more in awe at the challenges she had to overcome to be such the legend she is.

Of course, any show is only as good as it’s cast and for this Producers Eleanor Lloyd Productions in association with Tris Penna and Vicki Wickham have brought together Katherine Kingsley (Piaf, Singing in the Rain) as Dusty, Roberta Taylor (The Bill, Eastenders) as Dusty’s mom Kay and Rufus Hound (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as her manager Billings.  All three were visibly excited to be a part of this new production, with Rufus Hound explaining “in these current times it is brilliant to be a part of a show that celebrates powerful, successful women who achieved it in a time where male dominance was not only accepted, it was expected.  Dusty took charge in her own way and fought has hard as anyone to ensure she got what she needed to be the success she was and still is”

The recent press launch was hosted in the Arcane cocktail lounge in Manchester – a very intimate setting to introduce the stars, writer and director and gave Katherine an opportunity to show a glimpse of why she has been chosen to play Dusty.  As she admits, Dusty’s songs are instantly recognisable and so too is not only her voice, but her style of singing  - “This is not me trying to do a Dusty impression”, she explains “but trying to capture the essence and presence of an icon in such a way that it tells her story without fans being distracted by trying to compare like for like”.  “What was most surprising when researching Dusty, was how incredibly shy she was away from the public persona she created….I have immersed myself in her world…to show people what was really going on in her life” Treating all to a rendition of The Look of Love it was instantly clear why Katherine has been chosen – she exudes a sensuality which is hypnotic, mesmerising and yet strangely familiar and is certain to have audiences holding their breath.  Taking the tempo up a notch or ten and backed by Joelle Dyson and Micha Richardson, she then gave us possibly Dusty’s most famous “Son of a Preacher Man” in all its raw, gospel-driven power.

It goes without saying that fans of Dusty Springfield will be in raptures over this new production but its reach, its impact and, not to forget, its brilliant script and cast will mean this show will delight anyone who enjoys great music and wonderful acting.

Dusty – The New Dusty Springfield Musical opens on 

Saturday 23^rd June at Theatre Royal Bath 

Sheffield Lyceum (from July 10^th), 

Newcastle Theatre Royal (from July 17^th)  

The Lowry, Salford (from July 24^th).  

Website www.dustyspringfieldmusical.com or venue box offices for tickets and full list of showtimes.