Win Charlie & Lola Goodies!

Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play is coming to Northern Stage in April.

At the same time Seven Stories are unveiling their latest exhibition, Green Drops and Moonsquirters: The UTTERLY Imaginative World of Lauren Child!

To celebrate all things Lauren Child, we’ve teamed up to host a completely fabulous competition. For your chance to win a family day ticket for Seven Stories, a family ticket for Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play at Northern Stage plus a selection of signed goodies, simply answer this question:

Lola is TOO absolutely small for…
a)School
b)The Zoo
c)The Circus

Send your answer, plus your name and age to info@sevenstories.org.uk . Please note all entries must include a parent/carer name, address and contact telephone number.Competition ends Friday 2 April at 5pm. The winner will be notified by Friday 9 April. Good luck!

Green Drops and Moonsquirters runs from 13 February – 1 September 2010. For more information go to www.sevenstories.org.uk

Peter Brook on Tonight's Culture Show

Director Peter Brook is interviewed on tonight's Culture Show about his new play 11 & 12, which is at Northern Stage in April. The show will only be seen in five UK venues so we're delighted that it is coming to Newcastle.

If you're reading this after Thur 4 Feb, you can see the show again at iplayer on the Culture Show here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t6c5

40 Profiles: Jane Hall, Development Manager

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

Next is Jane Hall, Development Manager

What does your job involve?

Raising funds to support Northern Stage’s ambitious programme of shows and participation projects.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I love the variety and the ability to manage my own time. Every day is different, I could be organising a big fundraising event, writing a sponsorship proposal, meeting a prospective supporter, or researching new sources of funding.
What is your favourite part of the theatre?

L20 and L21 (my children have their names on those seats).

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

Loads! Top three at the moment are the Annual Dinner, Oh What a Lovely War and the Summer Fete.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

I’ll take the cash please!

40 Profiles: John Disley, Front of House Manager

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

Next up is John Disley, Front of House Manager.

What does your job involve?

Ensuring that all the Front of House areas run as smoothly, efficiently and as safely as possible and that all our customers receive a warm welcome and get the most out of their visit to the theatre.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Meeting new audiences, seeing new performances.

What is your favourite part of the theatre?

The bar.

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

The vast and varied programme of work.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

Cake.

40 Profiles: Lucy Crimmens, Creative and Cultural Apprentice

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

Second is Lucy Crimmens, our first ever Sound, Light and Stage Creative & Cultural Apprentice.

What does your job involve?

I’m the first recipient of the Peter Green Award which honours our previous Production Manager and helps train up new theatre technicians through an apprenticeship. So I’m learning about all aspects of technical theatre; from lighting a show to laying floors

What is your favourite part of your job?

The people I work with and the experience I get from all the different companies and people I meet.

What is your favourite part of the theatre?

The dock [backstage (un)loading bay] in the summer. Anywhere warm in the winter.

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

Our production of Apples.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

Present – too many cakes makes Lucy a large lady!

40 Profiles: Jo Cundall, Participation and Programming Co-ordinator

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

First up is Jo Cundall, Participation and Programming Co-ordinator.

What does your job involve?

Organising things! Project management for some of the work we do in schools and community settings, and liaising with the programming team about all the work that is on offer for our stages. I also manage our creative residencies programme, and am working on our site specific stage adaptation of Richard Milward's Apples, as well as it's 8 week national tour.

What is your favourite part of your job?

It's fun and always changing. Friday night drinks in the bar are always a good craic, and we do the best Christmas parties. But in terms of work, I love that as a company we take such pride in our participatory work, and place it alongside our produced and presented work.

What is your favourite part of the theatre?

The sofas in the corner of the foyer, and the hidden doorway and blacked out No Smoking sign that is halfway up the wall of Stage 2 - it really reminds you of what happened when we did the big refurbishment.

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

Apples - both the site specific version at the Empire nightclub in Middlesborough, and it's (no doubt) triumphant return to the North East in our Stage 2 space in September.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

Present, every time. Unless the cake is made of cheese. Just to be clear, I mean Brie or Roquefort, not a cheesecake.

Burns Night: Ode To The Deep-Fried Mars Bar

Oh noble chocolate bar, deep-fried in batter
So beautifully laid upon yon platter
We bite yer crispy coat then sic a splatter
O gallus, gowden goo
That couldnae be mair sugary or fatter
Bursts inside wir mou’

Weel-named are ye for Mars, the god of war
For the gods up in the Galaxy did roar
And raized a Marathon o’ random-splore
And hurly-burly
When first ye came. Then cried for more:
Creme Egg and Curly-Wurly

But even thou, confectionary collision,
Has commentators treat ye wi’ derision
And mock the genius jock fae Stonie wi’ a vision
Syne he gat
Ye, we an artist’s eye and scientist’s precision,
Plunged deep i’ the fat

So speedily ye gained iconic status
But they said that it would just inflate us
Like the frying of the chipped potatoes
Or single fish
One mair reason to berate us
O’er this dainty dish

But doubters always find the doubting word
We cries o’ “heart-attacks!” and “arteries furred!”
This humble sweetie’s reputation’s slurred
Saying it makes Scots obese
Well, dinna gobble it whole like gannet-birds
Just hae a wee piece!

So let’s not spoil a joy wi’ daunted “Why?”
Ye’ve heard aboot it, why not have a try?
From North and South let’s hear yer voices cry
Baith near and far
Let’s drink a toast, wi’ glasses raised up high
Tae the deep-fried Mars bar

Tim Dalling

gallus: excellent
gowden: golden
raized: provoked, roused
random-splore: careless frolic, carousal
syne he gat: then he begot, conceived