Following on from the enormously successful productions of The Pirates of Penzance in September 2015 and Sweeney Todd in March 2016, Tyne Theatre Productions present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! this November. Funds raised will go towards the ongoing restoration of the unique Grade 1 listed Victorian opera house.
The production is directed by Enid Bilton-Gale, who has been associated with Tyne Theatre & Opera House for more than 20 years, while the musical director Jennifer Wagstaff has just recently joined the Tyne team. Being all-inclusive, Tyne Theatre
Productions happily mix new talents and old friends. This will be a grand production with a large cast and a live orchestra playing the original, full orchestration.
Some of the theatre’s volunteers have been involved for decades. For Oklahoma!, there’s even a whole family performing – Tyne Theatre pioneers Michael and Leigh Geddes and their children Francesca and Alex. Michael has played numerous male leads at the Tyne
Theatre, from Curly in a 1983 production of Oklahoma! to the Pirate King in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance last year. This time around Michael plays peddler Ali Hakim, while Leigh is playing the female lead role Laurey.
Leigh and Michael met on the set of My Fair Lady. Along came two children Alex and Francesca, completing the talented family. Michael, who has longed to introduce Leigh to his beloved Tyne Theatre, now has the whole family on stage. Alex, aged 10 and Francesca, aged 7, are excited about performing with the friendly Tyne Theatre ensemble – well experienced Tyne stalwarts, many wonderful new talents and, of course, Mum and Dad.
Tyne Theatre & Opera House has recently gone through many changes, with an independent operating company founded in 2015 to run the theatre. Together with the new independent business, the Preservation Trust who own the building have had the freedom to start developing and reviving the theatre to its former glory. Bringing the volunteer productions back has been one of the major improvements toward the community. While there is still much to be done, the first two years have given excellent results, and this would not be possible without the hard work of the volunteers and generosity of the public.
Tyne Theatre & Opera House will celebrate its 150 th year in 2017, which will be marked by many exciting new events and projects.
The production’s headline sponsor is Parkdean, the Gosforth-based holiday park operator.
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics & Book by Oscar Hammerstein II
Originally directed by Rouben Mamoulian
Original Dances by Agnes de Mille
Based on the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with R&H THEATRICALS.
Tickets for Oklahoma! are available now from: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
For press enquiries please contact Linsey Teggert at marketing@tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
For general enquries or further information about Tyne Theatre Productions, please contact Riikka Heiskanen at tynetheatreproductions@gmail.com
Twitter: @TyneTheatreProd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tyne-Theatre- Productions-687847351321243/?fref=ts
Tickets: £13 Full price, £10 Concessions, £8 Limited View (plus booking fees when booking online and over the phone)
The Tyne Theatre & Opera House Box Office is open 10am-3:30pm Monday to Friday and event days
Booking and Information Line: 0844 2491 000 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday)
More information at our Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
Facebook: Facebook.com/tynetheatreandoperahouse | Twitter: twitter.com/tyneoperahouse
Theatre Address: 109 – 119 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG