The Stagey Couple

Sunderland Empire, 16/02/2024

Grab your magic carpet or jump on the next Metro, Aladdin UK tour has made its way to Sunderland and is ready to take you to a Whole New World! Embarking on its first UK tour after a successful run in the West End, this show based on the 1992 Disney classic film of the same name follows the story of street urchin Aladdin who happens upon a magic lamp containing a genie who helps change his life forever. Read on for our five reasons to see Aladdin!

30/01/2024, Newcastle Theatre Royal

You know that if you cross your fingers and if you count from one to ten, Blood Brothers will tour again! Once again, the much loved GSCE drama curriculum staple is back out on another tour. With a cast of familiar faces and some new members, the show about two twins separated at birth and their opposing lives is loved by so many and has been for many years. We caught the tour relatively early on at Newcastle Theatre Royal. It’s a show we’ve seen quite a few times but can never resist coming back. Read on for our five reasons to see Blood Brothers on tour this year…

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 26/09/2023

What’s the buzz, tell us what’s-a happening? Jesus Christ Superstar is embarking on a UK Tour of the critically acclaimed Regents Park Open Air Theatre Production! Marking the first UK tour of this musical in 11 years since the 2012 arena tour, and the first in theatres across the country since 2004. This international hit musical, originally a concept album, tells the story of the final days and weeks of Jesus’ (Ian McIntosh) life, before his crucifixion in this sung-through rock opera. Read on for our 5 reasons to see Jesus Christ Superstar on its UK tour! (This post does contain minor spoilers, but you should be pretty familiar with this story!)

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 05/09/2023

Are ya ready kids?? We took a trip the pineapple under the sea to see the first UK tour of The SpongeBob Musical at its final stop in Newcastle Theatre Royal. Since the tv show aired in 1999, this simple sponge has captured the hearts of millions around the world, so imagine our excitement to see that we were getting a musical adaptation! With a classic feature-style storyline following our yellow hero SpongeBob (Lewis Cornay) saving Bikini Bottom with the help of his best friend Patrick Star (Irfan Damani) and companion Sandy Cheeks (Eloise Davies at this performance), this new musical promises all the elements to entertain the whole family. Read on for our five reasons to dive deep to Bikini Bottom and see The SpongeBob Musical!

Greetings and salutations, Heathers the Musical is back on another highly anticipated UK and Ireland tour! Based on the cult classic 1988 film and with a vast and growing following much like it’s source material, this darkly comedic musical has taken the world by storm with its infectious pop-rock score, sharp wit, and thought-provoking themes. Whether you’re a fan of the original film or new to the Heathers universe, read on for our five reasons why you should grab your tickets for this unmissable tour.

21/03/2023, Sunderland Empire

As the audience excitedly filled the auditorium last night an announcement was made, “Welcome to Sunderland Empire, the West End of the North East”. This statement couldn’t have felt more true at the press night of one of the most iconic musicals, ‘The Lion King’. Returning to the North East 9 years since it last toured here (which was our first show together!), there was an audible buzz in the air prior to the show starting.

This classic story is told with extravagant costumes and puppetry, following the story of Simba, the lion cub who is heir to the throne of Pride Rock. Full of all the familiar songs and set pieces from the 1994 animated film it is based on, this show has a legacy it fulfils. Read on for our 5 reasons to see ‘The Lion King’!

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 11/10/2022

Fresh from a world premiere performance in Cornwall, new show Fisherman’s Friends – The Musical is embarking on its first ever UK tour! Based on the 2019 film of the same name, this true story is about a group of fisherman from Port Issac, Cornwall who spend their Friday evenings singing together in a local pub until they are noticed by an unexpected music scout filled with promises he might not be able to keep.

We were invited to attend one of the first stops on the tour in Newcastle Theatre Royal where the show has dropped its anchor for a week. Read on for 5 reasons why you should see Fisherman’s Friends – The Musical…

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 26/07/2022

It’s time to get ready, even on this hot summer night, dust off that Harley Davidson jacket and don those Dr Marten boots as Bat Out Of Hell The Musical has roared into Newcastle on its first UK Tour! This critically acclaimed rock and roll jukebox musical set in a dystopian world tells the story of our stuck-in-time hero Strat (Glenn Adamson) who falls for Raven (Martha Kirby), the daughter of dictatorial leader Falco (Rob Fowler). The show, a cocktail of Romeo and Juliet, The Rocky Horror Show and Peter Pan is backed with a catalogue of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf songs to thrill the audience. Read on for our five reasons to see Bat Out Of Hell The Musical

Sunderland Empire, 01/06/2022

The show on everybody’s lips… it’s gonna be, Chicago! Stopping by at Sunderland Empire on the 2022 UK Tour of this hit musical, this tour has been hotly anticipated amidst celebrity stunt casting announcements and pull-outs (Gemma Collins who has recently had to resign from the show due to an injury after controversial response to her casting). Set in 1920’s Chicago during an age of prohibition and mob rule, this show focuses on the women of this era who have been jailed on suspicion of killing their lovers, husbands, or husband’s lovers! Our two leading ladies are Roxie Hart (played at this performance by Billie Hardy) and Velma Kelly (Djalenga Scott) both accused of murder but with the help of infamous lawyer Billy Flynn (Lee Mead) and some tricks up their sleeves to keep the papers interested, seek to prove their ‘innocence’.

Read on to find out our five reasons to see Chicago!

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 04/05/2022

Do-do-do-do! Get your umbrellas and find the closest lamppost, Singin’ In The Rain is back on another UK tour! We were kindly invited to see the show at Newcastle Theatre Royal and were so excited to experience it as we adore the 1952 film it is based on.

Set in 1927 Hollywood, the story follows co-stars of the silver screen Don Lockwood (Sam Lips) and Lina Lamont (Faye Tozer) adapting to a new age of cinema, talking pictures. Only Lamont’s voice isn’t best suited to this new era and too many people people don’t have the heart to tell her.

Read on for our five reasons to see Singin’ In The Rain…