Category Archives: Tour

Ricky Ross at the Sage, Gateshead

Posted on April 26, 2013 by andybramfitt

Following announcement of the largest Deacon Blue tour in over a decade, frontman Ricky Ross has also added his own, intimate & personal tour to the 2013 agenda.  Taking both Deacon Blue standards and Ricky’s solo work, the playlist is … Continue reading →

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Ricky Ross Untold Stories Tour at the Sage – Tuesday 23rd

Posted on April 21, 2013 by andybramfitt

Best known as the frontman for 80′s band Deacon Blue, Ricky is back on a solo tour this year and bringing with him not just the Deacon Blue hits, but also his own material in what I am sure will … Continue reading →

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The Importance of Being Earnest

Posted on April 17, 2013 by andybramfitt

  A wonderfully witty and erudite play from the master of clever words Set over 3 acts, The Importance of Being Earnest avoids delving into serious social and political issues and instead focusses on the light hearted shannigans of two … Continue reading →

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Coming to Darlington Civic This Week

Posted on February 16, 2013 by andybramfitt

What a real variety of fantastic theatre experience we have this week at Darlington Civic – Tuesday I will be enjoying the wonderfully witty and cleverly concise works of Gilbert & Sullivan (abridged). Whether you are a Gilbert and Sullivan … Continue reading →

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The Woman In Black – truly frightening

Posted on February 5, 2013 by andybramfitt

  With the current trend for immediate visual gratification, be it in the movies, online or via ultra-realistic video games, good old fashioned ghost stories are often thought of as relics of days gone-by;  the telling of tales around a log … Continue reading →

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Haunting Julia at Darlington Civic

Posted on November 28, 2012 by andybramfitt

Winter is a traditional time for ghost stories; the dark nights, howling winds, driving rain all create an atmosphere of doom and despair which the best Gothic writers manage to draw into their tales of apparitions and unsettled souls.  Billed … Continue reading →

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Soul Sister – Simply the Best

Posted on November 20, 2012 by andybramfitt

  Like many people born in the 70′s I didn’t really know a lot about Tina Turner until she hit the charts in 1983 with “Lets stay together”, quickly followed by “What’s love got to do with it” and, later, … Continue reading →

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Bouncers – A Top Night Out

Posted on November 15, 2012 by andybramfitt

  Take 4 actors, already brilliant in their own careers and add to them the witty, insightful and hilarious writing of one of this country’s best playwrights and what do you get – one of the funniest shows seen at Darlington … Continue reading →

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Blood Brothers at Darlington Civic

Posted on November 8, 2012 by andybramfitt

First things first – apart from watching Becca’s school drama abridged version of this modern masterpiece reviewed previously I have never seen Blood Brothers.  Sure, I know the story and, having ran lines with my eldest for 3 months, I had a … Continue reading →

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Joseph and his Dream Coat at Darlington Civic

Posted on September 19, 2012 by andybramfitt

  One of the worlds best known and most loved muscial shows is back at Darlington Civic this week and, despite it being an incredible 44 years since first performed it shows no signs of getting old or going stale. Everyone knows … Continue reading →

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This Wednesday – Rick Wakeman at Darlington Civic

Posted on September 10, 2012 by andybramfitt

For any fan of music, be it pop, rock or progressive ‘what the *** is this’ greatness, there is no one who even gets close to Rick Wakeman’s style, influence and importance.  Rick has been behind some of the last … Continue reading →

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Preston Hall, A Step Back in Time

Posted on September 7, 2012 by andybramfitt

As a childminder, my wife is always looking for somewhere different to take her little ‘charges’.  Living in Darlington, she has exhausted the local parks, is very familiar with the riverbank walks and has probably fed almost every duck in … Continue reading →

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42nd Street @ Sunderland Empire

Posted on July 18, 2012 by andybramfitt

  The ultimate toe-tapping show in town Based on a film of the same name which has become synonymous with lavish musical numbers choreographed by Busby Berkeley, it was always going to be interesting to see how a cast of hundreds … Continue reading →

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Beyond the Barricade – The Ultimate Musical Show

Posted on June 14, 2012 by andybramfitt

Give yourself over to absolute pleasure Nostalgia always seems to make the past look better than the present; the summers were warmer, the roads quieter, petrol cheaper, wagon wheels (much) bigger so in this cold, wet June I had a real need … Continue reading →

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Cirque du Ciel ShangHi – simply amazing

Posted on June 1, 2012 by andybramfitt

Last night we all went to Darlington’s Civic theatre to watch what was the most amazing, awe-inspiring display of skill, strength and ability we’ve seen this year.  In the year of the London Olympics, it seemed very fitting that we witnessed just … Continue reading →

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Cirque Du Ciel at Darlington Civic – On 31st May to 2nd June

Posted on May 31, 2012 by andybramfitt

The highly-awaited and internationally acclaimed production of ShangHi by Cirque du Ciel returns to the UK, by overwhelming popular demand.  With more than 30 amazingly multi-talented and highly-skilled performers, this marvellous two-hour extravaganza combines acrobatics, modern dance, martial arts, original … Continue reading →

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Dancing Queen at Darlington Civic

Posted on May 24, 2012 by andybramfitt

Karaoke, Talent TV, Jive Bunny and Cruise Ships have a lot to answer for  Billed as a spectacular song & dance extravaganza, Dancing Queen struggles to define itself or even agree on what type of show it is.  Centred, as the title … Continue reading →

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Raining Men at Consett Empire

Posted on May 10, 2012 by andybramfitt

It’s Raining Men – Hallelujah Since The Full Monty there have been many attempts to recreate the earthy realism, coupled with real humour and an insight into the lengths people will go to earn a few extra pounds.  The boom … Continue reading →

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Yes, Prime Minister

Posted on May 10, 2012 by andybramfitt

The new Whitehall Farce, at Checkers  This updated version of Yes, Prime Minster, written by the original creators Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn brings a non-party specific view of life behind the scenes for the Prime Minister, Jim Hacker and … Continue reading →

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South Pacific at Sunderland Empire

Posted on May 4, 2012 by andybramfitt

  The South Pacific – A vast expanse of emptiness dotted with little island gems The world was a very different place when Rodgers and Hammerstein created South Pacific.  It was larger, less travelled and as such, more mysterious.  Peoples’ … Continue reading →

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Anne Boleyn at Darlington Civic

Posted on April 18, 2012 by andybramfitt

  If only history had been this much fun when I was at school ! I didn’t really get history when I was at school, either because of the way it was taught or because I remember most of my … Continue reading →

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The Most Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Posted on April 13, 2012 by andybramfitt

Who says Pantomime is just a Christmas thing ?  The tried and tested formula of songs, jokes, slapstick humour and well known stories is so often mothballed from Jan to Nov because tradition dictates that Pantomimes are not for all … Continue reading →

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Chicago at Sunderland Empire

Posted on March 27, 2012 by andybramfitt

  Most people have heard of, or seen, Chicago – for many it was the 2002 movie starring Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones that brought them to the delights of Matron Mama Morton and her death row divas but … Continue reading →

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My first time at Burlesque and I loved it

Posted on March 17, 2012 by andybramfitt

Wow – what a night, how can I have missed out on this for so long? Last year I was very lucky to go and see DrumChasers and those who read the review will remember I thought I had seen … Continue reading →

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Swallows and Amazons Forever

Posted on March 6, 2012 by andybramfitt

  A wonderful exercise in imagineering which every child should be encouraged to try. There have been some amazing developments in cinematography recently – high definition, IMAX, 3D – not to mention the fantastical CGI demonstrated in films such as … Continue reading →

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On Golden Pond at Darlington Civic

Posted on March 2, 2012 by andybramfitt

A heart-warming, genuine and sincere look at the autumn of life  It’s not very often that a play comes along for which I have no pre-conceived ideas.  Even less so when the story, and the film, has received such plaudits … Continue reading →

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Save the Last Dance for Me at Darlington Civic

Posted on February 21, 2012 by andybramfitt

The music loving populous of Darlington have been very well treated recently, with David Essex last week and now a trip back into the sugar coated, popcorn smelling jukebox musical of the early 1960’s.  This latest offering from the Director … Continue reading →

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The Only Way is Essex, David Essex

Posted on February 15, 2012 by andybramfitt

The original TOWIE factor in Darlington   I was too young to really be a part of the original David Essex fan club (honest) – I know of his hits from radio play rather than fandom, I am aware of his … Continue reading →

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Cinderella at Darlington Civic

Posted on December 7, 2011 by andybramfitt

It’s panto time and as befits the age old tradition, Darlington Civic have once again produced a classic, fun-packed evening for the whole family.  This years festive frolic is Cinderella, and whilst the story stays true to the tried & … Continue reading →

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The Holly and The Ivy

Posted on November 22, 2011 by andybramfitt

  It’s Christmas Eve 1947, towards teatime with a log fire burning in the grate, snow in the sky and Holly & Ivy decorating the walls.  The scene is set for the latest play from the Middle Ground Theatre Company … Continue reading →

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Sister Act – Superior or just habit forming ?

Posted on November 17, 2011 by andybramfitt

We all know the Whoopi Goldberg film about a Reno lounge singer trying to make it big by singing at the local gangsters club only to witness him ‘offing’ a snitch and having to go into protective custody as a … Continue reading →

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The Glee Club at Darlington Civic

Posted on November 15, 2011 by andybramfitt

“It started out as a few drinking buddies singing songs round a pub piano, it became one of the most respected and professional outfits doing the club circuit across the north of England” – and so The Glee Singers, and … Continue reading →

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Mr Stink proves the art of storytelling is still alive

Posted on November 8, 2011 by andybramfitt

When I was growing up I loved to read; a good story could keep me rivetted for days and I loved classics such as Watership Down, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Swallows & Amazons and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.  As I … Continue reading →

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Buddy Returns – the Buddy Holly Story at Darlington Civic

Posted on October 17, 2011 by andybramfitt

I have a lot to thank my Mum & Dad for; my sense of what is right & wrong, a confidence in the kitchen to try new tastes and a great appreciation of all types of music.  It’s true that our choices in music … Continue reading →

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Oh so sweet FA – Fascinating Aida and the Cheap Flights Tour

Posted on September 26, 2011 by andybramfitt

Sunday nights have always been a bit of a bore to me.  First it was the bath & early night before school, then the lull after a fun weekend before the drudgery of work, and finally the end of Super … Continue reading →

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Strange things are afoot at Psychic and Science

Posted on September 25, 2011 by andybramfitt

I love scary movies, ghost stories and tales of the supernatural; Japanese films like Ju-On, The Grudge and Ringu with their basis on spirit, vengeance and unfinished business are my staple fayre for a Saturday night.  Likewise local tales of the unexplained grab … Continue reading →

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Na na na na Batman !!

Posted on August 1, 2011 by andybramfitt

My friend & I took his 8 year old son to see Batman Live at the Metro Arena and whilst us adults had a good evening, it was more geared up for the children, the show even started at 7pm so … Continue reading →

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Behind the scenes at BBC Newcastle

Posted on July 17, 2011 by andybramfitt

For most of my life BBC North East has been the thread with which my day has been woven; BBC Radio Newcastle breakfast bulletins during the snowy days hoping that the school would be closed, the “It’s a Goal Show” on a Saturday … Continue reading →

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