Page 23 - 366091 LP246228 NE Volume Magazine (170mm x 245mm 52pp) September 2022

COMEDY
Axel Blake will be at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre with his new show ‘In Style’ on Thursday 15th September, a fresh new set from the winner of the 2022 iteration of long-running TV staple, Britain’s Got Talent. This will be Blake’s first- ever national tour, a limited five-date run taking in cultural centres and big cities, with Newcastle very deservedly included as a bustling stop-off for touring UK comedians of all profiles. Naturally, Blake will be utilising these gigs as his latest springboard, while looking to carve a comedic niche independent of the extensive mainstream exposure achieved during this year and which has propelled him into the limelight and onto the road. This surrounds the tour with considerable intrigue for comedy radar-watchers. There will be no shortage of sneers and cynicism when it comes to the route Blake has taken to his breakthrough, which may not be the preferred method for all jobbing comedians. Nonetheless, appearing on Britain’s Got Talent is an acid test in and of itself, representing a high-intensity environment, appearing in front of a sometimes unforgiving crowd and a set of unpredictable judges whose choices and decisions are highly stylised. Less composed and self-assured acts than Blake would wilt under such lights, but on the contrary, he thrived, garnering the show’s Golden Buzzer and progressing on to eventually win the contest. Many will not realise that Blake has spent years pursuing the dream of stand-up comedy which has now become a sudden reality for him. That stop-start story of learning the craft and developing confidence in performing it are clearly evidenced when watching Blake’s TV appearances, where he immediately comes across as extremely likeable and effortlessly charismatic. This is before delving into the comedy material itself, which is delivered with aplomb and comfort which can only come with experience; the necessary comic timing and pacing are immediately evident among the observational material, which doesn’t threaten or indeed look to reinvent the wheel but is packed with wit and charm. Blake’s is a great narrative which is hopefully only just starting. Harnessing the potential reach of concise snippets and short sets in the social media age is critical for any budding performer, and this is precisely what Blake has seized the opportunity to do on a grand scale. ‘In Style’ will provide a much finer chance to forge a clear identity and win over comedy fans as a touring entity, the next step on the journey. MICHAEL JOHNSON
Tickets: £21.00 Advance | Visit: tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
STAGE
Newcastle’s Live Theatre will share and celebrate the narrative of the contemporary lived experience of the North East, whilst also showing how the world ahead of us could be reimagined, under new project, ‘Your Voice, Your Future: North East’. From Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th September, the theatre will invite a number of writers and theatre artists from across the region to come together to share their stories and allow their voices to be heard. Audiences will have the chance to experience a collection of 10-minute short plays that have been crafted by unique and new talents that have not yet experienced a professional performance at the Live Theatre. Each creative stems from its author who has taken their story and their vision and now has the opportunity to bring it to life. Your Voice, Your Future will tackle questions such as: What future do we want for ourselves? How might our world be reimagined? And is hope really possible? GEORGINA SHINE
Tickets: £6.00 Advance | Visit: live.org.uk
normalising this relationship in a narrative where it's almost 'natural', which just continues the same old power dynamics and kind of stutters and stops any action change things - so it's a kind of stutter. You have to say it twice and you have to say it quiet and loud, like a run up to address POWER, a practice, the praxis of addressing power, both quietly and indirectly or directly or more forcefully.” Brand new this year is a mini MAW programme especially created to engage curious mini artists, and to get them exploring town and creating. LEE ALLCOCK
Visit: middlesbroughartweekender.com
YOUR VOICE YOUR FUTURE:
AT LIVE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE
AXEL BLAKE
AT TYNE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE
CULTURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 23