Page 46 - 366091 LP246228 NE Volume Magazine (170mm x 245mm 52pp) September 2022

EVENT REVIEW
COMEDY REVIEW
JOSH BERRY
AT LIVE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE – 25/06/2022
NE VOLUME RATING 
Using a varied approach to his comedy, Radio Four and Edinburgh Fringe regular Josh Berry blasts straight into character- based social and political satire from the off during his two-half, two-character show. Sticking broadly with the themes of snobbery, political leaning and the North/South divide, Berry’s show is deliberately antagonistic, though always delivered with a ‘don’t take this too seriously’ knowing look in his eyes. Slightly hammed up in the second half with the introduction of character Rafe Hubris (perhaps a modem day ‘loadsamoney’ for those of a certain age) who allows Berry to wear a firmer, more protective mask, the show nevertheless lacks perhaps a wide enough breadth to maintain fairly similar comedic points across both halves; the social class remarks, in particular, feeling a little tired by the end. There are two characters, and separately they’re both funny, but working together, their material is too similar. DAMIANROBINSON
HARTLEPOOL WATERFRONT FESTIVAL
09 + 10/07/2022
NE VOLUME RATING 
Hartlepool Marina was bathed in sunshine for the two-day long Waterfront Festival as thousands of people enjoyed a jam-packed programme of open-air performances, immersive experiences and family activities. This year’s theme was ‘When the Boat Comes In’, exploring the themes of arrivals and departures a year before the town welcomes the world-famous Tall Ships. The heart of Hartlepool Marina was alive to the sounds of music, theatre and laughter as two stages and a series of performance areas played host to a packed programme of events. The impact of today’s throwaway society was at the heart of Highly Sprung’s show Castaway which had audiences looking skywards as performers dived, twisted and floated over 26 feet in the air. Using a unique gyroscopic flying machine, the show presented a brand-new approach to aerial theatre. Elsewhere, there was poetry from Tees Women Poets and Hartlepool Folk Festival presented a series of singers and groups. A partnership with Moving Parts Arts also saw a giant blue elephant named Elephant Rock (named after the rock stack that stood off the coast of Hartlepool Headland) move through the crowds. As well as events at the Marina, the festival was
also located at North Gare and the Town Hall Theatre. In the beautiful surroundings of the Town Hall Theatre, artist Luke Jerram showcased Gaia, a seven-metre wide globe created using detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, with the installation floating to enable audiences to enjoy a three-dimensional view. Young and old alike sat in the theatre seats or walked around the globe enjoying a chance to view our home in a completely new way. At North Gare, there was something strange happening among the dunes as Arts Company Tangled Feet brought their show Murmurations to the festival. Audiences joined tour guide Chloe on her first day in the job and things quickly start to go wrong. Someone’s trying to sneak some ashes into the sand dunes, two golfers are planning a business deal, there’s a protest to save the crabs and a couple are having a very public row. Chloe must keep it all on track. This unique production saw audiences experience the action on headphones as they met the range of characters along the route. It proved a massive hit, with every walk sold-out throughout the course of the two days. It was a perfect weekend to celebrate Hartlepool’s maritime history.
EMMA CHESWORTH
GIG REVIEW
HIS LORDSHIP
+ FERRIDAY FIREBALLS AT THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE – 10/07/2022
NE VOLUME RATING 
Kicking off tonight’s journey into rockabilly-meets-punk, openers Ferriday Fireballs do all they can to leave the stage with as much sweat on them as possible as they blaze through fine 50’s throwback rock ‘n’ roll. Standouts ‘We Came to Rock’ and ‘White Lightning’ provide a timely warm-up for the somehow even more energetic trio, His Lordship, who play rock ‘n’ roll with as much passion and commitment as you’re likely to see. Providing the sheer all-out-energy of early At The Drive-In, His Lordship fly into their set from the off, with ‘I live in the City’ and ‘Buzzkill’ both kicking with as many ‘50s guitar licks, duckwalks and edge as you can pack into 3-minute pop belters. A slower ‘Sleepwalk’ (complete with superb guitar chops) aside, The Lords play 50 minutes of the type of rock ‘n’ roll that makes you never want it to end. They leave dripping with sweat - and they’re exceptional. DAMIAN ROBINSON
46 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ GIG REVIEWS