Go Backstage at Newcastle Theatre Royal and Meet the Chief Exec
Living North's Arts Editor takes a tour of Newcastle Theatre Royal
It’s a drizzly Wednesday when I head up Grey Street to the stage door of Newcastle Theatre Royal and, as ever, the team are very busy. Backstage we dodge Madagascar props as the set for the musical adaptation is being built whilst, elsewhere in the building, Project A (an actor training company for 18–25-year-olds based in the theatre) are completing the last rehearsals for the final production of their course. The prestigious theatre is one of only nine Grade I-listed theatres in England and since opening in 1837 it has been a go-to for theatre-lovers nationwide. More than 400 performances took place on its stage in 2022 and 2023, and its programme continues to adapt to bring the best of the best shows and talent to our region.
It’s all this and more that attracted Marianne to take on the role of chief executive amidst a pandemic. Originally training as a dancer, Marianne has always worked in the creative sector and the unusual circumstances allowed her a good chance to reflect on the theatre’s opportunities and potential.
‘It’s a theatre with a brilliant reputation nationally and it’s what we call, in the theatre sector, one of the number one venues,’ she says, taking a seat in one of the dressing rooms. ‘It was the appeal of the opportunity to work in this venue [that drew me to the region], as well as this city. It’s got a good reputation in terms of its cultural infrastructure and its cultural offering, and working in a place that has that kind of opportunity is really important to me. And the spirit of the Geordies was really appealing. I wanted to live and work somewhere that has a personality – and this city does! The other thing was there’s so much that could be done. There’s so much opportunity for the city generally, the region generally, and for arts and culture – and I really wanted to be a part of that.’
Marianne describes Newcastle Theatre Royal as ‘iconic’. ‘When people think of Newcastle, they think of Grey Street and they think of the Theatre Royal at the top of it. The building was on a Newcastle United training strip in 2022… It’s a really special building and it’s got a really special history. We’re just curators of this space for a period of time. There were people before us, and people will come after. I mean this quite genuinely, the building is at the heart of the city but I think it has a place in the heart of the people who live here as well.’
Marianne’s passion for theatre is clear and she says it’s rewarding being able to bring people together in this way. ‘It’s a place where you can experience all sorts of different things, from laughing out loud, to being horrified, to having fun, and being moved. To do that with a community in one space, you don’t get that anywhere else (well, maybe football a little bit but not quite as varied),’ she laughs. ‘It’s rewarding in the difference it makes to people’s lives. I heard a story last week of a mum who brought her seven- or eight-year-old child to [see] Fantastically Great Women [Who Changed the World] which is a musical about iconic female figures in history. She said her daughter was so moved by it that she went home and drew a picture of the show with the slogan and took it into school. She’ll remember that moment forever, and that message about the empowerment of women was shared in a night out at the theatre. It’s those moments that really make a difference in people’s lives. It’s a really inclusive way of telling stories.’
From family shows and West End musicals to ballet, opera and equally important amateur productions, Newcastle Theatre Royal’s programme of productions is varied. That’s why so many different theatre-goers head through its doors. ‘We have a really good cultural ecology in this city and in the region, and each venue plays its part in that. We are the largest theatre in Newcastle so we bring large-scale, international and national shows to the stage. That’s our role,’ Marianne explains. ‘Our artistic remit is about bringing a breadth of these world-class shows [to Newcastle] so that people who live in the North East have the opportunity to see them. There should be no reason why anyone in this region should have to go to London or another city to see world-class theatre on stage.
‘Every performance is different and no one will ever see that [exact] show again. Those performers are performing for you personally and you’re experiencing the highs and the lows with them. I think that’s really special. You see that when audience members come out and they’re talking about the show and they disagree about it or they laugh about it – it bonds people. I think that’s really important for society and people’s well-being generally.’
Marianne says it’s impossible to say what the theatre’s most popular production might have been, but Newcastle Theatre Royal is proud to annually stage one of the longest running pantos in the UK. Oh yes it is! With Pinocchio smashing box office records last year, this year’s production, The Little Mermaid (26th November –12th January) sees the return of Joe McElderry and panto icon Danny Adams. ‘People feel the theatre is their theatre and that’s a beautiful thing and a lot of that comes from panto,’ she tells me. ‘It’s often people’s first experience [of theatre] and they often experience it with their family so it’s as special for audiences as it is for us.’
Every theatre faces challenges and Newcastle Theatre Royal is no exception, but Marianne remains optimistic about tackling them. These challenges include an increase in costs in today’s climate and, being a Grade I-listed building, Marianne and her team are also responsible for its upkeep, conservation and development including accessibility. The theatre also plays an important role in creating a pipeline for creative and cultural education so young people understand that there are viable, interesting and fulfilling careers in this sector. ‘It’s not just what you see on stage,’ says Marianne. ‘It’s about creating opportunities to train in those jobs, so we’re creating a pipeline for the next generation of theatre workers. It’s a challenge, but it’s an opportunity too!’
Project A, the theatre’s actor-training programme, is part of that opportunity. ‘We have up to 20 young people on a year-long programme where we teach the foundations of performing and acting,’ says Marianne. ‘The idea is that they can have that training here and they don’t have to move away, and either they move to vocational training or they go straight on to get agents and to start performing (and we’ve got an alumni who’ve done that). It’s really about giving people who can’t afford to go to another city an opportunity to train in ours.’ In addition, Marianne has been exploring potential partnerships to put stories from the North East on stage on a large-scale. ‘We had Wor Bella a few weeks ago and we’ve just announced Gerry & Sewell in October [2nd–5th],’ she says. ‘We’re this beautiful building in the middle of the city and I’d like more people to be here enjoying it more of the time.’
As a not-for-profit independent charity, everything Newcastle Theatre Royal does goes towards delivering these objectives, and in Marianne’s hands we’re confident that the theatre will remain a cultural force in our region for many more years to come.
If you could have any performer visit Newcastle Theatre Royal who would it be and why?
Robert Lepage, who is a performer, actor, director and filmmaker from Canada. He’s kind of like a founding father of modern theatre and really pushed it forward over the last three decades. I’ve seen him twice before in London and he’s so amazing. The way he directs, performs and writes is beautifully clever and I’d love to bring him here.
What is your favourite theatrical experience?
I see, normally, two shows a week. So I find that question really difficult because my views change as I see more. Right here, right now, today, the best thing I’ve seen recently is Starlight Express in London. That is produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Michael Harrison (and Michael hails from Newcastle and is a core supporter of this theatre and has a really good relationship with it). It was brilliant.
What’s your favourite place to eat in Newcastle?
Pani’s Cafe, our neighbour. I go there quite often for working lunches and pre-show meals. They’re great!
Where’s your favourite place to go in Newcastle (besides the theatre)?
Grainger Market. That is such a beautiful space, with the old Marks & Spencer stall. It’s Grade I-listed and has an historical significance too. It’s a real gem for the city – lots of cities have lost theirs.
What do you feel when you walk into the theatre?
I feel like I’m coming home. I feel that in most theatres actually. It’s a space that brings people together. It feels welcoming, safe and a good place to be.
Book tickets to your next night out at the theatre at theatreroyal.co.uk.
