Town Hall Theatre -Gatecrash review

Review of Gatecrash @ Hartlepool Town Hall

Review of Gatecrash @ Hartlepool Town Hall

We went to a theatre and thought we were going to watch a play. We were led through a door and spoke to a member of the crew and then we were handed a pair of wireless headphones.

This was my introduction to GATECRASH.

It was an interactive play. As soon as we entered the house we were part of the story.

The headphones were used to listen to different characters and follow their different conversations around the room.

The character I listened to was Sam, who was the main character and whose birthday we were supposed to be celebrating, however, Sam wasn’t happy!

I tried to listen more around Sam but I kept getting distracted by a loud, flirty and apparently drunk character called Jonno.

His idea of being at a party had been chatting up as many girls as possible. He was quite aggressive and full-on!

I thought I was going to be quiet and not take part but it didn’t turn out that way and everyone was involved in some way,

I was busy switching between conversations...Jonno with different female characters or Sam and Jazz having brother and sister arguments.

I thought it was unique, entertaining and energetic. It had more drama than an episode of Hollyoaks.

I definitely think that other people should go to take part in Sam’s house party if they get the chance.

-          By Naomi

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre hosts Sam's house party!

Review of ‘Gatecrash’

Monday 20^th October 2014  at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

I thought I was going to see a sit down theatre production. This was not the case!!

This was a unique, creative, action-packed experience!

Created by Zest Theatre; Gatecrash is about Sam’s house party and it kicks off by inviting you as a guest. You enter the set by knocking on Sam’s door and are given headsets.

The headsets allowed you to choose which characters conversations and storylines you listened to. For example; Sam’s hamster, two-timing arguments and everything that can go wrong when alcohol is at a house party and everyone is invited.

I was thrown in at the deep end as I was encouraged to participate in party games by the actors. There were lots of twists and turns and even a game of Twister!

I t was delivered in a realistic way- this could have been a real party!

Everyone around me was enjoying it. Zest Theatre says that theatre is meant to be accessible and excitable for young people. Judging by this show- they are succeeding.

If you get the chance and the show comes locally to you, you should definitely see this!

-          Steph

Times of our Lives preview

Young people’s private viewing of “Lives of our Time” photography exhibition

Friday 5^th September saw the opening of the brand new exhibition “Lives of our Times” at Hartlepool Art Gallery.

The exhibition which features the work of three female photographers and asks the question; “what is it like to be a teenage girl?”

Karen Robinson is a London based photographer who has worked all over the world on humanitarian projects for organisations such as Amnesty International as well as commercial work for Vogue, The times among others

http://www.karenrobinson.co.uk/projects.php

Her work in this exhibition; “All Dressed up” was commissioned by Side Gallery in Newcastle in 2006 and focuses on the lives of teenage girls in former mining villages of the North East. The photographs document the daily lives and highlights issues that the young women are facing, often as a result

Harriet currently studies at Cleveland College of Arts and Design. You can read more on her blog; http://harrietautonphotography.blogspot.co.uk/

Lucinda Grange’s exhibition “Everyone” portrays deeply personal stories by young women, their problems and how they have overcame them.

http://www.lucindagrange.com/

Also exhibited was an amazing installation of photography by young women from Throston Youth Centre who worked on their project alongside Lucinda Grange. Hung by wires across the walls, photographs and snapshots narrated the three month photography project and showed their personal and photographic journeys.

Young people helped organise and gave input for the private view. The lights were dimmed the DJ played and we opened the doors to over 90 people! 16 year old Aiden Stephenson provided the soundtrack to the evening with a mix of contemporary and classic House music.

Amazing cocktail were mixed and served from Mr Browne’s Vintage style temperance bar. Queues lined up for traditional tastes like Elder and Sarsaparilla to go with the buffet of pizza and fruit bowls.

Steph’s review of the event;

“I really enjoyed the evening- viewing the work in the exhibition, while eating pizza, enjoying the fabulous DJ, and trying the different varieties of cocktails. My idea is to tell schools and colleges to put any arts/cultural events on the log-on message on school computers, to persuade young teenagers to get involved with the arts and events like these.”
With special thanks to our amazing volunteers Ella, Josh and Steph!

The Ramona Flowers @ Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre welcomed the Ramona Flowers & Broken Symmetry to the town last month and what amazing bands!!

Young people from Red Dreams went along to review the gig...

 

Trench Art Project at Throston Youth Centre

Young People at Throston Youth Centre are the first to use Remembering Our War resource boxes.

Designed by Hartlepool Cultural Services, A Soldiers Life and The Home Front resource boxes provide a wealth of objects connected to the First World War inspiring curiosity and discussion for young people at Throston Youth Centre.

The group are the first to access the boxes and have been taking part in a Mail Art Project using Trench Art and local WWl heritage research, such as visiting the Heugh Gun Battery at the Headland and Beamish Museum.

Special Preview of "Lives of our Times" exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery

The Young Cultural Ambassador project is holding a special private viewing of “Lives of our Times” at Hartlepool Art Gallery for young people age 13-19

What’s it like to be a teenage girl?

“Lives of Our Times’ brings together Karen Robinson’s exhibition ‘ All Dressed Up’: The Lives of Teenage Girls in East Durham, a photography project by young women from Throston Youth Centre and local photographers Lucinda Grange and Harriett Auton. All showing a fascinating and honest portrayal of the lives of teenage girls and young women in the North East.

Music for the evening will be provided by an awesomely talented young DJ and food and drink is free and come in the shape of a temperance bar and pizzas!

The private view is open to young people 13-19 so RSVP to yca@hartlepool.gov.uk to make sure you secure a place and we’ll see you there.x