If lively independent theatre, music and comedy is your cup of tea, then you need to get yourself down to the Alphabetti Theatre this freshers’ week.
The cosy little venue may be small but it’s packed with character and good old local Geordie talent. Situated on St James Boulevard – only a stone’s throw away from the stadium – it’s got a relaxed vibe, with on-site café-bar and a black box style theatre space. Make sure to look out for the resident dog, Rex, for some pre-show cuddles!
The one uniting factor of Alphabetti productions are their homegrown, experimental feel. In their own words, “we strive to make theatre that is relatable and accessible to all, and are constantly looking for new ways to challenge ourselves, physically, mentally and conceptually – we believe that by challenging ourselves we inevitably challenge the audience, creating engaging and original experiences.”
You only need to take a quick glance at their programme to see this mission statement in action – from gothic puppet shows to competitive improv comedy, there’s a clear desire to create original, think-outside-the-box theatre.
This freshers’ week is the perfect opportunity to dip your toes into Alphabetti Theatre and see what they’re all about. Catch “Bost-Uni Plues” from the 24-26 September, an award-winning show following three clowns as they finish university and jump into the real world, with real jobs and real responsibilities. Expect slapstick humour, honesty and plain silliness.
If improv comedy is more up your alley, then you need to get yourself to Rat Race on Saturday 28 September. This improv comedy game show promises heavy audience participation, songs, sketches and jokes – performers must improvise based on audience suggestions, competing to win the favour of the crowd. And of course there’s a voting system, meaning it’s guaranteed to get pretty brutal.
If you give it a go in freshers’ and you find that you want more, then there’s plenty on throughout October to keep you happy. Cabaret of Curiosity is where creepy puppetry, comedy and magic meet. You can meet the one-eyed host Count Ocular and his friends on 1-3 October, where his weird and wonderful puppets are sure to leave you unsettles and amazed. And on 5 October you can see “A Nineteenth Comedy Night That Passes the Bechedel” Test’, a stand-up night of laughter by comedy duo Lauren Stone and Liberty Hodes.
Visiting The Alphabetti Theatre will not only guarrantee you an entertaining evening, it will also allow you to support independent actors, comics and musicians. What’s not to love?
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