Way out West (incorporating Way up North)

oh the horror, oh the humanity...

Welcome to Newcastle in freshers week, in a theatre that has barely re-opened after a four year closure and a major refit. Our Hotel is lurking in that philosophical chasm that exists between demolition and refurbishment; there are no phones, the lift (to our top floor rooms) is broken, and all the paint is missing from the walls. Back at the theatre, our crew are young, mainly inexperienced (read cheap), new to the venue and talk too much, they also possess boundless enthusiasm and still appear to enjoy their work.

My colleague was Chief LX (electrician) here in the 1870's and has been on a massive nostalgia trip ever since we arrived in town earlier in the week. So far, most of his favourite haunts have been demolished/turned into student pubs/or improved, however, we struck lucky with the Crown Pasada pub; a long narrow wedge shaped bar, it has to rank alongside the Vicky Bar in Glasgow as a great place for a drink. Among its minimal entertainment facilities it has an old valve record player on the bar and a pile of dodgy old LPs, customers are invited to play the records or bring their own.

We have brought two shows to the Northern Stage, and a small exhibition (to complete the set of performance areas). We were the first show in on Stage 2, and it was a wierd experience, trying to fit up while the house boys were grinding bits off the seating rostra and smacking things with sledge hammers. They all seemed curiously detached from the idea of putting on a show, a feeling that I have had since I got here. As has been said about so many new venues, it'll be nice when it's finished.

Tonight an overwhelming need for a pee (something to do with the local bars 'buy one get one free' policy on beer) drove me into the Eldon Square shopping centre, all I can say is that it is the most unpleasant shopping space I have ever been in, the architects, planner and operators should all be shot before they are tempted to commit the crime again. They have the biggest and best M&S I have ever seen, and apart from that and a John Lewis, it is chav city. The ceiling height is about seven foot, the lighting is bright and very artificial, signage is minimal and assumes that you know where you are. I shudder to think what it would be like for someone with a visual handicap.

Oh well, rant over, next week I am taking the blog to Rio for a dirty week, more reports then I guess.

posted by Lampy @ 9/28/2006 06:29:00 pm