Newcastle theatre sets the stage for more North East theatre talent
Northern Stage's new play is a new take on a classic novel - now set in the North East
Last updated 24th Jan 2022
It's time for more North Eastern actors to get their big break - that's the message from a Newcastle director.
Anna Girvan's directing a new - North East based - production of The Invisible Man at Newcastle's Northern Stage theatre.
The cast is made up of up and coming actors from around the North East - and Anna tells us it's not just the actors involved;
"More than anything, it's just been amazing getting to work with so many North Eastern talents, like from the writers to the actors, set designers, lighting designers...
"And getting to actually work in a theatre that I came to see shows in when I was tiny is a dream.
"It's not just bringing the show here, for Northern audiences, it feels like it's about being from the North East as much as anything
"So that's been a really exciting project, and a really important one."
The new adaptation of HG Well's classic novel is by Northumberland writer Phillip Correia, who also wrote HYEM, has been transposed into a North East setting.
Phillip is also passionate about giving young local talent a space to begin in the industry.
And we've had a behind the scenes look at the show - speaking with Anna, and sound designer Jeremy Bradfield, about the use of live Foley to create sound effects during the show.
Jeremy explains Foley was created back in the early days of film and cinema to make footsteps and sound effects help with what we see.
He says in cinema - if a Foley artist has done their job properly - it should be not seen, but invisible, but the theatre world has adopted it to become something which is seen and presented as part of the action.
Jeremy and Anna gave us a masterclass in producing sound effects - including things like balloons as fireworks, and flapping leather and rubber gloves to mimic birds flying.
Anna tells us the sound effects are a vital part of the show itself;
"Sound in itself is sort of invisible, but you can see the source of it - but then when we started exploring Foley in Radio as well - it's used quite a lot
"You'll be surprised by what actually makes the sounds you're hearing - much like when we think we see something, we know something - it's the same with hearing
"We think we're hearing something but discover we're hearing something else entirely so it just sort of flips on our head
"Making us think about our senses and maybe we should rethink how we perceive the world."
Jeremy agrees - saying the importance of the sounds can't be overlooked;
"I think it's really important to see sound as another layer of the story, and in a way as kind of a character when you hear repeated motifs and we begin to associate sounds with a character and their storyline
"All of it helps to conjure up this world, which we want to sit inside this little box."
The Invisible Man is on at Newcastle's Northern Stage theatre from the 1st to the 19th of February, before it tours.
You can find out more about the play and Northern Stage here, or via their Twitter.