Chess
Fri 27 Aug - Sat 11 Sep
Prices: £12 - £37.50
the legendary west end and broadway musical comes to newcastle!
"I was enthralled from beginning to end..I could have sat there and watched it all again and again...incredible...the ultimate staging of Chess. If this production does not win a clutch of awards then there is something amiss. It has it all."
Gordon Barr, Evening Chronicle Read more
Lyrics by TIM RICE
Music by BJORN ULVAEUS and BENNY ANDERSSON
Directed and Choreographed by CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD
Musical Supervision and Orchestrations by SARAH TRAVIS
The Musical Event of the Year!
Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood directs an amazing company of actors and musicians in an extraordinary new staging of the classic musical CHESS. Written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, CHESS has one of the greatest musical theatre scores of all time including One Night In Bangkok, Pity The Child, Anthem, You And I and, of course, I Know Him So Well which became a number one hit for Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson.
Two of the world's greatest chess masters battle it out at the world chess championships but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Amidst political intrigue and international conspiracies, the American and the Russian fight to win the heart of Florence Vassy in a romantic triangle that mirrors the heightened passions of the Cold War all set to an explosive score by the composers of Mamma Mia and the lyricist of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.
Craig Revel Horwood has previously won huge critical acclaim for his thrilling productions of Boublil and Schönberg's Martin Guerre, Spend Spend Spend, Hot Mikado and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard which transferred to the West End. His regular collaborator, Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator Sarah Travis won the Tony Award for her work on the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd.
Click here to see what the audience thought!
THE RUSSIAN is played by Daniel Koek (West Side Story)
SVETLANA is played by Poppy Tierney (Aspects of Love, The Witches Of Eastwick and Mary Poppins)
WALTER is played by James Graeme (The Phantom of the Opera)
"An explosive, propulsive production...It's sure to be a big hit"
Mark Shenton, The Stage Read more
"Revel Horwood is the ideal candidate to direct this revival, adding smouldering sexuality to the cerebrally cool world of chess"
Viv Hardwick, The Northern Echo Read more
"Performances are excellent...I can't think of how the production could have been better" Barbara Hodgson, The Journal Read more
"The best rendition of 'Pity the Child' Ive ever heard. Fantastic...so different to any production I have seen of Chess, and to have its world premiere in such a beautiful theatre, well, it is amazing"
Sir Tim Rice Read more
"A masterpiece of musical theatre"
John Dixon, Whats On Stage Read more
"As you leave the theatre you will be humming the tunes and bear the broadest of smiles"
Seamus Doran, Euvue Read more
"sumptuous and spectacular... visually stunning and the perfomances are all first class. There's no doubt that it will have a very successful tour"
Peter Lathan, British Theatre Guide Read more
Make your move now and book for the must-see musical event of the year!
Post Show Talk: Tues 7 Sept
Please note: strobes/flash lighting, scenes of an adult nature, recommended 14+, strong language & parental guidance
Running time: 2 hrs 20 + 20 min interval
Please note that all ticket prices include a contribution to our heritage fund.
One of the best rock scores ever produced...!
Time Magazine