Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Preview: The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel @ Northern Stage

(Preview by Russell)

Next week (Tuesday 11- Saturday 15 February) two of the all-time great comedic film stars are coming to Newcastle. Cockney Charlie Chaplin and Cumbrian Stan Laurel will be treading the boards at Northern Stage to tell their story of setting sail for America, joining Fred Karno's troupe and finding fame and fortune as Hollywood stars. 

Chaplin and Laurel are, of course, long gone, however thanks to Told by an Idiot theatre company our famous duo will come alive at Barras Bridge just off Haymarket in Newcastle. Written and directed by Paul Hunter The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel is set to rekindle fond childhood memories of watching the genius of Mr Chaplin and Mr Laurel on the big screen and at home on tv. 

It's 1910, Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel leave Britain behind to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. What would become of them? We all know, don't we? Well, not quite! As Told by an Idiot readily concedes the company will be 'playing fast and loose with the facts'. Good, there's nothing like a yarn! This yarn is, by all accounts, a story of few words. Mime plays a part, as does music. And that's where Bebop Spoken Here becomes interested. 

Told by an Idiot commissioned a piano score from Mercury Award nominee Zoe Rahman. Pianist Rahman has given many memorable concert performances on Tyneside and although Ms Rahman won't be at Northern Stage in person her music will be heard during the production. Actor (and novelist) Sara Alexander will be playing on-stage piano having been coached by none other than Rahman. Expect some ragtime, some blues, expect mime, expect brilliant physical comedy from a four-strong cast.   

The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel has a running time of 1hr 30 mins. Performance times are 7:30pm each evening (Wednesday is a Relaxed Performance RP evening) with a Saturday matinee performance at 2:00pm. Tickets from £10. Contact the Northern Stage box office on 0191 230 5151 or visit: www.northernstage.co.uk 

The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel is a Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production with Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool.
Russell         
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