Alphabetti Theatre in association with Live Theatre and Crisis Skylight are delighted to announce the transfer to Live Theatre from Alphabetti Theatre of their 2019, Christmas hit Present written and directed by Ali Pritchard. Showing from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 21 December at the Newcastle Quayside venue, Present is a high octane, energetic festive production with live music.
Present, is written and directed by Ali Pritchard, best known for founding Alphabetti Theatre in 2012, which under his leadership has grown into one of the UK’s leading studio theatres. After twelve years at the helm, Ali has left Alphabetti to develop his artistic practice – in his place steps in the newly appointed Edward Cole.
World premiering in 2019 at Alphabetti Theatre, Present, was created in collaboration with Crisis Skylight. It is a funny and heartfelt production, with an incredible live soundtrack - that follows one man’s quest to buy his grandson a Christmas present. It was applauded by audiences and reviewers alike, with The Stage describing it as: “Beautifully written and powerfully performed, this alternative Christmas fable is packed with humour and heart.”
For this new iteration writer and director Pritchard has extended the script working with Tamsin Rees a stage and screen writer based in the North East of England. Tamsin's play Cheer Up Slug, premiered at Live Theatre in 2021 receiving a four-star review from The Guardian, and was published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.
Pritchard has become a leading figure in the UK's grassroots arts community, with a passion for accessible, joyful, and thought-provoking theatre. He is a visiting lecturer at a number of higher education institutes and is the founder and co-director of the Newcastle Fringe Festival, In 2023 he was recognized in The Stage's Top 100 Most Influential People in Theatre. He has won multiple awards for his creative work with his theatrical credits including Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers, Trolley Boy, and Nurse’s Station. Ali's work blends humour with poignant social themes, continually empowering both artists and audiences.
Malcolm Shields, who originally played the lead character Dave in the 2019 iteration, is returning to the production, as performer and choreographer. Notable theatre credits include One Off at Live Theatre, Floorboards and Trolley Boy at Alphabetti Theatre, Cinderella at the Citizen's Theatre, and When The Boat Comes In at the Customs House. His choreography has been featured in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Six Characters Looking For An Author, and Couldn’t Care Less. On screen, Malcolm has appeared in Outlander, We Hunt Together, and Taggart. His film work includes I Daniel Blake and Young Adam.
Malcolm is joined on stage by musician Ceitidh Mac, an alt folk singer and cellist known for her progressive sound and stunning voice. Blending contemporary arrangements with folk influences, she creates captivating songs that incorporate both live and electronic elements. Ceitidh has released several EPs, including I Reach for the Pen and Seabird. Ceitidh's previous theatre credits include rearrangement and compositions for Sucking Eggs by Steve Byron at Alphabetti Theatre in 2021. She won the Drake YolanDa Award 2022 and was Artist in Residence at The Glasshouse 2022/23.
Joining the creative team is freelance set and costume designer Molly Barrett. She aims to create work that is both elegant and playful and is always keen to explore narrative as well as the beauty in movement and mechanical function. Her work is increasingly focused on the links between science and art.
Molly has worked with a number of companies in and around the North East, including Alphabetti Theatre (where she is an associate artist), Northern Stage, Live Theatre, the Centre For Life, Seven Stories, Unfolding Theatre and Curious Monkey, as well as nationally with Wild Works, The World Famous, Nutmeg Puppets, SAW Trust and NORCA.
Crisis Skylight, Newcastle, is again collaborating on the production, providing opportunities for its members and highlighting the importance of philanthropy from the general public, during the winter months in a cold city like ours. Alongside the show, Live Theatre and the creative team have exciting initiatives planned for audiences to get involved in supporting the homeless community in our region and further details will be announced soon.
Ali explains: “Establishing a transfer route from a small-scale fringe theatre like Alphabetti to one of the leading new writing theatres in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio is thrilling for me as an artist and for the wider North East performing arts community. This is a brilliantly ambitious move by Live Theatre, following the commercial success of their co-production last year with Laurel’s, Gerry & Sewell, which has just played to sold out audiences at the Theatre Royal.”
Present, marks the beginning of Ali Pritchard's freelance journey as a creative, following one of the most exciting first acts in the North East performing arts scene over the past decade. Pritchard has been a trailblazer, transforming the region's artistic landscape and his eagerly awaited second act will unfold, with Present at Live Theatre in December 2024.
Present runs from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 21 December. For further information and to book tickets go to www.live.org.uk
Dates: Tue 3 – Sat 21 Dec 2024
Press and Guest Night: Thu 5 Dec
Running time: approx. 90mins including interval
Age Rating 15+
Content Warnings: Contains some themes and language that some audiences may find upsetting and distressing.
BSL Performance: Tue 10 Dec
Captioned and Audio Described Performance: Wed 11 Dec
