Member Article

Caffè Vivo head chef helps Victoria to cook with Elvis

Actor Victoria Bewick has taken cookery lessons from Caffè Vivo head chef Glen Robson to help her cook on stage as part of her role in Live Theatre’s forthcoming production of Cooking with Elvis.

Victoria, originally from Gateshead and trained at Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre, is cast as food obsessed Jill who cooks as part of the play.

Early morning cooking lessons in Caffè Vivo’s kitchen, located within Live Theatre, had Glen teaching Victoria how to chop and cook vegetables like a professional chef.

Victoria who has previously starred in The Iron Lady film and on TV in Call The Midwife and Young Dracula, said:

“This is one of my first stage roles since graduating and I am delighted that it is back in Newcastle at Live Theatre. I have never had to cook as part of a role before, so the lesson from Glen gave me the confidence to chop vegetables like a professional chef whilst being able to deliver my lines.”

Glen added: “Victoria was something of a natural, looking very comfortable with a knife; I gave her some tips and advice on how to look like a pro while on stage. It was a pleasure to help and further strengthens the creative links between the restaurant, our nearby pub and Live Theatre.”

Cooking with Elvis written by Lee Hall and directed by Max Roberts opens at Live Theatre on Thursday 17 October and runs until Saturday 23 November 2013. This hugely popular play premiered at Live Theatre 15 years ago to great acclaim and has been subsequently performed all over the world. Cooking with Elvis has been revived in a brand new production as part of Live Theatre’s 40th birthday celebrations. Live Theatre’s 40th anniversary year is in partnership with Port of Tyne.

When an amateur Elvis impersonator is paralysed in a car crash, his wife and daughter are forced to cope with the aftermath. Jill tries to replace him by cooking. Mam tries to replace him with sex. Unfortunately they both try their talents out on the same man.

Part knock about, part farce, part cookery course, part philosophical investigation, Cooking with Elvis is a homage to the King of over-consumption and a heartfelt exploration of loss and longing. In this provocative and hilarious play tragedy rubs shoulders with a farcical love triangle, classic Elvis songs and the odd fry up.

Cooking with Elvis also stars Joe Caffrey, Riley Jones (who both starred in Live Theatre’s most recent production Wet House) and Tracy Whitwell (seen recently at Live Theatre in White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, Come to Where I’m From and NE1).

The Broad Chare have been Brewing with Elvis. Together with the Gundog Brewery team they have created ‘Hound Dog Ale’, in honour of the show. Even The Broad Chare chefs are getting in on the act and cooking up delicious ‘Hound Dogs’, pre or post theatre snacks worthy of ‘The King.’

Both Caffe Vivo and The Broad Chare, part of Terry Laybourne’s 21 Hospitality Group, are housed within Live Theatre. They each offer special pre and post theatre dining.

Cooking with Elvis takes to the stage from Thursday 17 October to Saturday 23 November. For more information or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact the box office on (0191) 232 1232.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Live Theatre .