The Cultural Spring, an Arts Council funded initiative aimed at increasing participation in arts and culture on Wearside and South Tyneside, has commissioned four short pieces of theatre to tour small community venues in South Shields, Jarrow and Hebburn during March.
The four shows are Wee Red and Her Wolf, a tale inspired by Little Red Riding Hood written by Laura Lindow; Best in the World, a story of personal achievement told through the world of darts from Unfolding Theatre; The Annual (Inaugural) Walter Plinge Memorial Lecture, in which writer Eric MacLennan explores true – and not-so-true – stories from South Tyneside, and Becoming Scheherazade, a play by Kamaal Hussain incorporating some of the 1001 stories of the Arabian Nights with the real story of Arab immigration to Europe.
Cultural Spring Project Co-ordinator Emma Scarr explained the thinking behind the project.
“The idea,” she said, “is to introduce good quality, short shows into local communities, giving people of all ages an opportunity to see something different in venues in their own neighbourhoods.
“The idea is to offer lunch or tea before or after each of the performances and the shows will be timed around lunch or tea time to make it easier for people to attend.”
Wee Red and Her Wolf, a modern version for children aged 7 and over, will be touring from February 24 and venues will include Whitburn Parish Hall, the Scout Hut in Highfield Road in South Shields, Jarrow Hall and The Customs House. The show will start at 12 noon at each of the venues, and soup and sandwiches will be served after the 45-minute performance.
Best in the World will run during the week starting Monday, March 12. The one-man show, exploring what it means to be the best in the world and one man’s journey through the world of darts, will tour venues including South Shields Football Club ground, Whitburn and Marsden Social Club, The Customs House and The Red Hackle pub. The show recently completed a successful UK tour.
Eric MacLennan’s The Annual (Inaugural) Walter Plinge Memorial Lecture, a comic telling of the story of South Shields, will tour during the week starting April 16 at venues including Hebburn Library, Jarrow Hall and Age Concern South Tyneside in South Shields.
“Eric’s show is really quirky, something really different,” Scarr explained. “He’s been collecting stories and anecdotes around Shields and his lecture I’m sure will be really funny - if not entirely truthful,” explained Emma.
Becoming Scheherazade was performed at Summerhall during last year’s Edinburgh Fringe gaining 3 and 4 star reviews excellent reviews. It weaves the story of Sinbad the Sailor into his own family’s migration from Iraq to the UK and will be performed in The Customs House, South Shields Football Club, Jarrow Hall and another, yet-to-be-confirmed venue during the week of March 22 to 28.
Tickets for the shows, which will last no longer than two hours, including a meal, are available from The Customs House or the venues themselves. For more information on the shows, venues, and timings, go to the Cultural Spring’s website.
“The shows were chosen by a panel which included local community arts champions and representatives from the Cultural Spring,” Scarr added.