Spine, which won a Fringe First, a Herald Angel and The Stage Award for Acting Excellence at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe, comes to Newcastle’s Live Theatre this month. It was described by the BTG’s Philip Fisher as “an outstanding piece of writing demonstrating a unique authorial voice” in his 5-star review.
Produced by Soho Theatre and Francesca Moody, the play, which is written by Clara Brennan and performed by Rosie Wyatt, will be at the Quayside venue on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 September as part of a 13-venue national tour.
Spine charts the explosive friendship between a ferocious wise-cracking teenager, Amy, and a mischievous activist pensioner Glenda who is hell-bent on leaving a political legacy for her community and saving Amy because, "there's nothing more terrifying than a teenager with something to say." In an era of political disillusionment and generational divides, has politics forgotten the people it represents? And what price do we put on knowledge? Amy is about to find out.
Gez Casey, Literary Manager at Live Theatre said, "we first staged the exciting 15-minute short of Spine at Live Theatre as part of Theatre Uncut in 2012. We are delighted to be bringing back the full-length version.
"Set against a background of damaging cuts and library closures, this fierce and fast-paced, heartfelt play is certain to resonate with local audiences following recent cuts to library opening hours in Newcastle and the current consultation on the future of libraries in Gateshead and Sunderland."