The Desert Queen, a new play about Washington-born Gertrude Bell (1868 – 1926), writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, cartographer and archaeologist in the Middle East, is to tour the region in July and August.
Written by David Farne, directed by Neil Armstrong and produced by Hands On NE, the play tells her true life story, how she led an adventurous life at a time when women were supposed to remain at home and focus on domestic affairs, and how she became known as Khatun: Desert Queen.
Phillippa Wilson, who appeared in the original 2007 Live Theatre production of The Pitmen Painters and the New York transfer, as well as TV work in Emmerdale and Heartbeat, is Gertrude Bell and joining her in the cast is Brian Lonsdale (also the original Pitmen Painters and most recently seen in My Romantic History, also at Live Theatre).
The production opens at Arts Centre Washington on 26 July before moving on to:
- The Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle (27 – 28 July, matinée on 28)
- The Winter Gardens, Sunderland (30 July)
- The Little Theatre, Cleadon (31 July)
- Fulwell Community Library, Sunderland (2 August)
- The Exchange, Tynemouth (3 and 4 August)
- City Theatre, Durham (5 August)
- The Customs House, South Shields (6 August @ 7:45)