Newcastle’s Live Theatre has announced the casting for Tyne, its play for the Festival of the North East 2013.
Tyne, which runs from 27th June to 30th July, is written by Michael Chaplin and dramatises stories from his book Tyne View, woven together with extracts from writers Tom Hadaway Julia Darling, Alan Plater and Sid Chaplin. Tyne is accompanied by live music and songs inspired by the river complied by musical director Kathryn Tickell, including new songs she has composed for the play using words from old maritime poems set to new tunes.
The cast is Zoe Lambert and Jane Holman who are both starring in Live Witness, Victoria Elliot (TV series Hebburn) and Phil Corbett (Looking for Buddy) who have both made regular appearances at the theatre. Appearing at Live for the first time are South Shields born actor George Irving (Holby City), Paul Dodds (Antigone, Timon of Athens at the National Theatre) and Newcastle born Assad Zaman making his theatrical debut.
The production is supported by Port of Tyne and Michael Chaplin is its writer-in-residence. He walked the tidal length of the Tyne with artist Birtley Aris, photographer Charles Bell and poet Christy Ducker in July 2011. Tyne draws many of its stories from the people they met on their journey and recorded in Tyne View, later published by the Port.