The full summer programme at the Customs House in South Shields, announced this week, includes two in-house world premières, My Uncle Freddie and When the Boat Comes In.
My Uncle Freddie, written by the author of the original BBC Radio 4 series Alex Ferguson, stars local actors Chris Connel (Uncle Freddie), Andrew Finnigan (Leckie), Georgia Nicholson, (Mam), Paul Dunn (Dad) and Jill Dellow (Aunt Bella). It will be directed by Gareth Hunter.
My Uncle Freddie runs from 17 to July 21.
The following month—from 15 to 25 August—the theatre presents the first stage version of the classic NE TV drama When the Boat Comes In. Adapted for the stage by Peter Mitchell, whose father James wrote the TV series, it was specially commissioned by The Customs House to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War and will be directed by Katy Weir. Casting will be announced later.
The theatre highlights of the season begin for one night only on 3 July with Woven Bones, a play by NE-based Laura Lindow and presented by Newcastle's Cap-a-Pie theatre company in partnership with Durham University. The play tells the story of human remains which were found in Durham in 2013, archaeologists discovered that they belonged to the Scottish Soldiers—prisoners of war from the 1650 Battle of Dunbar who were marched to Durham and imprisoned in the then-disused Cathedral and Castle.
From 24 to 26 July (11:00 and 2:00), panto favourites Arbuthnot and his dog Puddles return in Arbuthnot and Puddles’ Pirate Adventure. David John Hopper writes, directs and stars in this Customs House production
On 6 August in Daltons Suite, Hands On NE presents The Desert Queen, the story of NE heroine Gertrude Bell who climbed the Alps, crossed deserts, talked with Churchill and Lawrence of Arabia and became known as Khatun: Desert Queen. It stars Newcastle actor Philippa Wilson as Gertrude Bell, is directed by Washington-based Neil Armstrong and written by Sunderland playwright David Farne.
From 28 to 31 August (11:00 and 2:00 with an extra show at 6:00 on the final day), Once upon a Storytime is a show for under 10s—and anyone who dreams of adventure.
The summer is comedy time at the Customs House and the South Tyneside Comedy Festival returns for a third year from 27 July to 4 August, featuring, among others, such famous names as Gary Delaney, Lost Voice Guy, Jo Caufield, Angela Barnes, Johnny Vegas and Customs House regular Jason Cook.
And for the children, for just one performance at 2:00 on 4 August, Arbuthnot returns with his Super Silly Fun Game Show!.
Commenting on the season, Ray Spencer, Executive Director of The Customs House, said, “the word iconic is often overused, but this season has a fair smattering of icons and world premières.
“I hope people will attend in large numbers to celebrate work made by our own, about our own.”