Worst Princess on Tour

Published: 14 September 2014
Reporter: Peter Lathan

The Worst Princess

New Writing North's production of The Worst Princess, for the under-7s, is to tour the north east and beyond throughout October.

Adapted by Carina Rodney from the children's book by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie, the play will tour to 40 community venues, libraries, village halls and schools throughout County Durham and beyond, as part of Durham Book Festival 2014.

The small-scale touring production features original live music, a picture book set designed by Andrew Stephenson and plenty of scope for children to join in with singing and dancing. The play is directed by Ruth Johnson and North East performers Rachel Gay and Jeremy Bradfield will join musicians from Sage Gateshead, Claire Tustin and Joe Johnston, on stage.

The running time is 50 minutes.

In a lonely tower, Princess Sue has waited one hundred years to be rescued by a loyal prince. But when he finally does arrive, the prince is not quite what she had in mind. With an equally disgruntled dragon by her side, Princess Sue sets out on a quest for fun and freedom in the land of storybooks.

"Princess Sue paid attention at Princess School and thinks life is going to be like a storybook," director Ruth Johnson said, "but when it comes to it, she realises that this is not the story for her.

"We want to celebrate lots of different ways to be who you want to be. If you want to be a princess, blooming brilliant, but if you want to be a dragon or a prince, that’s brilliant too. It doesn’t matter if you are the worst princess, it’s all about being the best possible you."

The production opens at Gateshead Old Town Hall on Monday 29 September at 1:30PM and then tours to:

  • 30 September, 10:30AM & 1:30PM
    Newcastle City Library
  • Wednesday 1 October, 10AM
    Chester-le-Street Library
  • Wednesday 1 October, 2PM
    Ferryhill Library
  • Thursday 2 October, 10AM
    Bowes Village Hall
    Booking in advance only on 01833 628357
  • Friday 3 October, 10AM & 2PM
    Blyth Central Children’s Centre
  • Saturday 4 October, 10AM
    Ashington Children’s Centre
  • Saturday 4 October, 2PM
    Whitley Bay Customer First Centre
  • Monday 6 October, 9.30AM
    Greenfield Community and Arts Centre
  • Monday 6 October, 2PM
    Bishop Auckland Town Hall
  • Tuesday 7 October, 10AM
    St Cuthbert’s Church, Peterlee
  • Tuesday 7 October, 2PM
    Jubilee Hall, West Rainton
  • Wednesday 8 October, 10AM
    Newton Aycliffe Library
  • Wednesday 8 October, 2PM
    Crook Library
  • Thursday 9 October, 10AM
    Haltwhistle Library
  • Thursday 9 October, 2PM
    Lanchester E.P. Primary School
  • Friday 10 October, 10AM
    Ebchester Primary School
  • Friday 10 October, 2PM
    Tow Law Community Centre
  • Sunday 12 October, 10:30AM
    Durham Book Festival: Durham Town Hall
  • Sunday 12 October, 2:30PM
    Dipton Community Centre
  • Wednesday 15 October, 10AM
    Peterlee Library
  • Wednesday 15 October, 2PM
    Seaham Library
  • Thursday 16 October, 10AM & 1:30PM
    Manchester Literature Festival:
    Beswick Library, M11 3DS, (10am)
    North City Library, M9 4AF, (1.30pm)
  • Saturday 18 October, 10AM
    Tanfield Lea Community Centre
  • Tuesday 21 October, 10AM
    St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook
  • Tuesday 21 October, 2:15PM
    Stanhope Barrington CE Primary School
  • Wednesday 22 October, 10AM & 1:30PM
    Hardwick Primary School
  • Thursday 23 October, 1:30PM
    Waterhouses Community Centre
    Tickets: Free (booking required on 07596 044238)
  • Friday 24 October, 10AM
    Cramlington Library
  • Saturday 25 October, 10:30AM
    Seven Stories, Newcastle
  • Saturday 25 October, 2.30P
    Pelton Community Centre
  • Monday 27 October, 10AM
    Crown Street Library, Darlington
  • Monday 27 October, 2PM
    The Witham, Barnard Castle
  • Tuesday 28 October, 1:30PM & 3:30PM
    Off the Shelf: Millennium Gallery, S1 2PP
  • Thursday 30 October, 10AM
    The Robin Todd Community Centre, DH6 2TH
  • Thursday 30 October, 2PM
    Trimdon Station Community Centre
  • Friday 31 October, 10AM
    Greenhills Community Centre
  • Friday 31 October, 3PM
    Frosterley Village Hall

*Some links, including Amazon, Stageplays.com, ATG Tickets, LOVEtheatre, BTG Tickets, Ticketmaster, The Ticket Factory, LW Theatres and QuayTickets, are affiliate links for which BTG may earn a small fee at no extra cost to the purchaser.

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