A new touring production of Kay Mellor’s 1995 ITV hit series Band of Gold, which had 15m viewers a week, is coming to the North East in 2020 after premièring in Leeds later this year.
Kay Mellor OBE, who was born in Leeds, is a writer, director and actress best known for her work on several successful drama series, including Fat Friends, Band of Gold, The Syndicate and In the Club. She is also well known for her stage version of A Passionate Woman, which played in the West End and is still touring both nationally and internationally, and Fat Friends The Musical which premièred at Leeds Grand Theatre in November 2017 and was produced by Joshua Andrews. She most recently wrote and created Love, Lies & Records (BBC One, 2017), and wrote and directed Girlfriends (ITV, 2018). She was also the executive producer for Overshadowed (BBC Three).
The show will be produced by Joshua Andrews and Kay Mellor will direct.
The cast includes Gaynor Faye, (Emmerdale, Playing the Field, Calender Girls), Laurie Brett, (EastEnders, Waterloo Road, Les Miserables), Kieron Richardson, (Hollyoaks, Heatbeat), Shayne Ward, (Coronation Street, Rock of Ages, X Factor winner) and Sacha Parkinson (Mr Selfridge, The Mill).
After its première at Leeds Grand Theatre from 28 November to 14 December, Band of Gold will begin a nine-venue tour on 14 January 2020. Its one date in the North East will be at Darlington Hippodrome from 27 January to 1 February.