Canadian singer Melanie Gall returns to the North East for a short tour featuring two shows, one old and one new, produced by CaroleW Productions who introduced her to the region in March last year.
The returning show is Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret, a selection of the lost knitting songs of WWI and WWII from Canada, Britain, America and France, which she performed last year at the Cumberland Arms in Byker as part of the venue’s International Women’s Day celebrations. This year the show will be visit five venues:
- Queen's Hall, Hexham, on Tuesday 24 March 2020 at 7:30
- Lit & Phil, Newcastle, on Wednesday 25 March at 7:30
- Ushaw House, Chapels and Historic Gardens, on Friday 27 March at 2:30
- Alnwick Playhouse, Tuesday 31 March at 2:00
- Arts Centre Washington on Wednesday 1 April at 1:30
- The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Thursday 2 April at 7:30
The new show, which will be performed at the Lit & Phil on Thursday 26 March at 7:30 and at Ushaw on Friday 27 March at 7:30, is Ingenue: Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland and the Golden Age of Hollywood, the true story of the lifelong friendship—and rivalry—of two Hollywood idols.
Judy is an icon loved by generations as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. But in the 1930s, Deanna Durbin was a far bigger star. A favourite of Roosevelt, Churchill, even Mussolini, her first kiss was front page news. At 27, she disappeared to a life of obscurity in France.
“Carole has long told me about the North East audience and their legendary welcome,” Melanie Gill said. “Having visited the region last year and found this to be true, I was eager to come back and perform in some more of the wonderful theatres to be found housed within its historic buildings.”