Durham’s Gala Theatre has announced its first in-house production for 2020, Cathy by Ali Taylor, which was inspired by Ken Loach’s classic 1966 television drama Cathy Come Home and tells the story of Cathy and her teenage daughter, Danielle, who are forced out of their flat by spiralling living costs.
Written for Cardboard Citizens, a company whose aim is to work with and for the homeless and the otherwise disadvantaged to show the rest of society the plight of these people, the play has, since its first performance in 2016, been seen in theatres (including at the Edinburgh Fringe), prisons, hostels and even the House of Lords, exploring what a nowadays Cathy would look like and giving audiences a chance to see what has changed since the première of Loach’s film more than 50 years ago.
Cardboard Citizens’ production came to Northern Stage in January 2017, the one and only time it has been seen in the region.
“We are proud,” said Robin Byers, manager of Gala Theatre and Cinema, “to be producing Ali Taylor’s moving play Cathy at Gala Theatre. Cathy Come Home broke new ground when it was released, and this updated story remains a powerful and important statement about community and humanity.”
Cathy runs at the Gala from 5 to 9 May and tickets, costing between £10 and £16 with under-25 tickets at £5, are now on sale. The cast and creative team for the production will be announced later.