The Offing, a new adaptation by Janice Okoh of Benjamin Myers's best-selling novel, comes to Live Theatre, Newcastle and Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre this autumn in a co-production between the two theatres.
It tells the coming-of-age story of 16-year-old Robert Appleyard who, in a Britain still reeling from the Second World War, sets out on an adventure: to walk from his home in Durham to Scarborough, where he hopes to find work.
But he never gets there. Just up the coast at Robin Hood's Bay, a chance encounter with the bohemian and eccentric Dulcie Piper leads to a lifelong friendship that will come to define them both. She introduces him to the joys of good food and wine, of art and literature and he helps her lay to rest a ghost from the past.
It's directed by Paul Robinson, the SJT's Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive, with music and sound by Ana Silvera, design by Helen Goddard, lighting design by Sally Ferguson and movement by Charlotte Broom.
The cast is James Gladdon (Skeletons in Cullercoats for 5 Plays of Christmas at Live Theatre) as Robert, Cate Hamer as Dulcie and Ingvild Lakou as Romy. The recorded music is performed by Ana Silvera (vocals, keyboards), Rob Harbron (concertina), Aidan O'Rourke (fiddle).
The Offing can be seen in The Round at the SJT from 14 to 30 October and at Live Theatre in Newcastle from 3 to 27 November. It follows two previous successful co-productions between the two venues, Geordie Sinatra (2012) and Goth Weekend (2017).