Laurels Theatre launches ghostly new Christmas show
A Whitley Bay theatre is launching their alternative Christmas theatre next week - a supernatural story, set along the North East coast
Last updated 1st Dec 2023
Laurels theatre in Whitley bay is bringing a taste of the supernatural to the North East this Christmas - with their new show
The Watch House - based on the novel by North Shield's writer Robert Westall - is set along the Tyneside coast - centred around landmarks like Tynemouth Priory and the Volunteer lifeboat brigade's Watch House.
Adapted by Newcastle-raised Chris Foxon, of Papatango Theatre and directed by the company's artistic director George Turvey, the show is being produced by Laurels, and will run from 5 - 23 December 2023
Chris, who moved back to his native North East a couple of years ago, says: “We’re delighted to be working with Laurels on this exciting co-production and I think we’re going to do something really special with Robert Westall’s fantastic ghost story.
“The intimacy of the space at Laurels is really appealing because it will allow the audience to share the characters’ exposure to the danger and the unsettling presence at the heart of the story.”
Jamie Eastlake - the Artistic Director at Laurels says:
“We’re thrilled to be working with Papatango, one of the biggest and most exciting new writing theatre companies in the UK.
“The fact that Chris is from the region made it a perfect fit and the production is going to be a real showcase for North East talent across the board – starting with Robert Westall himself who deserves so much more attention and admiration. A Blue Plaque in North Shields isn’t enough!”
While the original novel takes place over a summer holiday in the late seventies, this production will be aptly set at Christmas time.
Supported by Arts Council England, the play is set in The Watch House – home of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade which was founded in 1864 in an attempt to mitigate the danger posed by the lethal Black Middens reef at the mouth of the Tyne.
Chris says: “The Life Brigade at Tynemouth was the country’s first coastguard. Westall’s story sees Anne finding messages left for her through the lighting and the dust and realising there is a ghostly presence there.
“Together with other local characters she meets, Anne tries to find out who the ghost is, what he needs and why he’s there, so there’s elements of a detective and mystery drama as well as the ghost story, which is a really compelling combination.”
Alongside the performances at Laurels Theatre, a programme of creative writing workshops and readings will take place at various locations including Whitley Bay Library, Seven Stories (The National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle, which has Robert Westall’s archive) and The Watch House itself in Tynemouth.
In addition, a collaboration between Papatango, Laurels and Northumberland company November Club has given newcomer Michael Byrne an opportunity to get his first taste of stage management, after he was selected following an open call-out for applications.
The decision to invest in training a new stage manager, providing them with in-depth mentoring from a professional culminating in their first full credit, was made to counter the lack of talent development opportunities and the shortfall in production skills in the region.
Michael said: “After working in venue management and marketing for the arts, this position represents a change in direction for my career that I've been hoping to make but have struggled to find a route for.
“The mentorship that November Club have sponsored, and this first professional credit sponsored by Papatango and Laurels, will allow me to develop key stage management skills and real-world experience under the guidance of a veteran professional."
The Watch House is on at Laurels in Whitley Bay from the 5th of December, until the 23rd.
You can find out more via the Laurels website.