Festive theatre in Newcastle brings Northumbrian folk-music to New Year's Eve story
North East playwright Benjamin Storey's full length debut launches at Live Theatre
Last updated 8th Dec 2022
A North East playwright is ready for the festive season to begin at Newcastle's Live Theatre this evening - with his lockdown written show ready to hit the stage.
Wishes on the Wind is written by Benjamin Storey - and was developed through the theatre's playwrighting course, originally made through zoom meetings and designed for socially distanced acting.
But now, the show is getting the full length, on stage treatment - featuring Northumbrian style folk music created by writer Storey as well.
He tells us the play, which is set across 5 New Year's Eves, is about finding and losing connections, and trying not to self-sabotage, and features performances from North Shields born Caitlyn Barber and Luke Hammond, originally from Walker.
Ben explains it's amazing to get the chance to see the show come to life, with support from the North East Theatre scene;
"One thing I would say the North East really champions is nurturing stories and voices, and humour from the North East.
"When people from the North East see it - it's so refreshing and it brings it home a bit for us,
"So really I try to channel that into the play."
Ben's work on Wishes On The Wind was born through Live Theatre's talent development programme, and he explains how exciting it is to see local theatres supporting North East creatives and talent, to give them a foot in the door.
He tells us he hopes audiences will see themselves reflected in the show:
"I hope they see two people trying to do the best they can, but being very human, messing up - making bad decisions...
"I really hope they see a bit of themselves in the piece."
Wishes On The Wind runs from the 8th - 18th December at live Theatre, and features a short opening curtain raiser piece by Alison Scurfield called Secret Santa.
And for families - Live's children's show Wintry Tales is on until the 23rd of December, written by award winning playwright Rory Mullarkey, but based on workshops with classes of 7-11 year olds from schools in Gateshead, Newcastle and Sunderland.
Becky Morris, director of Wintry Tales said:
“Wintry Tales is a very unique production where the playwright Rory and the Children and Young Peoples team at Live have been working with St Mary’s RC Primary School in Sunderland, St Paul’s CE Primary School in Newcastle and Caedmon Primary School in Gateshead to generate ideas for our Christmas production and inspire Rory to write an original family Christmas show.
"Incorporating as many ideas from the young people as possible, using the Live Tales model and ethos of ‘saying yes’ to all of the children’s ideas with the focus on being original and creative… so yes its absolutely bonkers!!
"But also very beautiful at the same time. I’ve been working on this project from the very start and it's been such a wonderful way of working knowing that this family production has been created with young people.
"Everyone watching including the adults will be in for an absolute treat!!”