Northumberland Theatre Company is once again set to fill venues across North Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and the Borders with their latest production, The Stars Look Down. With 26 performances throughout September and October, the successful group finish this eagerly awaited tour with a show in their home town of Amble at The Dovecote Centre.
The Stars Look Down is an adaptation of a classic novel by Alex Ferguson. A gritty but uplifting family saga, the play tells the story of a miner’s son fighting to get better wages and conditions for men working down the dangerous pit. His struggles see him falling in love, becoming a teacher and coping with the fallout from a huge pit disaster that kills many of the men he knows.
Director, Gillian Hambleton, says, “The pits are part of local history in the North East. They were incredibly dangerous places. Unfortunately, those in charge were often motivated by greed and had less concern for the safety of their workers than they should have.
“This is an uplifting play that leaves no doubt there’s nothing stronger than family and the bonds of love. Our cast have all worked incredibly hard so you can expect a rollercoaster ride of tragedy and triumph that transports the audience right to the coal face itself.”
This production is only the latest success story from the prolific Northumberland Theatre Company, a team renowned for choosing plays that speak directly to communities across our region. NTC has commissioned twenty world premieres since the year 2010. In the last eight years, more than 43,000 people have seen one of their performances.
Described as ‘one of the very best small theatre companies in the country’ by Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, NTC was formed back in 1979. In the early days, the company was known as Theatre in Northumberland Schools and was funded by the Education Authority. Then, in the early 1980s, Northern Arts offered them revenue to extend to provide performances in village halls and other rural locations. This led to a move to Alnwick Playhouse in 1984 and, ultimately, their new home in The Dovecote Centre, Amble.
Gillian Hambleton from NTC says, “Our roots are firmly within local communities and rural locations where residents may find it difficult to travel to traditional theatres. Our artistic policy is to provide professional, touring theatre of the highest quality. As such, we work hard to select productions we know will really speak to our audiences. The Stars Look Down is so relevant to our area. It really shows how hard working in the pit was, something that many North East families know all too well. But, what could be quite a dark story, transforms into a demonstration of just how tough the human spirit is and what people can achieve when they put their minds and hearts to it.”
Tickets for the performances, listed below, are expected to sell out fast. To make sure you see The Stars Look Down contact your local venue.
5th Sept Gala Theatre, Durham
6th Sept The Dovecote Centre, Amble, N’Land
10th Sept Etal Village Hall, N’Land
11th Sept The Watson Memorial Hall, Lucker, N’Land
12th Sept The Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch
13th Sept Newton Le Willows VH, Bedale, N.Yorkshire
14th Sept Longhirst Village Hall, N’Land
15th Sept The Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm
18th Sept Middlesbrough Theatre
19th Sept Currie Memorial Hall, Lilliesleaf
21st Sept Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth
22nd Sept Longformacus Village Hall, Duns
26th Sept Chatton Village Hall, N’Land
27th Sept Newbiggin Maritime Centre, N’Land
28th Sept Bamburgh Pavillion, N’Land
4th Oct Stakeford Methodist Church, N’Land
5th Oct Robinson Institute, Glaisdale, N.Yorkshire
9th Oct www.liveandlocal.org.uk
10th Oct www.liveandlocal.org.uk
11th Oct www.liveandlocal.org.uk
12th Oct www.liveandlocal.org.uk
13th Oct The Exchange, North Shields
15th Oct Kirkwhelpington Memorial Hall, N’Land
18th Oct Whitburn Parish Church Hall, Sunderland
19th Oct Longhorsley Village Hall, N’Land
20th Oct The Dovecote Centre, Amble, N’Land