DieHard Gateshead

DieHard Gateshead A new play by Ruth Raynor

There’s enough drama at the Women’s Group and some people are losing the plot.  If  Noel Edmonds and Bruce Willis can’t help, who can? A women's group is closing and Leslie, the leader, is under pressure. She wants to tell them but things keep getting in the way. Time is running out. If Geordie Bruce Willis can’t help, and Noel Edmonds is no good either, who will save the day? Based on the real-life story of a Tyneside women’s group, Ruth Raynor’s new play DieHard Gateshead is about finding light through the rubble and the mess. It’s about avoiding promises of a better life that actually makes things worse. It’s about searching for moments of laughter and understanding in the noise and confusion. It’s about women’s lives in an age of austerity… Directed by Neil Armstrong and produced by Christina Berriman Dawson (Lydia’s House for Janet Plater and Remember Jim for Theatre of Moths ), it features a cast of five of the region’s leading actresses. Cast Zoe Lambert Christina Berriman Dawson Judi Earl Arabella Arnott Jessica Johnson Listings Information Tuesday 14^th July Alphabetti Theatre 8pm (Bar 6.30pm) Tickets £7/£5 www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk (With a post-show discussion) Company Biographies Ruth Raynor Ruth Raynor uses drama to understand womens lives in the context of austerity. A PhD student in the Geography Department at The University of Durham, she has previously worked in theatre and arts management as a designer, writer and facilitator, and translates this experience into her research. Neil Armstrong Neil is an award winning Actor, Writer and Director from Seaham Harbour.  He has directed for companies such as Cloud Nine Theatre, The Customs House South Shields, and his own company Theatre of Moths.  His plays have been performed across the region and include Remember Jim, The Dark Side of the Half Moon and Nefairyus.  As an actor he has appeared in all of the regions theatres and his TV credits include George Gently (BBC), Vera (ITV) and, Wolfblood (CBBC) among others.  This year Neil is also co-writing, directing and starring as the Baddie in Durham’s Gala Theatre’s pantomime, Cinderella. Christina Berriman Dawson Christina’s acting credits include George Gently, Electricity and The Magdalene Sisters as well as appearing in many theatre productions across the region. She will be appearing in Key Change (Open Clasp) at Summerhall with Northern Stage at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Christina also runs Stage Tynemouth which provides Performing Arts training for young people aged 5-18.