A Purely Belter Beer for Theatregoers

Fans heading to Newcastle this week (10-13 June) to see a stage show based on the football film Purely Belter can now snap up a pint of the same name.

Gerry and Sewell, at the Theatre Royal, tells the story of two twenty-something fans trying to find money, by any means necessary, to get season tickets for home games of their beloved Newcastle United.

It is based on the 2000 film Purely Belter - itself based on novel The Season Ticket by Jonathan Tulloch – which rapidly gained a following among football and theatre fans alike.

And now beer lovers can enjoy a sip of the action, thanks to Heaton-based Anarchy Brewery.

To coincide with the show, the brewery has created Purely Belter; a 4.2 per cent session IPA.

It launched this week (9 June) when it went on sale, in cans and on draught, at the Theatre Royal’s bars.

“Beer and football go hand in hand,” said Anarchy operations director Phil Beaty, “so we were over the moon when the show’s production company got in touch a couple of months ago.

“We’re all huge fans of the show – and the film and the book, too,” said Phil “and to be part of it in this way is a real honour.”

Jamie Eastlake, producer at Eastlake Productions, creator of Gerry and Sewell, said: “Collaboration across regional businesses is always a great thing

“The show itself is a gateway to theatre for non-traditional theatregoers, so to have a drinks offering alongside the football-themed show made lots of sense.”

Anarchy already has strong links to football through its best-selling Shearer’s Beer, named after the legendary goalscorer.

The brewery also makes a donation from every can sold of Shearer’s Beer to The Alan Shearer Foundation.

Purely Belter is on sale at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle and can also be purchased online at anarchybrewco.com.

Gerry and Sewell runs at the Theatre Royal until Saturday (13 June) and tickets are available at Newcastle Theatre Royal.